YearToAvoid

2020 Jeep Compass Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Owners filed 28 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Jeep Compass, 20% of its 140 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 35,000. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this area on this model year. One fire was reported but no crashes or injuries.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
28
20% of 140
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
35,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Gear selector or actuator seizes and won't confirm park, sometimes triggering a warning that the car isn't actually in park.
  • Transmission slips hard, particularly in 4th gear, when revving to higher RPM or driving on the highway.
  • Engine stalls and shuts down after a false high-coolant-temperature warning, sometimes leaving the vehicle unresponsive to restart attempts.
  • Low oil pressure warning lights appear intermittently while driving around 30 MPH, accompanied by failure to shift gears and front-end shaking with abnormal noise.
  • Owners report the vehicle would not restart after a stall, requiring towing to a dealer for inspection.

When 2020 Jeep Compass transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 5, 2021, latest Sep 11, 2026.

2020 Jeep Compass transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2021Sep 2022Mar 2023Feb 2024Aug 2024Jun 2025Apr 2026Jul 2026
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2024 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 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. 20104 (6%)
  2. 201137 (20%)
  3. 201226 (14%)
  4. 201327 (34%)
  5. 201435 (11%)
  6. 201510 (9%)
  7. 201644 (15%)
  8. 201742 (18%)
  9. 2018151 (16%)
  10. 201937 (11%)
  11. 202028 (20%)
  12. 20219 (11%)
  13. 202219 (9%)
  14. 20236 (13%)
  15. 20246 (12%)
  16. 20251 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2020 Jeep Compass?
NHTSA lists 28 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Compass, which is 20% of the 140 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Jeep Compass transmission?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Compass.
At what mileage do these transmission issues usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 35,000 miles.
Did the 2020 Compass transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 0 injuries linked to these complaints, though 1 fire was reported.
How does the 2020 Compass compare to other years for this issue?
The 2020 model's 20% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is higher than most other Compass years, including 2019 at 11% and 2021 at 11%, though lower than 2013's 34%.

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.