2007 Jeep Compass: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2007 Jeep Compass
On the 2007 Jeep Compass, the failure owners report most often is control arm, ball joint or bushing failure, and the reports cluster around 105,000 miles. The earliest to appear is steering rack, gear or tie rod failure, reported by a median of 40,000 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 2007.
High risk for a 2007 — 188th riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. 396 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2007 Jeep Compass
Owners have reported 44 named failure modes on the 2007 Jeep Compass, and the three most-reported carry 27% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure leads with 43 reports, about 2.4 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 58k to 145,000 miles.
Other suspension problem follows with 36 reports, usually reported between 41k to 112,500 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure follows with 27 reports, usually reported between 59k to 115,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into suspension (83), fuel (59) and steering (41).
At what mileage it happens
315 of the reports on the 2007 Jeep Compass came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 84,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 28% by 50,000 miles, 59% by 100,000 miles and 85% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 70,000 and 80,000 miles, which alone holds 9% of the dated reports.
17% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: steering rack, gear or tie rod failure around 41k, seat belt or retractor failure around 46k, other steering problem around 58k and other suspension problem around 60k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 44. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 16 mention a crash, 8 a fire and 6 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.02, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: control arm, ball joint or bushing failure at $400–$2,200, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000, fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure at $250–$1,800 and steering rack, gear or tie rod failure at $700–$2,600. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
16% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 43 | 41 | 58k | 104k | 146k | 2.4 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 36 | 32 | 41k | 60k | 113k | 2.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 27 | 24 | 59k | 85k | 117k | 1.5 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 27 | 20 | 30k | 41k | 73k | 1.5 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 23 | 22 | 56k | 78k | 126k | 1.3 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 19 | 13 | 65k | 98k | 130k | 1.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 19 | 18 | 65k | 88k | 135k | 1.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 14 | 11 | 71k | 100k | 151k | 0.8 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 13 | 11 | 15k | 68k | 110k | 0.7 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 13 | 11 | 98k | 110k | 117k | 0.7 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 11 | 10 | 26k | 58k | 85k | 0.6 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 10 | 8 | 36k | 46k | 73k | 0.5 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 10 | 8 | 61k | 109k | 128k | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 9 | 6 | — | 102k | — | 0.5 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 7 | 5 | — | 70k | — | 0.4 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 7 | 5 | — | 84k | — | 0.4 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 7 | 5 | — | 75k | — | 0.4 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 6 | 5 | — | 175k | — | 0.3 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 6 | 3 | — | 76k | — | 0.3 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 5 | 4 | — | 91k | — | 0.3 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 5 | 5 | — | 15k | — | 0.3 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 4 | 3 | — | 58k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| CVT failure | transmission | 4 | 1 | — | 194k | — | 0.2 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 4 | 4 | — | 131k | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 4 | 3 | — | 96k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 4 | 4 | — | 82k | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 4 | 1 | — | 163k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 70k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 172k | — | 0.2 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 97k | — | 0.2 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 35k | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 3 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 74k | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 74k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Manual clutch or hydraulics failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 106k | — | 0.1 | $900–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 59k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 15 | 10 | 85k | 121k | 135k | 0.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2007 Jeep Compass draws about 22 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 92nd percentile of complaint rates among 2007 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 18,245 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2007 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure
Purchased 2007 jeep compass in 4/2010. It is now july and I hear clicking in back when I brake and the front clicks also. I brought it in for an oil change and they told me I also have ball joint issues. I brought it to my mechanic and he told me the same thing. What's going on. My car only has 46,000 miles. *tr
I bought my 2007 jeep compass brand new. I never off-road and I try to drive cautiously avoiding pot holes. I was hearing this weird noise and brought it in to a dealership today. They told me I need to replace the lower control arm costing me several hundred dollars. After searching on the web and seeing all the similar complaints I am convinced this should be a recall. Jeep needs to do something this is not right. This is a repair that should not be needed on such new vehicles.
Other suspension problem
Went in for new tires and the store reported to me that the lower ball joints were lose and it present a very serious safety issue. This was brought to my attention because the jeep compass had only 27,740 miles on it. *tr
Took 2007 jeep compass in for oil change. Mechanic said that car was dangerous to drive as ball joints and control arms needed replaced and were so loose that they may cause accident. Because of cost of repair, took car to jeep dealer for servicing to get a second opinion. They confirmed that the ball joints and control arms do need replaced and that they are dangerously loose. Car is unsafe to drive. Repair estimate is $935 although I'm trying to negotiate since this seems to be a defect with the car. *tr
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure
The gas tank gauge stopped functioning properly. It will read empty when full & started to go up despite being low. Have to use trip mileage to determine when to fill up not best method. But gauge is not accurate or reliable. I thought it was just me but I see this is a relatively common problem & has a service bulletin.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep compass. The contact stated that while refueling, fuel spilled from the filler neck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the vent breezer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 03/05/14*lj
Recalls on the 2007 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2007 Jeep Compass, affecting an estimated 35,262 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal, service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electron and equipment:other:owners/service/other manual. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
24,825 vehicles 2010-06-03- Defect
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2007 dodge caliber and jeep compass passenger vehicles manufactured from march 7 through may 19, 2006. The pivot bushings in vehicles with oversized accelerator pedal bearing pockets may become dislodged and potentially cause the accelerator pedal to bind or stick.
- Consequence
- Should the pedal bind or become stuck, it can be overcome by smart brakes which override the accelerator pedal in certain conditions.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace all affected accelerator pedal assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on june 29, 2010. Owners may contact chrysler toll-free at 1-800-853-1403.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
50,665 vehicles 2006-12-29- Defect
- On certain vehicles, the antilock brake system (ABS) control module software may cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions.
- Consequence
- This could result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the ABS electronic control unit. The recall began on february 19, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
18,245 vehicles 2006-11-15- Defect
- On certain sport utility vehicles, the owner's manual does not contain the required higher rollover risk warning information.
- Consequence
- Without the rollover warning information in the owner's manual, drivers may not be aware of the significantly higher rollover rate on this type vehicle, which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Daimlerchrysler will mail an addendum to the owner's manual to all affected vehicle owners. The recall began on november 14, 2006. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2007 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2007 — 188th riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 19 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 58 and 2018 worst at 82, with 2007 itself at 68.
If the model year is negotiable, 2008, 2021, 2025 and 2010 score lower than 2007 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2007–2009 generation specifically, 2008 is the strongest year at 58 and 2009 the weakest at 69.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2007-2009 generation, 2008 Jeep Compass scores best at 58 and 2009 Jeep Compass worst at 69.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other powertrain problem from about 15k, other steering problem from about 26k, steering rack, gear or tie rod failure from about 30k and seat belt or retractor failure from about 36k.
On a 2007 Jeep Compass with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other powertrain problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
396 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 396 reports, 315 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 80% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Jeep Compass?
The most-reported failures are control arm, ball joint or bushing failure (43 reports, median 105,000 miles), other suspension problem (36 reports, median 60,000 miles) and fuel tank, filler or evap failure (27 reports, median 85,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2007 Jeep Compass problems start?
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 40,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 30,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 84,000 miles.
Is the 2007 Jeep Compass reliable?
It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 188th riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2007 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Jeep Compass is best?
Within the 2007–2009 generation, 2008 scores best at 58 out of 100 and 2009 worst at 69. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed