2017 Jeep Compass Complaints

STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — Filed 09/15/2026

I am reporting a serious steering/suspension safety problem with my 2017 Jeep Compass. After picking the vehicle up from the dealership following repairs/service, the vehicle was significantly more difficult and frightening to control than before. While driving, the Jeep will suddenly veer toward the shoulder/ditch or toward/over the center line even though I have not intentionally moved the steering wheel in that direction. I have to repeatedly correct the steering to keep the vehicle in my lane. The problem becomes worse and more dangerous as speed increases. There are also multiple popping/clunking noises coming from underneath the vehicle. The steering feels unstable and the vehicle does not consistently track in the direction the steering wheel is pointing. This creates a serious risk of losing control, leaving the roadway, or colliding with another vehicle. The dealership has previously diagnosed problems involving the steering/rack and pinion and has had the vehicle multiple times for repairs. After the most recent service, the steering condition became extremely unsafe. I notified the dealership immediately and provided video showing the steering/vehicle movement. The dealership owner responded that I should obtain an attorney and have my attorney contact theirs. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection. I am requesting that NHTSA document and investigate this steering/suspension safety issue because I believe the vehicle presents a serious risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/21/2026

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 04/01/2026

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 03/03/2026

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!!!

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC — Filed 03/19/2026

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.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — Filed 02/01/2026

Tire rods and suspension failed vehicle is unsafe to operate .

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/08/2025

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.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 01/26/2026

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE — Filed 02/02/2026

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 12/24/2025

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

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/16/2025

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 09/10/2025

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

AIR BAGS — Filed 10/18/2022

Air bags did not go off in accident

ENGINE — Filed 07/09/2022

On July 9th 2022 the car showed a low oil pressure warning then shut down going around a curve but I was able to restart the vehicle. Within a few minutes I was stopped at an intersection and the car stalled again and I was unable to restart it which resulted in my car being rear ended. On July 12 th I contacted my Jeep dealership to discuss this and I was told that a recall was done on the car due to this same problem. Apparently the repair did not fully correct the problem as it happened to me AFTER the completed recall. Fortunately no one was seriously injured this time but…

POWER TRAIN — Filed 05/20/2022

Engine hesitates on acceleration, throttle assembly warning light comes on, traction stability warning light comes on.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/28/2021

I RAN A STOPLIGHT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 25-35 MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT.

SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/14/2020

WHILE DRIVING I GOT A CODE ON THE CAR DASH THAT READ SOMETHING LIKE 'UNABLE TO DRIVE' THEN AS TURNING THE BEND IN ROAD AT 20/25MPH THE CAR STARTED PULLING TO LEFT STEERING THE WHEEL BECAME TOO HARD AND I HEARD A SNAP NOISE TURNS OUT MY BALL JOINT SNAPPED ON THE JEEP! OVER 5000 IN DAMAGE AND IT WAS NOT DUE TO IMPACT! IT SNAPPED CLEAN OFF THEN ENDED UP CAUSING MY TO SWOP A PARKED CAR. THANKFULLY WASN'T ON HIGHWAY YOUR 2017 COMPASSES HAVE SEVERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES THE CAR DOESN'T GO RIGHT AWAY WHEN SHIFTED TO DESIRED GEAR AND ON TOP OF IT ALL YOUR BALL JOINTS ARE FAULTY! CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THIS I'VE SEEN A LOT OF OPEN SOURCE REPORTING OF THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL A MORTALITY OCCURS FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING! ASSEMBLE THESE CARE CORRECTLY!!! I WILL NOT BE BUYING OR DRIVING ANOTHER JEEP AGAIN THE NEW MODEL COMPASSES AREN'T SAFE FOR ANYONE. ODDLY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE CAR HAS BEEN AT JIM SHORKEY DEALERSHIP EVERY 2 MONTHS OR SO FOR SOME REPAIR FROM SWAY BARS TO TIRE RODS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. LESS THAN 26,000 MILES ON IT. SCHEDULED AN APPT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER LAST THURSDAY THE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY 3/17 BUT THE ACCIDENT ENDED UP OCCURRING 3/14... ONLY IF THE DEALER HAD LET ME BRING IT SOONER THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/20/2020

I TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED ONTO THE ROAD. I HIT THE DEER SMASHING THE FRONT END OF MY 2107 JEEP COMPASS. MOST OF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END & DRIVERS SIDE FRONT QUARTER PANEL. MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN HOWEVER I WAS SURPRISED AFTER HITTING THE DEER THAT MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 12/29/2019

SHORT VERSION: I USED THE REMOTE STARTER ON MY COMPASS. AS I WAS DRIVING, I NOTICED A SMALL RED LIGHT BETWEEN MY WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD. THE RED LIGHT TURNED INTO A VERY SMALL BRIGHT ORANGE FLAME. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR IT WAS GONE. I CHECKED WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND SAW BURN MARK'S ON BOTH THE WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE REMOTE STARTER NOTHING HAPPENED. BUT THAN WHEN I TRIED WITH THE REMOTE STARTER AGAIN. IT BEGAN TO BURN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THERE WAS SMOKE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE PROGRAM IN THE REMOTE STARTER THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. AND DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THE REGULAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. FIAT CHRYSLER HAS AGREED WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THEY REMOVED THE POWER SUPPLY FUSE AND THE 30 AMP FUSE FROM POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT AND DOWN CIRCUIT.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — Filed 09/20/2019

TAKATA RECALL , IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ALL MY WARNING LIGHTS ON MY DASH WENT OFF AND THE CAR CUT MY FUEL SERVICE OFF, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND COULDN'T START IT BACK UP AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCKED ALSO. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND VISITED THE DEALERSHIP PLENTY TIMES AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A REAL PROBLEM , IT'S A RECURRING PROBLEM. A NEW COMPUTER WAS PUT IN IT ALSO AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/23/2019

MAY 23, 2019, MY HUSBAND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED OUR COMPASS ACCORDING TO THE POLICE IN THE TOWN. THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30MPG. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND WAS TAKEN TO FINLEY HOSPITAL. THERE WERE INJURIES CONSISTING OF ROTATOR CUFF DAMAGE. I WILL BE LOOKING INTO A LAWSUIT. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE! THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, HE SAID HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AND STRUCK A TRAILER HOLDING A RIDING LAWNMOWER. IT WAS 12:16 PM.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 12/12/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE REAR DOORS OPENED AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MANHATTAN JEEP (629 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10019, (877) 225-8709) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

STEERING,POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/30/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED FOR ANOTHER 24-48 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. MANHATTAN JEEP SERVICE CENTER (LOCATED AT 629 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10019, (877) 225-8709) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V301000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,082.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 08/19/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM REBOOTED AND A "STOP THE VEHICLE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED SMOKE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT USED AN INSTRUMENT TO BREAK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND ESCAPED FROM THE BURNING VEHICLE. WITHIN TWO MINUTES, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE MATTER WAS REFERRED TO THEIR LEGAL TEAM AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. *BF *TR *BF OWNER STATES THAT DURING THE EVENT, LOST BRAKING BUT WAS ABLE TO USE THE SHIFTER (ELECTRONIC, POLYSTABLE) TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. OWNER STATES THAT "COMPUTER" REBOOTED, AS IT HAD DONE BEFORE. MOST LIKELY REFERENCING THE VEHICLE'S INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. OWNER STATES THAT HE USED A GLASS PUNCH TO BREAK THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. 12,000 MILES ACCORDING TO THE OWNER. UPDATED 10/30/18 *JB

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/10/2018

DRIVER SIDE IMPACT. SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.