UAQ and UCQ Radio Enhancements Customers may experience one or more of the following: ? **Wi-Fi hotspot connection failure. ? Speaker popping, crackle noise during Voice Recognition (VR) response and navigation guidance. ? Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) missing from radio, no connected services working.** ? Intermittent, black radio display screen (Rear View Camera (RVC) not affected). ? Intermittent, radio freezes (RVC not affected). ? Wireless connectivity pairing and/or connection issues. ? Lost radio presets. ? Radio channels change by itself. ? SXMT icon inoperative. ? SXMT favorite song not displaying/playing. ? Incorrect navigation address/location/directi
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Jeep Compass steering problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Jeep Compass have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Compass | 4 |
| 2016 Compass | 16 |
| 2017 Compass | 15 |
| 2018 Compass | 28 |
| 2019 Compass (this page) | 19 |
| 2020 Compass | 5 |
| 2021 Compass | 6 |
| 2022 Compass | 11 |
| 2023 Compass | 6 |
1crash
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
GEAR, Rack and Pinion If looking to replace the rack and pinion due to a clunking / knocking noise, please use the Chassis Ear Tool to pinpoint the exact location of the noise following the proper diagnostics. The points where you should place the chassis ear tool in sequence are: steering column, rack and pinion, intermediate shaft or the outer tie rod of the rack and pinion. Also ensure all related components are properly torqued such as shock absorbers, steering column, lower ball joints, stabilizer links, sway bar links and cradle mount bolts (front and rear). Please contact FCA Redacted Content for feedback related ONLY to this GPOP Tech Tip. Do Not email regarding repair procedures unr
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗UGQ Radio Enhancements This bulletin involves inspecting and if required, updating the radio software levelto 39.2. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: Language set in Spanish, and try to search for an address with Voice Recognition (VR), it will not recognize these locations. VR can not find street names / location in Catalan language (present in Barcelona area and nearby). To correct this symptom, the radio SW has to be at QR39.2 and the Nav map SW version has to be at 19Q2. In the Uconnect App, under Live>Jeep Skills>Customer will see ?Current? meter which is displaying incorrect amperage readings. The battery current indicator indicates an incorrect value, it is showin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗UGQ Radio Enhancements This bulletin involves inspecting and if required, updating the radio software levelto 39.2. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: Language set in Spanish, and try to search for an address with Voice Recognition(VR), it will not recognize these locations.VR can not find street names / location in Catalan language (present in Barcelona area and nearby). To correct this symptom,the radio SW has to be at QR39.2 and the Nav map SW version has to be at 19Q2. In the Uconnect App, under Live>Jeep Skills>Customer will see ?Current? meter which is displaying incorrect amperage readings.The battery current indicator indicates an incorrect value, it is showing th
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗UGQ Radio Enhancements This bulletin involves inspecting and if required, updating the radio software level to 34.21. Customers may comment on one or more of the following:After software update 28.31 was performed, the radio may experience one or more of the following:No audio from any media source and from navigation prompts. No audio as well from cell or initial message prompts(audio chimes will continue to function along with the touchscreen beeps). The volume may be inoperable at times. The heated steering wheel and heated seat buttons on radio display are grayed out and are inoperable.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a consistent pattern of sudden steering wheel lockup and loss of power steering at various speeds, often accompanied by vehicle stalls. During these events, all dashboard warning lights illuminate, and the engine won't restart for minutes or longer. In several cases, the vehicle enters a "frozen" state where the engine sounds on but the car won't move or turn off.
A recurrent trigger is a false coolant temperature alarm—the sensor signals dangerous overheating for a brief moment, cutting power to steering and acceleration, then clears as mysteriously as it came. Mechanics replacing the coolant sensor find no fault, suggesting a software glitch. The vehicle also displays 10+ diagnostic codes at once (dynamic steering, brake, transmission, 4WD, fuel cutoff, and others), a pattern inconsistent with single-component failure.
Steering hardware failures compound the problem: rack-and-pinion gears pop and thump during turns, control arms crack, and tie rods fail. One owner reports Jeep has over 700 people on a waiting list for replacement rack-and-pinion parts due to an identified bug. A safety recall (V99/NHTSA 19V-637) covers steering gear failure, but not all affected Compasses are listed.
Dealers consistently report inability to replicate these issues and release vehicles unfixed. Owners note Jeep corporate offers no assistance and sometimes charges $490 for diagnostics, despite the complaints appearing in online forums repeatedly.
Same Jeep Compass steering reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Steering lockup / loss of power steering
Steering wheel suddenly locks up while driving or becomes unresponsive to input. Power steering cuts out when the vehicle experiences electrical faults or false coolant temperature warnings. In some cases, steering becomes difficult or impossible to move.
When: While driving at various speeds (20–65 mph), at intersections, highway driving, and during turns. Some incidents reported after purchase (July 2019 onwards).
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked or frozen; Loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel difficult to turn; Auto-correction of steering (random left/right drift on highway); 'Dynamic Steering Wheel Service Required' warning message; 'Steering torque service required' message
Codes mentioned: Dynamic Steering Wheel Service Required, Steering torque service required
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have reported rack-and-pinion steering gear failures; some owners report waiting lists for parts due to manufacturing bugs. One owner notes Jeep has 700+ people on a waiting list for rack-and-pinion parts. Steering control arms and tie rods have also been found fractured.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety Recall V99 (NHTSA 19V-637) addresses steering gear failure for certain 2019 Compass models, but not all affected vehicles are included. Dealers unable to replicate the issue in several cases and have released vehicles without repair.
