2018 Jeep Compass · symptom sheet
Auto start-stop will not restart the engine
- 34owner reports
- 30,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Mar 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
682 of the 943 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 34 of those describe auto start-stop failure.
Tick what matches of 34 reports
Auto start-stop failure on other Compass years
No other Compass model year has enough reports of auto start-stop failure for a sheet of its own. See every Compass year.
What this problem usually is
Start-stop complaints describe one moment: the engine shuts off at a light, as designed, and then doesn't come back when the driver lifts off the brake. Owners report sitting in traffic with a dead engine, having to shift to park and restart by hand, and dealers who find nothing wrong on the first visit. It usually happens more than once before anyone files.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (13 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
All 6 recalls on the 2018 Jeep Compass, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Compass
False overheat leading to loss of motive power. Closed dec 10, 2023.
Stall from crankshaft\camshaft failure. Closed jun 16, 2025.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 22,000 and 46,250 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Jeep Compass that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
No Start, Start Stop Inoperative, Cluster Message Service Start Stop System
No Start, Start Stop Inoperative, Cluster Messages to Service Shifter or Service Start Stop System
What owners wrote
“The Auto Start/Stop caused the starter to malfunction and burned out the battery and starter, causing the vehicle to stop in the middle of the highway and requiring it to be towed and now repaired. This has happened multiple times since we purchased the vehicle.”
Filed Feb 25, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 34 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 376 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 160 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 144 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 103 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 74 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 68 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 62 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 44 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 42 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 39 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 30 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 30 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 29 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 26 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 26 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 25 reports