CLOCKSPRING - STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Jeep Compass steering problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Jeep Compass have filed 11 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
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Compass | 28 |
| 2019 Compass | 19 |
| 2020 Compass | 5 |
| 2021 Compass | 6 |
| 2022 Compass (this page) | 11 |
| 2023 Compass | 6 |
1crash
1injury
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.
CLOCKSPRING - STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLOCKSPRING - STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLOCKSPRING - STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗USB update to S27.10 for UTN radio - Japan The customer may describe one or more of the following: ? **Customer not receiving the map updates via the USB.** ? Menu for Active Lane Management is missing two settings, Lane Warning and Steering Assist Strength. This bulletin involves updating the radio software with USB to **S27.10.**
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2022 Jeep Compass vehicles describe a variety of steering problems starting early in ownership. Clunking and rattling noises from the steering column and front end emerge around 20,000 miles or earlier, with some persisting even after rack-and-pinion replacement, front axle replacement, and lower control arm replacement. One owner with the same clunk issue since 20,000 miles was later told an intermediate shaft had failed and warned it could cause complete loss of steering, though the dealership stated they could not repair it.
Steering gear and tie rod failures are reported at 35,500 miles and 11,963 miles, with one dealership noting other Compass owners presenting with identical steering gear failures. At very low mileage (under 5,000 miles), two owners report the steering wheel behaving erratically—one describing the wheel spinning left and right independently while stopped, causing the vehicle to hit curbs repeatedly over several minutes.
Lane-keep assist malfunctions are persistent, pulling the vehicle out of its lane above 35 mph despite correct alignment, disabling pedestrian collision avoidance, and throwing service codes. One owner reports steering wheel lock-up at startup requiring multiple restarts to free the wheel. Alignment problems are severe in one case, described as far out of spec by a service manager. Dealers have replaced steering columns, racks, BCMs, and control modules without permanently resolving these issues.
Same Jeep Compass steering reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Clunking/Noise from Steering Column and Intermediate Shaft
Owners report clunking, rattling, or abnormal vibration sounds originating from the steering wheel, steering column, or front left area when turning or at idle. In some cases, the clunking persisted through multiple repairs including rack-and-pinion replacement. One owner was told the intermediate shaft had failed and could cause loss of steering ability.
When: 20,000 miles onwards; some reports from early in vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from steering wheel when turning at low velocity; Wobbly feel when turning the steering wheel; Abnormal vibration and clicking from steering column; Aggressive clunking that returns intermittently; Rattling noise that worsens over time
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replaced (multiple times in one case); suspension tightened; lower control arms replaced; intermediate shaft identified but dealer stated they could not repair it; steering column replaced
Steering Gear and Tie Rod Failure
Owners report steering gear failure requiring replacement of the rack and pinion steering gear and outer tie rod ends. One owner experienced clunking noise traced to steering gear failure at 35,500 miles with a dealership reporting multiple other Jeep Compass customers with the same issue. Another owner reported similar failure at 11,963 miles, with the steering rack failing again even after replacement.
When: 35,500 miles; 11,963 miles; early in vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise traced to steering gear; Wobbly steering feel; Abnormal vibration and clicking from steering column; Steering rack failure
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gear and outer tie rod ends require replacement (rack and pinion); steering rack replaced twice in one case but failure persisted; repair not covered under Jeep warranty
Unintended Steering Input and Loss of Control
One owner reported the steering wheel spinning independently left and right while stopped at a drive-thru, causing the vehicle to hit curbs repeatedly for approximately 4–5 minutes before stopping in mulch. The incident occurred at very low mileage. Another owner reported the vehicle pulling hard to the left while driving at 40 mph.
When: 4,968 miles; 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel spinning left and right independently; Vehicle suddenly turning right then left, hitting multiple curbs; Steering wheel pulling hard to the left while driving; Loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was towed; not diagnosed at dealer; manufacturer opened case but no repairs mentioned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no recalls associated with VIN; manufacturer opened a case
Active Lane Assist Malfunction and False Engagement
Owner reports persistent issue with lane keep assist intermittently pulling the vehicle out of its lane when above 35 mph, as if there is a steering misalignment. The system also throws error codes, disables pedestrian collision avoidance intermittently, and disables lane assist on 90-degree turns. Issue has been present since purchase in December 2021. Dealerships have replaced BCM, steering wheel, and steering wheel control module without resolving the issue.
When: Since December 2021 purchase; continuous issue
Symptoms owners cite: Lane keep assist pulls vehicle out of lane above 35 mph; Acts as if vehicle has significant steering misalignment; Throws 'Active Lane Management Unavailable Service Required' code; Disables pedestrian collision avoidance intermittently; Issues occur on 90-degree turns
Codes mentioned: Active Lane Management (ALM) Unavailable Service Required
Repairs/costs cited: BCM replaced; steering wheel replaced; steering wheel control module replaced; no actual solutions provided
Steering Wheel Lock/Frozen Steering at Startup
Owner reports steering wheel becomes frozen and will not move at startup, along with gear shift that moves but does not engage the vehicle. Issue requires multiple attempts pulling emergency brake and cycling through shift pattern or restarting the engine to unfreeze steering. Occurred 4 times in 3 months of ownership. Dealership unable to replicate the issue for diagnosis.
When: Early in ownership; 4 occurrences in 3 months
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel frozen at startup; Steering wheel will not move; Gear shift moves but vehicle does not move; Requires emergency brake pull and shift cycling to resolve
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle at dealership; dealership unable to replicate issue; no permanent fix identified
Alignment Issues and Hard Pulling
Multiple owners report steering pulling or hard pulling issues. One owner's vehicle was noted to have alignment far out of spec by a service manager, while another owner experienced hard steering pull to the left during driving. Alignment adjustments did not resolve the underlying steering issues.
When: Early in ownership; 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulling hard to one side; Steering alignment severely out of spec; Vehicle pulling right when driven on highway at 50 mph; Steering feel not responsive or off
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed but did not resolve issue; alignment was found to be severely out of spec
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I am having a persistent issue with this vehicle involving the lane keep assist and pedestrian collision sensor. This issue has been present since purchasing the vehicle in December of 2021. I have had it in to two separate dealers a total of 6 times with no solution yet. The issue occurs when traveling down the road above 35 with the active lane assist enabled. Intermittently the vehicle will…
Had steering trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Jeep Compass?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 7,310 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/2022/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.