NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 43 complaints against the 2023 Jeep Compass. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2023 Jeep Compass complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 Jeep Compass has generated 43 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2023 Jeep Compass has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Jeep pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Jeep Compass include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 5 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the instrument panel was illuminated while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the battery had failed and needed to be charged. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,074.” (NHTSA Complaint #11694095)
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2023 Jeep Compass have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 3 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “1) The Power Take-Off Unit (PTU) in the drivetrain failed suddenly while driving at approximately 60 mph. This is a critical drivetrain component responsible for transferring power. The PTU is currently at the Jeep dealership where the repair order is open, and it is available for inspection upon request. 2) The PTU failure caused the vehicle to lose the ability to operate safely and became inoperable in the middle of travel on the highway. This placed my husband and son at risk of being stranded on the side of the road at highway speeds, vulnerable to collisions, limited ability to maneuver the vehicle, and potential loss of control. It also created risk to other drivers due to sudden deceleration and inability to move the vehicle to safety under its own power. 3) Yes. An independent mechanic first confirmed that the issue was related to the drivetrain. The Jeep dealership later confirmed that the failed component is the Power Take-Off Unit and that it is covered under the powertrain warranty. A repair order is open, and the part is currently on backorder. 4) Yes. The vehicle was inspected by a local independent mechanic immediately after the breakdown, and then by the authorized Jeep dealership after it was towed for warranty repair. No police or insurance inspection occurred because the incident was a mechanical failure without a collision. The manufacturer’s dealership has acknowledged the drivetrain failure. 5) No, there were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms prior to the sudden failure. The vehicle was operating normally up until the moment the PTU failed on November 27, 2024 at approximately 11:40 AM. The failure was immediate and unexpected.” (NHTSA Complaint #11704292)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 Jeep Compass have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 3 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “While driving 65 miles an hour down the road my vehicle hit a hard stop( felt like I ran into a brick wall) . memo on my car popped up, saying service transmission. Being completely stopped and using the gas, it wraps up to four or five RPMs just to get me rolling. There’s not much power behind the gas pedal. Thankfully, the person behind me did not tail end me when my vehicle hard stopped.” (NHTSA Complaint #11700597)
Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2023 Jeep Compass include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 2 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “The steering has a very sharp plastic that can make cut to the hands while driving and cause an accident. It looks like the finish of the plastic was not done correctly so when you touch those two molding it feels sharp. Maybe the pictures does not show but definitely needs to be checked with someone put their hands on the wheel on the side steering wheel” (NHTSA Complaint #11628329)
Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2023 Jeep Compass has generated 2 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “The Forward Collison icon is on, on my dash. I get a screen message the service is not working, then another to say the signal is lost. I cannot reprogram/reconnect the service in Uconnect. Makes no difference for icon whether engine is running or not. This started in November 2023. The dealer is saying sensor needs replaced. Which sensor? He indicated locations of several sensors. Dealer also says front bumper and grill and something under hood needs removed to replace sensor. Takes 5 hours to replace. Procedure seems very invasive. Reading on Jeep forums on same topic does not mention this procedure and time. Saying part taken out, cleaned or replaced. My 2023 Jeep Compass Latitude has 2580 miles as of today. Ridiculous that this is happening so soon or at all. Please send me info and reply to [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11587116)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Jeep Compass by the NHTSA or Jeep. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An IPC display that is not bright enough may not clearly show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 29, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC’s number for this recall is 88A.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC’s numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 Jeep Compass:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Jeep to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Jeep must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 Jeep Compass qualifies as a lemon under California law, Jeep may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Jeep a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Jeep dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Jeep pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Jeep a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Jeep is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 Jeep Compass has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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