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Jeep Compass Cargo Area Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out cargo area light bulb in a 2nd generation 2017 to 2022 Jeep Compass SUV.

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2019 Compass SUV
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Right Cargo Area Light
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Insert Screwdriver Notch
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second generation (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and revised 2022) Jeep Compass SUV in changing a burnt out cargo area light bulb or upgrading both of them to brighter LED units.

Owners of other Jeep, Dodge and RAM vehicles such as the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Renegade, Gladiator, Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer, Wagoneer, Charger, Challenger, Durango, RAM 1500, Promaster, 2500 and 3500 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The compatible replacement miniature wedge base light bulb part number is 168.

If you'd like to have brighter cargo area lights that will also last much longer before burning out like the traditional incandescent bulbs, install some 168 LED units.

The only tool needed to access and replace the old lights bulbs is a flat head screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool.

For this guide, I'll be replacing the cargo area (or "trunk") light bulb on the right (passenger) side of the SUV. The steps for replacing the left (driver) side light bulb is the same.

Locate the small notch near the top edge of the light housing.

Insert the blade of the flat head screwdriver into the small notch and very gently pry out the top edge of the light housing from the cargo area trim body panel.



 

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Pry Out Light Housing
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Push In Release Tab
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Power Plug Removed
Be careful when you pull the light housing out of the plastic panel. If the old light bulb was recently turned or is currently illuminated, the housing might be hot enough to burn your fingers.

Use a small flat head screwdriver to push in the white plastic release tab on the electrical connector before sliding it straight it out of the socket.

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Pry Off Lens Cover
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Lens Cover Removed
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Slide Off White Cover
Use the small flat head screwdriver to gently pry off the translucent plastic lens cover.

Try to avoid using excessive force to prevent from cracking the lens cover. It should pop off relatively easily.

Next, pull the white plastic cover off the bulb socket housing.

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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Old Light Bulb Removed
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Push In New Light Bulb
If the old light bulb was recently turned on, it might still be hot enough to burn your fingers. Please allow the old light bulb to cool off before you touch it.

Pull the old light bulb straight out of its socket.

The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) light bulb in this 2019 Compass Trailhawk 4X4 model was a Toshiba 168.

Push a new number 168 miniature wedge base light bulb straight into the socket.

Clean the new bulb with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. If there is any grease or oil left on the new bulb, it may create a hot spot and lead to the bulb failing prematurely.

If you'd like to have brighter cargo area lights, install some compatible replacement 168 LED units.

Tip - If you installed an LED bulb and it doesn't work, try removing it from the socket, rotate it 180 degrees and push it back into the socket. Some LED bulbs are polarized and will only turn on when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation.

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Replace Plastic Cover
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Secure Lens Cover
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Push In Power Plug
Slide the white plastic cover back into place.

Gently push the translucent plastic lens cover back over the light housing.

The lens cover should "click" securely into place.

Push the electrical connector straight into the socket. You should feel or hear the power plug "click" securely into place.

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Reinsert Rear Edge First
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Pop In Retaining Clip
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Test New Cargo Bulb
First, reinsert the wires and lower end of the light housing back into the opening in the cargo area body trim panel.

Then gently snap in the retaining clip on the top edge of the light housing back into place.

To test the new cargo area light bulbs, press the "Unlock" button on the key fob to reactivate the interior lights.

Be sure to write down the bulb change in your vehicle's service records.

Please check out all of my 2017-2022 Jeep Compass DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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