2008 Jeep Compass Steering Problems

When you fill your gas tank completely full, your steering locks up and becomes uncontrollable, while your brakes pulse on and off repeatedly. Your engine shuts off and won't restart for several minutes, leaving you stranded in traffic at highway speeds—a dangerous situation that nearly caused a collision. The issue appears to be related to a full fuel tank and may require inspection of fuel system components and their interaction with engine and brake controls.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG. HIT MY BRAKES. AND THEN MY DRIVER FRONT WHEEL SCREECHED AND WENT INTO THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS A ROTTED OUT SUB FRAME. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS I WOULD HAVE WRECKED AND POSSIBLY NOT BE ALIVE NOW. I WAS LUCKILY ON A BACK ROAD SO THERE WAS NOT ANY INJURIES.

FRONT SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. PULLED THE WHEEL TO CHECK TIE ROD ENDS, CV SHAFT, CONTROL ARM AND FOUND THAT THE K-FRAME HAD RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE.

FRONT SUB FRAME THAT HOLDS CONTROL ARMS ROTTED RIGHT OUT COULD LOSE FRONT TIRE

THE CROSSMEMBER (SUBFRAME) IS ROTTING AWAY AND WHEN THIS PART FAILS A SERIOUS CRASH MAY RESULT. JEEP ISSUED A BULLETIN (23-012-14) FOR 2007 COMPASS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION TO WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IF FOUND TO REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO OWNER. JUST CALL JEEP ABOUT MY 2008 COMPASS AND THEY TOLD ME SINCE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY HAS EXPERIED I WOULD BE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COST. FIRST OFF, THE CROSSMEMBER SHOULD NOT ROT AWAY AFTER ONLKY 8 YRS, SECOND SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE 2007 HAD A PROBLEM , MY 2008 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN LACK OF CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL JEEPS TO INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY PARTS SHOWING SEVERE RUST AND ROTTING.

DURING MY ANNUAL INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR CROSS FRAME MEMBERS WERE SO SEVERELY RUSTED THAT IT TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE TILL THEY ARE REPLACED. I CALL THE DEALER WHO THE JEEP WAS BOUGHT FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE 2007 MODELS HAVE AN EXTENDED FRAME PROTECTION WARRANTEE THAT COVERS THIS PROBLEM. MY JEEP WAS BUILT ON 8/14/07 LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AFTER JEEPS CUTOFF DATE. AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED CASES LIKE MINE THAT JEEP REFUSES TO COVER. THE FRAME SHOULD NOT BE FAILING THIS FAST AND AS BAD. I FEEL THERE IS A MATERIAL DESIGN FLAW THAT JEEP IS TRYING TO COVER. MORE PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MY JEEP HAS NO VISUAL RUST IT LOOKS BRAND NEW. UNLESS THE OWNER OR MECHANIC CRAWLS UNDERNEATH THIS CAN GO UN NOTICED UNTIL THERE IS A MAJOR FAILURE.

THE CLOCK SPRING WAS GOING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT STARTED AS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AXLE SHAFT AND REPLACED IT AND STILL HAD THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THE CLOCK SPRING WAS BAD. HE SAID THAT WHEN THESE GO YOUR STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. ALSO, UPON CALLING JEEP FOR THE PART HE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

STOPPED FOR AN OIL CHANGE,WAS TOLD THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS VERY RUSTED,MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CALL CHRYSLER,HE SAID THIS SHOULDN"T BE THAT RUSTED. SAID THAT THE 2007 MODELS WERE BEING FIXED BY CHRYSLER UNDER THE WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER THE CHECKED THE VIN # AND SAID IT WASN'T ON THE LIST. THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD. SUS

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND A "CREAKING" TYPE NOISE. IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE K FRAME RUSTED THROUGH THEREFORE FAILING STATE INSPECTION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS THE SAME BODY TYPE (PLATFORM) USED IN THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER AND THE SAME PART NUMBER. THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER WAS RECALLED DUE TO THIS PART FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AS THEY RECALLED THE 2007 CALIBER BUT UNLESS FORCED IS NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER VEHICLES MADE USING THE SAME PLATFORM AND PARTS. WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY ONLY 2 YEARS LESS THAN 25000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE A TIE ROD REPLACED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT "THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE".

