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Jeep Compass Dashboard Lighting Issue

Updated on Author: Brian Jones | Reviewer: Sergei Lemberg

Updated on Author: Brian Jones | Reviewer: Sergei Lemberg

Lemberg Law is investigating complaints that there are serious issues with the dashboard display of the 2022 Jeep Compass. Vehicle owners are complaining that the auto-dim night feature doesn’t work and they can’t adjust it manually. They say the malfunction results in the dash display being stuck in night mode during the day. Generally, this makes the dash screen too dim to read in daylight and much too bright to see at night. Some say it’s also too dim at night.

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Is There a Problem with the 2022 Jeep Compass Dashboard Display?

There is a huge problem with the 2022 Jeep Compass dashboard display. Owners are complaining that the auto-dim feature doesn’t work at night and they are unable to adjust the settings manually. Most complaints say this makes the panel too dim to read. A few say it is too bright. Either way, it’s causing major visibility problems inside the Jeep.

There are several complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), either filed in the Electrical System, Exterior or Interior Lighting, or Unknown or Other categories. A conversation launched on the My Jeep Compass forum in August 2022 was still searching for answers in February 2023.

While there is no indication that Jeep has any intention of announcing a recall any time soon, Steph from Jeep Cares has been active in the forum discussion. At first, she would respond by saying, “We’re sorry to hear this is happening … Feel welcome to PM us your VIN and we’d be happy to have a further look into this for you.” By mid-November 2022, her Jeep Cares’ response was that the company was “aware of the problem.” On February 9, 2023, Steph messaged a member on the forum saying, “Engineering is aware and working to develop a fix for this symptom soon!” But, it turns out that Jeep’s engineering team has been working on a fix since at least September 2022.

Jeep Acknowledged Problem & Warned Dealerships

There is an official manufacturer communication to dealerships, S2208000157, that was issued on September 9, 2022. On file with the NHTSA, it acknowledges the problem and warns that there is currently no fix. It also states that “Engineering is investigating a service solution.”

The document states that the cluster digital display on the 2022 Jeep Compass appears dim in full sunlight and during the day when there is “minimum backlighting.” At the same time, the speedometer and tachometer brightness is at normal illumination levels.

The explanation is that some Sport models have a Cluster 7.0” TFT color display instead of the more common 3.5” display clusters. The standard cluster has a built-in ambient light sensor, while the 7.0” cluster “relies on an external ambient light sensor input to control IPC display backlighting.” This input is supposed to “tell” the cluster to switch the backlighting levels from day and night modes. But, the Sport model vehicles aren’t equipped with an external ambient light sensor. “This missing input causes the IPC digital display to default to nighttime illumination levels.” In turn, this “does not allow the display to reach its maximum brightness in direct sunlight and daylight hours.”

The bottom line, literally, is that “part replacement will not remedy this concern.”

What Dashboard Visibility Problems are 2022 Jeep Compass Owners Experiencing?

Most 2022 Jeep Compass owners say that the display on their dashboard gets stuck in night mode during the day. Typically, they say that they can’t read what’s on the digital dashboard display in daylight. Some say that they can’t dim the dash lights for safe night driving. A few say it works okay at night, and then there are some who say it’s too dim at night!

Some dealerships have told owners that it’s a software problem that they can’t fix until Jeep has parts available to repair vehicles or issues a recall with a solution.

NHTSA Complaints

After reporting to a dealer that the center instrument panel cannot be seen in daylight, an owner from Alabama was shown the manufacturer communication mentioned above. “So you are unable to see any warnings, gas, temp, menu, cruise control, etc.” Because there is no replacement part or remedy, “I am driving an unsafe, defective vehicle that cannot be repaired.”

When an owner from Pennsylvania complained to a dealership that the instrument panel was not visible when the headlights were in the dim setting, the response was that there weren’t parts available to repair the vehicle.

Another Pennsylvania owner states that the cluster panel dimmer toggle for the Compass doesn’t work correctly anymore. “It stays very bright even at night and I cannot adjust it.” The local Jeep dealership “said it’s a software problem and they cannot fix it until Jeep recalls it and fixes it themselves. The instrument panel is so bright that I cannot drive my car at night because it causes night blindness and I cannot see traffic. The toggle switch worked correctly for the first 6 months of having my SUV, but then one day it did not and now it cannot be fixed.”

An owner from Alaska reports not being able to dim the dash lights/touch panel or the rearview mirror from safe night driving. Because of this, “I now drive with an envelope covering my instrument panel with only the speedometer visible due to the brightness.” He resorted to this “after almost going off the road last week when I could not see a deer in front of me until the last minute due to the excessive brightness and glare. Other consumers have suggested unhooking batteries and hard resets but also report (that the) problem returns.”

