JEEP COMPASS · model year

2020 JEEP COMPASS

240 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2020JEEPCOMPASS carries 240 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2020 COMPASS is engine with 75 filings, followed by electrical system (60) and unknown or other (29). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2020 COMPASS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

240
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
2020 JEEP COMPASS — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2020 JEEP COMPASS. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 3.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

240 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE75
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60
UNKNOWN OR OTHER29
POWER TRAIN23
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
SERVICE BRAKES5
STEERING5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
VISIBILITY/WIPER4
TIRES3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
WHEELS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS2

Recalls (1)

20V20800009/04/2020

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 wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.

Recent Complaints

20260218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I’ve had this car since March 8, 2020 and from the very beginning I’ve had electrical issues at first. It started with just my lights flickering the dashboard as well and it progressed overtime and also gave my different messages on my dashboard. The radio would shut off making it impossible to use my backup camera as well, I wasn’t able to take it to the dealer because when I called they said that it all had to come out of my pocket, even though I had just bought the car so it was a little impossible for me to be able to afford that at the moment so I put it all off overtime. It did progress and I had to get the battery switched out twice as well as the second battery this happened while I was pregnant and it actually was because the car stalled out on me. I was out in Palmdale visiting my parents when the car completely turned off all the electrical options were nonexistent. I was at a stoplight and when the car didn’t turn back on, it was dark because Palmdale is a desert ar

20260218ENGINE

I’ve had this car since March 8, 2020 and from the very beginning I’ve had electrical issues at first. It started with just my lights flickering the dashboard as well and it progressed overtime and also gave my different messages on my dashboard. The radio would shut off making it impossible to use my backup camera as well, I wasn’t able to take it to the dealer because when I called they said that it all had to come out of my pocket, even though I had just bought the car so it was a little impossible for me to be able to afford that at the moment so I put it all off overtime. It did progress and I had to get the battery switched out twice as well as the second battery this happened while I was pregnant and it actually was because the car stalled out on me. I was out in Palmdale visiting my parents when the car completely turned off all the electrical options were nonexistent. I was at a stoplight and when the car didn’t turn back on, it was dark because Palmdale is a desert ar

20260202BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the infotainment screen began to display a pixilated and distorted image. Due to the failure, the rear-view camera failed to operate while in reverse(R). The failure persisted, and several lines appeared on the infotainment screen before the screen went blank. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the radio was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure on several occasions, and the contact was provided with a case number. The dealer offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20260202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the infotainment screen began to display a pixilated and distorted image. Due to the failure, the rear-view camera failed to operate while in reverse(R). The failure persisted, and several lines appeared on the infotainment screen before the screen went blank. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the radio was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure on several occasions, and the contact was provided with a case number. The dealer offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20260103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I tried the auto start on the fob car would not start I tried to the push start nothing again . Did get warning coolant temp high Had to tow car They are investigating

20260103ENGINE

I tried the auto start on the fob car would not start I tried to the push start nothing again . Did get warning coolant temp high Had to tow car They are investigating

20260102ENGINE

My vehicle’s engine has shut off completely in the middle of the road TWICE, both on busy highways. The first time, I was turning left and the engine shut off as I was turning into oncoming traffic and was stuck in the middle of two lanes. Second time, I was stopped at a red light and the engine shut off again. Once the car is turned off and back on, the light for the Auto Stop/Start came on and said to service the Stop/Start feature. The first incident, I had the car brand new for maybe a week. The second incident just happened last week.

20260102UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My vehicle’s engine has shut off completely in the middle of the road TWICE, both on busy highways. The first time, I was turning left and the engine shut off as I was turning into oncoming traffic and was stuck in the middle of two lanes. Second time, I was stopped at a red light and the engine shut off again. Once the car is turned off and back on, the light for the Auto Stop/Start came on and said to service the Stop/Start feature. The first incident, I had the car brand new for maybe a week. The second incident just happened last week.

20251222ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My engine light kept on coming on esc failure I replaced the aux battery then reg battery then alternator went bad then the u connect is not working at all it will not load the maps on the screen it’s doesn’t recognize my phone I bought this jeep brand new

20251215FireENGINE

On December 9th, my Jeep compass caught fire in Tyson’s corner parking lot (1750 Tysons BLVD). The fire department believes it came from the engine. No warning signs such as engine lights or temperature overheating prior. The car was parked in a spot when this occurred. My daughter was in the car and smelled smoke, car was turned off, got out and it was smoking and sparking then caught fire. 911 was called during this process and came to the scene. The insurance is aware and deemed it total loss. The police and fire department have records we are trying to obtain. The fire spread to other cars.

