All models / Small SUVs / Jeep Compass / What to check

What to check: Jeep Compass

DBy age

DBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Jeep Compass, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 17.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 4.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 2.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.0%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 1.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 2.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 29.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 18.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 3.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

On the test drive, pull away gently and brake to a stop a few times if it is an automatic.Jerky pull-off or a thump on the last downshift points to the 9-speed's known low-speed shudder.

Start the engine stone cold if you can and listen for a metallic rattle on a 1.4 petrol.A rattle that fades after a few seconds suggests timing chain and phaser wear building up.

On a diesel, check the dash for a DPF warning light and ask how the car is normally used.A car that's done mostly short urban trips is far more likely to have a clogging or already-clogged filter.

Play with the touchscreen: sat nav, camera, Bluetooth, phone mirroring, all in one go.Freezing, a black screen, or a slow reboot is the known Uconnect glitch, not necessarily a one-off.

Drive over some speed bumps or a rough patch and listen for a clunk from the front end.A knock over bumps points to worn control arm bushes, sway bar links, or loose mounting bolts, the folklore side of this model's suspension weak spot.

Run the VIN through the manufacturer recall checker before you buy.Confirms whether the 2018 stop-start software recall and seatback latch recall have actually been done.

Ask for full service history with oil change dates, not just stamps.Missed or cut-price oil changes are what tips the 1.4 petrol's chain and phasers over from fine to failing.

Full Jeep Compass reliability report