Jeep Compass Tune-Up & Maintenance Costs (Complete Guide)

The Jeep Compass is a compact crossover that was first launched in 2007.

Boasting Jeep’s trademark rugged design, the Compass can be equipped to actually excel off-road.

In this article we’ll give you the full breakdown of its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

Here is the short answer to are Jeep Compass expensive to maintain:

The Jeep Compass has standard maintenance costs. It would cost you around $526 to maintain a Jeep Compass every year, which is almost the same as the average of $521 annually for compact SUVs. A tune-up will be around $257, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Jeep Compass Expensive to Maintain?

Compared to other vehicles in the compact SUV segment, the Jeep Compass sits in the middle of the pack both in terms of reliability and ownership costs.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your vehicle.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Jeep Compass, all data is from RepairPal:

Jeep Compass MaintenanceCost
Average annual repairs and maintenance$526
Tune-Up Cost$257
Alternator replacement $703 – $744
Oil change$132 – $141
Wiper blade replacement$87 – $94
Air filter replacement$57 – $61
Battery replacement$289 – $301
New brakes$297 – $315
Coolant change$173 – $219
New tires (set of 4)$484 – $724
New tire (one only)$121 – $181
New spark plugs$142 – $186
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance$79 – $100
New transmission$3500
Insurance$1292 / year (average)

Related: 18 Best & Worst Jeep Compass Years (With Pictures)

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Jeep Compass?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your Compass and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Jeep dealership than your local mechanic.

Jeep Compass recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or six months whichever comes first.

You can expect to pay in the region of $257 for a fairly comprehensive Jeep Compass tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

  • New spark plugs
  • Thorough inspection of engine components
  • Filters changed
  • Coolant flush
  • Cleaning IAC valve (idle air control)
  • Throttle body clean
  • Transmission and differential fluid change

Whilst your Jeep Compass is under warranty it is advised you get it serviced at a registered Jeep dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

  • They can bring more power back to your engine.
  • Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
  • Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Jeep Compass will set you back between $703 – $744 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines are off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running. 

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.

Oil Change Cost?

An oil change for a Jeep Compass should cost in the region of $132 – $141, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.

  • An oil change should be performed on the Jeep Compass every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil. 
  • Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles, twelve months, or 350 hours of engine run time (whichever comes first)

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this. 

Most Jeep Compass use a 24″ wiper blade on the driver’s side and 18″ on the passenger’s side.

Wiper blades for the Jeep Compass can be picked up for around $40, and installed by yourself for free. 

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $87 – $94 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Jeep Compass is between $57 – $61, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover. 

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also. 

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Jeep Compass should cost $289 – $301.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

To help your battery last longer:

  1. Keep your battery tightly fastened: The vibrations of your SUV can loosen the connections, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
  2. Limit short rides: Short rides prevent the battery from fully charging.
  3. Control Corrosion: Clean the terminals (toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water mixture) and keep them free from build-up.

Related: Jeep Compass Alarm Going Off? (8 Causes & Solutions)

New Brakes Cost?

Jeep Compass brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

The average cost to replace your Jeep Compass brake pads, According to RepairPal, is between $297 – $315.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your Jeep Compass requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself. 

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Jeep Compass coolant change is between $173 – $219 (excluding taxes and fees).

How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?

Transmissions on the Jeep Compass typically last 10 – 14 years or around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the SUV is driven.

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Jeep Compass could be over $3500. This range may vary depending on the model year.

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

Tire rotation ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Jeep Compass tire & wheel assembly, rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

How Much Does Insurance Cost?

According to insuraviz.com, the average cost of Jeep Compass insurance is $108 / month or $1,292 / year (compared to the $1,506 national vehicle average insurance rate).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc. 

