2018 Jeep Compass lighting problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed May 16, 2026IAElectrical SystemEngineLighting

   The headlights and interior lighting flickers when turned on. The vehicle often will not start, but once hooked up to a jumper pack starts immediately despite the batteries being inspected previously and being okay. The start/stop function doesn't always work, and the engine stalls while driving, causing a massive safety issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11738275 · source
2. Filed Mar 25, 2026175,000 miNJElectrical SystemLighting

   The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while receiving an oil change, the contact was informed that the passenger’s side headlight failed to operate. The contact attempted to replace the light bulb; however, the headlight failed to illuminate. The original light bulb was reinstalled. The contact stated that the START/STOP system failed to restart the vehicle after an idle stop. The message “Battery Charging System Failure” was displayed. The vehicle…

   NHTSA complaint #11726914 · source
3. Filed Oct 15, 2025GALighting

   Headlights work intermittently. Driver side comes on but passenger side doesn’t or vise versa. Also sometimes neither come on. No warning messages or anything. Yes the jeep dealership saw the issue with the lights and so did an independent mechanic.

   NHTSA complaint #11693722 · source
4. Filed Jun 15, 2025CALighting

   My driver's side headlights stops working intermittently. This occurs quite randomly. I have replaced the bulbs, the switch, and after taking it to a dealer, I ended up replacing the driver's side headlight assembly. Nothing has worked, and now I am hundreds of dollars poorer for my trouble. This is clearly a safety issue, and judging from what I have seen in online forums, there are a great many others with the same problem. This is a safety issue that falls squarely on the…

   NHTSA complaint #11666975 · source
5. Filed Jan 27, 2025IAElectrical SystemEngineLighting

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11638970 · source
6. Filed Jan 14, 2025TXLighting

   I bought my vehicle in May of 2019. In May 2021 my car had 34,000 miles on it and the passenger side headlight was out. I took it to the dealership and they replaced my left headlight assembly (vehicle was under warranty). In October 2024, I noticed that my headlight on the passenger side was out again. My vehicle had 56,426 miles on it. I called the dealership (South Point Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Austin, TX) up to 9 times and no one responded to my calls. Due to their…

   NHTSA complaint #11635884 · source
7. Filed Jan 11, 2025CTLighting

   A cable going to the driver's side headlamp assembly was intermittently shorting and causing the headlight to turn off while driving. The cable and entire headlamp assembly had to be replaced to fix the issue. There are other reports of this issue on [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint #11635418 · source
8. Filed Dec 4, 2024CAElectrical SystemLighting

   My headlights only work on random occasions. The bulbs don’t need replacing so it seems electrical. I can’t drive at night now because I never know if I’ll be able to see or not with this issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11628917 · source
9. Filed Nov 16, 2024FLElectrical SystemLighting

   The vehicle is a 2018 Jeep Compass Limited with the VIN [XXX] ####. I purchased it used on [XXX]. On [XXX], I noticed a problem with the headlights. They have been flickering between both headlights almost daily since then. On [XXX], both headlights were out, and I needed to drive at night. After about half a mile, the passenger headlight turned on, and after another half mile, the driver’s headlight came on. I’ve attached photos taken on October [XXX] and [XXX] to…

   NHTSA complaint #11625655 · source
10. Filed Oct 18, 2024FLLighting

    Low and high beams. Come on at intermediate times sometimes the passenger side will be on and there will be no driver side. Sometimes they will not come on at all. No matter how many turns you turn the light or flick. The switch I've replaced both headlights and the ballasters. Still to no Avail. They do not work all the time.

    NHTSA complaint #11620510 · source
11. Filed May 17, 2024TXElectrical SystemLighting

    We realized a headlight malfunction where the headlights randomly and intermittently turn off. Sometimes they both work, sometimes one or the other works. A year ago, we seemed to notice a headlight go out, then they both worked. It happened again, so we replaced the bulb. Just last night, my wife happened to be following me home at night and her right headlight wouldn't turn on. In the middle of driving, both headlights went out. Then, shortly after, her left headlight went…

    NHTSA complaint #11589285 · source
12. Filed Mar 17, 2024PAElectrical SystemLighting

    The driver side headlight went out approximately 8 months after purchasing the vehicle used which was out of the 6 months that the dealer had a warranty. I have replaced the headlight and ballast and it is still not working properly. I have checked and confirmed voltage by testing the driver side against the passenger side which does work and all voltages match going into the rear plug of the headlight assembly. Looking on forums, I am not the only individual with this…

    NHTSA complaint #11577880 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology