Home · 2017 Jeep Compass · Complaints

What 228 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Jeep Compass

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (228)Crash / fire / injury (13)Electrical system (86)Engine (71)Transmission & drivetrain (42)Brakes (27)Steering (15)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (12)Airbags (10)Fuel system (10)Speed control (10)Suspension (7)

Newest first · 228 complaints · page 1 of 10

May 25, 2026

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 camera inoperable, as it just switches to the radio screen or something else while you are in the process of reversing the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11739861

Apr 2, 2026Electrical system

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 obtained a vehicle history report online, which confirmed that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle history report showed that on December 12, 2025, the mileage was 177,382.

NHTSA ODI 11728909

Mar 31, 2026Electrical system

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!!!

NHTSA ODI 11728362

Mar 26, 2026Brakes

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle and the steering wheel started shaking abnormally. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off, and exited the vehicle to inspect the brakes. The brakes on the vehicle and the brakes were extremely hot. The contact reentered and started the vehicle after five minutes, and the vehicle operated as intended. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the brake caliper needed to be replaced. The brake caliper, rotors, and brake pads were replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V301000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11727337

Mar 2, 2026SteeringSuspensionWheels

Tire rods and suspension failed vehicle is unsafe to operate .

NHTSA ODI 11721519

Feb 23, 2026BrakesTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the ABS and Traction Control warning lights illuminated, and the steering wheel and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle were shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact stopped the vehicle to inspect it and became aware that the front passenger’s side wheel was extremely hot to the touch. The contact deactivated the Traction Control light, and the failure was temporarily corrected before recurring. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V301000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11719884

Feb 3, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH in the middle lane, the vehicle stopped unexpectedly. While accelerating, there was an abnormal grinding and clanking metallic sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. After three hours of being stranded on the roadway, the vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic determined that the failure was related to the drive shaft, transfer case, and driver’s side front half shaft. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,851.

NHTSA ODI 11715198

Feb 2, 2026Electrical systemAirbagsEngine

I was approaching a stoplight and every light on the dash lit up, the car wouldn’t go after stopping and it wouldn’t turn off when put in park. I also couldn’t shift into any other gear. This is seriously dangerous and not the first time I’ve had major mechanical issues with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11714975

Dec 26, 2025Electrical system

My lights keep blinking on dashboard saying 4 wheeldrive isn't available and my vehicle keeps shutting off in the middle of me driving it,this is very dangerous,I took it to Carlock Dodge Jeep and for recall on vehicle that they say was causing the problem they fixed the recall but vehicle still doing the same thing

NHTSA ODI 11707071

Dec 16, 2025Brakes

While driving, my parking break will turn on and halt the car. It usually is around when there is an issue with my auto start/stop.

NHTSA ODI 11705369

Sep 12, 2025Electrical systemEngine

While attempting to do a U-turn on two different occiasions once the U-turn has been completed the car would stop and turn off. There was not power. Would attempt to restart the car and it would not. Needed to get a jump-start for the car to start. One other time when attempting to do a U-turn the car would act as if would stop, in this case did not but took about 2 miles before it would accelerate properly

NHTSA ODI 11686836

Sep 2, 2025Suspension

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was violently shaking. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11684552

Aug 5, 2025Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was shaking, and the contact noticed a burning odor. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a fractured half-shaft. The contact was informed that the half-shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V301000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer several times; however, the failure recently became a persistent failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,862.

NHTSA ODI 11678526

Jul 29, 2025Airbags

My front passenger active headrest deployed while parked.

NHTSA ODI 11677084

Apr 29, 2025SteeringBrakesEngine

When driving my Jeep Compass, there have been numerous instances of the vehicle stalling out when slowing down or stopping at a light/stop sign. This has happened on busy roads, at busy intersections, and on country roads. When it happens, I cannot control any aspect of the vehicle; the breaks no longer work, I cannot turn the wheel, I cannot change gears or easily put it into park, and it takes multiple attempts to turn it off and back on. There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the incidents occurring, which started on 4/22/2025. Today, 4/29/2025, I checked my oil level and found that it was extremely low, although it should not be and I'm not yet due for an oil change. The Jeep Compass is going through more oil than usual and there is no message or notification showing at any time. I believe that this is the cause of the issues, and makes it extremely unsafe for myself, my passenger and other drivers/vehicles as it has happened on the highway and at intersections, where it could easily result in a serious accident.

NHTSA ODI 11657423

Apr 9, 2025Electrical systemEngine

When driving the vehicle it has shut off the engine and stalled, it also shut off and a few milliseconds later restarted on the highway has done the multiple time

NHTSA ODI 11653786

Mar 25, 2025Seat belts

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the driver’s side front seat belt unclipped and failed to secure the occupant. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 11650482

Feb 20, 2025Electrical systemAirbagsEngine

Wiring compartment under the front wheel well is completely eroded away which caused my vehicle to completely stop driving and turning on. When looking at the whole wiring harness under the wheel well, wires were completely falling out of where they connect to the fuses because of how bad the erosion is. I was driving my car with my 4 year old child in it on the highway and it started to jerk, lights started flashing on the dash, including the airbag light, and then all at once shut completely off, lights went out, would not start back up at all. I had it towed back to my house and now it will not start up at all. I replaced a bunch of parts to it and then that is when I discovered that it was the whole wiring box under the wheel well that had corrode a bunch of wires. When hooking up the battery to try and jump it to. see if it would start, the wires that were loose started sparking and almost caught fire.

NHTSA ODI 11643897

Jan 6, 2025Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

Unknown

NHTSA ODI 11634327

Dec 19, 2024

Auto Start Stop feature stop working and caused my car to stall. I had to set my car to stop, take my foot of the break. Re started my car, all while traffic was going, in danger of getting rear ended.

NHTSA ODI 11631692

Oct 11, 2024

Uconnect radio screen has severe delamination. This caused ghost presses on the screen. The ghost presses continuously make random phone calls including calls to emergency services. This poses a severe safety hazard as the operator has to pick their phone up to communicate with emergency personnel so law enforcement does not send a responding officer thinking there’s an emergency. It also poses a safety hazard for responding emergency personnel trying to respond to the false emergency notification.

NHTSA ODI 11619266

Sep 9, 2024

Car shakes when on hill hadly

NHTSA ODI 11613584

Sep 3, 2024Electrical system

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated after restarting the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,955.

NHTSA ODI 11612403

Jul 23, 2024Electrical systemFuel system

While driving Jeep losses power and stops. At garage now and they can’t find reasonable explanation. Has less than 50k miles. Danger while driving since it just shuts off while no lights come on to indicate problems

NHTSA ODI 11604073

May 1, 2024BrakesTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the ABS, traction control, and other unknown warning lights illuminated. On another occasion, while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the tires locked up and unlocked. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the PCU sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the vehicle was towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 11586319

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Working with the data? Download all 228 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Jeep Compass verdict →