  • It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.
  • Use price comparison sites like Compare.com.
  • There are big discounts available for taking additional driving courses or being a senior
  • The best way to keep your insurance costs down is to drive safely

Jeep Compass Repair Costs Compared to Similar Models

ModelAvg. Annual 
Repair Cost
Frequency of
Unscheduled 
Repairs (per year)
Probability of 
SevereRepairs
Subaru Crosstrek$4920.17%
Honda CR-V$4070.39%
Toyota RAV4$4290.310%
Nissan Rogue Select$4360.310%
Hyundai Tucson$4260.310%
Kia Sportage$4620.211%
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport$4980.310%
Mitsubishi Outlander$5190.311%
Jeep Cherokee$4200.212%
Mazda Tribute$5230.311%
Jeep Compass$5260.311%
Kia Sorento$5330.311%
Nissan Rogue$4670.312%
Honda Element$4910.610%
Jeep Patriot$5960.312%
Ford Escape$6000.311%
Subaru XV Crosstrek$6310.411%
Nissan Xterra$5140.314%
Chevrolet Captiva$5850.313%
Nissan Murano$5070.514%
Subaru Forester$6320.413%
GMC Terrain$5580.317%
Chevrolet Equinox$5370.318%
Fiat 500L$6400.217%
Jeep Wrangler$6940.316%
Volkswagen Tiguan$7300.912%
Avg. Compact SUV$5210.311%

How Reliable is the Jeep Compass Compared to Other Models?

ModelReliability 
Subaru Crosstrek4.5 / 5.0
Honda CR-V4.5 / 5.0
Toyota RAV44.0 / 5.0
Nissan Rogue Select4.0 / 5.0
Hyundai Tucson4.0 / 5.0
Kia Sportage4.0 / 5.0
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport4.0 / 5.0
Mitsubishi Outlander4.0 / 5.0
Jeep Cherokee4.0 / 5.0
Mazda Tribute4.0 / 5.0
Jeep Compass4.0 / 5.0
Kia Sorento4.0 / 5.0
Nissan Rogue4.0 / 5.0
Honda Element4.0 / 5.0
Jeep Patriot4.0 / 5.0
Ford Escape4.0 / 5.0
Subaru XV Crosstrek4.0 / 5.0
Nissan Xterra4.0 / 5.0
Chevrolet Captiva3.5 / 5.0
Nissan Murano3.5 / 5.0
Subaru Forester3.5 / 5.0
GMC Terrain3.5 / 5.0
Chevrolet Equinox3.5 / 5.0
Fiat 500L3.5 / 5.0
Jeep Wrangler3.5 / 5.0
Volkswagen Tiguan3.0 / 5.0
Avg. Compact SUV4.0

How Long is the Jeep Compass Manufacturers Warranty?

When you drive your new Jeep off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Jeep Compass’s factory warranty of 36,000 miles / 3 years basic coverage and 60,000 miles / 5 years powertrain coverage.

This length of protection is actually quite common among car manufacturers however it is on the shorter side of warranties

You can check your vehicle warranty status, track your service history, view your Owner’s Manual and more on the Jeep website. If you cannot find the VIN number, the only real way to check your vehicle’s factory warranty is to call or visit your local dealership.

Resources

  1. https://www.jeep.com/warranty.html 
  2. https://www.repairsmith.com/i/estimates/engine-mechanical/engine-tune-up/Jeep/Compass/ 
  3. https://repairpal.com/reliability/jeep/compass 
  4. https://insuraviz.com/vehicles/jeep/jeep-compass-insurance/ 
  5. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/alternator-replacement-cost 
  6. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/oil-change-cost 
  7. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/windshield-wiper-arm-replacement-cost 
  8. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/air-filter-replacement-cost 
  9. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/battery-replacement-cost 
  10. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/brake-pad-replacement-cost 
  11. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/coolant-change-cost 
  12. https://repairpal.com/estimator/jeep/compass/spark-plug-replacement-cost 
  13. https://www.autopadre.com/wiper-size/jeep-compass 
  14. https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/jeep/compass 

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...