2018 Jeep Compass brake problems
62 of the 943 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Compass name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 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 brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 of the 62 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 8 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2
Half of the 31 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 10,000 and 34,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
943 complaints in all about the 2018 Jeep Compass, 2 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 “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Compass brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
After starting car and driving for 2 minutes emergency break engages and car shuts off while in motion, upon turning off the car and restarting while turning right the low pressure sensor appears then disappears and service engine warning comes on car completely shuts off while in motion with no warning after the alarm disappears off…
Upon first stop of day-only on first stop, the brakes stop vehicle extremely hard, if not wearing seat belt-you would impact windshield. After traveling for 10min brakes work correctly, this has been getting worse - vehicle is at dealer now and has been for two weeks-with no corrective action yet
Second time this issue has been a problem. First time electrical issues prevented car from shifting out of gear and car will not shut off, I had to pull fuses to get car to shut down. Emergency parking brake would not even engage. So my daughter had to hold the brake because said auto was stuck in reverse for over one hour.
At about 25 MPH the breaks didn't work when applied and caused an accident, some times the car speeds up even when gas pedal is not applied, sometimes when I shift to drive or reverse the d or r indicator flashing then I have to park and try again
The car was in motion and in a middle of the street turn off, when the engine was checked it didn't have no engine oil on it. The car is brand new not even 5000 miles on it. Didn't show any warning before hand making it a safety issue for those like me traveling with children and the car stoping out of nowhere
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V523000 HighAug 9, 2018 · 154,335 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
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- engine problems 481 complaints
- electrical problems 376 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 151 complaints
- exterior lighting problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2018 Jeep Compass?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 62 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (7% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is 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 brakes on the 2018 Jeep Compass?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V523000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake 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 10,000 and 34,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.