If you're shopping used, know that 2017-2022 Compass models have a documented pattern of auxiliary batteries dying every few years, head gaskets failing before 100k miles, and cooling systems that can strand you days after purchase. The 2023 redesign swapped in a 2.0L turbo and appears to have fixed the major gremlins, but there's no long-term proof yet. Even owners who've had decent luck admit a Mazda CX-5 or Honda CR-V costs about the same and won't keep you up at night. The Trailhawk trim offers real off-road chops if you need that, but multiple mechanics in these threads won't touch the brand themselves. Buy new if you must, avoid the Tigershark era entirely.
This is a truck with a split personality that depends entirely on when it rolled off the line. The 1999-2010 models with the 4.0L inline-six built a cult following by refusing to die, owners routinely push them past 200k miles with nothing but oil changes and the occasional sensor swap. The 2011-2020 generation trades some of that bulletproof simplicity for refinement, and while the 3.6L Pentastar has a known oil cooler weakness (plan for a $1,600 repair eventually), plenty of these trucks still deliver reliable service once that's addressed. Then 2021 arrived and quality control fell apart: transmissions failing at 3k miles, electrical systems going dark, the kind of catastrophic breakdowns that make you question whether anyone test-drove these before shipping them. If you're buying used and find a well-kept pre-2021 model, you're getting proven capability. If you're considering anything current-gen, you're gambling on whether Stellantis sorted out the gremlins, and right now, the house is winning.