2015 JEEP COMPASS Owners Manual

Folding Rear Seat
To provide additional storage area, each rear seatback can
be folded forward. Pull the strap forward to fold the rear
seatback flat.
To raise the seatback, pull the strap forward and lift the
seatback into its upright position.
Rear Seat Release Strap
Folded Rear Seat
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 159

WARNING!
Be certain that the seatback is securely locked into
position. If the seatback is not securely locked into
position the seat will not provide the proper stability
for child seats and/or passengers. An improperly
latched seat could cause serious injury.
Reclining Rear Seat — If Equipped
For additional comfort, pull the strap forward just
enough to release the seatback latch. Then push the
seatback to a reclined position, approximately 35 degrees
maximum, and release the strap.
WARNING!
Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your chest.
In a collision you could slide under the seat belt and
be seriously or even fatally injured. Use the recliner
only when the vehicle is parked.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released.
1. Pull the hood release lever located on the left kick
panel.
160 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

2. Move the safety latch, located outside the vehicle
under the front edge of the hood, toward the center
and raise the hood.
Hood Release Lever
Hood Safety Latch Location
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 161

Lift the hood prop rod, clipped to the right side (left side
facing hood) of the engine compartment to secure the
hood in the open position. Place the hood prop at the
location stamped into the inner hood surface.
CAUTION!
To prevent possible damage:
•Before closing hood, make sure the hood prop rod
is fully seated into its storage retaining clips.
•Do not slam the hood to close it. Use a firm
downward push at the center front edge of the
hood to ensure that both latches engage. Never
drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully closed,
with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your
vehicle. If the hood is not fully latched, it could open
when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision.
Failure to follow this warning could result in serious
injury or death.
Prop Rod Location
162 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

LIGHTS
Multifunction Lever
The multifunction lever controls the operation of the
headlights, parking lights, turn signals, headlight beam
selection, instrument panel light dimming, interior lights,
the passing lights, and the fog lights. The multifunction
lever is located on the left side of the steering column.
Headlights And Parking Lights
Turn the end of the multifunction lever to the first detent
to turn on the parking lights. Turn the end of the lever to
the second detent to turn on the headlights.
Multifunction Lever
Headlight Control
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 163

Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped
The high beam lights will come on as Daytime Running
Lights (lower intensity), whenever the ignition is ON, the
engine is running, the headlight switch is off, the parking
brake is off, the turn signal is off, and the shift lever is in
any position except PARK.
Lights-On Reminder
If the headlights or parking lights are left on after the
ignition is turned OFF, a chime will sound to alert the
driver when the driver’s door is opened.
Fog Lights — If Equipped
The front fog light switch is on the multifunc-
tion lever. To activate the front fog lights, turn
on the parking lights or the low beam head-
lights and pull out the end of the multifunction lever.
NOTE:The fog lights will only operate with the head-
lights on low beam. Selecting high beam headlights will
turn off the fog lights.
Front Fog Light Operation
164 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Turn Signals
Move the multifunction lever up or down and the arrows
on each side of the instrument cluster flash to show
proper operation of the front and rear turn signal lights.
NOTE:If either light remains on and does not flash, or
there is a very fast flash rate, check for a defective outside
light bulb. If an indicator fails to light when the lever is
moved, it would suggest that the indicator bulb is
defective.
Lane Change Assist
Tap the lever up or down once, without moving beyond
the detent, and the turn signal (right or left) will flash
three times then automatically turn off.
High/Low Beam Switch
Push the multifunction lever away from you to switch
the headlights to high beam. Pull the multifunction lever
toward you to switch the headlights back to low beam.
Turn Signal Operation
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 165

Flash-To-Pass
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the multifunction lever toward you. This
will turn on the high beam headlights until the lever is
released.
NOTE:If the multifunction lever is held in the flash-to-
pass position for more than 20 seconds, the high beams
will shut off. If this occurs, wait 30 seconds for the next
flash-to-pass operation.
Instrument Panel Dimming
Rotate the center portion of the lever to the extreme
bottom position to fully dim the instrument panel lights
and prevent the interior lights from illuminating when a
door is opened.
Rotate the center portion of the lever up to increase the
brightness of the instrument panel lights when the park-
ing lights or headlights are on.
Rotate the center portion of the lever upward to the next
detent position to brighten the odometer and radio when
the parking lights or headlights are on.
Rotate the center portion of the lever upward to the last
detent to turn on the interior lighting.
Dimmer Control
166 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE