14 complaints reported

2020 Jeep Compass Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2025

The engine is shutting down in the middle of Driving. While driving and happening at random the vehicle will have a message populate stating coolant temp high. the engine will turn off and turn back on if the vehicle is being driven. IF the vehicle is stopped and this happens the vehicle will shut down with same message car needs to be put in park from the drive mode and restarted. This has happened countless times and Jeep cannot fix the issue nor replicate as it happens randomly. This is a safety concern as it has happened on the highway and just stopped at time while driving. At the same time of this happening the check engine light comes on as well. The car has been to separate dealerships with neither of them being able to replicate the issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2025
Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. After the first failure, the contact waited for a while before restarting the vehicle and then drove to a dealer. Despite the failure, the contact was informed that no defect was found in the vehicle. During the second failure, the contact stated that a high coolant temperature message had flashed on the instrument panel. As a result of the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was provided the same information when the initial failure occurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2024
May 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jul 2023
Jan 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while approaching a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,774.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2023
Dec 2022

The engine on my 2020 Jeep Compass will turn off unexpectedly and without warning after the vehicle has come to a stop. Sometimes, the engine will restart easily with the push start button after the transmission selector has been moved to "Park". Other times the vehicle cannot be restarted for several minutes and random messages appear on the dashboard display. These messages include but are not limited to, "coolant temperature high", "service airbag system" and other assorted nonsensical messages. This issue appears to be related to the Stop/Start feature on my vehicle. This phenomenon is dangerous and unsettling since it leaves my vehicle stranded in precarious situations for undetermined periods of time. The dealer has not been able to reproduce this exact issue. The vehicle and related components have only been inspected by the dealer. This issue has been happening for nearly 45 days. Up to this point there have been no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the engine shutting off by itself.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2022
Jul 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while in stop and go traffic, the temperature gauge rose into the high temperature range. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power; however, after several minutes, the vehicle started and operated normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,685.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Nov 2022
Mar 2022

BURNING OR LOOSING COOLANT, NO LEAKS OR BUSTED HOSES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Feb 2022
Aug 2021

19000 miles and consumes 1 quart of oil a month. This has been doing this since bought new. Told dealer on two services and dealer (Smith Haven Jeep, St. James, NY) said this is normal. I know this is not normal for a new car. I drive about 400 miles a month unless going on vacation.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Aug 2021
Jan 2021

I PURCHASED A 2020 JEEP COMPASS TRAILHAWK WITH THE 2.4 TIGER SHARK ENGINE ON 2/24/20. WHILE ON MY WAY TO SIGN PAPERS, I SAW A FRIEND WITH A 2018 MODEL LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I INFORMED HIM THAT I WAS PICKING UP THE SAME CAR HE TOLD ME TO "WATCH MY OIL". HE HAD HIS SHUT DOWN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO LOW OIL. HIS WAS USING A QUART IN UNDER 1K MILES. THE DEALERSHIP ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENGINE BUT THE SAME OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE REMAINED. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE ISSUE BEFORE SIGNING PAPERS, THE SALESMAN CHECKED WITH SERVICE & WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TAKEN CARE OF THE ISSUE. THEY DID NOT. I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT 830 MILES (I DON'T DRIVE A LOT) AND IT WAS 1 QUART LOW. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR MODEL YEAR 2018 BUT NOT 2020. IT IS THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME ISSUE. IT IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. WHY NOT 2020?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Sep 2020
Dec 2020

TWICE NOW, THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AT A RED LIGHT. THIS VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC ENGINE SHUT OFF WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE, BUT WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE IS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK ON. WHEN I WAS AT THE RED LIGHT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND I NEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS MAKING A U TURN A FEW WEEKS LATER. AS I WAS TURNING THE CAR, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND I LUCKILY ROLLED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Dec 2020
Sep 2020

