9.0

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,323 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.

2018 Jeep Compass lights problems

lights problem

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2018 Jeep Compass Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #49

Dec 302023

Compass

  • miles

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

I was getting my car serviced, I was getting a State inspection the mechanic told me they could not inspect the vehicle due to the fact that a headlight was not working.. they tried replacing the headlight it still did not work.. I had to leave without getting my vehicle inspected!! I was going to try to take it to the dealer to try and get it fixed.. I checked on line and found several other Jeep owners of this make and model also 2018 Jeep Compass had electrical problems involving the headlights.. at times I would turn vehicle on and both lights would be on. On other times only one headlight would be working. Some times if I would cycle thru the switch both lights would come on, other times not.. This is unsafe driving around with one headlight and not knowing when it will happen.I have spoken to both dealerships in the area, and they are no help.. they want me to bring vehicle in to troubleshoot the problem openended I do not have the money for this and Since it is happening to other people with this particular year and make vehicle I think it is a problem that should be looked into..by Jeep! This just started on my vehicle when the mileage reached approximately 32,000 miles I have owned this vehicle since 2019. Thanks for any help available..

- Richford, VT, USA

problem #48

Nov 132023

Compass

  • miles
Head lights not working.

- Waukegan , IL, USA

problem #47

Oct 012021

Compass

  • miles
HID headlights only work intermittently. no headlights randomly while driving is extremely dangerous. two dealers have reviewed vehicle and have no fix. issue is constant and one light is off 95% of the time, sometimes driver side, sometimes passenger side, sometimes no lights at all. no warning lamps in the dash, vehicle thinks its working fine. this has been ongoing for over a year.

- Brookfield, CT, USA

problem #46

Oct 192023

Compass

  • miles

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

The headlights do not work reliably. The first time this happened was in June but seemingly resolved itself until this last week. Sometimes the passenger side only works, sometimes the driver side only, sometimes neither side. They will come on and go off or only one will come on or go off as they please. There is no pattern or rhyme or reason. There are no warning lights; in fact, the car says Lights On, the symbol for the high beams shows as on when I pull or push forward, but neither is. This has not been inspected yet but will be shortly. There are several complaints online about this intermittent headlight issue. Even after relays, ballasts, and fuses have been changed. The car is only 5 years old, the last thing I should be worrying about is the headlights.

- Newington, CT, USA

problem #45

Jul 102023

Compass

  • miles
2018 Jeep Compass Limited has the OEM Bi-Xenon option equipped. The issue is with both headlights operating intermittently. It does not matter what position the headlight switch is in (Auto, On) they continue to alternate turning on and off. Sometimes one will come on and the other will be extremely delayed (15-20 minutes), sometimes both are delayed, and sometimes they do not come on at all. Shutting off and restarting the engine power does not help. The issue seems sometimes is worse if stopping for, at night, errands where the headlights then will not turn on at all. Later, next day, the whole issue starts again. This is a very serious issue.

- Bonita Springs, FL, USA

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problem #44

Oct 072023

Compass

  • miles
Intermittent issue occurs where my radio screen looses power or displays code error please restart system, blinkers stop working, thermometer on display shows 2 dashes, climate controls stop working, hazards won-??t work, directional buttons on steering wheel and ok button do not work to change display on dash. all of these happen at same time intermittently

- Waveland, MS, USA

problem #43

Sep 042023

Compass

  • miles

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

Headlights come on sometimes sometime, other times driver will come and passanger side won't, or passanger side will come on and driver side will not. Seems to be some sort of issue other then headlights because when they do work they seem to work fine but randomly one or the other does not work. Makes it unsafe to drive at night and worry that if we are out for a late drive we may randomly end up with no headlights at all.

- Couerdalene, ID, USA

problem #42

Jul 212022

Compass

  • miles
2018 Jeep Compass with OEM Bi-Xenon Headlights w/DRL. The right headlamp assembly bulb will frequently not turn on no matter what position you turn the headlights on to. Some days I am left with only driving with one operating headlight since the other won-??t flicker on. This has been brought to my local dealership who found no source to problem.

- Raymore, MO, USA

problem #41

Jan 022023

Compass

  • miles
We purchased our 2018 Jeep Compass in December 2022, we started having problems with the headlights in January 2023 only 1 month after purchasing it. The headlights stopped working completely. We took the jeep to our local jeep dealership and they couldn't figure out what was going on with the headlights but confirmed it was the electrical system. They called their Electrical Engineer in and it was confirmed it was something going on with the electrical system via the headlamps so we replaced them along with the bulbs and it went again 3 months later. Meanwhile, because this is an issue with the 2018 everywhere the parts were on back order. It took us 2 months to get our car repaired. Currently, our jeep is in the shop again as it went out while my daughter was driving home from work at night in the county (where there are no street lights) and she almost ran off the road. This is a serious and dangerous issue and situation. I've seen a ton of complains for this same issue with the 2018 Jeep Compass model but I don't see where there has been a recall. I guess the recall will happen after someone loses their life per usual. Our jeep is in the shop yet again awaiting repair for the same issue. It appears we will be out of a car for another 2 months.

