Showing the 2017 Compass Trailhawk. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
21–26 mpgcombined; city 20–23, highway 23–32; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,490–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $11,160–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2017 Compass. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 229 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Compass. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
86
2
3
1
Engine
71
1
0
0
Unknown or other
64
2
0
1
Power train
42
3
0
0
Service brakes
24
0
0
0
Steering
16
1
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
12
1
0
0
Air bags
10
4
0
1
Fuel/propulsion system
10
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
10
0
0
0
Suspension
8
1
0
0
Exterior lighting
6
0
0
0
12 more parts
Wheels
4
0
0
0
Parking brake
3
0
0
0
Seats
3
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
3
0
0
0
Back over prevention
2
0
0
0
Interior lighting
2
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
1
0
Seat belts
2
0
0
0
Structure
2
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Other/unknown
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2017 Compass over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Remedy: 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 at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.
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 Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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. Chrysler's number for this recall is T70.
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 battery terminal graphic.
Risk: If a customer follows the User's Guide, they may hook up the battery jumper cables incorrectly, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T46.
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.
Risk: If the left front halfshaft disengages or breaks, the vehicle will have a loss of drive. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without using the parking brake, the vehicle may roll, despite being in 'Park.' Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 12, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T26.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 259 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2017 Compass, the latest on Jun 18, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (87), equipment (54), power train (48), structure (33), engine and engine cooling (29).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Preliminary evaluation PE19014 Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment · covers 4 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2017 Compass.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 4–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 28 / 25
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 30 / 25
Compass All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 27 / 24
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
22 / 26 / 24
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 27 / 23
Compass 4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 25 / 22
Compass 4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 23 / 21
New Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 32 / 26
New Compass All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 30 / 25
New Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 25
New Compass All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 25
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data