JEEP Commander Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used JEEP Commander options? We analyzed 5 model years (2006–2010) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the JEEP Commander has 3,357 owner complaints and 24 safety recalls across model years 2006–2010. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2006 drew the most complaints; 2010 drew the fewest.
- Make
- JEEP
- Model
- Commander
- Model years analyzed
- 2006–2010 (5 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 3,357
- Safety recall campaigns
- 24
- Crash-related complaints
- 115
- Fire-related complaints
- 31
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2006 (1,782 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2010 (45 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
JEEP Commander: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe JEEP COMMANDER has 3,357 NHTSA complaints and 24 recalls on record. 115 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 3,357 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 24 federal recall campaigns
- 115 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
24 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
SUSPENSION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SUSPENSION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SUSPENSION
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2006–2010. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 3,357 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
3,357 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Commander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air bag squid connector was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer confirmed the result from the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
The commander turns off on its own, brakes on its own, the alarm does its own thing, the esp/bas lights are on, buttons on dash don’t work most of the time, sunroof drain is faulty, and leaks rivers of water into my car! Also had my brakes to seize up on me and I couldn’t move from a danged stop sign. I just want a vehicle I can rely on.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO HER DESTINATION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WARSAW CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2771 N DETROIT ST, WARSAW, IN 46582, (574) 306-5082) AND SORG DODGE INC (1811 ELKHART RD, GOSHEN, IN 46526, (574) 533-8605) AND THE DEALERS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE CONSUMER STATED 4 SENSORS WERE OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING FINE AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE.
JUST LIKE THE 2008 MODEL, WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO TURN THE KEY OFF THE WILL NOT TURN OFF ALL THE WAY. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY FROM THE AUXILIARY POSITION TO THE ON POSITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL THE KEY FINALLY GOES INTO THE OFF POSITION. ONLY THEN WILL IT RELEASE THE KEY. WHEN I LOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH 2 DIFFERENT TIMES. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2008 MODEL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I AM STILL DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM TODAY.
MY JEEP HAS PERIODIC STARTING ISSUES. ALL THE LIGHTS WORK ON THE DASH IT JUST CLICKS. THIS IS VERY RANDOM. IF YOU JUMP IT THE VEHICLE WILL START. SOMETIMES IF YOU WAIT A PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL START. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED STARTER BUT ISSUE STILLS PERSIST. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RECREATE. DEALERS HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE.
THE REMOTE CAR STARTER STARTS MY VEHICLE? BUT 5-10 SECONDS LATER IT SHUTS BACK OFF AND MY RADIO TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF EVEN WHILE ITS NOT ON. THE DISPLAY GOES BLACK, MAKES A CLICK, SHOWS THE JEEP LOGO, BARS WHERE THE TIME SHOULD BE, 12:00, THEN THE REAL TIME, THEN DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN THE ENTIRE TIME THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. THERE IS ALSO A CLICKING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN I UNLOCK THE DOORS EVEN WHILE THE JEEP IS OFF, IT ALSO HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING THE HEAT ON. THIS IS SOMETIMES RESOLVED BY CHANGING THE FAN TO CABIN MODE, OTHER TIMES IT CONTINUES FOR RANDOM LENGTHS OF TIME. I SEE THAT THERE WERE OTHER RECALLS REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL & AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IT IN CASE IT TURNS INTO A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE. WHEN LOOKING AT RECALL INFORMATION ON KBB.COM IT SAYS MY VIN IS A PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RECALL FOR POWER TRAIN TRANSFER CASE, BUT WHEN I CHECK IT HERE IT SAYS THERE ARE NO INREPAIRED RECALLS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED, OR IF MY VEHICLE IS Y A PART OF IT, BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING GOING WRONG NOW.
Read 14 more owner reports
DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND MAKES A CHIME NOISE. NOW IT DOES IT OFF AND ON THE WHOLE TIME IT IS BEING DRIVEN. ALSO IF YOUR SITTING STEAL AND YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL DO IT AS WELL. I'M THINKING IT MAY BE DUE TO THE CLOCKSPRING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS BECOMING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. PERRY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2340 NATIONAL CITY BLVD, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950, (619) 477-1234) ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN, PARKED, SHUT OFF, RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO START. LIGHTS, HORN, ALARM, RADIO, WINDOWS ALL POWER STILL WORKS ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO IN NETWORK CAR SHOP, ALL PARTS TESTED WORKING PROPERLY (ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, STARTER) NO INTERMITTENT STARTING WITH THE VEHICLE AT ALL. VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START SINCE INCIDENT. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO MANUFACTURE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. CURRENT MILEAGE 100784
A FEW WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD GOING AROUND A SEMI SHARP TURN THE JEEP JUST SHUT OFF. LIGHTS, ENGINE, BRAKES ALL POWER SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE JEEP IN NEUTRAL AND START IT BACK UP. EVERYTIME SINCE WHILE DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKER AS WELL AS THE HEADLIGHTS. IT STALLS AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON.
