Why is my 2017-2021 Jeep Compass burning oil?

Short answer: Many 2.4 Tigershark Compasses burn oil. Check the dipstick every fill-up, then ask the dealer for an oil consumption test and any campaign for your VIN. Some owners got a software update, and some got a new engine under warranty.

Symptom: The oil level drops between changes, the low oil pressure warning comes on, or the engine stalls at a stop when oil is low. You may also see blue smoke on startup.

What to check first

1. Check the dipstick every fill-up and log how much oil you add.
2. Ask the dealer to run your VIN for open recalls and campaigns.
3. Ask for an official oil consumption test.
4. Keep receipts for every oil change.
5. If the low oil pressure warning comes on, stop and check the oil right away.

Likely causes

1. Piston ring oil control issue (2.4L Tigershark). The piston rings seal the cylinders. On engines that burn oil, oil gets past the rings into the cylinders and burns off.
2. Low oil from long change intervals. If the engine uses a quart every 1,000 miles and you change it every 5,000, it can run very low and trigger low oil pressure warnings.

What it usually costs

Owners who had the campaign or an engine replacement under warranty didn't pay. Out of warranty, an engine replacement is a big bill. Get a written quote.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Only if you keep the oil full. Running low can trigger low oil pressure, stalling at stops and engine damage.

DIY or shop?

Checking and topping up oil is DIY. The test, campaign and any engine work are dealer jobs.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Related recall: NHTSA lists recall 17V670000 for certain 2018 Cherokee and Compass with the 2.4L: the oil pump housing may crack, which can cause oil pump failure. That's a different defect from oil burning. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 1083 keyword-matched complaints for Jeep Compass 2017–2021 (of 1734 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-04; keywords: oil, consum, burn, low oil, quart, stall, engine) (NHTSA returned no data for 1 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 2018 Compass excessive oil burning on Reddit r/JeepCompass, a 2018 Compass owner asked about the known oil-burning issue and FCA's campaign. One owner burned 3 quarts in 5,000 miles and got low oil pressure alerts, and FCA said up to a quart per 1,000 miles is normal. Another owner said the fix cost about 3 mpg, and the car had still stalled in intersections. One owner asked the dealer for an oil consumption test and later had the engine replaced under warranty. An owner linked Chrysler's customer campaign document (W20).
• In 2018 Compass slowly burning oil on Reddit r/JeepCompass, a 2018 Compass owner was adding about 2 quarts every other month. Replies said it's common in this model year, and one owner said they had the engine replaced under a recall after a dealer oil consumption test.
• In Has Jeep done anything to address the oil burning issue? on Reddit r/JeepCompass, a shopper asked if Jeep had fixed the oil burning. Owners said the 2.4 Tigershark is used in many Fiat-Chrysler vehicles and owners of all of them complain about oil use.

Quick tip

Keep it topped up, document everything, and push the dealer for the consumption test while you're under warranty.

Vehicle focus: Jeep Compass with the 2.4L Tigershark engine, 2017-2021.

Safety / mechanic note

Stalling in traffic is dangerous, and running low on oil can ruin the engine. Verify with a mechanic.