Problems · by component

2008 Jeep Compass structure problems

42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Compass cite structure, 24% of all 172 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
42
24% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Front and Rear Crossmember Corrosion (X69 Warranty Extension) - 2008-2012 Dodge Caliber & Jeep Compass/Patriot- NHTSA ID # 10140027 My Daughter was recently given a 2008 Jeep Compass by a family member for her 16th birthday. We took it to our local Auto serviceman who checked the car out, and made us aware of the Warranty Extension b/c the Font Crossmembers are rusted out. We live in Ohio and would qualify for the Warranty, yet the car is past the 10 year timeframe. Other than this issue, the car is in great shape, only 85K miles. I contacted the dealership and Chrysler about the issue, and both said they would not honor the warranty. My questions are, is there anything else I can do, and if this is done as an extended warranty, are all customers formally notified? Why would the dealership not ever recommend the fix if they serviced the car, which according to this family member, never happened? There has been no accident, but the car rattles a little when driven, so I want to fix it before something does happen.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2021StructureODI 11443771
“2008 JEEP PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2010. IN 2019 WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES AND NOW VIISIBLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE, MY MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED THROUGH WITH RUST AND WAS SOFT AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDS REPLACING ($1,750). I CONTACTED FCA (FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILE) AND THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2019StructureODI 11280162
“I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE CROSSMEMBER ON MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS IN THE FRONT DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING STEERING ISSUES WHEN TURNING (LOUD CLUNK SOUND). THE COST IS EXPENSIVE AND I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR CROSSMEMBER AS WELL. I WAS ALSO UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL AND NEVER CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO COME IN FOR REPLACEMENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2019StructureODI 11203956
“OUR 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAS A CLUNKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE FRONT WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING THE WHEEL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THE SUBFRAME IS HEAVILY CORRODED AND IS RUSTING OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND WAS COVERED UNDER AN 'EXTENDED WARRANTY' BULLETIN THAT WE WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT AND NOW THAT HAS EXPIRED AND IT IS NOT COVERED ANYMORE. I WAS TOLD THE BULLETIN EXPIRED 9/2017 SO NOW 1 YEAR AND 7 MONTHS LATER MY VEHICLE WITH ONLY 112K MILES IS GOING TO NEED AN EXPENSIVE FIX OR BASICALLY BE JUNKED. THE 2007 VEHICLES HAD A RECALL AND EVEN THOUGH MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 THERE IS NO RECOURSE AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2019StructureODI 11195476
“SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT MAKING THE CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND IT WOULD COST $1700 FOR REPAIR. NO NOTICE WAS SENT OUT TO OWNERS; ONLY MECHANICS. NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROBLEM. CAR WAS DRIVEN BY MY 82 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW. I AM HER SON IN LAW AND I WAS DRIVING HER CAR TO TAKE HER TO AN APPOINTMENT; AND SUDDENLY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE, GOING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SUB FRAME RUST. MY MECHANIC KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM JEEP, BUT RESEARCHING IT ONLINE CONFIRMED WHAT HE TOLD ME. JEEP KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BUT DID NOT RECALL THE CAR; JUST SENT NOTIFICATIONS TO MECHANICS, NOT THE OWNERS. MY MOTHER IN LAW HAD THE CAR INSPECTED IN JULY 2018 BY HER MECHANIC. VIN NUMBER INDICATED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON FRAME EXPIRED SEPT 2018. PROBLEM HAPPENED IN DEC. 2018. I CONFIRMED ALL THE ABOVE WITH LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP. WE APPROACHED MY MOTHER IN LAWS MECHANIC AND HE ADMITTED KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY MISSED IT IN INSPECTION OR CHOSE NOT TO TELL HER. THE CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR. OIL CHANGES ETC...79,000 MILES NEAR PERFECT BODY AND NOW I'M TOLD IT'S JUNK--AND ONLY WORTH $200! I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2019StructureODI 11173355
“MY FRONT/REAR CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED BADLY AND SWAY BAR RUSTED OFF. I BOUGHT THIS FROM A PRIVATE SELLER IN END OF 2016,I WAS JUST INFORMED FROM MIENIEKE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THAT THERE IS A 10 YEAR RECALL ON THIS. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID RECALL WARRANTY EXP MAY 2018. I WAS NEVER INFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER ABOUT THE RECALL TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR FROM MY TWO CHILDREN AND MYSELF. I NEED THIS FIXED,I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR AS I'M DISABLED AND CANT WORK ANYMORE. PLEASE HELP ME. PLEASE THIS ISN'T FAIR I WANT INFORMED ABOUT THIS. I SHOULD'VE GOT THE RECALL AS THE NEW OWNER. MY NAME IS [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2018Suspension, StructureODI 11142855

Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2008 Compass problem areas