Diagsheet

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 Sep 19, 2026

678 of the 937 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 34 of those describe auto start-stop failure.

Tick what matches of 34 reports

26
10
18
2
4
14

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.

18V-524Aug 9, 2018
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. 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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
17V-740Nov 21, 2017
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017-2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. 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."

Risk and remedy
Risk: An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update IPC software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T70.
17V-670Oct 24, 2017
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Compass

PE22-013opened Dec 2, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2019 to 2020

False overheat leading to loss of motive power. Closed dec 10, 2023.

NHTSA summary
On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22-013 to investigate allegations of loss of motive power accompanied by high coolant temperature messages on the dashboard of Model Year 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. At the time this investigation was opened, ODI was aware of fifteen Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for Model Year (MY) 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles alleging a loss of motive power (LOMP) while driving. The LOMP events were often accompanied by a high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high message appearing on the dashboard of the vehicle. In most incidents, the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages spontaneously self-corrected or were corrected after the vehicle was stopped and restarted. One complainant alleged no immediate restart, and the vehicle was towed. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened to assess the frequency and potential safety consequences of these engine shut down events. On January 19th, 2023, ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler US LLC (FCA) requesting pertinent information on the subject 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. FCA provided its full response on March 2nd, 2023. ODI has reviewed the information FCA provided as well as new reports submitted to NHTSA’s Vehicle Owner Questionnaire database. Based on a review of available information, ODI has identified 173 subject vehicles that likely experienced a shutdown event associa
RQ22-002opened Jul 22, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2015 to 2016

Stall from crankshaft\camshaft failure. Closed jun 16, 2025.

NHTSA summary
On December 13, 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received recall 16V-907 from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) that identified a safety defect involving crankshaft or camshaft sensor failures on certain 2016 Model Year Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles. The failure of the crankshaft or camshaft sensor may lead to a loss of motive power (LOMP) in the recalled vehicles. Following the receipt of recall 16V-907, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received 127 vehicle owner’s questionnaires (VOQ), in which consumers allege experiencing crankshaft or camshaft failures on similar vehicles not included in the recall. On July 22, 2022, this Recall Query was opened to further assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect described in the recall. During this investigation, ODI sent two information request (IR) letters to FCA. The first letter was sent on August 15, 2022, and the second on July 12, 2024. Responses to these IR letters, that included manufacturer claim data related to the alleged defect, were received on September 26, 2022, and September 6, 2024, respectively. Analysis of ODI and FCA claim data identified two failure modes relating to intermittent crankshaft and camshaft sensor loss of signal. The first failure mode involves a faulty crankshaft or camshaft electrical connector, as identified in recall 16V-907. The second failure mode involves a faulty crankshaft and/or camsh

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.

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519
420
621
322
723
324
425
126

What owners wrote

“My start/stop system stopped working suddenly and it jerks forward almost stalling as it accelerates and decelerates. The radio glitches and flips between settings at a fast pace. It randomly loses power when accelerating and traction control flashes on dashboard. The check engine light came on for a few days then went off.”

Filed Apr 27, 2025

“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

“Backup Camera rarely works most of the time just a black screen. The main problem however is that the auto start/stop is stalling my Vehicle when it tries to restart. Sometimes immediately other time in let me drive a tiny bit and than stalls. i have been to the dealership over 6 times and it continues to get worse. i've only had this vehicle 2 years in November.”

Filed Sep 9, 2024

“When vehicle in park mode it will not start. Seems to be an issue with Start/Stop system. Must place in neutral to start car. Auxiliary and main battery replaced. Seems to be bringing auxiliary battery down”

Filed Aug 20, 2023

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.

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