Jeep Compass fire or smoke problems

Filed Aug 13, 2026 · Engine · 15,000 miles · MN · fire

The contact rented a 2025 Jeep Compass. While the contact’s husband was driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a burning odor and an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, and the contact and her husband observed whitish gray smoke that eventually turned black coming from the engine compartment. The hood was opened and immediately there were flames coming from the engine compartment. The contact and her husband removed personal belongings from the vehicle. During the failure, three sheriffs pulled up behind the burning vehicle. A Police report was filed. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NY · fire

The vehicle caught on fire while sitting in a parking lot. This vehicle had just over 13,000 miles, serviced by jeep dealer, and health reports did not surface any problems. The fire impacted other vehicles around it.

Filed Apr 12, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · IA

The collision alert warning lights have been coming on since the DAY I drove out of the dealership! They tried to dismiss it as my fault - I got too close to something (I was simply passing another car). This has been a constant issue and I’ve told the dealership every time I’ve had it serviced. I’ve had about four times that I’ve been driving at high speeds and the vehicle suddenly slams on the brakes because it’s “thinking I’m gonna hit something.” Usually it’s if I’m passing another car, but it’s also happened when there is nothing near at all. This past week was the last straw!! I was going 70 mph down the highway, had just passed a semi, and all hell broke loose. Jerked me from side to side, the brakes engaged and were jolting me, smoking, grinding, and screeching horribly because they would not give up in trying to stop me. Oil dumped all over and a burning smell, shaking and jerking, couldn’t steer, etc.. during this scary time, the service 4WD light and crash alert lights all come on. Thankfully the semi I was passing was paying attention and did not hit me. I was two hours from home so the Jeep was towed to the nearest dealership. I later learned there is a service recall that JUST came out early March 2026. It’s called 12D and is a software update related to all these codes it’s been throwing and how myJeep has been behaving for TWO years. Software needs to be updated or can have all this stuff that happened to me… because the systems don’t know what to do?? There is also a service bulletin out there that service techs SHOULD be aware of that addresses known issues with the PTU (power transfer unit). I just learned from the dealership that has my Jeep - the PTU is shot!! Imagine that! They have a PTU unit ordered but will not know what else is damaged until they tear into it. It shouldn’t take an injury or death to get notices out there when there are known issues. Thank you! This dealership where my Jeep is finally seems to know what they are doing!

Filed Mar 17, 2026 · 118,000 miles · WI · fire

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed black smoke coming from the front passenger side headlight. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as needed. The contact pulled over and safely exited the vehicle with her daughter. The vehicle then caught fire and was engulfed in flames. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire, but they were unable to determine the cause of the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Filed Dec 15, 2025 · Engine · MD · fire

On December 9th, my Jeep compass caught fire in Tyson’s corner parking lot (1750 Tysons BLVD). The fire department believes it came from the engine. No warning signs such as engine lights or temperature overheating prior. The car was parked in a spot when this occurred. My daughter was in the car and smelled smoke, car was turned off, got out and it was smoking and sparking then caught fire. 911 was called during this process and came to the scene. The insurance is aware and deemed it total loss. The police and fire department have records we are trying to obtain. The fire spread to other cars.

Filed Aug 21, 2025 · Engine · 119,000 miles · PA · fire

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving, a ticking noise was present coming from the engine, and the vehicle suddenly stalled. Moments later, smoke and flames were present coming from the engine compartment. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was an engine failure. A fire report was filed at the scene. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who replaced the engine with a used engine, but shortly after retrieving the vehicle, the engine failed and the vehicle stalled. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failures. The failure mileage was 119,000.

Filed Feb 20, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · NY

Wiring compartment under the front wheel well is completely eroded away which caused my vehicle to completely stop driving and turning on. When looking at the whole wiring harness under the wheel well, wires were completely falling out of where they connect to the fuses because of how bad the erosion is. I was driving my car with my 4 year old child in it on the highway and it started to jerk, lights started flashing on the dash, including the airbag light, and then all at once shut completely off, lights went out, would not start back up at all. I had it towed back to my house and now it will not start up at all. I replaced a bunch of parts to it and then that is when I discovered that it was the whole wiring box under the wheel well that had corrode a bunch of wires. When hooking up the battery to try and jump it to. see if it would start, the wires that were loose started sparking and almost caught fire.

Filed Nov 26, 2024 · Engine · 60,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The coolant temperature indicated that the engine was overheating. In addition, the contact became aware of smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the failure was not duplicated. The following day, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed by both independent mechanics that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Filed Nov 25, 2024 · TN · fire

The car caught fire due to the radio and my insurance company screwed me and I need to know what I can do to help me

Filed Oct 8, 2024 · Transmission · 6,448 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while in stop and go traffic, with the A/C activated, the contact smelled a strong odor in the cabin of the vehicle. The contact then observed smoke coming from the passenger’s side of the engine compartment under the hood. The vehicle was steered off the highway and was inspected. The contact became aware of condensation all over the top of the engine and under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred several weeks later. The transmission cooler, heater, and compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 6,448.