0.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
289,977 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Jeep Compass drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 Jeep Compass Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #33

Nov 202020

Compass

  • 76,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my car and started to press on the gas and the RPM went up really high and my car wasn't moving. I was getting onto a main highway. I had lots of cars beeping at me. It was scary because I thought I was going to be stuck there forever.

- Palmyra, NJ, USA

problem #32

Dec 032019

Compass

  • 123,500 miles
While driving the vehicle is magically stopped accelerating going 55 mph on a two lane highway in the country. There are/were no issues with the engine as the car would not move forward or reverse as I pressed on the gas pedal. Credible/nationally recognized vehicle repair shop stated the transmission needs replacement (123,500 miles).

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #31

Jul 082019

Compass

  • 107,000 miles
Vehicle stops moving randomly at highway speeds and must be restarted to get it to move. Will barely accelerate and rpms are extremely high St low speeds. Vehicle surges and won't accelerate. Horrible whining noises. Vehicle stalls, or won't move when trying to ascend up hill or when entering the highway. I have almost been hit multiple times due to these problems. I have taken this vehicle to ther mechanic twice and had the computer run diagnostics. The cause of these problems is the automatic transmission. There are numerous accounts of this problem regarding this make and model of vehicle. This has been happening for approximately 4 months.

- Lander, WY, USA

problem #30

Sep 162019

Compass

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Loss of power and steering locked. Accelerated and engine would rev up, but car would not move. Had to stop, turn car off, and restart. Then it moved. Very very scary to have happen while driving! in town driving going about 25 mph.

- Sycamore, IL, USA

problem #29

Aug 082019

Compass

  • 7,500,000 miles
Trouble with transmission shifting and lights stop working at times.

- Independence, LA, USA

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problem #28

Apr 042019

Compass

  • 115,000 miles
2011 manual transmission with 115K miles. Hit a pothole and began making noise in engine. Took to repair shop. They found metal fragments in transmission fluid reservoir. Still shifts ok.

- Lewiston, CA, USA

problem #27

Sep 122018

Compass

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle went in to limp mode causing no acceleration, no power. The car is now sticking in low gear. This is on going and costly. And above all dangerous when the vehicle decides not to work on the interstate. Chrysler knows about this and continues to ignore issue and throws cost back on consumer. Also, does not give any codes to find out what's going on with Jeep.

- Milton, FL, USA

problem #26

Dec 062018

Compass

  • 140,000 miles
When driving vehicle would lose power and could not accelerate. While on rt 90, Massachusetts turnpike I had to get across traffic to crawl off highway to garage. They looked at it and said weren't sure, perhaps transmission. After a while when I restarted was able to crawl home on local roads. It seemed better until another time on rt 91 I was in dangerous situation when auto started slowing down and would not accelerate and I was almost his by tractor trailer truck. Luckily I crawled back home again. It was very dangerous situation. Few days later I was going to take to garage and in middle road it stopped and would no longer drive at all. It sat in middle street until I had it towed to repair. They could help at my usual repair garage and I had to have towed again to Jeep dealership where they informed me transmission was blown and it would cost almost $6500 to replace transmission, throttle body and maniverter. My sister had a 2015 Jeep that had same problem year after she bought and she was also in dangerous situations on highway same as mine. Hers was recalled. My car is only 8 years old and this kind of repair is outrageous. I have had it towed 3 times and cannot move it at all. It seems to have messed up cruise control which few months previously stopped working before transmission quit all together. Research has showed me this is a chronic and dangerous problem with Jeep vehicles as mechanics have also informed me. This had been ongoing problem for some months until it stopped driving at all. Jeep needs to recall these dangerous vehicles. I have statement from lia Jeep of northampton, MA stating necessary repairs but my printer is not working so I cannot upload.

- Florence, MA, USA

problem #25

Nov 302018

Compass

  • miles
When I drove it would seem to lose power and not accelerate like when on highway changing lanes. I was almost in a big accident, had to limp off mass pike highway to garage and after cooled down was able to limp back home instead of continuing to my destination, staying off highway. It often smelled hot. Since then it got worse just driving around town and made a squealing sound and now won't drive at all even though motor is running. Last week it stopped in middle of street when driving and had to have it towed. This is very dangerous and I cant afford a $1500 plus repair for something that is a design flaw. My sisters 2015 Jeep was recalled for same issues.

