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2018 Jeep Compass problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
66% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Jeep Compass are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 82 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 61%).
Does the 2018 Jeep Compass have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 571 of 861 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Compass concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (66%), and the largest group is filed under engine (473). For comparison, the 2017 scores 50% and the 2019 scores 58%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Jeep Compass years
Of the 14 Jeep Compass years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (66%). The worst is the 2016 (71%), the best the 2022 (32%). By volume, the 2018 drew 943 complaints (571 drivetrain), against 229 for the 2017 and 329 for the 2019.
Jeep Compass years to avoid and best years →
2010 Compass problems · 2011 Compass problems · 2012 Compass problems · 2013 Compass problems · 2014 Compass problems · 2015 Compass problems · 2016 Compass problems · 2017 Compass problems · 2018 · 2019 Compass problems · 2020 Compass problems · 2021 Compass problems · 2022 Compass problems · 2023 Compass problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Jeep Compass
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Jeep Compass said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 571 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Jeep Compass engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Jeep Compass involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Jeep Compass? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 Jeep Compass
Does the 2018 Jeep Compass have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 571 of 861 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Compass concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (66%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Jeep Compass?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Jeep Compass is engine: 473 of 943 complaints (50%) name it, followed by electrical system (376) and power train (151). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Jeep Compass reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 66% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Jeep Compass years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Jeep Compass?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Jeep Compass involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 17V670000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Jeep Compass years are better?
Among the Jeep Compass years we track, the 2022 (32%), the 2010 (33%) and the 2023 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (66%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-compass
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.