The Jeep Compass gets the American carmaker’s ruggedness in a package that suits the needs of the masses. Coming in at an MSRP of $23,775 the small SUV competes against the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Honda CR-V, and the Hyundai Tucson. The Compass has been a good cash cow with it raking in nearly 75,500 units annually. The people have been pretty happy but dissatisfaction comes by way of powertrain and braking issues. The SUV has also been recalled once. Let’s dig more into the user complaints and see why the SUV was recalled.
2020 Jeep Compass Problems
Electrical issues:
- Jeep UConnect issues: The UConnect system in the 2020 Compass has been problematic for some people. People have repeatedly complained of frequent disconnections and screen freezes. There have also been issues with the backup camera getting stuck and not showing anything behind the SUV.
- Battery drain issues: The 2020 model year was having a lot of issues with a rapid battery drain in the SUV. People have complained that the SUV was completely dead after sitting for just 2 days. The complainants had to jumpstart the car.
- False "Coolant Temperature Too High" warnings: The 2020 Compass incorrectly detects the coolant temperature to be high and shuts the vehicle down. This shut down causes the vehicle to lose motive power. FCA has issued a notice regarding this and has deemed it a safety hazard.
Mechanical issues:
- Engine stalling: One of the most common issues is the Compass engine stalling while moving. People have reported the engine to stall and shut down completely. Complainants also claim the SUV to shut down while accelerating and cause a loss in momentum.
- Abnormal engine oil consumption: People have reported the engine to consume engine oil abnormally. This consumption is as high as 1 quart of oil in just 1,000 miles.
- Transmission issues: Many people have complained about the car’s inability to detect the engagement of the park gear. This inability doesn’t let the car shut down. In a handful of cases, this was followed by smoke and fire in the engine compartment.
- Brake noise: The maximum Compass braking issues come from a grinding noise coming from the brakes. This has caused a delay in braking in new cars with less than 1,000 miles. People have also complained of a mushy brake pedal which takes more effort to bring the SUV to a halt.
Safety issues:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance (FCA) issues: The FCA in the Compass is reported to not work as intended, in a handful of cases. This has caused the SUV to rear-end cars and cause collisions. The complainants state that the system completely failed to recognize any vehicles upfront and the driver had to manually brake to stop.
2020 Jeep Compass Recalls
The 2020 Jeep Compass has already been recalled once with NHTSA Campaign ID 20V208000. The recall was issued on April 9, 2020, and included nearly 426,000 units, including the RAM 1500 and the RAM 1500 Classic. A loose windshield wiper arm may hinder the operation of the wiper. This affects the driver’s visibility and increases the risk of a crash. The dealers were instructed to tighten the windshield wiper bolts.
Should you buy the 2020 Jeep Compass?
The 2020 Jeep Compass is a stupendous offering that combines practicality and ruggedness in a very ideal mixture. The SUV has had some issues with the engine oil consumption but that is just a thing to beware of. As such, the SUV is a very good choice for someone who wants something different in the crossover-rich market. That said, a used 2020 Compass is a good choice as well as long as the due diligence is done well.
