As the largest Jeep manufactured by the manufacturer, the Commander made its debut in 2005. It shares a lot of DNA with the Grand Cherokee, including its rugged looks and off-road capabilities.
The Jeep Commander offers excellent off-road performance, traditional Jeep styling, and durable interior materials for a great price. Jeep halted production of the Commander due to its failure to sell well, much to the dismay of the manufacturer.
As a result, you can’t purchase a new Jeep Commander. You should avoid some Jeep Commander years if you are considering buying a used Commander. Here are the Jeep Commander years you should avoid and the model you should get instead.
Jeep Commander
In 2005, Jeep released the Jeep Commander model to the market, and since then, it has been one of the most popular Jeep cars on the global market.
This SUV car has a lot of amazing features that make it popular worldwide. With its powerful engine and good design, Jeep Commander was definitely a car that was used by many people throughout the years and is still searched for today.
Best and worst Jeep Commander years
Several trusted sources of information were consulted when determining the best and worst Commander models. NHTSA and IIHS reliability records and information on specific Commander years and their value for buyers were the most reliable sources of information among those.
Following that, we double-checked the Jeep Commander recall details using trusted organizations and their website. As well as looking at model ratings on Edmunds and KBB, we also looked at real driver records and complaints on Jeep Commander forums. Here’s what we found:
| JEEP COMMANDER GENERATION | BEST JEEP COMMANDER YEARS | WORST JEEP COMMANDER YEARS |
| 1st generation | 2009, 2010 | 2006, 2007 |
2006-2010 Jeep Commander (1st Generation)
In addition to being built on the same platform as the Dodge Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Commander had a boxier profile. There were three rows of seats, but both the second and third rows were cramped. All Commander models except one were not known for long-term reliability, so we recommend skipping them all.
Avoid: 2006 Jeep Commander
Choose the 2006 Commander SUV if you want to skip a model year. As a matter of fact, the 2006 Commander model has the lowest reliability rating. The 2006 Commander did not make any significant strides in dispelling the belief that debut models are problematic and have the worst long-term reliability ratings.
It earned the “Beware of the Clunker” seal of disapproval due to more than 2,000 complaints and six recalls, according to CarComplaints.com. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been 1767 complaints so far. What were the reasons for the Jeep Commander’s unreliability in 2006?
Engine Stalls
Several unhappy owners reported that their 2006 Commander’s engine stalled frequently. It has been reported that the stalls occurred at freeway speeds, which is extremely dangerous. When the Jeep stalled, the power would be lost for a short period of time. Many SUV owners had to call emergency roadside services after their vehicles stalled and couldn’t be restarted. According to a frustrated Georgia owner:
There is no warning when the car shuts down. Since the second week of owning the vehicle, this has been happening. The problem cannot be fixed or induced by them. According to Georgia “Lemon Law”, Jeep will have to charge me for mileage incurred. “I can’t afford that many miles after 30,000.”
Body Integrity Issues
Engine problems are definite deal breakers, but the 2006 Commander also suffered from body integrity problems – particularly with the door handles. A few months after owning an SUV, several owners complained that the door handles broke. Getting into or out of the vehicle required people to pull down their windows. The broken handles would prevent occupants from exiting the car in case of an emergency, which is a major safety issue.
Avoid: 2007 Jeep Commander
Although Jeep Commander owners reported fewer complaints in 2007, it’s still not the most reliable model. This model retains many of the problems of the debut version, so we recommend skipping it. Several recalls were issued for the 2007 Commander, according to CarComplaints.com – not as many as the 2006 model, but still a lot of complaints. As of now, the NHTSA has received more than 1030 complaints regarding the 2007 Commander.
Returning to the 2007 Commander, random engine stalls still plagued it. Most complaints detail the Commander cutting off power while driving, sometimes at highway speeds, which poses a serious safety concern. There were even drivers who reported that they feared causing accidents while driving their vehicles.
The 2007 Jeep Commander cannot be recommended due to persistent engine issues.
Avoid: 2008 Jeep Commander
There have been 476 complaints and five recalls so far for the 2008 Commander, which is a significant improvement over the previous model. We had to make an instant pass on this Commander due to the dreaded engine stalling issue.
There have still been many complaints about engine stalls for the 2008 Commander, despite the fact that it’s less common here. The frustration of many SUV owners was expressed when they experienced loss of power before their vehicle stopped. It’s also worth checking used Commanders for rust formation under the windshield, which has also been reported for this model year.
Avoid: 2009 Jeep Commander
The 2009 Jeep Commander is a capable off-road SUV with significant more power if you opt for the Hemi V8 engine. This model year is still not recommended due to engine issues, as you might have guessed.
