2018 Jeep Compass engine problems
481 of the 943 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Compass name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 40 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database8 of the 481 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 31 · 2019: 130 · 2020: 84 · 2021: 52 · 2022: 49 · 2023: 54 · 2024: 34 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 24
Half of the 275 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 7,000 and 34,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
943 complaints in all about the 2018 Jeep Compass, 24 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Compass engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When pulling out of the driveway and going from reverse to drive the car stalled in the middle of the street. This happened a few weeks ago also. I called the dealersip and they said if the oil is low there is a safety feature that shuts down the engine. This car only has 3000 miles on it and is 3 months old.
At around 5000 miles the oil pressure light flashes on and off when making turns. I took it to the dealership where I leased it from and they told me it was a "known" issue and to complain to chrysler. They checked my oil and it was nearly 3 quarts low.
At around 5000 miles my Jeep was almost completely out of oil. I brought this to the dealers attention at the first oil change. Brought the Jeep back after 2000 miles and again it was low (about 2 quarts).
Engine shut off without warning while driving on interstate highway. Received messages service transmission and service engine. Coasted to stop on shoulder of road. Car would not restart for about 10 minutes.
The contact leased a 2018 Jeep Compass. While driving 5 MPH, the brake pedal was applied and the vehicle shut down, restarted, and spontaneously accelerated. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a brick pole. The "stop switch not engaged" warning indicator illuminated.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V670000 HighOct 24, 2017 · 357 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
40 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 112842 Service bulletinJun 18, 2026
- BOLT - HEX FLANGE HEAD
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Jeep Compass names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Jeep Compass
Source: the same files- electrical problems 376 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 151 complaints
- exterior lighting problems 64 complaints
- brake problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Jeep Compass?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 481 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (51% of everything owners filed about it), and 40 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2018 Jeep Compass?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V670000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Jeep Compass?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 20,000 miles; half of them between 7,000 and 34,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.