- Florence, MA, USA

problem #24

Sep 172018

Compass

  • 149,000 miles
My car is going into limp mode while driving, going down really quickly basically. While driving on interstate car decided to go into low speed twice no almost causing a rear-ended collision thankfully driver behind was paying attention and I only received road rage from driver. It shook my wife up so much she was home for two days with xtra anxiety medication. Since that incident car comes and goes in limp mode, so now the car sits my wife is terrified to drive it. I know recall on other Jeep models, I feel this too should be recalled.

- Milton, FL, USA

problem #23

Sep 242018

Compass

  • 149,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Compass down shifted on it's on and would not go. Doors locked and unlock alone. When car down shifted or slowed down by itself was nearly rear-ended on interstate 10. Thinking it was transmission oil, had it changed and filter change. Nope problem continues. Almost rear-ended again. This vehicle is not safe when it has a mind of its own. They recalled tipm module other makes of Jeep but not on the Compass, when reading car complaints from Compass owner's they have the same problem the other Jeep models experienced. Please help get this vehicles tipm module recalled for the safety of the driver's and those driving around them. If we do get rear-ended before this is remedied, I guarantee there will be a lawsuit against Chrysler Jeep!

- Milton, FL, USA

problem #22

Sep 252018

Compass

  • 100,000 miles
While traveling 45 miles an hour vehicle stopped driving. Engine was running car was in drive but the car would not accelerate. Several warning lights were on. The transmission control module was not working.

- Holly, MI, USA

problem #21

Aug 172018

Compass

  • 105 miles
I was driving the car in the freeway about 70mph. Out of no where car can not be accelerated and lost all power. I was lucky that traffic was not bad otherwise I would have got other and myself hurt. Call Jeep customer service and they advised me to pull over and put the car in neutral for 15-20 minutes to let the transmission "cool off" and to try it again. To my surprised it work. However about an hour later same thing happen. I take the car to my mechanic and he advise me to get rid of the car, he told me that Jeep knows well that this cars are transmission are overheating and losing all power but they refuse to make a recall and fix the issue. I can not express to you guys how scary is to be driving and known that at any minutes your car can lose all power and you will be hit or kill. I urge you guys to take this into consideration and help me and others that are driving this cars to have Jeep fix them. I call Jeep customer service and asked them why they have not done anything to resolve this issue, I was told that all she can do was "document" my concerns but that was all she can do. I am very upset knowing that even if I spend the money to put a new transmission this issue will not go away since all this transmissions are defective. Please make Jeep be responsible for this matter and have them recall all the cars that are affected by this issue. Otherwise the public is at risk to have mayor accidents and deaths. Thank you.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #20

Sep 142017

Compass

  • 79,101 miles
Vehicle is prone to cvt transmission overheating at high rate of speed in warm weather. This has happened 4 separate times now on the interstate highway system, the latest on interstate 95 South 50 miles North of the Florida line in Georgia. Car will stop any acceleration, transmission overheat light comes on and you cannot maintain speed with flow of traffic. Create a hazardous situation trying to exit the interstate highway, occurred at 70 mph. Jeep dealership cannot detect any problem when diagnosing from prior similar event. In addition wheel bearings in rear axles wear out on average every 35,000 miles I have replaced twice now plus ball joint in front needed replacement at between 36,000 and 40,000 miles

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #19

Jun 302017

Compass

  • 103,000 miles
In my 2011 Jeep Compass that I purchased from dave syverson' S in albert lea Minnesota in 2015 has had numerous issues with the transmission starting in less than a year from the purchase date. The first time was when I was coming home, up my gradual hill, when my car stopped being able to drive more than 10 mph and all of my gears were out up (P, N, D, R). It was "fixed" because my wiring to my transmission was completely corroded. Not once did the leaping of my car stop, the feeling of the car pushing through gears on it's in while in motion. In the winter months I took my car in to have the leaping looked at, the shop said there was nothing to fix. However this June I was driving North on highway 35 when an oil temperature gauge came on. I stopped, had it towed, the shop I had to go to checked transmission fluid and filter (after I called five times to tell them to check these things) they said it needed replaced. I drove my car to the Jeep dealer and it was replaced after two weeks of not having a car. My car was given a pretty clean bill of health. However last night (June 30th, 2017) I was driving home 8 miles and when accelerating from a red light it was like I was stuck in neutral and my rpms revved high but I was going no where. I pulled over and left my car in a safe spot. My transmission has clearly stopped working for whatever reason.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #18

