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2019 Jeep Compass: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
58%
180 of 311 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 77% of the 1,230 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 September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
180
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
328
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
13 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE160 · 49%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM142 · 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 306
2015
43%
42 of 113
2016
71%
193 of 293
2017
51%
109 of 228
2018
66%
568 of 937
2019
58%
180 of 328
2020
66%
88 of 138
2021
42%
30 of 79
2022
32%
53 of 220
2023
34%
13 of 45

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

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE07/20/2026
While driving through a tunnel in Boston, MA, the vehicle shut off completely without warning and could not be restarted. The dashboard displayed multiple warning lights and the engine would not crank (clicking sound only). I was stranded inside an active tunnel in live traffic, requiring a Massachusetts State Police r…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE06/01/2026
Experienced countless "high coolant temp" followed by power loss and engine shutoff, yes—while driving—like everyone else. NHTSA CAMPAIGN: PE22013 Search it and read. They investigated it already & ruled it not dangerous enough. It took me spending so much money trying different fixes, then countless hours searching …

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

Recall campaigns on this model year (2)

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
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 …
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
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 pi…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 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.

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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.