2020 Jeep Compass Problems, Recalls & Reliability

254 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Jeep Compass, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 22,100 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2020 Jeep Compass has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

254Complaints
15/100Trouble index
1Recalls
19,126Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2020 sits among all Compass years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 82 complaints (32%) · typically ~22,100 miles
“I tried the auto start on the fob car would not start I tried to the push start nothing again . Did get warning coolant temp high Had to tow car They are investigating”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Compass
Electrical 66 complaints (26%) · typically ~33,000 miles
“Car showed false high coolant message. And the engine shut off and would not start again”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Compass
Other 31 complaints (12%)
“I was at a stop light and car just went dead. Before going dead a warning of “High Coolant Temperature” popped up and engine light came on and it went dead. Car would not start again and was towed to dealership. I’ve seen that their are lawsuits out there on this and no fix so I am not confident in…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Compass
Transmission & drivetrain 27 complaints (11%)
“The driveshaft failed at only 32,000 miles and the engine is failing. The dealership confirmed this is happening for other vehicles of my make and model.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Compass
Driver assistance 9 complaints (4%)
Speed control 7 complaints (3%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 49 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 19,126 miles. Half of those reports fall between 4,000 and 54,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (1)

VISIBILITY 20V208000 2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's…

Federal defect investigations

False overheat leading to loss of motive power PE22013 opened 2022, closed 2023

Technical service bulletins

406 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2020 Compass TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2020peak 58 in 20242026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2020 Jeep Compass reliable?

The 2020 Jeep Compass drew 254 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).

What are the most common 2020 Jeep Compass problems?

The top reported problems for the 2020 Jeep Compass are engine (82 complaints), electrical (66), and other (31).

At what mileage do 2020 Jeep Compass problems show up?

Owners most often report 2020 Jeep Compass problems around 19,126 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 4,000 and 54,000 miles.

Does the 2020 Jeep Compass have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2020 Jeep Compass. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.