20251215FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

On December 9th, my Jeep compass caught fire in Tyson’s corner parking lot (1750 Tysons BLVD). The fire department believes it came from the engine. No warning signs such as engine lights or temperature overheating prior. The car was parked in a spot when this occurred. My daughter was in the car and smelled smoke, car was turned off, got out and it was smoking and sparking then caught fire. 911 was called during this process and came to the scene. The insurance is aware and deemed it total loss. The police and fire department have records we are trying to obtain. The fire spread to other cars.

20251201UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driving home at night car flashed a hi temp coolant warning and shut down..Waited a couple minutes and it started right up. I have never had any issues before this.

20251121UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I bought my 2020 Jeep Compass from Moses Factory Outlet in Teays Valley WV 2/1/25. The whole time I have had and operated the vehicle it has had this safety issue. It shuts down unexpectedly with a "high coolant temperature warning" displayed on the dash then resets and turns back on. Sometimes I have to physically turn the vehicle back on. This happens on the interstate randomly when I am going 65 mph or sitting at a red light. I spoke to Moses about it, and they told me I would have to take it to a jeep dealership because this is something they would not be able to fix. I took it to the Walker Jeep dealership in Hurricane WV they inspected it and said they could not find anything wrong with it. This is very scary when it happens, and I have no idea how to get it fixed because the dealership I bought it from nor an actual jeep dealership can fix it. I drove it to Columbus Ohio one time, and it done it six times that's a 5hr round trip.

20251117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving the 2020 Compass a message will s poradically appear on the dashboard display about "High Coolant Temperature" and immediately sends the vehicle power to shut down and after a couple of seconds the error disappears and the temperature returns to normal. It once shut the engine down completely in the middle of the street and I had to put car in park in middle of traffic and then restart it. This happens at all rates of speed - on the highway driving 65 mph or on a city road driving 40 mph. Dates is has happened that I took note of: 09/11/2025, 10/04/2025, 11/01/2025 and 11/17/2025. It has happened previous to 09/11/2025 as well. It is a serious safety issue to loose power while driving.

20251117ENGINE

While driving the 2020 Compass a message will s poradically appear on the dashboard display about "High Coolant Temperature" and immediately sends the vehicle power to shut down and after a couple of seconds the error disappears and the temperature returns to normal. It once shut the engine down completely in the middle of the street and I had to put car in park in middle of traffic and then restart it. This happens at all rates of speed - on the highway driving 65 mph or on a city road driving 40 mph. Dates is has happened that I took note of: 09/11/2025, 10/04/2025, 11/01/2025 and 11/17/2025. It has happened previous to 09/11/2025 as well. It is a serious safety issue to loose power while driving.

20251015VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The car suddenly would not accelerate over 20 miles per hour when I was driving on a busy road. The car has made clunking noises whenever I accelerate since I bought it 6 months ago. There is a recall for other 2020 Jeep Compass Latitudes that would explain this problem (W48/NHTSA 20E-037) but my VIN is not included in the recall. I think that this is a mistake.

20251006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The screen on the dash has quit working and the backup camera does not work this started when we got snow, thought once weather warmed up things it would work tried the reset button to no avail. Hesitated about buying another jeep now I wish I hadn’t nothing but trouble

20251006UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The screen on the dash has quit working and the backup camera does not work this started when we got snow, thought once weather warmed up things it would work tried the reset button to no avail. Hesitated about buying another jeep now I wish I hadn’t nothing but trouble

20251006LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

The screen on the dash has quit working and the backup camera does not work this started when we got snow, thought once weather warmed up things it would work tried the reset button to no avail. Hesitated about buying another jeep now I wish I hadn’t nothing but trouble

20250930WHEELS

Subject: Complaint Against American Warranty – Tire & Rim Coverage To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this complaint against American Warranty (1-800-346-6469) regarding my tire and rim coverage for my 2020 Jeep Compass (VIN: [XXX] , Mileage: 49,000). The titled vehicle is in my name, [XXX] , [XXX] . On June 26, 2025, I dropped off my Jeep for warranty service. Since then, I have been without a vehicle, and my claim has been mishandled at every step. 1.Unprofessional and rude treatment – When I attempted to conference call with the Harr dealership manager and the warranty department, the representative hung up on both of us, saying they “already knew about the case” and that I had to wait. Their tone has been dismissive and rude throughout my calls. 2.Delays and lack of resolution – After more than three months, my claim is still unresolved. I purchased extended warranty coverage specifically to avoid these issues, yet I have been left without a vehicle all this time. 3.R

Compare 2020JEEPCOMPASS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2020 JEEP COMPASS have?
The 2020 JEEP COMPASS has 240 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 JEEP COMPASS?
The 2020 JEEP COMPASS received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 JEEP COMPASS?
Yes, the 2020 JEEP COMPASS has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 JEEP COMPASS?
The most-complained component for the 2020 JEEP COMPASS is ENGINE with 75 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2020 JEEP COMPASS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2020 JEEP COMPASS has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.