Check a VIN

2018 Jeep Compass: stuck in gear or won't shift

18 of the 951 complaints about the 2018 Jeep Compass describe stuck in gear or won't shift.

owner complaints
18
of this car's complaints
2%
typical mileage
25,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 31 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Stuck in gear or won't shift by model year

What owners say

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · OH

Aux battery failed; start/stop, stopped at a red light car shut off in start/stop mode, when I went to drive my car went into limp mode and emergency break engaged and every single light on my dash came on. I had to turn car off in the intersection. Once I turned the car back on every light came back on and when I shifted it into drive the transmission slammed so hard it jerked the entire car. This has issue started around 60,000 miles. I have 131,000miles now. Being broke down in the middle of an intersection is extremely dangerous especially with a new born in the car and it reoccurs every couple of months. Also wheel speed sensor has frequently loosen since 60,000 miles. This caused every light to come on the dash and car go into limp mode. It happened the first time on the highway going 70mph. The car lost drivetrain we almost lost control. It’s has not been inspected by a “certified tech” but a backyard tech has. No accidents have been caused. Also oil leaks where the dipstick meets the block and has since I purchased the car at 34,000 miles. I’ve spent well over $1000 in main batteries and auxiliary batteries since 2020 (year of purchase) to fix the stalling issues each time they occur. If I don’t catch the aux battery dying in time it kills my main battery and I have to purchase both just so my car doesn’t stall in the middle of the road and possibly cause a life threatening accident.

Filed Jan 7, 2026 · Electrical · PA

The vehicle will turn over but does not go into gear. With all emergency systems lighting up. When vehicle was running it would randomly turn off or stall in the middle of the road.

Filed Aug 26, 2025 · Electrical · IA

Car shut down on highway went into limp mode due to electrical issue. Several times already this has occurred. Recall is in place for this situation. Please help. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 20, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Vehicle does not start or starts and will not go into gear. Dash lights go crazy and various issues display on screen

Filed Jan 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · IA

The electrical system and start/stop system has went blizzark and began loosing power going in and out of limp mode the headlights no longer work on one side and high beam isn't bright anymore I've replaced the auxiliary battery and the normal battery has begun to short circuit and cannot decide if it's full charged or down to 8volts when their began happening it was during a rainstorm and I was left stalled in mid intersection ....even a jump wouldn't fix the problem. I had it towed to my dealership where the mechanics were unable to diagnose the problem but did get it to happen again going down the highway they then also had it towed back to the shop and replaced the auxiliary battery it didn't happen again until 3 months later now it's getting worse each day i will replace the battery but then I'd like to have my electrical problems looked into but I have read many 9the people having the same issues even after the recall of an electrical chip and I wander if it shouldn't also.be replaced a second time

Filed Jun 26, 2023 · Electrical · WI

When at a stop sign the car auto shut off. After releasing the break, the car would not restart and would not go into park. After a few minutes of panic, I was able to move the gear shifter to park and after several attempts, the car barely restarted. This also happened a previous time at a stop light.

Filed Oct 23, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · IL

The vehicle would not go into gears engine stalled in the middle of road. the engine cut off after it slowed and wouldn't go down. consumes a lot of oil struts tips when turning and bounce when going uphills picked up speed on its on when the highway without pressing on gas pedal

Filed Apr 12, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 46,250 miles · AL

The vehicle was stopped at a traffic light and the start/stop feature was engaged. When my foot was taken off the brake, the vehicle would not restart like it was supposed to. I put it in park and tried to restart it and it would not restart. The battery was not dead as the lights were working as well as many warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. This is the third time in three years that this vehicle will go to the dealership for a similar issue. The diagnoses seems to be different each time, but ultimately I take it in for the same issue and it still has not been fixed. This is a safety issue that left me stranded in the middle of four lane highway. The last time it happened the vehicle went into limp mode on the interstate. Eventually this is going to cause a major accident and could possibly kill me or my family. It's happened twice in start/stop mode at a stop light and once in motion on the interstate at 70mph.

Filed Oct 29, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 44,320 miles · OH

The engine uses excessive oil and the transmission does not shift properly

Filed May 7, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,000 miles · IL

My wife and her aunt were driving at 70-75, then it felt like when a governor kicks on. If that makes sense. At the same time the check engine light came on. Since I was already going that fast I couldn't really tell, but I thought it felt like I couldn't accelerate. Then after they stop for groceries and began driving again they couldn't get it to go over 30. Drove on the shoulder to the next exit. It felt like it wouldn't shift out of first gear to accelerate. I even tried sport mode to manually do it & it still wouldn't. Then they pulled over and let cool briefly it was working again. When my wife finally made it home I plugged in my portable code reader to see what tripped the service engine light and the code was for transmission control module. I bought this vehicle last year with 5000 miles on it, currently it has 25,000. This is absolutely ridiculous!! And then reading the other issues people are having this vehicle sounds like a death trap waiting to happen! My family and friends will never purchase dodge products again, junk.

Filed May 5, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 13,806 miles · TX

The jeep has gone into limp mode twice. First time was almost rear ended. Jeep was towed to dealership same day. Repaired once advised there was a mother board issue. The second time dealer unable to replicate no repair made. Turn started to get stuck around the same time. Turn signal keeps getting stuck has been sent to dealer several times issue still not repaired.

Filed Jan 20, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 24,886 miles · TX

I have my 2018 jeep compass for literally 10 months now not even a year. Bought the car in april of 2019 and it is now january 2020. I've taken my car approximately 2 times to the shop for routine maintenance. Any time I put the car in reverse it jerks as if something underneath the car is about to fall out. When placed in drive it goes into some sort of limp mode where it does not want to go this has happened to me about 3 times now. Twice in traffic! Where I'm stalled out on the highway waving for people to go around. An absolute nightmare. As of last night I was parked at a grocery store about to pull off when the car jerked and shut off again. When I tried to turn the car back on the dash light started to go hay wire and the engine light popped on with the transmission light dinging red that the transmission needs servicing when I put the car in drive again it went no where.this is a huge burden in my life right now this is my only transportation to get my children and I back and forth from school, work, church etc. And I can't even rely on it this is frustrating this car is only 2 years old and has this many major problems with it. I'm literally afraid to drive this car anywhere anymore. I can't believe that this issue hasn't been recalled yet it's soo many complaints on this vehicle. I literally look up everyday to see if this issue has been recalled or if I've received a notice in the mail of this particular recall and nothing! This is not right at all and something needs to be done asap

Questions about the 2018 Jeep Compass won't shift

Is stuck in gear or won't shift a common problem on the 2018 Jeep Compass?

18 of 951 owner complaints about the 2018 Jeep Compass (2%) mention stuck in gear or won't shift. The model year with the most reports is 2018.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Jeep Compass?

There are 0 recalls and 31 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Jeep Compass

Stalling 280Check engine light 118Oil consumption 116Backup camera 64Start-stop 57Won't start 57Headlights 45Engine failure 38Jerking 38Loss of power 30Overheating 21Warning lights 19Screen failure 18Power steering loss 15ABS 12Hesitation 12Key fob 12Ball joint 11Harsh shifting 11Misfire 8Adaptive cruise 7Grinding brakes 7Steering lock-up 7Battery drain 6Wipers 6No deployment 5Door locks 5

All model years of the Jeep Compass

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2018 Jeep Compass?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history