Fiat Chrysler deserves praise for this Commander year because the stalling engine was less prevalent. The fact remains, however, that there is still a concern. Therefore, we have difficulty recommending the 2009 Jeep Commander. However, if you can find a great deal on this off-road SUV, you might want to consider it.
Buy: 2010 Jeep Commander
Jeep Commander is most reliable in its final year before discontinuation. Besides its traditional Jeep styling, this vehicle offers a potent 5.7-liter V8 engine and top-notch off-road abilities. Best of all, the 2010 Jeep Commander does not suffer from annoying engine stall issues. One report claims that the sunroof leaks, but it’s only one report. Used 2010 Jeep Commander SUVs are a great value for off-roading.
Which Jeep Commander Years to Avoid?
Jeep Commanders were only commercially sold in five models. Due to limited options, we are recommending one Jeep Commander model year. To begin with, here are some Jeep Commander years to stay away from:
2006 Jeep Commander
Jeep Commander’s debut model may also be its worst. A highly problematic model, the 2006 Jeep Commander earned the “Beware of the Clunker” award from Car Complaints. There have been over 2,000 complaints and six recalls, which makes sense.
In the opinion of the unhappy owners, the engine of the 2006 Commander is prone to stalling while driving. Further complicating matters, the stalls occurred on a freeway without warning. It was reported that the Jeep stalled at various speeds and lost all power immediately. A towing service was required for those who could not restart their engines rapidly.
There is also a concern regarding the quality of the door handles, which tend to break more often than they should. It has been reported that many Commander users have broken or damaged their door handles. People had to roll down their windows to get out in some cases because the doors were still functional but hard to operate. If there is a fire or wreck, you will not be able to escape the vehicle quickly.
Our vote goes to the 2006 Commander if you want to avoid it at all costs.
2007 Jeep Commander
In terms of NHTSA complaints, the 2007 Jeep Commander is Jeep’s best effort, but it still has many problems. A used 2007 Commander has been recalled six times and received more than 1,000 complaints.
The 2007 Commander inherits its predecessor’s engine stalling issue. Once again, you will find many reports of SUV owners losing power without warning and finding themselves in an unsafe situation. It was unclear how to resolve most complaints.
Furthermore, several recalls have been issued for the 2007 Commander. Among the worst is the recall of Jeep models with ABS Electronic Control Modules. The Jeep Recall P41 about knee contact potentially turning off the ignition is another recall that you should be aware of. As a result, there is an increased risk of injury or crash.
2008 Jeep Commander
The 2008 Jeep Commander has a much higher level of reliability than the last two years. According to CarComplaints.com, there have been 454 complaints and five recalls for this model.
Rust formation under the windshield trim is one of the most common complaints about the 2008 Commander. As a result of an unfinished paint job under the trim, two reports claimed the windshield trim was rusty. There’s either no rust warranty or the rust isn’t extensive enough to warrant coverage, which makes this problem even more frustrating.
Unfortunately, the 2008 Commander continues to experience engine stalling problems. In this case, the Commander will simply lose power and stop running – there will be no warning, no check engine light, no noise, nothing. The dealership found no problems with the engine when it was brought in.
2009 Jeep Commander
It still has numerous reliability issues, including the ever-persistent engine stalling problem, even though the 2009 Commander has only 60+ complaints and three recalls.
Yes, that’s correct! As with previous Commanders, the 2009 model suffers from the dreaded stalling engine. There are many owners who are disappointed because this issue makes the Commander impossible to drive. On a freeway, you don’t want to stall your engine when you’re driving 60-70 mph – a nightmare scenario for anyone. Although to a lesser extent, it remains an issue with the 2009 Commander.
The flashing service 4WD system light is another common problem with the 2009 Commander. Although no codes are stored in the final drive control module (FDCM), the service 4WD system light illuminates. It was fortunately possible to resolve this problem by updating the FDCM software.
Which Jeep Commander Years are Safe to Buy Used?
Following our list of Jeep Commander years to avoid, we are left with one last model year, and, in our opinion, the best Jeep Commander available today.
2010 Jeep Commander
The Commander’s final model year is also its best. In the first place, it has a traditional Jeep style that many people are drawn to. The powerful 5.7 liter V8 engine in the 2010 Commander, which offers 360 horsepower, makes it a compelling option. Jeep’s signature off-road capability makes the 2010 Jeep Commander a unique family SUV.
There have only been a few complaints regarding the Commander’s reliability, and the dreaded stalling engine issue has never appeared. One report mentions a leaky sunroof on the SUV, which is a common design flaw with Jeep SUVs.
