BOLT - HEX FLANGE HEAD
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Jeep Compass engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Jeep Compass have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 31,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Compass | 7 |
| 2014 Compass | 31 |
| 2015 Compass | 15 |
| 2016 Compass | 92 |
| 2017 Compass (this page) | 23 |
| 2018 Compass | 200 |
| 2019 Compass | 60 |
| 2020 Compass | 18 |
| 2021 Compass | 4 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 23 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Jeep Compass, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders:
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following: ● Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes. ● Excessive oil consumption. This bulletin involves performing an oil consumption verification test and possibly replacing the long block."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On "
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Jeep Compass with the 2.4 MultiAir engine burns oil at an alarming rate. Owners report losing 1 quart per 500–1500 miles, with some needing to add 2.5 to 4.5 quarts between scheduled oil changes that are supposed to last 3,200 to 5,000 miles. Dealership service advisors say this consumption is "normal" for the engine, but it forces owners to check oil every 1–2K miles or at every fill-up.
The real hazard: when oil runs low, the engine shuts down completely during normal driving—at intersections, during turns, on highways at 30–55 MPH. Power steering is lost. The engine usually restarts after several seconds to minutes, but the shutdown can happen with no warning light at all, or only a brief low-oil-pressure alert. One owner lost steering control and was rear-ended after the engine stalled; another's vehicle shut down twice in less than a year on the highway.
When the engine stalls, the electronic parking brake engages automatically, trapping the driver. The engine also runs noticeably hot—the dipstick becomes almost too hot to handle. Owners report the auto stop/start feature occasionally fails to restart the vehicle, creating additional traffic hazards. Multiple battery replacements occur early in ownership, and one owner's vehicle lost power steering during a stall in a busy intersection. Dealership techs confirm the oil consumption is a known issue with no solution, and one recall that was performed did not fully resolve the stalling problem.
Same Jeep Compass engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive Oil Consumption
Engine burns oil at rates far exceeding normal specifications. Owners report consuming 1 quart per 500–1500 miles, with some losing 2.5–4.5 quarts between scheduled oil changes spaced 3,200–5,000 miles apart. Dealership techs acknowledge the issue as a known characteristic of the 2.4 MultiAir engine but offer no repair, only frequent monitoring and top-offs.
When: As early as 3,200 miles; consistent across all mileages through 67,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Dipstick reads bone dry or nearly empty; Oil level drops 2.5–4.5 quarts between scheduled changes; Owners must check oil every 1–2K miles or every fill-up; Engine runs noticeably hot; dipstick almost too hot to handle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service managers confirmed excessive consumption as normal for this engine; no repairs offered. One dealer mentioned possible engine replacement if consumption continued (complaint #12). No parts or cost information provided by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership techs stated Chrysler is aware of the problem with no solutions provided (complaint #18). One owner reported a recall was performed but the issue recurred post-recall (complaint #7).
Engine Stalling Due to Low Oil
Engine shuts down abruptly during normal driving—often at intersections, during turns, or on highways—triggered by oil level dropping below a safe threshold. Oil pressure warning light may illuminate seconds before stall, or not at all. Engine typically restarts after several seconds to minutes, but power steering is lost during shutdown, creating hazard.
When: Throughout vehicle life; reported from 11,200 miles to 67,000 miles. Often occurs 300–500 miles before scheduled oil change interval.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown while driving at any speed (30–55 MPH documented); Loss of power steering during stall; Oil pressure warning light may come on immediately before or not at all; Engine restarts after delay, typically within minutes; Multiple stalls in same trip reported; Occurs during turns or acceleration
Codes mentioned: Low Oil Pressure warning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostic: low oil is the root cause. Techs recommend carrying spare quart and checking oil every 1–2K miles. No permanent repair offered. One dealer mentioned engine replacement as potential solution if consumption did not improve.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #2: Dealership tech stated 'this has been seen a lot on newer Jeeps in these MultiAir engines' and '99.9% of the time that is the cause.' Complaint #18: Dealer stated Chrysler is aware but no solutions provided. Complaint #7: Recall was performed, but issue recurred post-repair.
