RoadVitals

2021 Jeep Compass Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 11, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 76 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2021 Jeep Compass submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistance
Filed Apr 11, 2026

I was driving on the Arecibo. P.R. highway when suddently the car started acelererating..i wouldn't show down. There were a lot of cars on the road, so I had to swerve onto the grass and hit a tree car. I dind'd receive any help from highway patrol. The Police were show to arrive. I've done some research and this Jeep Compass has received many complaints about this factory defect.

NHTSA ID
11730531
Incident
Apr 9, 2026
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 7, 2026
Crash reported

[XXX] nearly three minutes after dropping my kids off to school, driving near the [XXX] ! My jeep begin to accelerate, I couldn’t control the brakes or steering wheel! I became very scared as I approached a curve upon me reaching the curve, the dashboard and radio screen completely blacked out! I lose complete control of the vehicle, hit and embankment and tree! Cause injuries to my left wrist! I’m still in a splint and have a 5lbs restriction in place, with abrasions to my face as well! Found out from the adjuster yesterday they can’t even get the vehicle to start to retrieve any needed information! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11722645
Incident
Jan 20, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 27, 2026

The high coolant temperature light cut on and turned my vehicle off while driving. This problem has been reported on older model Jeep compasses. The car never turned back on and I had to get my vehicle towed home.

NHTSA ID
11713673
Incident
Jan 26, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 12, 2025

Purchased Jan 20 2024 Battery issues started in April 2024, battery started melting a particular component, i had to replace the battery, the melting was still happening, I went to another jeep location, to get a fuse component that keeps wires separate, the melting still happened. I told the original Jeep dealership about each thing, they told me to bring it in finally and told me I had to pay for a wire harness to be run throughout the car, 3000, to 1800, and then 0, for a "malfunction they found and fixed" After Wire harness situation and price de-escalation after i told them they shouldjust take the car back because i dont have 3000; the start stop now not cooperating, has been happening since Aug 2024 in daytime with lyft rider in car. Stopped for a few months then repeated in October at night with other guests in car. Today (07/14/2025) Before 2 shift of lyft (before 7:50pm) The car stopped 6 times, 2 times with 2 different lyft riders in car. 4 times by myself, 1 time on the highway 2nd to 1st lane, with 18 wheeler behind me. This time it started back immediately but with 2nd passenger in car and 3rd time on my own it took several minutes before turning back on. Car stopped driving again today 07/15/2025 (recorded video) Now the car has a serv 4wd and the engine light is on, and I dont know whats wrong with the car. Its stressful, and I'm ready to give the car back for trade in value. Car still stops when it wants, its difficult to get a video as its happening, but the car just starts shaking, and stops driving no matter where I am. Everything will be easier to explain over the phone or in person, I am very scared of this car, this is my only source of income and now the Check engine light is on and I don't know whats wrong with the car. I've never had this many issues with a car and its the youngest car I've had. Ive seen many complaints about Jeep compass in particular after 2016. Having more problems and all similar to each other as the years go by.

NHTSA ID
11680052
Incident
Aug 12, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 29, 2024

The screen in most 2018-present jeep compasses are defective. My car just fell out of the warranty time frame and shortly after the screen failed resulting in no alerts via the back up camera. The camera helps alert you to things you can not see in your blind spots behind the vehicle resulting in a serious safety issue for pedestrians/ small children etc outside of the vehicle and also poses a threat to the driver. There were 0 warnings of failure in this component and I have read numerous hundreds of others describing the same issue. Expecting consumers to purchase this car with such failure rates is irresponsible and negligent. For a device that should have a life of 5-10 years failing after 3 is disappointing.

NHTSA ID
11632988
Incident
Dec 27, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 5, 2024

I been having a problem as I noticed it’s been seen multiple times with a jeep compass well mine is a 2021 jeep compass trail hawk. The car will shut off and say high coolant temp when that’s not the problem. The car is not hot and there is no problem with it just lose power and have no control over the car. It shuts off when I’m driving on the highway has left me stranded multiple times. Almost got hit turning on to the highway and it died as I was turning with a car head on. This is so unsafe. The car has been in the shop multiple times they replace stuff say it’s fixed it’s not and happens the minute I drive off. I been stuck in the middle of the lane with oncoming traffic’s and almost been hit. The dealership seams to not know what’s wrong with it and it’s so unsafe to be driving around in. Along with the many other people who have had the same problem. This is dangerous and keep should not be selling unsafe cars.

