2017 Jeep Compass Steering Problems

Tire rods and suspension failed vehicle is unsafe to operate .

NHTSA ID

11721519

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

When driving my Jeep Compass, there have been numerous instances of the vehicle stalling out when slowing down or stopping at a light/stop sign. This has happened on busy roads, at busy intersections, and on country roads. When it happens, I cannot control any aspect of the vehicle; the breaks no longer work, I cannot turn the wheel, I cannot change gears or easily put it into park, and it takes multiple attempts to turn it off and back on. There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the incidents occurring, which started on 4/22/2025. Today, 4/29/2025, I checked my oil level and found that it was extremely low, although it should not be and I'm not yet due for an oil change. The Jeep Compass is going through more oil than usual and there is no message or notification showing at any time. I believe that this is the cause of the issues, and makes it extremely unsafe for myself, my passenger and other drivers/vehicles as it has happened on the highway and at intersections, where it could easily result in a serious accident.

NHTSA ID

11657423

Incident

Apr 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, there was an abnormal clunking sound detected. While turning the steering wheel, the abnormal sound was detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated the failure was due to the rack and pinion. The parts were back ordered. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11552785

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

Mileage

72,000 mi

I was traveling northbound on ih35 near exit 329 outside of Waco, Tx travel to Dallas Tx I was in the middle of the highway during rainfall when my jeep completely shut down on me without warning all lights came on radio went black, brake was stiff, steering wheel locked. I had to have my jeep towed $300 later. My vehicle was in park and the vehicle said not in park. Vehicle wouldn’t start up. I was in the 3rd lane of a 4 lane highway when the vehicle stalled and shut off easily could have gotten hit from oncoming traffic. I was on the side of the road for 5 hours not knowing what was wrong with my vehicle. I had a full tank of gas and fluids were A1. I looked up my vin with no recalls being shown. Googled the issue and nothing has been done for anyone that has experienced this scary situation.

NHTSA ID

11552592

Incident

Oct 26, 2023

While driving at highway speeds, the engine shut off and power steering is disabled. The dashboard says that the car is still on and will not restart the car. This is an EXTREEMLY dangerous situation, and my family is lucky to be alive. The problem had been reproduced by Christian Brother Automotive. They have replaced the camshaft sensor as well as the batteries and updated the firmware of the car. The issue continues to persist, and Christian Brothers will not release the car to me. No the Vehicle has not bee inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative. No Warning lamps, messages or other symptoms presented themself prior to the problem. After about 20 minutes the car is can be restarted and will operate as normal until it automagically cuts out the next time.

NHTSA ID

11520454

Incident

Mar 27, 2023

ON 11/23/20 I WAS AT QUIRK CHRYSLER JEEP DEALER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 33,906 MILES. 2018 JEEP COMPASS VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE THESE PARTS FAIL PREMATURELY.

NHTSA ID

11376499

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

Mileage

33,906 mi

MY 2017 JEEP COMPASS HAS BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING/PULLING. THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT WERE FOUND TO BE EXCESSIVELY LOOSE/WORN AT 43,000 MILES. THE BALL JOINT WAS PREVIOUS REPLACED PRIOR TO 24,000 MILES. THIS PART HAS NOW BEEN RECALLED ON 2018 MODELS BUT NOT 2017. THE NEED FOR TWO SUCH REPLACEMENTS ON A CAR WITH 43,000 MILES IS TERRIFYING AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID

11359915

Incident

Sep 18, 2020

Mileage

43,000 mi

CAR STALLED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS WHILE AT STOP LIGHTS. I WAS STOPPED AT LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO MOVE AGAIN THE CAR STALLED-ALL PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. AFTER THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE I DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST MIDAS BECAUSE OI WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANY FARTHER. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND COULD NOT FIND A DEFINITIVE ANSWER. THE BATTERY WAS FINE.

NHTSA ID

11297943

Incident

Jan 7, 2020

Mileage

31,000 mi

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 THAT IT WAS EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK AND VICE VERSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER IT WAS TAKEN BACK AND FORTH TO MANHATTAN JEEP (629 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10019, 1-(877) 225-8709). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.

NHTSA ID

11228783

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

10 mi

CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE AUTO OFF/ON IS TURNED OFF. ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY STARTED COMING ON BUT DID NOT AT FIRST. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AND TRYING TO PULL OUT IT DIES AGAIN SOMETIMES LEAVING YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I GOT STRANDED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN IT SHUT OFF. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED AND GET HOME WITH IT. NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED BUT WHEN TURNING I CAN HEAR A "DING" LIKE A BELL. THERE WAS ALSO A LIGHT THAT CAME ON WHICH LOOKED LIKE A LIGHTENING BOLT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND IT HAS ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE THE IDOL WAS SET A LITTLE TO LOW AS IT DOESN'T REALLY MOVE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OFF THE INSTRUMENT ON THE DASH SEEMED TO THINK THE CAR WAS STILL OPERATIONAL. IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF LIKE IF YOU CAME HOME AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.

