Jeep Compass 2017–2025
2nd generation (MP)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,592 complaints, 1,364 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 40% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 40% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 680
- 25%
- 5,600
- Median
- 20,000
- 75%
- 39,000
- 90%
- 60,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 315 | 23.1% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 151 | 11.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 127 | 9.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 78 | 5.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 120 | 8.8% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 98 | 7.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 82 | 6.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 71 | 5.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 57 | 4.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 62 | 4.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 30 | 2.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 26 | 1.9% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 37 | 2.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 14 | 1.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 20 | 1.5% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 15 | 1.1% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 8 | 0.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.1% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 3,592 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017–2025 Jeep Compass, and 1,364 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
40% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the engine (23.5% of complaints, typically around 18,000 miles), the electrical system (23.3% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (12.4% of complaints, typically around 18,000 miles).
14 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine18,000median 18,000 miles, middle half 5,500 to 35,000
- Electrical system20,000median 20,000 miles, middle half 7,500 to 40,000
- Problems owners could not categorise18,000median 18,000 miles, middle half 4,500 to 29,000
- Transmission and driveline25,000median 25,443 miles, middle half 6,500 to 45,000
- Forward collision avoidance4,000median 4,000 miles, middle half 3,000 to 31,000
- Brakes14,000median 14,246 miles, middle half 4,000 to 31,000
- Exterior lighting2,000median 1,850 miles, middle half 75 to 10,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 843 | 23.5% | 18,000 | 5,500–35,000 |
| Electrical system | 836 | 23.3% | 20,000 | 7,500–40,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 445 | 12.4% | 18,000 | 4,500–29,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 296 | 8.2% | 25,000 | 6,500–45,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 184 | 5.1% | 4,000 | 3,000–31,000 |
| Brakes | 153 | 4.3% | 14,000 | 4,000–31,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 146 | 4.1% | 2,000 | 75–10,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 98 | 2.7% | 14,000 | 5,000–24,000 |
| Steering | 94 | 2.6% | 26,000 | 6,000–40,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 79 | 2.2% | 20,000 | 5,000–40,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 20,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 23.5% of complaints (843 reports, 389 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 18,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,500 and 35,073 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 23.3% of complaints (836 reports, 273 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,500 and 40,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 12.4% of complaints (445 reports, 119 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 18,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,300 and 29,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.2% of complaints (296 reports, 152 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,443 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,448 and 45,000 miles.
Forward collision avoidance accounts for 5.1% of complaints (184 reports, 13 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 4,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 31,000 miles.
The brakes account for 4.3% of complaints (153 reports, 67 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,246 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 31,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 1,624 complaints — while 2025 drew the fewest at 43. The median year sits at 254.
That makes 2018 an outlier: roughly 6.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (4), equipment (2), the reversing camera and sensors (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 3,592 complaints filed against this generation, 139 reported a crash; 24 reported a fire; 60 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 3.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 40% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the engine and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 18,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2017–2022
2.4L Tigershark excessive oil consumption — owners report losing roughly a quart per 1,000 miles. FCA issued Customer Satisfaction Notifications attributing part of the consumption to the Interactive Deceleration Fuel ShutOff (IDFSO) calibration, which cuts fuel on deceleration and creates cylinder vacuum that draws oil past the rings; piston ring and bore issues are also implicated. Same defect family as the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 and Jeep Renegade/Cherokee 2.4L applications.
Transmission 2017–2025
ZF 948TE 9-speed rough and harsh shifting, lurching, and hesitation — the most-reported complaint category for the generation. The MP shares its calibration history and TSB software flashes with the Cherokee KL; a related wiring harness defect in the 9-speed family can cause sudden shutdown or unexpected shifts into neutral.
Electrical 2017–2018
Launch-year electrical and infotainment faults were notably concentrated in the first two model years of the generation.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 385 | 263 |
| 2018 | 1,624 | 778 |
| 2019 | 576 | 176 |
| 2020 | 254 | 50 |
| 2021 | 131 | 17 |
| 2022 | 390 | 43 |
| 2023 | 76 | 16 |
| 2024 | 113 | 13 |
| 2025 | 43 | 8 |
Recalls (14)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 24V436000 | 2024-07-09 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 23V576000 | 2023-08-29 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 23V058000 | 2023-03-30 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 22V248000 | 2022-06-03 | Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint |
| 20V208000 | 2020-04-27 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages |
| 18V524000 | 2018-10-02 | Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood |
| 18V523000 | 2018-08-29 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
| 18V279000 | 2018-05-31 | Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm |
| 17V824000 | 2018-02-14 | Equipment |
| 17V732000 | 2017-12-28 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V740000 | 2017-12-08 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 17V670000 | 2017-12-05 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine |
| 17V433000 | 2017-08-22 | Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual |
| 17V301000 | 2017-06-12 | Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft |
What owners reported
I am still in shock and still quite shaken up on the morning of tues., 9/25/2018, When as usual got out of my home into my Jeep to go to work a few minutes before 6 am. I carefully at the entrance and exit of my community, i wait for ongoing traffic to be far enough for me to drive towards the blvd. As my Jeep started…
2017 · Electronic stability control (esc)
My car emergency brake light button has turned on all byitself while i am driving. The car stops and shuts off. Then i am in the middle of the road and i have to put my car in park, press the pull on p button to turn it off. This is a safety issue. A car behind can crash into me. This has happened 5 times since…
2017 · 3 miles · Brakes
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…
2017 · 5 miles · Engine
Tl* the contact leased a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the steering wheel made an abnormal clicking noise. The steering wheel was replaced; however, the failure continued with the steering wheel being structurally unsound. In addition, the fuel gauge failed to provide a proper reading. The gauge indicated…
2017 · 10 miles · Electrical system
Built from 1,364 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page