2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2018 Jeep Compass
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2018 Chevrolet
Equinox
4/10
Fine as a $12k grocery-getter if you budget for a brake vacuum pump and skip the 1.5T entirely.
VS
2018 Jeep
Compass
3/10
Cute Trailhawk looks, appliance-grade misery — the 2018 Compass is what happens when FCA rushes a platform to market.
Milo scores the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox higher — 4/10 against 3/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Equinox |
Jeep Compass |
| Known failure points | 6 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 397 | 931 |
| Safety recalls | 5 | 6 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 42 | 32 |
| Cheap to own | 45 | 38 |
| Fun factor | 30 | 25 |
| Holds value | 38 | 30 |
| Enthusiast cred | 10 | 15 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2018 Chevrolet Equinox
9-speed automatic hard shifts, hesitation, and TCM (transmission control module) failures tied to a software/hardware recall
$0–$2,50040k–90k mi
2018 Jeep Compass
9-speed automatic transmission harsh shifting, hesitation, or shudder (shared ZF-based unit with early teething issues)
$150–$4,50010k–40k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
A 2018 Equinox Premier with the 2.0T engine, FWD (to avoid the extra AWD driveline complexity), and full documentation of ALL five recalls completed — this combo minimizes the two biggest headaches (1.5T oil burn and AWD driveshaft failure).
✅ 2018 Jeep Compass
2018 Compass Trailhawk with the FWD-derived 6-speed... wait, Trailhawk is AWD-only with the 9-speed, so instead target a Latitude or Limited AWD built after mid-2018 (post running-change software updates) with the panoramic sunroof deleted and full service records showing the oil pump and control arm recalls completed.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.