2017 Jeep Compass Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical problems: vehicles that will not start or go dead, warning lights and messages that come and go, and infotainment screens that freeze. A second frequent theme is the engine stalling or losing power while driving, sometimes alongside reports of low oil level between changes. Many of these reports arrive at relatively low mileage, often in the first few years of ownership.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 76 complaints (33%)
   • median 28,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2025

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off or losing motive power while driving, at speeds ranging from a stop light to highway speeds, with power steering also dropping out. Owners report having to stop, shift into park and restart, sometimes with several attempts, and some say dealers could not reproduce the stall or found no cause. A few reports connect the stall to low oil level and mention the low oil pressure light. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to about 70,000, often during acceleration, at stops or at speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for service records showing oil checks and consumption tests, and check the oil level yourself before and after a test drive. Pay attention to whether the engine idles and restarts cleanly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car stalled 4 times in the last 4 months while at stop lights. I was stopped at light and when I went to move again the car stalled-all panel lights flashed and car would not turn on again. After multiple attempts the car finally started. After the most recent occurrence I drove immediately to the nearest midas because oi was afraid to drive it any farther. They ran diagnostics and could not find a definitive answer. The battery was fine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11297943, filed 2020-01, 31,000 miles

   “We've experienced random stalling and excess oil consumption. We've brought to dealer under the warranty - they initially confirmed excess oil consumption but then pulled back on it. They are 'unable to replicate' the random stalling and therefore won't address even though it's a tremendous safety risk as it happens while the vehicle is in motion on a public roadway. Emails and service records can be provided upon request. Most recent stall date provided below.”

   NHTSA complaint #11348715, filed 2020-08, 23,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hard or delayed transmission engagement; messages to shift

   • 39 complaints (17%)
   • median 24,010 mi at 3.1 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the transmission not engaging when shifted, the vehicle staying in gear or stalling when coming to a stop, and dashboard messages telling them to shift to park before continuing. Some report harsh or random downshifts and no response from the accelerator, and complaints say a dealer software update did not resolve it. Reported from a few thousand miles to around 75,000, often at stops, low speeds or when pulling away.

   Recall 17V3010002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and from a stop, checking for delayed engagement or harsh shifts; ask about any transmission software updates or repairs on record.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the engine light comes on, input the car in park and then try to put it back in gear and it won't go. I shut the car off and it will then go in gear. This is the second time this has happened, as well as when I get to around 2500 RPM the transmission misses.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329433, filed 2020-06, 72,898 miles

   “My 2019 Jeep Compass has had numerous safety concerns, especially related to the engine and the push-to-start feature. Most recently, I have been in (d) drive, both stationary (I.e at a red light) or in motion (I.e highway, main road, side street, rotary) and both on a city street and highway when the vehicle's dashboard alerts me to shift the car into the (p) park gear. I can feel the car start to decelerate when it send this message. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11301186, filed 2020-01, 22,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain, no-start and start-stop faults

   • 41 complaints (18%)
   • median 28,000 mi at 3.2 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle going completely dead after sitting, needing repeated jump starts, and clicking from the starter though the battery was replaced. Several reports involve the auto start-stop feature failing to restart the engine at a stop, and some describe warning messages or lamps for charging and start-stop. Owners say dealers replaced batteries or the start-stop control module with mixed results. Commonly reported between roughly 20,000 and 60,000 miles, sometimes soon after purchase.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery and the battery sensor have been replaced, and whether the corresponding software update was applied. Try the start-stop system during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Jeep Compass is having issues starting. I have had to take it to the mechanic twice in the past 3 weeks because it keeps not starting! I've tried jumping the battery and nothing. If it sits just one day without it being started, it will go completely dead and won't take a jump. As of right now, my mechanic doesn't even know what's wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395615, filed 2021-02, 37,500 miles

   “For the third time the since nov 13 the auto-start failed to restart after the engine was stopped during a braked idle (waiting at light or waiting to turn). The first time the auto-start batteries and fuse were replaced. The second time the whole auto-start control module was replaced. I;m waiting for feedback from the dealership today on their findings. The failure has left me stranded 3x in heavy/rush hour traffic in conditions very dangerous to myself, my passengers and other drivers.”

   NHTSA complaint #11315530, filed 2020-03, 21,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Uconnect screen freezes and electrical messages

   • 30 complaints (13%)
   • median 16,660 mi at 2.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2024

   Owners report the Uconnect display freezing for long periods and only sometimes recovering after a restart, with a few saying the radio or head unit was eventually replaced. Others describe spurious warning messages for lights and systems that turn out to be fine, climate settings that reset themselves, and back-up camera images that fail to appear. Mostly reported under about 60,000 miles, often intermittently and difficult for dealers to reproduce.

   Recall 17V7400001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Use the touchscreen and radio for several minutes during the test drive, and check whether the back-up camera shows an image when reversing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 2017 Jeep Compass trail hawk brand new, my production date is april 26, 2017. I have had endless issues w/ this vehicle, I have owned other jeeps and never had these issues. It started w/ my radio making this crazy indescribably loud sound along w/ freezing the screen. Turning off the radio would not stop the sound, not even turning off the entire vehicle would stop the sound. Serv dept could never replicate, I brought it in one time when radio was on a non-existent phone call and acting up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11307060, filed 2020-02, 6,000 miles

   “Multiple electrical issues for the last 2 years. Most notably is when I start the car the temperature resets itself to the opposite of what it was. I.e. Turned car off with temp lo and reset itself to hi. Taken it to the dealership who states they can't replicate this at all. This still happens with no resolve. Now I receive dash messages stating multiple lights don't work such as the brake lights however they are perfectly fine. Other messages have flashed but then disappear. Also issues with the usb and uconnect. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374209, filed 2020-11, 25,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption / low oil between changes

   • 33 complaints (14%)
   • median 25,030 mi at 3.0 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners report the oil level dropping well below full between oil changes, in some cases several quarts, with the low oil pressure light coming on. Complaints say dealers told them the usage was within what the manufacturer considers normal and to check the oil frequently, while a service bulletin describes an oil consumption test and a warranty extension for the 2.4L engine. Mostly reported in the first tens of thousands of miles; several owners say it began within months of purchase.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the dipstick and ask whether an oil consumption test was performed; ask about the warranty extension described in the service bulletin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My low oil pressure light came on. I took it to get the oil changed as it was due for an oil change anyway. They told me my oil level was 3.5 quarts low and that I needed to take the car to the dealership to have it looked at because it shouldn't be using that much oil between regular oil changes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11372930, filed 2020-11, 29,000 miles

   “The engine runs very hot and it burns oil like I have never seen before. The service manager knows about this as well as the advisors all informed me that this engine does run hot. It burns oil so quickly that you have to check it every time you fill up on gas. If you do it monthly..you will wind up low and when this engine is low on oil...it will shut off sometimes without notice and it happened to us in the middle of the hwy on a rainy day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11362288, filed 2020-10, 5 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a battery and charging-system check, an oil consumption check and a scan for stored codes is worthwhile on this model year. Records showing oil changes, battery work and any software updates described in service bulletins help show how the vehicle has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.