Total Complaints
7 filings
JEEP COMPASS FWD · model year
2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD
7 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009JEEPCOMPASS FWD carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 FWD is structure:body with 2 filings, followed by suspension (2) and power train (1). 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 29 investigation files overlapping the 2009 COMPASS FWD, 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.
7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recalls (1)
10E04300003/09/2010
EQUIPMENT
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING S
Recent Complaints
20190406SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT (FRONT DRIVER SIDE) LOWER CONTROL ARM FELL FREE FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE WHICH ATTACHES IT TO THE WHEEL, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ABILITY TO STEER AND EVENTUALLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (MOVING LOSE UNDER THE CAR), BECAME LODGED BETWEEN THE WHEEL RIM AND THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO SHIFT FORWARD INTO THE FRONT FENDER / BUMPER AND BECOME IMMOBILE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE MADE IT HOME AND IT WAS IN PARKING THE VEHICLE THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE TIRE INNER RIM AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY, SO NO CRASH OR INJURY OCCURRED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS.
Mileage: 77,000
20190406UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT (FRONT DRIVER SIDE) LOWER CONTROL ARM FELL FREE FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE WHICH ATTACHES IT TO THE WHEEL, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ABILITY TO STEER AND EVENTUALLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (MOVING LOSE UNDER THE CAR), BECAME LODGED BETWEEN THE WHEEL RIM AND THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO SHIFT FORWARD INTO THE FRONT FENDER / BUMPER AND BECOME IMMOBILE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE MADE IT HOME AND IT WAS IN PARKING THE VEHICLE THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE TIRE INNER RIM AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY, SO NO CRASH OR INJURY OCCURRED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS.
Mileage: 77,000
20181005STRUCTURE:BODY
SUB FRAME ROTTED OUT - SAFETY ISSUE
20180530STRUCTURE:BODY
IT HAS RAPIDLY RUSTED OUT (SUB FRAME). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND IT WAS NOT THAT WAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IS THERE A RECALL?
Mileage: 109,000
20180530SUSPENSION
IT HAS RAPIDLY RUSTED OUT (SUB FRAME). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND IT WAS NOT THAT WAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IS THERE A RECALL?
Mileage: 109,000
20160428ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING FROM NORCAL TO SOCAL DRIVING 80+MPH FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I STARTED TO LOOSE POWER-PULLED OFF THE ROAD LET IT COOL DOWN AND IT RESTARTED AND DROVE 65 THE REST OF THE WAY WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. 3 WEEKS LATER HEARING LOUD ENGINE NOISES WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE RADIATOR LIGHT AND SMOKE WAS SEEN BEHIND ME I PULLED OVER TO FIND MY SERPENTINE BELT WAS EATEN AWAY AND SNAPPED. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY IS SIEZED UP NOW. ALL OF THIS WITHIN A YEAR OF A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NEW RADIATOR WAS INSTALLED BY PROFESSIONALS.
Mileage: 20
20141211POWER TRAIN
CAR LOST POWER GOING ABOUT 50MPH ON 9/15/2014. I HAD CAR TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, BOBB AUTO GROUP (11009 WEST 133RD AVENUE, CEDAR LAKE, IN 46303). MECHANICS REPLACED THE CLUTCH KIT (PART# 5062150AE), CYLINDER (5273431AB), AND COVER (PART# 4884904AB). I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 9/19/2014, PAYING $1,284.47 FOR REPAIRS AND PARTS WERE WARRANTED FOR 12,000 MILES OR 2-YEARS. ON 11/17/2014 CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 40MPH. CALLED BOBB AUTO GROUP TO INFORM THEM AND GET HELP. SINCE I WAS IN CHICAGO THIS TIME THEY ADVISED TO TAKE TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER/JEEP/DODGE DEALER SO THAT WARRANTY CAN BE HONORED AS IT SOUNDED TO THEM THAT THE PART THEY JUST INSTALLED FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SOUTH CHICAGO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (7340 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60636) FOR SERVICE WORK. ON 11/18/2014 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, IN THEIR OPINION THE PART FAILED DUE TO "DRIVER ABUSE" AND NOT A PART DEFECT OR INSTALLATION ERRO
Mileage: 66,000
Compare 2009JEEPCOMPASS FWD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 3 Open
PE25014Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
PE24024Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Underhood fires
RQ24012Recall QueryOpen
Loss of Motive Power
PE22013Preliminary EvaluationClosed
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
PE22009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD have?▼
The 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD?▼
Yes, the 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD is STRUCTURE:BODY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2009 JEEP COMPASS FWD 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.