JEEP COMPASS 4X4 · model year

2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4

23 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009JEEPCOMPASS 4X4 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 COMPASS 4X4 is suspension with 5 filings, followed by electrical system (3) and unknown or other (3). 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.

NHTSA currently has 29 investigation files overlapping the 2009 COMPASS 4X4, and 3 remain open. 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.

23
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
STRUCTURE2
POWER TRAIN2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STEERING1
TIRES1
WHEELS1
ENGINE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20190603CrashSUSPENSION

THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS LOOK LIKE A BOW-LEGGED COWBOY BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME BASICALLY SNAPPED AS WE WERE DRIVING. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND JEEP REFUSES TO RECALL THIS. 2007 HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY EXTENDED A "WARRANTY" TO GET THIS FIXED. 2009 IS MADE, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE SAME JUNK METAL, AND YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR INCOMPETENCE. WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED DUE TO THIS NEGLIGENCE. NOT HAPPY JEEP.

Mileage: 140,000

20190603CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS LOOK LIKE A BOW-LEGGED COWBOY BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME BASICALLY SNAPPED AS WE WERE DRIVING. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND JEEP REFUSES TO RECALL THIS. 2007 HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY EXTENDED A "WARRANTY" TO GET THIS FIXED. 2009 IS MADE, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE SAME JUNK METAL, AND YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR INCOMPETENCE. WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED DUE TO THIS NEGLIGENCE. NOT HAPPY JEEP.

Mileage: 140,000

20190315UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUBFRAME IS FRONT OF CAR IS ROTTED OUT. HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 130,000

20171007SUSPENSION

WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WAS HEARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT, ALONG WITH A LOUD TIRE SQUEAL. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO FIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. INSPECTION UNDERNEATH REVEALED A ROTTED OUT SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER WHICH IS SPLIT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BACK. IT ALSO HAS SOME LEAKING FLUID COMING DOWN FROM ABOVE THE CROSSMEMBER WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS SATURDAY AND THE INCIDENT WAS FOLLOWED BY A $135 FLATBED TRIP TO A DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING MONDAY MORNING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HORRIFIC POSSIBILITIES IF THIS SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED AT SPEED.

Mileage: 108,000

20170903SUSPENSION

FRONT SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT DUE TO CONDENSER DRAIN DRIPPING ON IT. FOUND OUT 9/3/ 17 DURING OIL CHANGE. WAS SERVICE BULLETIN 23-012-14 FOR THIS BUT ON VEHICLES AFTER 8/25/2005 AND BEFORE 7/23/2007. SEE ? BELOW WHEN HAPPENED. I JUST FOUND OUT

Mileage: 48,000

20170502SUSPENSION

THE REAR SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT AND HAVE WAY WHILE MY NIECE WAS DRIVING IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AND TO NEW OF A CAR FOR THIS. THE REAR SUB FRAME GAVE OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING.

Mileage: 87,309

20170424ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR WILL NOT START. GET IN THE CAR, TURN THE KEY, NO SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO CLICKING, NOTHING. THE RADIO WORKS, THE FAN WORKS, THE LIGHTS WORK. HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, NONE OF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH JEEPS BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. DOES NOT PUT OUT A CODE FOR A CODE READER TO SCAN AND REPORT.

Mileage: 101,250

20170424FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE CAR WILL STALL AFTER THE GAS NOZZLE HAS CLICKED OFF THAT THE TANK IS FULL. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE (AFTER A FEW TRIES) AND BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND SPUTTER WITHIN A FEW SECONDS TO MINUTES OF LEAVING THE GAS STATION. WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF GETTING FUEL, ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO STOP AND CAR OPERATES FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME YOU FILL THE FUEL TANK.

