Diagsheet

2020 Jeep Compass · symptom sheet

Engine overheats or leaks coolant

  • 45owner reports
  • 44,000median miles
  • $700median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Jun 9, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

82 of the 138 complaints on this car are about the engine. 45 of those describe overheating, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Compass.

Tick what matches of 45 reports

34
39
1
15
3
1

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head gasket (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year as of Sep 19, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine 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

What owners paid

6 of the 45 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $5,000.

$600$700$5,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 34,000 and 64,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.

120
121
1022
1023
1224
725
426

What owners wrote

“Coolant temperature warning and sudden engine shutdowns. This has occurred multiple times in 3 months. started when car was at 50K miles. we have been unable to control the vehicle in traffic when this happens. Dealership (Dave Denis jeep-Dayton, Ohio) was unable to find a problem.”

Filed Sep 28, 2025 · 50,000 miles

“2020 Jeep Compass ran hot and started beeping. First was told it needed a system flush by mechanic. There was no prior warnings of any sort as the car has has had regular fluid changes (Oil etc) it appeared on 8/17/2024. Now its a 'transmission coolant fail' I have no idea how this happened at 91k miles.”

Filed Aug 26, 2024 · 91,000 miles

“Vehicle experience a dashboard message stating “High Coolant Temperature” or “Coolant Temperature Too High” followed by an immediate engine shutdown.” it happens while I'm driving or at a idle.”

Filed Oct 2, 2023

“While at a stoplight the engine stalled and the instrument cluster displayed a "coolant temperature high" message. After restarting the engine the temperature gauge displayed the normal mid temp. This has happened once before when reversing in the driveway at home. This scenario is identical to the open investigation at NHTSA from December 2022.”

Filed May 31, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 45 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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