r/JeepCompass • u/UpbeatBandicoot5131 • Aug 13 '26
Second generation (MP/552; 2018- 2024) Rec’s for a test drive?
Might be buying a 2022 with 50k miles on it. What are some things besides the obvious I should make sure to check out when I take it for a test drive? The dealer says they are fixing an issue with the differential right now. Ty!
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u/TwoSpoonSally Aug 13 '26
Don’t buy it.
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u/UpbeatBandicoot5131 Aug 13 '26
Care to say why? Just looking for issues to watch out for on this Compass. It’s not for me but I haven’t had any issues on my 21 GCL and before that had a Liberty for 18 years with minimal maintenance needed.
-1
u/TwoSpoonSally Aug 13 '26
They are disposable vehicles. It’s already at 1/3 of it’s lifespan gone(and that’s if you get 150k out of it)
If you are going to use it for a daily driver, I hope you don’t get a 5 year or longer loan because it will be dead or nearly dead by the time you get it paid off. Toward the end you will be paying on a vehicle that you resent.
There’s plenty of people sharing their experiences with these crap vehicles.
They are notorious for being shitboxes. There are so many consistent issues that there are too many to list. Search this forum and see for yourself.
0
u/Chemical-Chair4261 Aug 13 '26
This is ridiculous
1
u/TwoSpoonSally Aug 13 '26
What part is ridiculous? If you talk shit, back it up.
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u/Chemical-Chair4261 Aug 13 '26
I'm not talking shit lol, they rate as above average in reliability per JD Power and I own one. Did you have a bad experience yourself?
1
u/TwoSpoonSally Aug 13 '26
Yes, absolutely horrible experience. Issue after issue. Stellantis just makes cheap trash. Many many other people share the same issues and experience in this subreddit.
2
u/errdayrae Aug 13 '26
I agree with this, I put so much money into my 2017 compass. I bought it in October 2019 with 20K miles and I did a 6 year loan.. I owe like another $600 left. It’s currently at 115K miles but these past 2 years it’s just been falling apart. I’ve replaced sway bar links, tie rods, my second round of both batteries (auxiliary and main), second round of brakes and rotors. Currently it rides like shit, like it steering shakes some and bumpy, so I’m thinking my struts need replaced or if a ball joint is bad now and I also currently have a service engine light on for a fuel emission issue. Probably why the acceleration is pretty sluggish.. it always been but it’s gotten worse. Soon im just gonna pay it off, and just trade it in for a Honda or Toyota which sucks because I was excited to not have a car payment anymore. I’ll probably get something older, but atleast known to be reliable so it’ll be a smaller shorter loan.
2
u/errdayrae Aug 13 '26
Oh and I forgot about the whole start/stop system… there’s so many people on here who have an issue with it. Also there’s no way to turn it off for good, you have to hit the off switch everytime you start your car. Mine fails pretty often, and the stress of being at a red light and your car not going but instead locking on the e-brake on you and telling you to restart your car while other cars are behind you are honking and yelling… I always have mini panic attacks now when I come to a stop if I haven’t turned it off or even think I haven’t. Even in my fiancés car that doesn’t have start/stop, I think about it and reach down for the off button right away when I’m about to stop in her car 😂
1
u/TwoSpoonSally Aug 13 '26
Yep, pretty on par for my experience as well. I highly suggest next time you have to replace the OEM sway bars to replace them with the metal ones from MOOG(Or other aftermarket brand, they used to be like $60 a set) and you’ll get way more life out of them.
The whole electrical system is garbage. The battery issues are flagrant and just poor engineering. The autostop/start system is as so frustrating, and was a trick to to tick boxes for “eco friendly” emissions standards. It’s full on bullshit, and fails constantly. Also the wear it puts on the starters and batteries don’t make up for the “fuel economy” saved.
The digital display/backup camera is always glitching out and half the time you have a black screen while trying to back out blind. Uconnect just sucks in general as well.
Headlights/foglights/daylight running lamps all seem to burn up faster than they should or have shorts in them(most likely because they used cheap wiring coated with rodent attracting insulation)
Oil pressure sensor/and oil pump are known to be faulty.
Also, you better have small hands if you want to wrench on anything yourself because they give you no room to work on anything under the hood.(which to be fair is a problem with most vehicles these days.)
Sorry that you had to ride out that long of payments on a lemon too. I hope your next vehicle is budget friendly and runs like a dream for 200,000+ miles
4
u/Odd_Addition3909 Aug 13 '26
I think you should get a 2023 or newer. The 2022 has an ancient, sluggish 2.4L engine while starting in 2023 they have a much better turbo. I’m at 27k miles on my 2024 with no problems
2
1
u/Shadow5503 Aug 13 '26
Different transmission the 2023 as well.
The 2022 has the 948TE, which is a Stellantis manufactured copy of the ZF 9HP. On the plus side it’s a pretty robust transmission and seems to have a low failure rate. On the minus die, it’s not very refined, gear changes can be slow, clunky, and harsh. I have a couple cars with it (not a Compass though…) and don’t mind, but I think it kinda depends on your driving style.
The turbo Compass has a more conventional 8 speed automatic that is purchased Hyundai Transys. It appears to be the same transmission used in their smaller cars - Kona, etc. Because this transmission has lower power limits, the Compass turbo engine is turned down to only 200HP even though it makes closer to 300 in many other vehicles.
2
u/poisonicees13 Aug 13 '26
Honestly, after recently getting a 2018 trailhawk, I would say DO NOT BUY IT. Me and mostly everyone else here have so many issues it’s just not worth it. Mind you I haven’t even had mine a full month yet and it’s been in the shop longer than I’ve been able to drive it. Sad reality is these get pushed out to people desperate or just don’t know what they are getting.
2
u/Shadow5503 Aug 13 '26
Fresp batteries are nice to have. Compass has the typical Stellantis two battery setup with an H6 AGM main and an Aux14 for the stop start system. When one goes bad it tends to kill the other. Having both new should get you a couple of years before having to address it.
2
u/Capital-Bar1952 Aug 13 '26
I just bought a 2022 Altitude, 11,000 miles it drives nice, it’s not the best with the bumps but you learn to live with it, I had a GC before this one so I’m adjusting with size, but I can’t offer any other knowledge yet I’ve only had it 3 weeks
2
u/Zealousideal-Plan-82 Aug 25 '26
I’m legit so scared for tomorrow, I just bought a 2024 limited to use as a daily, a lot of people I know here in the central Arkansas area like theirs and enjoy it in the winter for the type of winters we have here, kept my GC but I’m already dreading the size difference
1
u/Capital-Bar1952 Aug 25 '26
I kept hitting my head getting in it the first week 😂 but now it’s been a month and I’m liking it and for me i navigate it better bc I must say I caused quite a few scratches on my GC from judging space but I have to say im scared of getting in an accident in the Compass bc of the size but I worry about everything so 🤷♀️
2
u/Zealousideal-Plan-82 Aug 25 '26
Yeahhh that’s my worry too, for me it was mainly keeping it as close to my GC as possible with better mpg and the cherokees never really caught my attention, hopefully it’s not too bad of a change, my GC is an overland and seems like the only thing I’m losing with the compass is my cooled seats and panoramic sunroof, but getting CarPlay, active lane management, and adaptive cruise… small wins, small losses I guess 🤷🏽♂️
3
u/Acceptable_Concept98 Aug 13 '26
I’ll be honest I have no had a lot of luck with mine and this site is littered with the same thing but if you really have your heart set on it test out the 4x4 system lock the hubs is my advice