2018 Jeep Compass · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 26owner reports
- 14,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Mar 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
151 of the 943 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 26 of those describe transmission shudder.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (25 reports)
Tick what matches of 26 reports
Transmission shudder on other Compass years
No other Compass model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Compass year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Compass
Northwest chrysler jeep dodge sale issue. Closed nov 23, 2020.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,000 and 27,000 miles, from the 20 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.
GEAR, Rack and Pinion If looking to replace the rack and pinion due to a clunking / knocking noise, please use the Chassis Ear Tool to pinpoint the exact location of the noise following the proper diagnostics.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
What owners wrote
“When I drive the car jerks and often speeds up or slows down on its own, it hesitates and sometimes I am afraid some one will hit me from behind”
Filed Mar 26, 2024
“Stalled in the middle of traffic and would not switch out of gears almost was rear ended. Acceleration delayed and jerks when accelerating going up hill. Check engine light comes on if idling too long. Constant need for oil changes and burning smell of oil leak. Smoke coming from hood due to oil leak. Misfires and if idle temperature of coolant and transmission increases.”
Filed Oct 25, 2022
“The automatic start stop function constantly goes out, TCM unable to send signal to transmission to shift. Caused the car to stall in an intersection and self applied the emergency brake at around 5mph causing the vehicle to jerk to a halt. Car inexplicably throws service engine code and then transmission downshifts to 30mph from higher speeds nearly causing wreck.”
Filed Feb 26, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 26 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
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
- 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
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 26 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 25 reports