Mileage: 99,860

20161123POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UP AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIGOROUSLY JERK AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20160524STRUCTURE:BODY

2008 JEEP LIMITED 4 X 4. WHEN CLEANING THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THE HEAD FROM A VERY LARGE BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT A BOLT HAD ROTTED OFF WHERE THE REAR FRAME RIGHT SIDE BY THE SHOCK TOWER ATTACHES TO THE BODY. I HAVE HAD NOISES COMING FROM THE AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH THIS BOLT MISSING THERE IS SOME CHANCE THERE IS EXCESS BOUNCE BETWEEN THE UPPER SHOCK TOWER AND THE FRAME. MY LOCAL BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WOULD BE TO DROP THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE AND GET THE BROKEN BOLT OUT TO REPLACE. VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE IS NO WAY A BOLT LIKE THIS SHOULD ROT OFF, UNLESS THE BOLTS WERE BAD TO START WITH. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A FEW MORE I COULD HIT A BUMP AND HAVE THE BODY FALL OFF THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 150,000

20160524SUSPENSION

2008 JEEP LIMITED 4 X 4. WHEN CLEANING THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THE HEAD FROM A VERY LARGE BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT A BOLT HAD ROTTED OFF WHERE THE REAR FRAME RIGHT SIDE BY THE SHOCK TOWER ATTACHES TO THE BODY. I HAVE HAD NOISES COMING FROM THE AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH THIS BOLT MISSING THERE IS SOME CHANCE THERE IS EXCESS BOUNCE BETWEEN THE UPPER SHOCK TOWER AND THE FRAME. MY LOCAL BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WOULD BE TO DROP THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE AND GET THE BROKEN BOLT OUT TO REPLACE. VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE IS NO WAY A BOLT LIKE THIS SHOULD ROT OFF, UNLESS THE BOLTS WERE BAD TO START WITH. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A FEW MORE I COULD HIT A BUMP AND HAVE THE BODY FALL OFF THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 150,000

20160325UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I JUST RECENTLY FAILED INSPECTION ON MY 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4 X 4 FOR RUSTED CROSS MEMBERS. THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE FRONT IS RUSTED TO THE POINT IT HAS THROUGH HOLES IN IT. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS NOT AS SEVERE BUT IS ALSO HEAVILY RUSTED.

Mileage: 72,000

20141009ENGINE

1) WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (NEAR SUNROOF PANEL). WATERSPOTS ALSO ON ROOF. I AM WORRIED THAT I'LL GET AN ELECTROCUTION AT SOME POINT IF I USE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT HAS RAINED/SNOWED. ALL OPTIONS ARE FACTORY. 2) CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION/ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000. THIS IS A MANUAL, AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED THIS SOON. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OIL CAP, THERE IS COMPRESSION IN THE TANK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS GET A NEW ENGINE (OR REBUILD EXISTING.) THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNWARRANTED FOR A VEHICLE SO "NEW". DUE TO BEING A SUBSEQUENT OWNER, THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER/JEEP. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

20141009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1) WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (NEAR SUNROOF PANEL). WATERSPOTS ALSO ON ROOF. I AM WORRIED THAT I'LL GET AN ELECTROCUTION AT SOME POINT IF I USE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT HAS RAINED/SNOWED. ALL OPTIONS ARE FACTORY. 2) CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION/ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000. THIS IS A MANUAL, AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED THIS SOON. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OIL CAP, THERE IS COMPRESSION IN THE TANK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS GET A NEW ENGINE (OR REBUILD EXISTING.) THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNWARRANTED FOR A VEHICLE SO "NEW". DUE TO BEING A SUBSEQUENT OWNER, THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER/JEEP. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

20141009POWER TRAIN

1) WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (NEAR SUNROOF PANEL). WATERSPOTS ALSO ON ROOF. I AM WORRIED THAT I'LL GET AN ELECTROCUTION AT SOME POINT IF I USE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT HAS RAINED/SNOWED. ALL OPTIONS ARE FACTORY. 2) CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION/ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000. THIS IS A MANUAL, AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED THIS SOON. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OIL CAP, THERE IS COMPRESSION IN THE TANK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS GET A NEW ENGINE (OR REBUILD EXISTING.) THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNWARRANTED FOR A VEHICLE SO "NEW". DUE TO BEING A SUBSEQUENT OWNER, THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER/JEEP. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