MY FOBIK KEY IS GETTING STUCK IN THE OWN POSITION AND WILL NOT LET ME TAKE THE KEY OUT WITHOUT UNPLUGGING THE BATTERY.
WHILE DRIVING THE COMMANDER IT STALLS. THE ENGINES SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. THEN I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND START IT AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WTH THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND WIPERS ON. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. AND THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF OCCASIONALLY THIRD ROW SEAT WON'T LATCH
MY 2009 JEEP COMMANDER STALLED AND FINALLY CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. EVERYTHING COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND HAVE TO RESTART THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW IN APPROXIMATELY LAST FOUR MONTHS. THIS CONDITION HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, AND TWICE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. IT IS AT RANDOM, AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS OF 35MPH TO 45MPH ON A CITY STREET. SO FRIGHTENING. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN AUGUST OF 2010 WITH 38+K MILES ON IT. IT HAS 141000MILE NOW. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION KEY A FEW MONTHS AGE. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN? MY WIFE IS NOT DRIVING THE JEEP ANYMORE. LAST INCIDENT WAS ON 10/1/2018.
MY VEHICLE SHUTS-OFF/ STALLS WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN THE FIRST 3-5 MILES OF DRIVING IN TRUCK, STALLS ONCE PER DAY WHEN I SLOW TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IT STALLED ONCE ON A CITY STREET WHEN I PUT IS IN REVERSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER. I QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. TO DATE, IT HAS STALLED 11-TIMES. I FOUND THE AN ESTIMATED 300,000 CHRYSLER, DODGE AND JEEP VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN 2007 AND 2008 WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME STALLING PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND OTHERS BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A PROGRESSIVE PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHILE IN MOTION.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THEN IT WILL STOP FOR A WHILE AND START BACK COMING ON AGAIN.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WILL NOT RELEASE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL AS THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED AND FOUND NOTHING. SINCE I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD SET THE AIRBAG OFF, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE LIGHT IS ON. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AUTOSTART, HEATED SEATS, REAR SENSORS, AND ANTI SKID HAVE ALL STOPPED WORKING. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS 9 YEARS OLD, IT HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AND IS WELL CARED FOR. THE MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE A FAULTY BOARD. FAULTY SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING JEEP SHOULD BE PAYING FOR NOT ME. BUBBLING OF PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK AND ITS SPREADING. AGAIN, ALL THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE COVERED BY JEEP. THESE ISSUES ARE THE RESULT OF POOR OR FAULTY MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND SHOULD NOT BE VISITED UPON THE CONSUMER.
IDENTICAL ISSUE AS FOUND WITH NHTSA # 10908927 VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED WITHOUT PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 170,000 MILES ON IT. CARFAX SHOWS GREAT CARE INTO THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER WITHIN FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER PURCHASE HAVE FOUND IT TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND AT IDLE NEAR 6X. HAVE TAKEN TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP/AUTOZONE/USED IFIXIT CODE FINDER AND NOTHING IS FOUND. THIS HAS CREATED HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AS IT WILL HAPPEN AT RANDOM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMMANDER. AFTER THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE RIEHL'S CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, RAM (25800 GRATIOT AVE, ROSEVILLE, MI 48066) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,203.
THEY VEHICLES CONDUCTOR PLATE KEEP GOING OUT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. THE CAN HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SUDDENLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON ONLINE FORUMS OF THIS HAPPENING EVEN AT LOW MILAGE
Showing 20 of 3,357 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact JEEP Commander
These pages show model-year patterns across 5 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used JEEP Commander, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The JEEP Commander has 3,357 complaints on record across 5 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The JEEP Commander has 24 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 115 of the JEEP Commander's 3,357 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all JEEP Commander vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two JEEP Commander vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The JEEP Commander has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a JEEP Commander by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used JEEP Commander.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
JEEP Commander reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the JEEP Commander reliable?
Poor. The JEEP Commander has 3,357 NHTSA owner complaints and 24 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which JEEP Commander years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2006 (1,782 complaints), 2007 (1,035 complaints), 2008 (437 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common JEEP Commander problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1,584 complaints); POWER TRAIN (594 complaints); ENGINE (550 complaints).
Does the JEEP Commander have recalls?
Yes — 24 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the JEEP Commander. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.