UPON STATE INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT K FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF SAME AND LF CONTROL ARM ASSY FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS-REPAIR COSTS $1617.88. K FRAME WAS A MAJOR ISSUE IN 2007 COMPASS RESULTING IN GOV'T ACTION-MY 2008 WAS BUILT IN 12/07. CHRYSLER WONT STAND BEHIND PROBLEM. 2007 GOV'T ACTION STARTED WITH A COMPLAINT. I HOPE I CAN START THIS ONE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2008 BY ONE ADULT DRIVER AGE 50 (MY WIFE). SUSPENSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM STARTING WITH NEW TIE ROD ENDS @ 14,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

39000 MILES AND SO MANY SUSPENSION PROBLEMS CONTROL ARMS,BALL JOINTS,TIE RODS,STRUTS HOPING MY FAMILY DOESN'T DIE IN THIS VEHICLE WHAT I SEE IN THE NEWS ABOUT CHRYSLER LATELY SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME TRYING TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE OFF FREEWAY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM BUT GOING ON LINE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR JEEPS I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY THEY TELL ME IT'S 4000 MI OVER WARRANTY NOTHING CAN BE DONE I'M AFRAID THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHAT THE $#%^ CAN I DO I DON'T HAVE THE L MONEY TO BUY A NEW CAR OR KEEP FIXING THIS ONE I THINK IT'S A FAULTY DESIGN AND SO DO NUMEROUS MECHANICS IN THE USA AND CANADA SOMETHING'S MESSED UP WHEN PARTS PREMATURELY GO BAD AND IF YOU LOOK INTO IT I'M SURE YOU WILL SEE A PATTERN I BABIED THIS CAR SINCE NEW HOPING IT WOULD LAST TWENTY YEARS DON'T KNOW IF ANY ONE HAS DIED BUT I THINK TO MYSELF ITS PROBABLE BEING SO MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ANY KIND OF HELP AVAILABLE THIS IS MY FORTH JEEP AND I NEVER HAVE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH THE TEN OR SO CARS I HAVE OWNED HOPE YOU CAN HELP! BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS WHERE CAN I TURN DRIVING THIS IS FRIGHTENING AND I COULDN'T SELL THIS TO ANOTHER FAMILY AFTER WHAT MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME ABOUT THESE KIND OF JEEPS PLEASE HELP! WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHAT SHOULD I DO THANKS *TR

HAD TO HAVE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED IN DEC 2013. WHEEL BEARING REPLACED JAN 2014 AND NOW AM TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

MY JEEP IS UNSAFE HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES ACCORDING TO JEEP AND AFTER REVIEWING ONLINE SEEMS THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT CHRYSLER JEEP IS IGNORING THE SOON AS MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED THEY TOLD ME CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD AND WANTED ME TO PAY OVER $1000 OR MORE TO REPAIR TOLD THEM AM IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND COULD NOT AFFORD THIS THEN THEY TOLD ME SOMETHING WITH TIRE WAS LOOSE AND THIS WOULD COST ADDITIONAL ISSUES I JUST FIND THIS STRANGE THAT JEEP IS ONLY 2008 AND THEIR TELLING ME AM DRIVING A DANGEROUS CAR. THEY HAVE THREATENED ME WITH THIS SINCE LAST YEAR AND CAUSING ME ANXIETY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR MYSELF AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. THANK YOU. CONTACTED JEEP CORPORATE WITH NO REPLY. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A THUDDING NOISE THAT CORRELATED WITH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE FASTER I DROVE THE FASTER IT WENT. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS PLAY IN THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS ON RIGHT SIDE ABOUT 1/4 ON TIE ROD AND 1/4 ON BALL JOINT. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2010. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET ONE OF THE TIRES REPLACED. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS FOUND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS IN THE CONTROL ARM AND THE BALL JOINT OF THE WHEEL. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON TO JEEP COMPASS. I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT SUPPOSE TO OCCUR UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ALL THE TIME OR ALWAYS DRIVEN TO VERY FAR DESTINATIONS. IN THIS CASE, IT IS NOT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM MIGHT BE CAUSE BY SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE BUMPS ON THE ROAD, OR A HEAVY OBJECT HIT ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT RECALL ANY INCIDENTS WITH MY JEEP COMPASS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND NOT SUPPOSE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP CAMPUS FWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL METAL NOISE HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A STATE INSPECTION WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE YEAR PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY JEEP COMPASS IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR THIS IS COSTING ME $500.00. AND I AM NOT DONE YET. WITH A NAME LIKE JEEP I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A BETTER BUILT CAR. TO ME THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. AND UNACCEPTABLE FOR AN AMERICAN MADE CAR.