20141009STRUCTURE

1) WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (NEAR SUNROOF PANEL). WATERSPOTS ALSO ON ROOF. I AM WORRIED THAT I'LL GET AN ELECTROCUTION AT SOME POINT IF I USE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT HAS RAINED/SNOWED. ALL OPTIONS ARE FACTORY. 2) CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION/ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000. THIS IS A MANUAL, AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED THIS SOON. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OIL CAP, THERE IS COMPRESSION IN THE TANK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS GET A NEW ENGINE (OR REBUILD EXISTING.) THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNWARRANTED FOR A VEHICLE SO "NEW". DUE TO BEING A SUBSEQUENT OWNER, THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER/JEEP. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

20141009EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1) WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (NEAR SUNROOF PANEL). WATERSPOTS ALSO ON ROOF. I AM WORRIED THAT I'LL GET AN ELECTROCUTION AT SOME POINT IF I USE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT HAS RAINED/SNOWED. ALL OPTIONS ARE FACTORY. 2) CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION/ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000. THIS IS A MANUAL, AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED THIS SOON. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OIL CAP, THERE IS COMPRESSION IN THE TANK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS GET A NEW ENGINE (OR REBUILD EXISTING.) THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNWARRANTED FOR A VEHICLE SO "NEW". DUE TO BEING A SUBSEQUENT OWNER, THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER/JEEP. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

20140318TIRES

THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON CONTINUALLY ON THIS VEHICLE; EVEN WHEN ALL FOUR TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. AS AN EXAMPLE, I JUST HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED, ALL WERE SET TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE, AND WITHIN HOURS OF LEAVING THE TIRE SHOP, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON. IT COMES ON CONTINUALLY. THERE WILL BE PERIODS WHEN IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AND OTHER PERIODS WHEN IT ILLUMINATES EVERY FEW MINUTES. THIS IS NOT ONLY AGGRAVATING BUT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN A RED WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH, YOUR ATTENTION IS CONSTANTLY DRAWN AWAY FROM THE ROAD TO THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. THIS IS A NON-FUNCTIONING WARNING LIGHT AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

20140318ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON CONTINUALLY ON THIS VEHICLE; EVEN WHEN ALL FOUR TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. AS AN EXAMPLE, I JUST HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED, ALL WERE SET TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE, AND WITHIN HOURS OF LEAVING THE TIRE SHOP, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON. IT COMES ON CONTINUALLY. THERE WILL BE PERIODS WHEN IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AND OTHER PERIODS WHEN IT ILLUMINATES EVERY FEW MINUTES. THIS IS NOT ONLY AGGRAVATING BUT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN A RED WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH, YOUR ATTENTION IS CONSTANTLY DRAWN AWAY FROM THE ROAD TO THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. THIS IS A NON-FUNCTIONING WARNING LIGHT AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

20140318WHEELS

THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON CONTINUALLY ON THIS VEHICLE; EVEN WHEN ALL FOUR TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. AS AN EXAMPLE, I JUST HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED, ALL WERE SET TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE, AND WITHIN HOURS OF LEAVING THE TIRE SHOP, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON. IT COMES ON CONTINUALLY. THERE WILL BE PERIODS WHEN IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AND OTHER PERIODS WHEN IT ILLUMINATES EVERY FEW MINUTES. THIS IS NOT ONLY AGGRAVATING BUT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN A RED WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH, YOUR ATTENTION IS CONSTANTLY DRAWN AWAY FROM THE ROAD TO THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. THIS IS A NON-FUNCTIONING WARNING LIGHT AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

Compare 2009JEEPCOMPASS 4X4 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4 have?
The 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4?
The most-complained component for the 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4 is SUSPENSION with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. 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.