YearToAvoid

2018 Jeep Compass Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 151 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Jeep Compass, 16% of its 942 total complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 21,000 miles. Seven crashes and four injuries are tied to this area, and no related recalls are listed.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
151
16% of 942
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
21,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the transmission needing repair shortly after the check engine light illuminated, sometimes near 19,000 miles.
  • Some drivers say the vehicle unexpectedly moved forward after the shifter was placed in reverse, leading to a collision.
  • Several owners describe a humming or banging noise from the drivetrain area when slowing down or when the 4-wheel drive system engaged the rear axle between 30-50 mph, often paired with vibration.
  • A few complaints mention drivetrain-related noise between 35-45 mph that dealers attributed to the drivetrain without a fix at the time.
  • One owner reported the transmission causing a loud noise and power loss during a total-loss crash after losing steering control at 65 mph.

When 2018 Jeep Compass transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 8, 2017, latest Jun 9, 2026.

2018 Jeep Compass transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter162017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q2
151 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q4 (16).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Jeep Compass

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Compass model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200729 (11%)
  2. 200812 (13%)
  3. 20094 (9%)
  4. 20104 (6%)
  5. 201137 (20%)
  6. 201226 (14%)
  7. 201327 (34%)
  8. 201435 (11%)
  9. 201510 (9%)
  10. 201644 (15%)
  11. 201742 (18%)
  12. 2018151 (16%)
  13. 201937 (11%)
  14. 202028 (20%)
  15. 20219 (11%)
  16. 202219 (9%)
  17. 20236 (13%)
  18. 20246 (12%)
  19. 20251 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2018 Jeep Compass have?
NHTSA lists 151 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Jeep Compass, which is 16% of the 942 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2018 Jeep Compass?
No. NHTSA's records show no related recalls listed for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2018 Jeep Compass.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Compass transmission problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2018 Jeep Compass is 21,000 miles.
Are the 2018 Compass transmission problems linked to crashes?
NHTSA data ties 7 crashes and 4 injuries to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Jeep Compass.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.