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD FAILED WHILE TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. *TR

THE STEERING BEGAN TO PULL SHARPLY TO THE SIDE. WHEN THE JEEP WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE PART IMMEDIATELY FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PART WAS KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS SO OFTEN REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS TYPICALLY LAST AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG AS THESE AND THAT CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT REPLACEMENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSING COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL. HE SAID HE BELIEVED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH EVEN FEWER MILES AND MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SAFETY NOTIFICATION SENT OUT TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS OF THE DANGER CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW. WHEN I WROTE TO CHRYSLER, I RECEIVED A LETTER ASKING ME TO CALL TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS UNWILLING TO ADMIT TO A FAULT IN THE PRODUCT. *TR

OUR 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAS BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD END FAILURE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY COMPASS NEW IN JUNE, 2008. I COMPLAINED ABOUT A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END THE 2ND DAY I HAD THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER & THEY REPLACED THE R/F AXLE. IT STILL MADE THE SAME CRACKING NOISE. I TOOK IT BACK & THE DEALER SAID THE BOLTS ON THE CONTROL ARM WEREN'T TIGHTENED PROPERLY. STILL THE SAME NOISE, SO I WENT ON LINE LOOKING FOR ANY TSBS. I READ ABOUT FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH 2007 DODGE CALIBERS & 2007 JEEP COMPASSES & PATRIOTS PARTICULARLY WITH THE BALL JOINTS.TURNS OUT THAT UNDERSIZED BOLTS WERE INSTALLED IN THE CONTROL ARMS. BY NOW I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE & WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER & THE SERVICE TECH SAID LET'S TAKE A TEST DRIVE, I REFUSED & TOLD HIM TO DRIVE IT HIMSELF, AS I WASN'T GOING TO GET BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL UNTIL THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM (REMINDING THEM OF THE LEMON LAW, AS THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME I WAS THERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM). WHILE THE DEALER INSISTED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE CARS LISTED IN THE TSB, THEY DID REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS WITH NEW ONES & REPLACED THE STABILIZER LINKS. IN FEB. OF 2009 MY DAD PURCHASED A 2008 COMPASS & IT HAD THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS. SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS OR NOISES, ALTHOUGH MY JEEP ONLY HAS 17K MILES. DO YOUR HOMEWORK & CHECK OUT TSBS. YOU JUST MIGHT SOLVE YOUR OWN PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES, REQUIRED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO BOTH BE REPLACED OR RISK A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG AS THEY ACTUALLY DID AND THE TECHNICIAN AT THE JEEP DEALERSHIP I SPOKE WITH SAID THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL OF JEEP WITH THIS SPECIFIC PART. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BECAUSE IT WAS RIDING ROUGH. IF WE HAD NOT TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AT THE TIME WE DID THEN THERE WAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THE PARTS FAILURE (LOWER BALL JOINTS) COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT END RESULTING IN THE WHEEL AND TIRE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANY FAMILY WHO OWNS THIS MODEL OF JEEP. WE HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER DIRECTLY TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND TELLING THEM OF OUR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PART BOTH NEEDING REPLACED WELL BEFORE THIS PART SHOULD NORMALLY BE DUE FOR INSPECTION. WE FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A PARTS RECALL BY CHRYSLER. WE SOLELY WISH TO FORWARD ON OUR SAFETY CONCERN TO YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW. WE SUSPECT THAT THIS ISSUE MIGHT BE A TREND AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR CONCERN IS VOICED; MAINLY IN ORDER TO PREVENT A FUTURE INCIDENT IN WHICH A FAMILY IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEIR WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A SERIOUS COLLISION OR POSSIBLY A DEATH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE A FEW MONTHS AGO. I RECENTLY BROUGHT IT IN AND HAD THE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, BALL JOINTS, REAR BRAKES AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT. AFTER I LEFT THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE BRAKING, I BROUGHT IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT I NOW NEEDED TIE RODS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED WHEN THEY DID THE ALIGNMENT. THE JEEP HAS LESS THEN 55,000 AND I ONLY DRIVE IT 20 MINUTES TO AND FROM WORK. JEEP REFUSES TO HELP ME BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WHICH I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL RECENTLY..THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME AS A DEMO CAR, NOT A USED CAR. I AM PREGNANT AND VERY NERVOUS THAT THIS CAR IS GOING TO KEEP FALLING APART. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT STALLED AND A RED SYMBOL WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A RED LIGHT BULB ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, HE WOULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. HE PERFORMED THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHO AWAITED INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. LIVE IN OHIO. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND CONTROL ARM PIVOT BOLTS NEED REPLACED. APPARENTLY, THE BALL JOINT BEARING INSIDE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ALREADY BAD. CHRYSLER JEEP HAS NOT GREASED THE BEARING WHEN PACKING THE BALL JOINT INTO THE CONTROL ARM; THEREFORE BY SKIPPING THIS PROCESS THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSE OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IF CONTROL ARM FAILS WHILE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. APPARENTLY, JEEP HAS DECIDED TO SKIP THIS LITTLE STEP WHEN MANUFACTURING MY JEEP COMPASS. *TR