Sudden stalling / loss of motive power with electrical shutdown
Vehicle stalls abruptly while driving or stopped, sometimes accompanied by illumination of all dashboard warning lights, loss of power steering, and inability to restart for extended periods. In some cases, the vehicle enters a state where the engine sounds on but will not move.
When: While stopped at traffic lights, during turns, while backing out of driveway, on highway at various speeds (40–60 mph). One incident occurred 3 hours into a trip.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; All dashboard warning lights illuminate; Power steering loss during stall; Engine will not restart or delayed restart (5+ minutes); Engine sounds on but vehicle will not accelerate or move; Check engine light illuminated; Gear shift stuck in park
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Coolant temperature warning light (inaccurate), Anti-lock brake system service required, ECS system service needed, U1110, Speed control fail, Service Hill Holder, Service 4WD, Service transmission, Fuel service cut off
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have been unable to duplicate the issue and have released vehicles without repair. Jump-starting and popping the hood have been temporary workarounds for manual transmission vehicles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep has recommended bringing vehicles to dealerships, but no recalls or TSBs are mentioned in narratives addressing this issue. One owner reports Jeep offered no assistance while vehicle was still under factory warranty.
False coolant temperature alarm / limp-mode activation
Coolant temperature sensor or system triggers false high-temperature warnings, causing the vehicle to enter a reduced-power state (limp mode) with loss of steering assist and acceleration cutoff. The alarm clears after a second or brief period, with temperature gauge returning to normal.
When: While driving at highway speeds (65 mph), during turns at intersections, and at various times while driving.
Symptoms owners cite: False coolant temperature alarm; Loss of acceleration; Loss of power steering; Coolant temperature gauge shows normal after alarm clears; Alarm activates without warning
Codes mentioned: Coolant temperature warning
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant sensor replacement has been attempted without resolution. Mechanics and dealers have been unable to determine the problem despite replacing the sensor and trying multiple solutions.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners and forums (MyJeepCompass.com) report this is a widespread issue; suspected to be a software or firmware problem. Jeep's response has been limited to recommending dealership visits.
Steering gear / rack-and-pinion failure
Steering gear makes abnormal popping or thumping noises during turns. In some cases, the entire steering mechanism fails, rendering the vehicle undrivable after minor impacts (such as curb strikes at low speeds).
When: While turning left or right. One failure occurred after striking a curb at approximately 20 mph. Another reported at approximately 63,000 miles and 66,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise when steering left or right; Thumping sound from front-end; Rack-and-pinion failed; Front driver-side and passenger-side control arms fractured; Inner and outer tie rod failed
Repairs/costs cited: Rack-and-pinion replacement required; one owner reports Jeep has 700+ people waiting for parts due to a bug in the part. Dealer inspection confirmed steering gear failure in at least one case. Independent mechanic diagnosed fractured control arms and failed tie rods requiring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety Recall V99 (NHTSA 19V-637) issued for steering gear failure on certain 2019 Compass models, but not all affected vehicles are covered. One owner notes the exact issue is covered under recall V99 but their vehicle is not listed.
Auxiliary battery / electrical system faults
Auxiliary battery fails or electrical system malfunctions, causing check engine light and other system errors. Replacement of auxiliary battery can temporarily reset warning lights but does not address underlying component failures.
When: At unspecified mileage; one incident noted at approximately 63,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminated; Battery not charging; Dashboard lights on shift flickering
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Auxiliary battery replacement performed at dealership; reset the check engine light but did not resolve persisting thumping noise from front-end (later diagnosed as rack-and-pinion failure).
Multiple electrical system codes and cascading failures
Vehicle displays 10 or more diagnostic codes simultaneously, preventing normal operation (unable to shift into drive or neutral, unable to turn off engine). Multiple unrelated system faults trigger at once, suggesting an electrical control module or software problem rather than individual component failures.
When: Occurs repeatedly with no identified resolution.
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple codes (10+) displayed simultaneously; Unable to shift to neutral or drive; Car will not turn off; Brake stiff; Mileage gauge flashing; Gas gauge erratic (reads full then empty); Engine light stays on; Engine shows as on but will not turn over; Traction off and will not turn on; Auto start/stop light does not come on; Brake comes on and off uncontrollably
Codes mentioned: Dynamic torque steering, Service Hill Holder, Service 4WD, Service transmission, Anti-lock brake system fail, Fuel service cut off, U1110, Speed control fail, ECS system service needed, Steering torque service required, Anti-lock brake system service required
Repairs/costs cited: Computer component/frame was replaced on one vehicle at 40,000 miles, but issues recurred or persisted.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The vehicle will suddenly shut off while driving, randomly and without warning. Every dash light will illuminate, power steering goes out, the engine will shut off and will not start back up for 5 minutes or more. This has occurred while stopped at a stop light and while going 60mph in a tunnel. It is a hazard to the driver, passengers, and all surrounding drivers. The vehicle is still under…
Had steering trouble with your 2019 Jeep Compass?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2019 Jeep Compass?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 33,586 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Jeep/Compass.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.