NHTSA ID

11221279

Incident

Jun 19, 2017

Mileage

54,000 mi

TAKARA RECALL. I WOKE UP IN THE AM TO GO TO MEET MY FRIEND, STATED JEEP, IT WAS RUNNING FUNNY.SO I PUT IN REVERSE AND PUKKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, GOT TO A STOP SIGN, JEEP WOULD NOT GO, NO GAS OR JUST LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS.PARKING BRAKE WENT ON HAD TO SHUT IT OFF AND START IT AGAIN. THAN PULLED ON TO HYWY 65 AND IT LIKE STALLED, NO GAS POWER ATT ALL, STEERING WAS HARD ,COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. AND CHECK ENGINE LITE WENT ON,! AND CHECKED THE OIL BECAUSE THAT KEEPS GOING ON TO.(JUST GOT AN OIL CHANGE)HAD TOO PUT IN 2 QUARTS OF OIL. IT IS GOING SOMEWHERE? IF THERE WAS ALOT OF TRAFFIC I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE ARE DAYS MY RADIO HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN? IT WILL JUST CHANGE CHANNELS OR FREEZE UP. MY PASSENGER WINDOW HAS A MIND OF IT OWN SOMEDAYS IT WILL ROLE DOWNBEAT OK , NEXT DAY OR HOURS IT WONT WORK AGAIN? ALL THEDE MALFUNTIONS MAKES MY ANXIETY OFF THE CHARTS. IT IS SAD WHEN IT IS YOUR VEHICLE AND YOUR SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE 4 RECALLS AND NO ONE TOLD ME ,I HAD TO LOOK THEM UP TO GET THEM. THAT IS HORRIBLE PEOPLES LIVES ARE IN DANGER! I HOPE THAT SOMEONE ELSE DOESNT HAVE TO BE SCARED TO DIVE THERE JEEP. LIKE ME.

NHTSA ID

11207639

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

39,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2017 JEEP COMPASS FROM PAPAS DODGE IN NEW BRITAIN, CT. THE STOP/START FEATURE ON THIS VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND THE ENGINE STALLS CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. THE DEALER APPARENTLY CAN NOT EMULATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DO NOT DRIVE IT ON A DAILY BASIS. MY DAUGHTER IS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. HAVE TO ADD 1 1/2 QUART BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ID

11195365

Incident

Mar 8, 2019

THE ESS SYSTEM ACTIVATED WHEN I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I LET GO THE BREAK, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THE EMERGENCY BREAK TURNED ITSELF ON, THE WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND THE BREAKS BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS, CAUSE ME TO ROLL FORWARD WHEN I TRIED STOPPING. THE ONLY WAY I COULD REGAIN FULL CONTROL WAS TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID

11176405

Incident

Feb 11, 2019

Mileage

12,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11132442

Incident

Sep 30, 2018

Mileage

39,082 mi

ON 1/12/18 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START SO I CALLED FOR A TOW TO TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AUTO CENTER THEY SAID IT WAS A WIRE THAT WAS BURNT THAT CONNECTS TO THE STEERING. RECEIVED IT A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT START AFTER 5 HOURS OF WAITING ON A TOW IT STARTED UP AND I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN THEY CALLED THE MODULE WAS GOING OUT IT GOT REPLACED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN I KEPT PLAYING WITH THE IGNITION BACK AND FORTH TO SEE WOULD IT START NOTHING. AGAIN REQUESTED A TOW NONE CAME. BY THE TIME I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK I TRIED AGAIN IT STARTED I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOTHING WAS COMING UP ON THE MACHINE. I DROVE IT FOR A WEEK OR SO AND ON 2/6/18 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UP AFTER I HAD JUST GOT OUT OF IT FROM RUNNING ERRANDS AND A FEW OCCASIONS I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTEN AND WAS HARD TO TURN. THOSE TIMES I WAS PARKED ON PARKED ON THE STREETS BUT ON FEB 6 I PARKED A FEW INCHES BY THE FIRE HYDRANT RAN INTO THE HOUSE TO TAKE THE GROCERIES AND COME OUT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. ON ALL OCCASIONS IT WAS NOT ANY LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND EVERYTHING WAS WORK EXCEPT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START. *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

11071530

Incident

Jan 12, 2018

Mileage

5,814 mi