2021 Jeep Compass: start-stop system problems

6 of the 82 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Compass describe start-stop system problems.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 7%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 117 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Start-stop system problems by model year

2026
1
2024
1
2023
4
2022
18
2021
6
2020
17
2019
29
2018
56
2017
11

What owners say

Filed May 19, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NC

The engine will shut off completely while traveling a a normal rate of speed. The temperature gauge will malfunction and report high temperature (when there is none) and the engine will shut off. It cannot be restarted without putting the car in park and pressing the brake while in the midst of moving traffic. This has happened to me multiple times. At first, turning off the auto stop/start feature would prevent this form happening but turning it off no longer prevents this. This happens randomly and cannot be reproduced manually. It is also extremely dangerous and upsetting when this happens in highway traffic at speed. The Jeep also seems to have a parasitic drain on the battery and both batteries had to be replaced by the dealer. My research shows that there have been alt least 15 similar complaints filed.

Filed Aug 28, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · KY

Stop/start system malfunction this is the 2nd time I've had to fix this problem the first time was with dealership in Henderson ky and it will cause more problems later big expenses and a whole vehicle failure so before im out to much money and left with no working vehicle that I still got to pay for i will be returning it this system failure has almost caused a major crash and has caused missed days at work

Filed Feb 4, 2025 · Engine · PA

I have replaced both batteries and the alternator. The stop/start light comes on and the red warning to pull over safely the vehicle will shut off soon and the engine light comes on. The vehicle is now telling me to service transmission. The dealer doesn't know what's wrong with it. I want this taken care of.

Filed Feb 10, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · TX

While Auto start stop is active, and when the vehicle comes to a stop the engine stops but then doesn't restart like it's supposed to, the cluster says vehicle needs to be restarted, then after putting shifter into park I can restart the vehicle normally, but this has happened 3 times now at busy intersections causing my vehicle to block traffic when the light turns green. I have to remember to manually turn Auto start stop off everytime I start my vehicle to prevent this from happening or keep my climate turned up since the auto start stop won't engage while cooling or heating the cabin.

Filed Sep 28, 2023 · Electrical · IL

My car has been operating fine. No complaints or any reason to believe there was any problems. I pulled up to a stop sign at a 4 way intersection and my just car shut off. The indicators on my dashboard panel were blinking on and off. It also said my car was on but it was not. The MPH gauge when i tried presssing the stop/start button would slightly move up and back down again. I was able to get my car into neutral but the emergency brake was on and it would not release. After 20 to 30 minutes i tried the start button and it thankfully started back up. I was in an industrial area. Semis and lots of cars and i was unable to even move my car off to the side of the road.

Filed Sep 10, 2023 · Transmission · MN

A common problem, which mine has, is a growl in the rear end at around 30mph. In forums I have seen people get a software update to fix, but it just changes the problem to around 50mph. If I drive with the traction control button off, or put it into manual mode, the sound goes away. On the forums the only fix is to replace the entire rear end. It's done this since I got it at about 20,000 miles. There are also clunks in the front end. The steering rack is designed to not be serviced by the consumer and you cannot replace inner tie rod ends. I don't believe there's any other vehicle designed this way. You have to replace the whole rack. One way for the dealer to make sure you come back for service. The plastic sway bar links go out under 40,000 miles and result in sloppy steering that could be dangerous. Again, on the forum boards, people have been replacing with MOOG that are a quality product and not plastic. The parking brake engages for no reason while the vehicle is moving. The auto start/stop feature is dangerous and nearly got me into an accident, twice.