2018 Jeep Compass · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 160owner reports
- 22,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
521 of the 943 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 160 of those describe infotainment. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.
Narrower sheets: Backup camera goes black or freezes (55 reports) · Infotainment screen freezes or goes black (28 reports)
Tick what matches of 160 reports
Infotainment on other Compass years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (122 reports), the camera (63 reports) and the software (11 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 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."
All 6 recalls on the 2018 Jeep Compass, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
13 of the 160 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $555 to $1,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,000 and 40,000 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 26 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.
Radio Message "Power Surge On USB Detected" Customers may comment on the following: ● The radio displays the message: “Power surge on USB hub detected” Fig. 1. NOTE: After the message appears, no USB devices function in the hub (no charging, no data).
SOS and Assistance Call Not Working After Radio Exchange Unit Installed
Apple CarPlay Does Not Work Or Not Connecting
Radio Remained On After Ignition Is Switched Off, Dead Battery From Excessive Radio Current Draw
22 more on the 2018 Jeep Compass page.
What owners wrote
“Hello,2018 jeep compass 4x4 with 35,000 miles. Backup camera screen half blacked out, can't use features without or see. Many of these jeep screen radios are defective and should be recalled at 900. Also sway bar links are weak,broke two times. Should be recalled do to plastic like part and for a front end that is disgusting. Are these being investigated?”
Filed Jul 24, 2025 · 35,000 miles
“After 40,000 miles on the vehicle The stereo screen went black. By doing so, the backup camera does not work enabling us to see what is behind the vehicle.”
Filed Oct 29, 2023 · 40,000 miles
“The touch screen stereo that also houses the back up camera is going out at only 40,000 miles. This controls many functions and randomly stops working and works again. It first started one month ago but is not fully out. It will have lines through the screen then they go away on their own.”
Filed Apr 3, 2023 · 40,000 miles
“The touchscreen laminate on the display is rapidly detaching from the screen. This causes a safety issue in distractions in the screen causing accidental calls, changed radio stations, and generally making any adjustments to the vehicle because of a faulty screen.”
Filed Feb 7, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 160 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- 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
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 34 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