2017 Jeep Compass: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
228 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Compass launched for 2018 with the nine-speed automatic and the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine, and that year carries 933 complaints — the transmission, the engine stalling and consuming oil, and the electrical system. Jeep revised the transmission software and, in 2022, the engine-control calibration; the 2020–2021 years score in the 80s and 90s. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: a year the record favours — 228 complaints, score 78/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Jeep Cherokee 2014 to 2023: the nine-speed years and the years that fixed it, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 228 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 25.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
When driving the 2017 Jeep Compass, a bubble which has formed on the touchscreen causes it to randomly change different settings (such as turning on the heated seats/steering wheel, turning on the AC or heat, etc.), caused music to suddenly start playing at loud volumes, caused it to call random numbers, etc. which makes it impossible to use the touchscreen or display screen at any time. This also has made the backup…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact had traded a prior vehicle for the Jeep. The vehicle was a private sale. The following day, the mileage jumped nearly 40,000 miles. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 110,246 and the next day the mileage was 154,085. Since owning the vehicle, the contact stated that the mileage had gone back and forth between the two mileages. The contact ob…
Car just cuts off. Batteries are good, alternator good no codes! Rpm goes to o cuts off parking break comes takes a couple of seconds to start then cuts off at random times while driving very unsafe!!!! Taken to dealer can’t find anything wrong!!!
Recalls: 4 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 17V433000 | Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Jeep Compass vehicles. 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. |
| 17V301000 | Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Jeep Compass vehicles equipped with a 6-speed transmission. The left front halfshaft may not be properly seated, and, as a result, it may disengage from the transmission and/or break. |
| 17V740000 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017-2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. |
| 17V824000 | Equipment | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System86 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine71 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other64 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train42 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Service Brakes27 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Steering15 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Jeep Compass years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Jeep Compass?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (86 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Jeep Compass a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 78/100, computed from 228 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Jeep Compass's most common problem?
86 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Jeep Compass sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Jeep Compass cost to run per year?
About $5,361 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,805 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Jeep Compass have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Jeep Compass, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 07/07/2017. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Jeep Compass really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 228 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 228 NHTSA complaints on record (25.3/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (25.3/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems