Is the 2017 Jeep Compass a bad year?
229 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 71, 4.2× a quiet Compass year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 15k–51k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Compass owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 30,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 86 (38%) | 12k–38k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 71 (31%) | 15k–51k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 42 (18%) | 21k–66k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 27 (12%) | 10k–39k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 16 (7%) | 12k–48k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 12 (5%) | 12k–47k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (4%) | 10k–46k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 10 (4%) | 17k–52k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (3%) | 0k–10k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 30,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 229 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
11 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Engine stalls at any speed due to low oil. 2.4 engine has excessive oil consumption to the degree of shutting down in between 5000 mile oil changes.
My 2017 Jeep compass has only 14,000 miles on it. I made a turn today and noticed the low oil indicator came on.
Start/stop system stopped working and then burned out regular battery, preventing car from starting.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 30,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Jeep Compass: 4
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles have User's Guides that contain incorrect information regarding the jump start procedure, specifically, the polarity of the battery terminals are reversed in the battery terminal graphic. If a customer follows the User's Guide, they may hook up the battery jumper cables incorrectly, increasing their risk of injury.
The left front halfshaft may not be properly seated, and, as a result, it may disengage from the transmission and/or break. If the left front halfshaft disengages or breaks, the vehicle will have a loss of drive. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without using the parking brake, the vehicle may roll, despite being in 'Park.'
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 157
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Jeep Compass. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
948TE Transmission Reaction Shaft Service Bushing Kit Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
2.4L Engine Oil Consumption Test The customer may comment that the vehicles engine oil level is low or they need to add oil between oil change intervals and no…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Electrical overstress
Northwest Chrysler Jeep Dodge Sale Issue
Neighbouring years
2016 Compass: 294 complaints, consider selling · 2018 Compass: 948 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Jeep Compass year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Compass years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Cherokee · Jeep Commander · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Jeep Compass a bad year?
229 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 71, 4.2× a quiet Compass year. At 30,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 15k–51k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Jeep Compass?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (86), engine (71), transmission and drivetrain (42), brakes (27), steering (16). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 15k–51k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Jeep Compass have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 17V-824), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-740), Equipment (NHTSA 17V-433), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 17V-301). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.