NHTSA ID
11628976
Incident
Dec 4, 2024
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 19, 2024

When ESS is Engaged, car does not want to start from stop/engine off after pulling from a stop. Car then turns off Lane Departure and Blind Spot Warning and ESS says needs service. Battery has been replaced 2x by Jeep.

NHTSA ID
11620821
Incident
Oct 18, 2024
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 4, 2024

The touchscreen started flashing off and on and the dash lights also turn off and on. The lane assist and fuel warning pop up even when there is ample fuel. The blinkers do not respond when it is glitching and the high beam/ low beam light disappears on the dash. I have taken it to the dealer twice and they said their were multiple codes triggered in the touch screen/radio and they cleared the codes but it started doing this again a few days later. The 2nd time they downloaded an update to Uconnect system, I have reset the uconnect system back to default and remived all paired devices and even just turned off the entire radio but it continues to effect the dash lights and also effects the inside Temperature which gets stuck. The dealer said they will have to find time to try to figure it out and I do not even have an appointment scheduled yet and they don't seem confident about a solution. I have looked online and have seen many people with uconnect having these issues and it does not seem safe due to not being able to see the dash at night in particular and the blinkers being effected. I am not sure if they still blink on the outside of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11618186
Incident
Aug 15, 2024
BrakesDriver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Aug 7, 2024

1.When I come to a stop my car jolts forward hard like I was hit from behind. 2. Issue is the lighting display is very dim during the day time once in a while randomly dims making it difficult to see my speed. 3. My radio panel shuts off randomly. 4. Auto collision detector is off .

NHTSA ID
11606937
Incident
Aug 1, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 24, 2022

Turn on cruise control, press +, hold until the rental car begins to accelerate, and release. Car continues to accelerate. This is not the same as my 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid that accelerates only as long as the button is being depressed. The mileage of the rental vehicle is unknown. I DO NOT wish to receive safety recall alerts from NHTSA because the vehicle is a rental from Enterprise in Lake Park, FL.

NHTSA ID
11490517
Incident
Oct 21, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 19, 2022

My 2021 jeep Compass transmission and front camera has been causing me problems. My car for months has been jumping out of gear and jerking forward. The jerk get to a point where it feels as if someone just hit me from behind. These jerks almost caused me to get into about 3 accidents where I almost hit the person in front of me. In addition one time when I was at a red light and switched from brakes to gas as I was in drive my car did not go forward but reversed instead. My car has been in the shop for over 150 days with 7 different service orders. They tried to fix the jerking but was unsuccessful since it would go away for a short period and then get worse each day. Now for the front camera when I first bought the car about brand new I turned on the lane departure warning and a light popped on saying that it was not working. They replaced the camera and now I had a forward crash collision light and crusie control light turn on which has to do with the front camera and was just switched out again. My car is still in the shop after being there for over 2 months and the jerking still needs to looked at and addressed as well as the car driving in reverse.

NHTSA ID
11465353
Incident
May 18, 2020
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 11, 2021

Lane Assist and Front Collision Camera ceased functioning...yes available for inspection Lane assist and traffic collision camera went out while driving in the rain on the freeway. Traffic came to a quick stop and was able to stop without assistance by sliding off to shoulder, was able to miss the other cars but it sure was close. Took to dealer (leased Dec. 2021) with 3,100 miles on it. Told I would have to leave for 72 hours while they figured out what the issue is. (no rental provided). Have not taken in yet. Drives okay without the lane assist and front camera but you cannot rely on these components. Especially when needed. No one has inspected yet. Warning lights are still on dashboard. The warning message came on as the components quit working.

NHTSA ID
11443457
Incident
Nov 26, 2021

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

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