The 2010 Jeep Commander is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a used vehicle. A bevy of nice features, as well as classic Jeep styling, make this vehicle a great off-roader.
Is the Jeep Commander worth buying?
When it comes time to draw the line, our team recommends the Commander as a three-row SUV with a fair price on the used car market. Even though it had some serious flaws before, such as the issue with the 4.7-liter engine, that can be fixed by avoiding problematic model years.
As a result, our team hopes this guide will truly serve you well and that you’ll eventually settle on a 2009 or 2010 Commander that requires little maintenance.
Whether you choose Jeep Wrangler, Toyota FJ Cruiser, or Land Rover LR3, you’re choosing from a lineup of rugged and capable off-road vehicles. These vehicles can, however, differ significantly in terms of reliability and performance from one model year to the next.
Why were Jeep Commanders discontinued?
Poor sales figures and engine stalling problems led to the Jeep Commander’s discontinuation after five years of production.
Is the Jeep Commander reliable?
The Jeep Commander isn’t one of Jeep’s most reliable models, so you’ll want to stay away from the problematic 2006, 2007, and 2008 model years.
What is considered high mileage for a Jeep Commander?
It is considered high mileage for a Jeep Commander to reach 250,000 to 300,000.
Is the Jeep Commander Still In Production?
The Jeep Commander car has something else to offer after you learn which years to avoid.
In spite of all the upgrades and overall improvements Jeep made to their Commander car model over the years, they were unable to accomplish many things and stopped production in 2010.
The Commander wasn’t well-received by Jeep lovers all over the world, which is clearly one of the main reasons why Jeep ended production of the car after two decades.
One good thing about Jeep Commander was that it had a significant influence on the new Jeep SUVs that are on the market and still in production, such as Jeep Wrangler.
It is well known that Jeep is one of the biggest names in the automobile industry in general, but Jeep Commander remains an untouched memory and a predecessor to many new Jeep models!
Most common Jeep Commander problems
In order to rate a car that has only been in production for one generation, we’ll look at the common Jeep Commander problems and their causes. Then we’ll dig deeper into those so you can see how frequently owners had to deal with issues and how reliable the vehicle was.
1. Engine problems
With the Jeep Commander, you had the option of a number of reliable engines, starting with the 3.7-liter V6 and going all the way up to the more powerful 5.7-liter HEMI V8. There were, however, a lot of problems with the 4.7-liter V8, and it often led to safety issues that ended with an official Jeep recall. There have even been reports of cars turning off while driving but turning back on after a while.
The problem could potentially result in a crash, either way, and Jeep is aware of it.
This is why more than 20,000 units equipped with the 4.7-liter engine were recalled to fix the problem. Ultimately, it was a software problem, and the powertrain control module needed to be updated.
2. Braking system issues
Jeep Commanders are also prone to braking system problems, which can also have an adverse effect on driving safety. In this model, there are several problems with the brakes, and the most frequent is a breakdown of the front brake caliper. Jeep Commanders’ front calipers weren’t all made from the same material, which caused them to deteriorate faster.
Consequently, the car’s braking distance increased, sometimes posing a safety risk. Additionally, we learned that ABS malfunctioned and brake booster problems led to reduced braking pressure.
Besides those two issues, we’ve heard several complaints from drivers who have been dealing with faulty brake lights despite frequently changing the bulbs.
3. Electrical system malfunctions
The truth is, issues of this kind occur quite frequently for nearly every car model in certain production years. In spite of this, since the Commander only came in one generation, electrical problems may have been more prevalent.
Sensors and dashboard readings were usually affected by electrical system faults. The airbag control module can malfunction, resulting in more serious threats, so it’s crucial to have the electric system inspected before buying a used Commander.
4. Problems with the equipment
Jeep Commander had many additional equipment options even when it came to basic trim levels during that time period. Despite this, many of these features fail over time, especially in second-hand cars, and this is mostly a problem for buyers of second-hand cars.
When you buy a Commander, you don’t want it to have faulty door handles or a broken exhaust. It was reported that Commander vehicles with 3.7-liter V6 and 4.7-liter V8 engines had the most exhaust issues. The dashboard four-wheel-drive light illuminated for no apparent reason, and some sunroof leaks were also reported.
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Final Words
At the time of its launch, the Jeep Commander was surely a car that many Jeep fans were eagerly awaiting and loving. To be honest, the first model was also the last great Commander available!
A full “destroying” and a Jeep car model that will live in Jeep’s memory started after the second model, in the year 2006. Despite all the problems this car had in the past, production has been stopped for good.
It is my hope that you enjoyed reading what you have read so far and that I have been able to help you find everything you need. Best of luck to you!