Examples of Complaints On My Jeep Compass Forum

The discussion starter in the forum states that the navigation screen and instrument panel/speedometer wouldn’t auto-dim at night and only allows him to adjust the daytime settings. “It doesn’t matter if my lights are on auto, or manual if the display is set to auto or manual, and even when I did a reset and reset the clock and the date. It is beyond frustrating as it worked fine until a few days ago when I was driving to work in the early morning (just after sunrise) and the screen and panel jumped into full daytime brightness. I live in a more rural town/area so when driving in the morning or late at night, the screen and panel are too bright.”

Several members suggested disconnecting the batteries as well as hard resets. In response, another member says, “I have tried doing a factory reset, doing the battery trick mentioned below, and just endless internet searches, and I have found nothing to work!”

Another member who owns a 2022 Compass Latitude describes how there is no visible hazard safety button to push when driving at night. This makes the dash too dim at night. He was advised by a salesman at the dealership to use the dimmer control to make the hazard/4-way flasher light button visible at night. This worked for a while… but the problem persists.

Experiencing too much light at night, yet another member is desperate for a fix. “I have a 2022 Jeep Compass Latitude LUX. It is doing the exact same thing… being stuck in Daytime mode. The dimmer switch does nothing. I can manually turn the display brightness on (the) navigation screen but the dash lights do not adjust so it is still too bright at night and makes it very hard to see.”

What Should You Do if Your 2022 Compass is Experiencing Dashboard Display Problems?

If you are experiencing visibility issues with your 2022 Jeep Compass dashboard don’t be tempted to think it’s normal. It isn’t. You need to be able to see your dashboard clearly during the day and at night. If you can’t, you may have bought a lemon. All you need to do is call us at 877-795-3666 or complete our contact form. We will evaluate your case and see if you qualify.

About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

See more posts from Brian Jones
23 COMMENTS
  • Sheri S

    My 2023 Compass has the same problem with the lights on the dashboard brightening at night. It was supposedly fixed in September before I bought it, but the fix did not work. The service department at the dealer keeps saying they are waiting for Jeep to fix it. Jeep Cares told me to try another dealer. Feel like I am playing a shell game.

  • Susan B

    I bought a used 2022 Jeep Compass with 28,000 miles on it on 9/19/2023. I can not see my gas level, tire pressure, etc screen and my navigation screen is stuck on night time mode. I can not see to drive especially if it is sunny and I have my sunglasses on. I have to lift up my sunglasses and lean forward to barely make out gas level. This switch is turned all the way up and the screen can barely be seen. The navigation screen is all the way up as well but again it is stuck on night mode. I cannot see to change preset music stations, to change the settings from defrost to regular, etc without slowing down and then I am going out of my lane. I went back to the dealer 2 days after I bought it and they claimed to be unaware of the problem until the 1 sales guy googled it and said it was a software issue like it was no big deal. They sent me to a Jeep dealership near me yesterday (9/27/23) and the service guy told me it is a software issue and there is no idea of when this issue will be fixed. This is my 3rd Jeep and I drove 1 for work and I never had an issue. I expected better from Jeep. This is a safety issue and is unacceptable. God help Jeep if someone wrecks and gets hurt or worse!

  • Elijah C

    I have the same problem with my 2022 Jeep Compass Latitude. The dash lights won’t dim during the night and won’t allow me to manually adjust it. They’re stuck in “day” setting where they’re super bright. This is bothersome when driving at night and has nearly caused accidents.

  • Thomas C

    Have a 2022 Jeep Compass Trailhawk with the same dashboard lighting issues, on full brightness all the time. It’s very difficult to see at night because of the brightness of the dashboard lights.

  • Samir

    My 2022 Jeep compass’s speedometer/instrument cluster went dim today, the roll-on switch does increase the brightness and it’s hard to read. Maps remain in night mode. Don’t know what to do. (From: India)

  • Yvette M

    My 2022 Jeep Compass dashboard and tablet display issue. I Can not see my dashboard during daytime and tablet information during my day driving hours. I cannot see my tire pressures, gas levels, mileage distance, etc. which makes it very difficult to drive back from work. My early morning commutes, I have no issues with dimming my dashboard lights. It’s always day time hours that I feel are dangerous. I understand a recall was made about 1-2 months prior to my purchase which I heard nothing of a recall during my purchase. This is my first time owning a Jeep. I hope to get help with this matter. Thank you.

  • Kristine B

    I have the same issue will not go into daylight mode the button is greyed out.. just got it back from the dealership.. was told “There will be a recall on this issue in the near future, as of now there are no parts available”

  • Melissa

    I have experienced this problem once already. The dealership first said they never saw it. Made me feel like I was making it up. After taking it to them 3x they finally fixed it. Or at least I thought they did. The problem just started back up again. Can’t see anything. I barely can see how fast I am going. The part with radio I can barely see anything. Going to call a different location tomorrow to see what they can do.

  • Laura B

    I’m the person from Alaska you mentioned. Happy to talk- they “closed” my case because I do not live where there is a dealer to actually look at the vehicle. I just want it fixed. I keep getting told it’s a software issue but there is no fix at this time.

