Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2009 Jeep Compass, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Jeep Compass year.
The parts named most often across 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
1 crash
1 crash
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Compass. The contact initially became aware that the rear passenger’s side tire was resting at an angle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the rear struts replaced; however, the mechanic informed the contact that the rear suspension was extremely corroded. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was not safe to be driven. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
Jeep extended the warranty for the front and rear body subframes. I had my vehicle inspected at the onset of the warranty. I again had an inspection done at my local dealer on 4/15/2022. Since that date the vehicle has been driven approximately 7000 miles. A week ago as I was making a turn at traffic speed I heard a thumping sound. On 11/12/2023 with the vehicle on jackstands it was confirmed that the rear subframe on the drivers side had completely broken and the subframe on the passenger side was rusted through as well. I called Jeep US on 11/14/2023 and it was stated that the warranty was no longer in effect with them. I believe the inspection was either not completed properly or the damage was already in process. This could have resulted in a horrific incident as there were no warning signs and thinking that the inspection had not shown any potential hazard.
front and rearsubframe extremely rusted, making it dangerous to drive. fuse box under front hood in front of driver side rusting out wiring. Not main fuse box but the one with relays.
The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard with several warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle would overheat with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was hot. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where she was informed that the electronic stability control module was defective. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure immediately returned and the brake failure worsened. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
I was informed about my rotting subframe on my 2009 Jeep Compass about a year ago. I took it to a Jeep dealer for a second opinion as well as contacted Jeep. I was told about some extended warranty that I was not eligible for. Now, 1 year later, my vehicle will not pass inspection without replacement of the subframe. I contacted Jeep again. Of course, since this was extension of warranty, only the original owners were notified. This should have been a recall. This is a safety hazzard and should not have happened to vehicle just over 10 years. Jeep purposely did not issue a recall to save money.
FRONT KFRAME/SUBFRAME CROSS MEMBER RUSTED INTO. FRONT OF LF LOWER CONTROL ARM PULLED OUT OF SUBRAME BECAUSE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED INTO AT THAT SPOT. ALSO BACK SEEM FROM LEFT SIDE ALL THE WAY TO RIGHT SIDE HAS ABOUT A 1 INCH SEAM/TEAR FROM RUST
SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT CHRYSLER VEHICLES. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE CUT DOWN TO 30 MPH AND INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON, ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL AND "RED LIGHTNING BOLT" (ETC ELECTRONIC THROTTLEBODY CONTROL). WHAT IS HAPPENING IS YOUR COMPUTER HAS DETECTED SOMETHING WRONG AND HAS GONE INTO LIMP MODE WHICH IS ALLOWING THE VEHICLE ONLY ENOUGH POWER TO GET OFF THE ROAD (LIMP OFF THE ROAD). IT APPEARS DEALERS AND MECHANICS DON'T KNOW OR AREN'T TELLING. DON'T TELL THEM I HAVE THE SOLUTION, THEY ARE IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF YOU, DON'T GIVE THEM A HAND UP. THEY MAY WANT TO REPLACE YOUR THROTTLE BODY WHICH THEY CHARGE OVER $1,000 FOR AND IT DOESN'T FIX THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS CALIBRATION BETWEEN YOUR ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDDLE) POSITION SENSOR, COMPUTER AND ETC (THROTTLE) SENSOR. IT WILL COST YOU $0 AND 10 SECONDS TO SOLVE. GET IN, TURN THE KEY TO "ACCESSORY" POSITION JUST BEFORE TURNING THE ENGINE ON. LET ALL THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ON THE DASH RESET. ENGINE, "RED LIGHTNING BOLT" AND (IF EBRAKE IS ENGAGED) BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON. NOW PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR AND COUNT TO TEN. THE "RED BOLT" LIGHT SHOULD NOW TURN OFF AND YOU HAVE JUST RETEACHED OR CALIBRATED YOUR POSITION SENSOR. TURN THE KEY BACK OFF AND THEN TURN ON YOUR VEHICLE AND ENJOY THE RIDE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY FERRARIO AUTO TEAM OF SAYRE (102 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840, (570) 888-2367) THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT CROSS MEMBER BAR WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE PART; HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS MAINTAINED ITSELF ON APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS, AND EVERY 10-15 MINUTES IT SENDS ME AN ALARM, WARNING ME THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, AND THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING ACCORDINGLY.THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING IN USE AND IN MARCH.
2009 JEEP COMPASS MANUAL TRANSMISSION ENGINE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALSO AT IDLING. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT USUALLY STARTS BACK UP AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT START, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIGHT UP, BATTERY IS GOOD, NOTHING WRONG WITH STARTER. SOMETIMES IT WILL START WITHIN MINUTES, OTHER TIMES IT STARTS AFTER A DAY OR TWO... RANDOM. BREAK PEDAL USUALLY VERY STIFF. HAVE HAS IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ONLY HAVE IT START AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.
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.
TAKATA RECALL...AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THERES NOTHING/ NOBODY IN PASSENGER SEAT.
Showing 12 of 64 complaints.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 08V528000
NHTSA frontal crash test
Rated configuration: 2009 Jeep Compass 4-DR. w/SAB