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2019 Jeep Compass problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
58%
180 of 312 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Jeep Compass are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 78% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 17 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 55%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Jeep Compass have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 180 of 312 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Jeep Compass concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%), and the largest group is filed under engine (160). For comparison, the 2018 scores 66% and the 2020 scores 65%. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
180
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
329
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
13 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE160 · 49%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM143 · 43%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER84 · 26%
SERVICE BRAKES38 · 12%
POWER TRAIN37 · 11%
STEERING19 · 6%

The years either side

2010
33%
19 of 81
2011
48%
78 of 187
2012
56%
86 of 184
2013
59%
37 of 80
2014
59%
126 of 307
2015
43%
42 of 113
2016
71%
193 of 293
2017
50%
109 of 229
2018
66%
571 of 943
2019
58%
180 of 329
2020
65%
89 of 141
2021
42%
31 of 80
2022
32%
53 of 222
2023
33%
13 of 46

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Jeep Compass

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE08/17/2026
When driving it will randomly stall out/shut off in the middle of an intersection or just while driving in general. While also giving a message about the coolant temperature

One of 180 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Jeep Compass?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Jeep Compass, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages20V208000 · Apr 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate…
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V523000 · Aug 2018
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 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.

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Questions people ask about the 2019 Jeep Compass

Does the 2019 Jeep Compass have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 180 of 312 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Jeep Compass concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Jeep Compass?

No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Jeep Compass, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

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 2019 (58%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Jeep Compass?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Jeep Compass has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental 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.