  • Mike K

    I have this issue in a 2022 Jeep Compass. The switch to the left of the steering only dims some of the interior lights. The odometer and dash display, in my case, are constantly bright. This isn’t an issue during the day but makes driving at night problematic. Curiously, I don’t seem to remember this happening before this spring. I feel like I would’ve noticed it last winter and fall driving at night more often.

    I also got an oil change warning today (7/27/23) after last getting an oil change 5/10/2023. Will be taking it to the dealer asap.

  • Kresta F

    I am having the same issues with the dashboard display listed above; mine is stuck in night mode. I took it to the dealer for the first time in late February. They claimed they didn’t know of any issues or a fix. I took it back again for another issue in late March and mentioned the issue again. That time I was told there was a recall coming. I went to the dealership to complain in person in mid-May and was told that there is still no fix. I indicated that I felt unsafe driving it long distances because of not being able to see the gas gauge or any warning indicator lights. They said if I had a longer road trip planned, they would give me a loaner. I picked up the loaner in mid-July. I still have the loaner and have received no call or update from the dealership.

  • Stephen

    Just spoke to Jeep regarding the topic that everyone has been going through. ” Take your Jeep to a dealership and get a loaner”, until the matter can be fixed”. What if my Jeep is there for a month or longer who is paying my lease payments? Answer is we, Jeep, PROBABLY will…Probably? It is a yes or no answer. What if the dealer does not have a loaner? We can PROBABLY find one for you. Again Probably.
    I filed a case to start the lemon law process and was told it would take 48 to 72 hours to get an answer.
    Now to make matters even more interesting I have worked for Jeep for 23 years. Ever since Stellantis took over the quality of the product has gone down. Too numerous recalls on new product. Jeep has know about this since September 2022.
    Case # s2208001** states “Parts replacement will not remedy this concern” Engineering is investigating a service solution.
    There you have it.

  • Tj

    Same as everyone else. Display and dash do not dim at night, the dimmer switches/knobs to the left of the steering wheel have zero impact on the brightness of the displays or dash. Makes driving at night very difficult.

  • Jarrod

    2022 Jeep compass bought new and started a couple months later, all dash lights/ radio are stuck in night mode. Speedometer and gauges aren’t visible in daylight. Tried factory reset and disconnecting battery and didn’t work.

  • Mathew P

    I am also experiencing the same dashboard light issue in my Jeep Compass Longitude 2022 model. During day time I can very hardly see the information on the dashboard. This is a real problem in this new SUV. Manufacturers need to come out with a solution.

  • Lee

    Dim dash during daytime makes driving unsafe. Been going on for more than 6 months. Ran out of gas once and 2 almost accidents trying to find defrost on panel.

    I bought this Jeep Compass new in 2022.

  • Piyush

    Is there a way to reach out jeep Canada. I also started facing this issue last week. Even taken the car to the dealership and they said I have to wait until jeep send software update

  • Jeannine

    Been having the same issue since September of 2022. Service advisor at first told me I may need to connect to the internet to do an update and may go away in 3 months, second time I took my car to get service and they gave me a paper stating they are aware of the problem and ordered a radio. Never heard back, I called again and they told me it can take 5 months to arrive. All if a sudden I get a call back and they said next week. It’s not a guarantee fix but it’s a start. I brought a brand new car only to be having issues as if it was used and paying 1000 a month with insurance. It’s not worth it. I want them to buy back the car or put me in another vehicle. It unsafe period!

  • Davide

    I’ve had this exact problem for the better part of this year. Multiple occasions where I’ve almost run out of gas completely, and other instances where I’ve had to take longer routes to avoid highways just in case I had low fuel.

  • Nancy H

    I am experiencing the exact same issue with my 2022 Jeep Compass. I cannot see the instrument panel (very dim). So much so that I almost ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere once. When the low fuel warning came on I was shocked and a little scared. I did make it to the next gas station exit that was about 35 miles away, thank God the 35 miles wasn’t uphill! I have been a loyal Jeep owner since 1993. I still have my 93 Grand Cherokee and my 96 Cherokee Sport, both run great and have no instrument panel issues.

  • Carol G

    I have a 2022 jeep compass trailhawk with dashboard display problems. My dashboard is so dim I struggle to read the tire pressure, gas levels or the mpg. I bought my jeep brand new from a local dealership Don wood of Rockbridge ohio from Logan ohio. This is a safety issue and unacceptable from Jeep.

  • Blair H

    I had my cluster replaced in my 2022 compass and it doesn’t work. Dash will not dim at night.

  • Ken R

    Have 2022 Jeep Compass with dashboard display issue. Can not see dashboard during daytime driving hours. Unable to see tire pressure, or gas levels and it makes it very difficult to drive back and forth to college in Alabama. Car is on a lease and two dealers in NY and Alabama doing nothing about it, except to say corporate is working on a fix. Totally unacceptable for a Jeep product. Been a constant Jeep owner since 1990.

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