Emergency Brake Auto-Engagement on Stall
When engine stalls due to low oil or electrical failure, the electronic emergency parking brake engages automatically. Owners must remove the center shift console to unlock the gear shifter in order to put vehicle in neutral or move it to safety.
When: Coincident with engine stalls; mileage varies 14,000–67,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic parking brake automatically engages when engine stalls; Loss of steering control during engagement; Brake requires manual override; owner must disassemble shift console to unlock
Repairs/costs cited: No repair reported. Owners manually disengaged brake and restarted engine to recover vehicle control.
Auto Stop/Start Malfunction
The factory Auto Stop/Start feature (which stops the engine at idle to save fuel) fails to restart the engine when the driver releases the brake pedal. Restart delay of 10–15 seconds or more; in one case, vehicle would not restart for over 10 minutes.
When: Multiple occurrences documented; one complaint at low mileage (vehicle age 1 year)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine does not restart when foot lifted from brake pedal after auto stop; Prolonged restart delay (10 seconds to 10+ minutes); Occurs especially when stop/start battery is low or recently replaced; Creates hazard in traffic (e.g., left turn against oncoming traffic)
Repairs/costs cited: Stop/start battery replacement performed; issue recurred within 1 month. One owner noted suggestion of computer/module upgrade from dealer, though outcome unclear.
Battery Drain and Replacement Cycles
Both main and auxiliary batteries drain prematurely and require replacement. Stop/start battery also fails. Multiple replacements occur within a short span (e.g., auxiliary battery replaced December 2019, both batteries replaced September 2019—timeline suggests complaint written after second event). Excessive heat from engine contributes to early battery failure.
When: Early in vehicle life; one owner replaced auxiliary battery in December 2019, both batteries September 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid battery discharge; Multiple battery replacements within short interval; Dashboard warning lights illuminate erratically when battery is low; Stop/start function may fail or cause stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced batteries out-of-pocket; specific costs not stated. No diagnostic testing reported.
Engine Overheating
Engine runs consistently hot. Dipstick becomes too hot to handle safely after brief drive. Owners and dealership advisors acknowledge the engine's high running temperature as a known trait. Dual air intake and Auto Stop/Start system are suspected by owner to be cooling measures, though not confirmed by manufacturer.
When: Observed throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Palpable heat radiating from engine bay immediately upon hood opening; Dipstick too hot to grip safely; No temperature gauge abnormality noted
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs attempted. Dealership service personnel confirmed hot running as normal for this engine.
Transmission Jerking During Shift
Vehicle jerks or hesitates during automatic transmission gear shifts. One owner reported this issue at 1-year vehicle age alongside oil consumption and stalling complaints.
When: Reported at approximately 1 year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking sensation during gear transitions; Occurs after computerupgrade performed at dealership (though upgrade did not resolve issue)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service tech suggested computer upgrade and performed it; jerking persisted.
Excessive Coolant Temperature (Undiagnosed)
One owner reports coolant temperature heating with no identified root cause. Dealership unable to diagnose. No recalls available at time of complaint despite multiple online reports of similar issue.
When: Timing unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant temperature rising without apparent mechanical failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Engine stalls at any speed due to low oil. 2.4 engine has excessive oil consumption to the degree of shutting down in between 5000 mile oil changes. Engine has 30,000 miles and uses 3 quarts between changes "apparently". Chrysler says 1 quart per 2000 miles!!! On a new vehicle, this is totally unacceptable!
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Jeep compass. The contact stated that the oil in his vehicle needed to be changed every two months. In addition, the low oil warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (located at 310 broadway ave, bedford, oh 44146, (440) 232-2121) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.…
My 2017 Jeep compass has only 14,000 miles on it. I made a turn today and noticed the low oil indicator came on. I immediately told my husband and he checked the oil and it wasn't even showing up on the dip stick. It caused my engine to turn off in an intersection and I had to hope that I could get out of the intersection without getting hit. I managed to get it turned back on and the…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 Jeep Compass?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2017 Jeep Compass?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 15,562 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 31,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,562; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Jeep/Compass.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.