Mar 012014

Compass

  • 7,000 miles
Power train issue - the vehicle would be at a stop and in first gear, when taking off and moving and shifting into second, once in second or sometimes even in first when vehicle moving the vehicle would come out of gear causing the whole car to jerk and feel as thought you had just been rear-ended. The other issue is sometimes the shifter would be in neutral and it would get stuck. This is when the vehicle was stationary in park or at a complete stop. You couldn't move it at all into reverse first or anything. Multiple times I would have to leave the vehicle and come back and try to put it in to gear and push clutch in etc... until it would come unstuck. This vehicle dealership 20+ times for the drive train alone& the stick shift has been replaced-transmission worked on& they can't explain the shifter getting stuck in the neutral area. It is not really in neutral either.my car was starred with something the last time I brought it in by the mechanic because of all the issues.I want to say all the issues started about a year after I bought the car, first with the vehicle locking me out of the car.the security system seized and I couldn't start my car or anything and it had to be towed at about 9,000 miles. This car was bought brand new. The warranty is up on the drive train and all the dealership does is tell me everything reads find and we found no issues. They didn't even fix the stick shift going out of gear until I brought in multiple times and they finally had the service manager driving it because I brought it in so many times. It finally did it to the service manager and he immediately brought it back and had them fix it. I am not exactly certain of the time it first started - I can only give an estimate. I know it started about 6 months after I bought the car. I have had multiple issues with this car. I have another safety complaint in.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #17

Dec 142016

Compass

  • 130,000 miles
On the reported date my 2011 Jeep Compass 2.4L 4X4 was remote started and ran for approximately 15-20 minutes before getting in and driving off. The engine had warmed up about half way to operating temperature. The temperature was 13 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Once I left and pulled out onto the street the transmission threw out 3 small and quick jerks. This happened 3 more times before getting onto the interstate. This is a brand new cvt less than a year old. The last cvt did the same shudder in the cold before it blew out a month later with 115,000 miles on it (barely out of warranty). The Jeep cvt seems to be under built for cold temperatures because the new transmission only has about 15,000 miles on it and is doing the exact same thing. Note: I was babying the throttle to get up to operating temps when this occurred.

- Stevensville, MI, USA

problem #16

Apr 202016

Compass

  • 41,000 miles
Today, 4/20/2016, I heard what sounded like metal dragging the ground in my 2011 Jeep Compass. After parking, I inspected under the car to find a metal pipe hanging down to the ground near the front left tire. I easily pulled the pipe out, and discovered it is the cvt transmission fill tube. It appears the tube rotted off from wherever it belongs. I have found multiple reports of the same thing happening to other Jeep models as well, particularly the patriot. While I have yet to determine any detrimental performance effects (it just happened today, and I have yet to drive it again), the tube could have easily dislodged while driving and struck a car behind me, endangering the lives of others. My Jeep only has around 40,000 miles, and has been kept up to date on all maintenance requirements. If I hadn't found other Jeep owners with the same problem, I would have concluded it was caused by a mechanic during a recent oil change. However, because I have found dozens of other complaints (and also assuming there are others who never even noticed that the tube had rotted off), I feel that the NHTSA should be aware of the issue, and take appropriate action. Thank you.

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #15

Apr 022015

Compass

  • 50,000 miles
The transmission overheat light comes on often and causes the car to lose power and or stall. This happens on any type of driving scenario highway, residential or stationary. I will take my foot off the gas and the light will go off. The windshield wipers will come on my themselves and I will have to physically turn them on and off for them to stop. More recently my oil change indicator came on when I have at least 1000 more miles before my car is due for an oil change

- East Hartford, CT, USA

problem #14

Sep 122015

Compass

  • 55,000 miles
Marked by an audible whine and the illumination of the transmission overheat light, the cvt on the 2.4L 4-cylinder engine in the 2011 Jeep Compass experiences significant and dramatic power loss. This is especially prevalent at sustained highway speeds creating a potentially unsafe situation. If the transmission overheats too much, the vehicle will not move until the transmission cools down. This issue first happened on my 2011 Jeep Compass in July 2014 and was temporarily rectified by Jeep. Their solution was to replace the cvt transmission fluid. However, this problem has returned this summer under highway use, especially on hot days. On Saturday, September 12, my family and I experienced not only the whine from the cvt, but significant power loss on the highway. Fortunately, having experienced this previously, I was able to pull the vehicle to the shoulder allowing the transmission to cool down without incident. Chrysler refuses to acknowledge the problem despite a plethora of evidence that this cvt transmission is defective. Here is a link to a video/case that is nearly identical to what I have experienced: Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=vnkezt0mr-4

- Parker, CO, USA

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