CriticalVery commonTransmission

Jeep Compass: JATCO CVT Belt Slippage and Failure

JATCO CVT Belt Slippage and Failure is a very common transmission fault on the Jeep Compass on the 2007–2012 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 12 documented faults on the Jeep Compass.

Vehicle: Jeep Compass
Years: 2007–2012
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: cvt
System: Transmission

This page covers the Jeep Compass as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Jeep Compass faults12 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the CVT belt and pulleys yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

First-generation Jeep Compass models (MK, 2007–2012) fitted with the JATCO CVT transmission are subject to a well-documented belt-slippage and transmission failure issue. The CVT push-belt and pulley assemblies wear prematurely, particularly under load or towing. Chrysler faced class-action litigation in the USA over these transmissions. Symptoms progress from slipping under acceleration to complete loss of drive. Replacement CVT units are expensive. Many NZ/AU used examples have been repaired, but recurrence is possible if replacement is not OEM quality.

What you would notice

Transmission slip — engine revs rise without proportional vehicle acceleration
Shuddering or vibration under moderate to hard acceleration
Hesitation pulling away from standstill
Transmission overheating warning
Complete loss of drive in severe failure

How to check it

Where to look. Transmission — JATCO CVT unit, bolted to front of engine under the vehicle

Test drive with multiple hard acceleration runs from low speed — check for slipping (rising revs without vehicle speed increase).
Check for shudder between 40–80 km/h.
Verify CVT fluid has been serviced (CVT fluid degrades and accelerates belt wear).
Ask if transmission has been replaced and what unit was fitted.

Parts involved: CVT belt and pulleys.

What it costs to put right

$4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the CVT transmission been replaced, and with what unit?”
“Any slipping, shuddering, or hesitation under acceleration?”
“When was the CVT fluid last changed?”

Now check the Jeep Compass you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Jeep Compass buyer questions

Is jatco cvt belt slippage and failure serious on a Jeep Compass?

We rate it critical and very common on the Jeep Compass. First-generation Jeep Compass models (MK, 2007–2012) fitted with the JATCO CVT transmission are subject to a well-documented belt-slippage and transmission failure issue. The CVT push-belt and pulley assemblies wear prematurely, particularly under load or towing. Chrysler faced class-action litigation in the USA over these transmissions. Symptoms progress from slipping under acceleration to complete loss of drive. Replacement CVT units are expensive. Many NZ/AU used examples have been repaired, but recurrence is possible if replacement is not OEM quality.

How much does it cost to fix on a Jeep Compass?

$4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Jeep Compass years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2012 Jeep Compass. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Test drive with multiple hard acceleration runs from low speed — check for slipping (rising revs without vehicle speed increase). Check for shudder between 40–80 km/h. Verify CVT fluid has been serviced (CVT fluid degrades and accelerates belt wear). Ask if transmission has been replaced and what unit was fitted. Look here: Transmission — JATCO CVT unit, bolted to front of engine under the vehicle