- Byhalia, MS, USA

problem #40

May 032023

Compass

  • miles
A few months after purchase, my hazard lights came on while the vehicle was off and parked in my driveway. I couldn't get them to turn off until I disconnected the battery. I scheduled a diagnostic with the jeep dealership and before I could get it in, it started happening while I was driving it as well. I never know when it's going to happen. At the diagnostics appointment, they told me it's a problem with the electrical system but that they weren't sure exactly what is causing it. They offered to replace two parts at about $1,500 cost to me that "might" keep it from happening again. They wouldn't honor the warranty. When I reached out to Jeep directly, they told me it isn't covered. Since then it's gotten worse. The auto start/stop system doesn't work. Sometimes the hazard lights won't come on at all. I've been pulled over for driving with them on and I've been unable to turn them on when I needed them. I spoke with someone at Jeep again today because they have been on for that last 2.5 hours and I have to start my car periodically to keep the battery from dying, and was told I needed to take it to another dealership and pay for another diagnostic. I don't feel safe driving this car. I stopped at rest area recently and my hazards stuck on when I got back in the car. I disconnected the battery to reset it but it happened again as soon as the battery was reconnected. I had to drive on the highway with them on. I can't signal lane changes or turns and people get in front of me, slow down, and turn their hazards on to try and let me know that mine are too. This isn't safe and Jeep won't take care of it.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #39

Mar 032022

Compass

  • miles

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

Vehicle headlights work intermittently. Either will go out unexpectedly. Car has been to dealership. Problem not solved. Relays have been replaced, etc. There is a lengthy forum on this topic with this Jeep model; many others have this issue. This is a profound safety issue. When lights do not work, my daughter has been forced to pull off of road, exacerbating the safety issue. Please urge a recall on this matter

- Bolivia, NC, USA

problem #38

Feb 092021

Compass

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the passenger-€™s side headlamp suddenly failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the headlamp and the relay on separate occasions. After the replacement the driver-€™s side headlamp operated intermittently. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

problem #37

Nov 052022

Compass

  • miles
Recently purchased this 2018 Jeep Compass. Screen display brightness is blinding at night. Asked dealer about NHTSA Safety Recall T70/NHTSA 17V-740. Dealer said recall had been performed and only option was to replace instrument cluster at over $1000 parts & labor. This is not acceptable for an issue clearly described in the NHTSA Recall. There needs to be a reflash or software or sensor update. I cannot confirm what actions were actually taken by the dealer. Contacted FCA corporate and was told nothing further can be done. The cockpit central display is blindingly bright at night and is a safety hazard to driver and other motorists. It cannot be adjusted. The dealer was able to reproduce the issue but says recall performed and nothing further can be done. There were no warnings or messages with this issue as it is a defect or malfunction in components. If this cannot be resolved, I will simply trade the vehicle in as this should be the manufacturer's responsibility to correct this very unsafe situation. Thank you.

- Check, VA, USA

problem #36

Jun 012021

Compass

  • miles
My Jeep has had intermittently headlight issues, along w/ blind spot not working on driver side, + start/stop doesn-€™t work. I-€™ve had the headlights replaced, didn-€™t work. Been told that because issue isn-€™t happening when in dealers care, then they can-€™t fix for other issues. -€¨this didn-€™t start happening until UCONNECT bricked my radio system with an update and I had to get it repaired (took two months) -€" I firmly believe it-€™s a electrical issue that stems from that but nobody (Jeep) is listening.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #35

Oct 152022

Compass

  • miles
Failure of headlights turning on puts fellow drivers in danger. The lights work but turn on and off at random times. I do have the fog lights that work but I still need my headlights to work especially in the dark and rain.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #34

Sep 012022

Compass

  • miles
Vehicle has Bi-Xenon Headlights which have started to intermittently fail while driving. Sometimes one light lights up alternating side to side and sometimes both will not light, . Sometimes one will come on immediately and the other will take up to 5 minutes to light. On two occasion both have shut off while driving at night. Definite safety issue. Occurs irrespective of the headlight switch position (Auto or On) Dealer has been unable to replicate the issue on demand.

- Ridley Park, PA, USA

problem #33

Jul 312022

Compass

  • miles
My head lights go out and will not come on while driving and the parking brakes turns on by itself

- San Antonio , TX, USA

problem #32

Jul 132022

Compass

  • miles
I have a 2018 Jeep Compass with 22k miles. The touch screen panel is delaminating, it started in June at the top of the screen and has already moved almost halfway down the screen. It-€™s causing -€œghost touches-€. The radio station changes on its own, the thermostat and seat heaters are turning off and on. It-€™s distracting while driving. The headlights intermittently stopped working about a month ago, one headlamp will work, the other won-€™t, then they will alternate, then neither will work. I normally keep the headlights on auto. I switched the dial to every setting, tried engaging high beams and nothing. I tried power cycling the car and no change. At one point no lights would come on, fog, parking or running lights. I had to drive home on the highway and backroads with no lights at night. I don-€™t know if the lights are going to work when I have to drive at night. I can-€™t see the roads in poorly lit areas, other cars can-€™t see me and when they do they flash their high beams at me which is distracting. It took me a month to get an appointment with the dealer but they were unable to look at my car the day of service due to staffing issues. I had to reschedule for another day another 2 weeks away. I feel like this is an accident waiting to happen. Overall the Jeep has always had bugs, but nothing like the screen and headlights.

- South Windsor, CT, USA

problem #31

Jul 282022

Compass

  • miles
Headlights not working properly, sometimes one Headlight turns and then the other. Sometimes neither turn on you have to keep messing with switch until you finally get it to work. So frustrating!

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #30

Sep 092020

Compass

  • 34,000 miles
Auxiliary battery in this causing major other issues within the car. Causing power to transmission to be delay and resulting in both your check engine and check transmission lights to be activated.

- Saint Petersbur, FL, USA

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