MY 2020 COMPASS STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AND FREEWAY AND WHILE TURNING. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 6 OR 7 TIMES AND ONE TIME A GUY SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND SWERVED AROUND ME SO HE DIDN'T HIT ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 25 DAYS AND I PROVIDED VIDEO PROOF OF THE ISSUE AND THE DEALER SAID IF THEY DON'T SEE IT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. THE CAR KEEPS GETTING DIFFERENT CHECK ENGINE CODES AND THEY JUST CLEAR THEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AND ISSUE THE DEALER WON'T VERIFY DRIVING THE CAR TWO MILES. THERE IS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Aug 2020
Jun 2020

PURCHASED A 2020 COMPASS ON MAY 28TH, 2020 WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK IT SHUT DOWN OR STALLED COMPLETELY AT A STOP STREET, HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND HIT THE RESTART BUTTON. I WAS NOT SURE IF THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AUTO STOP/START SO I SWITCHED THIS FUNCTION OFF AND IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS IT DIED 2 MORE TIMES ONCE WHEN DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE NEXT TIME WHEN I WAS STARTING OFF AT A STREET LIGHT, THIS IS NOT NORMAL SO ON JUNE 26TH I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FILLED A CLAIM WITH JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PHONED AND SAID THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL. IN THE INTERIM I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE FROM 2018-2020 COMPASS AND CHEROKEE LATITUDE OWNERS, ALL COMPLAINING ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION, STALLING, DANGERS OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ETC. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD 37 MILES I RETURNED IT IN LESS THAN 1 MONTH AND IT ONLY HAD 240 MILES AS WE HARDLY DROVE IT DUE TO LOCKDOWN AND WORKING FROM HOME. IF CHRYSLER/JEEP DOES NOT ACCEPT THE CAR BACK AND REFUND MY DEPOSIT I WILL HAVE A LEMON LAW LAWYER GET INVOLVED. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING THE CAR AND GET ANXIETY ATTACKS JUST THINKING ABOUT DRIVING THIS SUV AGAIN, I CANNOT HAVE IT STALL WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO THE DANGER IT POSES TO MY SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVERS SAFETY. PLEASE REVIEW THIS WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WE WERE ALWAYS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS WHEN THESE HAPPENED BUT IT STALLED AND WE HAD TO RESTART IT EACH TIME EVEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT SAID IT STALLED WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT, THIS COMPASS IS FLAWED AND DANGEROUS IT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY SINCE CHRYSLER/JEEP KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPASS SINCE 2018, THEY ARE PUTTING PROFITS OVER SAFETY AND ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN AND LIVES WILL BE LOST DUE TO THE STALLING ISSUES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jun 2020
Mar 2020

WHEN AC IS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION AND THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THERE IS AN AUDIBLE SQUEAK NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE, THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE STOP START SYSTEM ENGAGES AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. THIS SQUEAK SOUNDS MUCH LIKE A BELT SLIPPING OR A PULLEY TENSIONER NEEDING TO BE LUBERCATED. THIS ISSUE OCCURS CONSISTENTLY REGARDLESS OF AMBIENT TEMPS OR CAR TEMPS. THIS SQUEAK ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE AC IS RUNNING AND YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY FROM A DEAD STOP, AT AROUND 3,000 RPMS YOU CAN HEAR THE SQUEAK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2020
Feb 2020

I PURCHASED MY CAR ON JULY 22ND 2020. THE VERY FIRST DAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME I NOTICED THAT THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS STOPPING. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THAT IT WAS THE AUTO OFF THAT TRIGGERED A LITTLE TOO EARLY. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENED TWICE AND MOST RECENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR GOING WEST FOR ME TOO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND START THE CAR AGAIN. ALSO, A GOOGLE SEARCH OF THE TIGER SHARK ENGINE ISSUES POINTS OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS AFFECTING SO MANY VEHICLES. THERE'S ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS..

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 JEEP COMPASS, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2020

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Jeep Compass has 14 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.