2017 Jeep Compass Problems, Recalls & Reliability

385 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Jeep Compass, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 24/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 25,000 miles.

385Complaints
24/100Trouble index
4Recalls
28,712Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2017 sits among all Compass years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 94 complaints (24%) · typically ~25,000 miles
“When you park the jeep and turn it off the starter keeps clicking like it is trying to start the radio comes on with no body in jeep when it is off and it all this makes the battery go dead”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Compass
Other 78 complaints (20%) · typically ~24,600 miles
“4 separate time in less than 2 weeks my car completely stopped while i was driving. 2 times while driving to my job in city streets . And 2 times driving on a highway. This is very dangerous”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Compass
Engine 71 complaints (18%) · typically ~30,500 miles
“My vehicle continually stalls when driving or at stop lights. Sometimes it will start back up other times I have to have it towed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Compass
Transmission & drivetrain 42 complaints (11%) · typically ~39,082 miles
“Engine hesitates on acceleration, throttle assembly warning light comes on, traction stability warning light comes on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Compass
Brakes & stability 32 complaints (8%) · typically ~30,300 miles
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Compass
Steering 15 complaints (4%) · typically ~39,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 244 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 28,712 miles. Half of those reports fall between 14,895 and 49,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (4)

EQUIPMENT 17V824000 2017

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:…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17V740000 2017

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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update IPC software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…

EQUIPMENT 17V433000 2017

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…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners and will replace the User's Guides with a corrected version, free of charge. The recall began August 22, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…

POWER TRAIN 17V301000 2017

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.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, dealers will inspect the left front halfshaft for engagement and replace any that are not properly engaged in the transmission, free of charge. The recall began on June…

Federal defect investigations

Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment PE19014 opened 2019, closed 2026
Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Northwest Chrysler Jeep Dodge Sale Issue AQ17004 opened 2017, closed 2020

Technical service bulletins

259 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2017 Jeep Compass. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2017 Compass TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2017peak 95 in 20192026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2017 Jeep Compass reliable?

The 2017 Jeep Compass drew 385 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 24/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).

What are the most common 2017 Jeep Compass problems?

The top reported problems for the 2017 Jeep Compass are electrical (94 complaints), other (78), and engine (71).

At what mileage do 2017 Jeep Compass problems show up?

Owners most often report 2017 Jeep Compass problems around 28,712 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 14,895 and 49,000 miles.

Does the 2017 Jeep Compass have recalls?

4 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Jeep Compass. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.