CarComplaints.com Notes: Whenever a new product is introduced, there's bound to be some problems. And man oh man, does the 2006 Commander have some problems.

It's the plight of the 1st-generation adopter: you get the newest and shiniest in exchange for a handful of issues that get ironed out in future versions. But what happens when that handful of issues becomes a bucketload? The 2006 Commander has quality control issues like the door handles breaking off and the sunroof leaking. But what's truly worrisome is the electrical problems like the vehicle shutting down unexpectedly, gauges going crazy or the cruise control having a mind of its own.

Bottom line: if you want a Jeep Commander, you're better off looking at a later model year.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 2
Average Mileage:
69,330 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Jeep Commander engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Jeep Commander Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #37

Feb 042014

Commander 6-cyl

  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At around or about the speed of 55 mph, I here a loud and scary thumping or grinding sound under the car. It sounds like its right underneath my seat. I immediately got off the expressway and slowed down. That seemed to help the sound go away.when I drive to work in the morning, I only drive 35 mph and I can here the sound also and when I let off the accelerator the sound stops, but continues when I press on the gas. Pls notify me as soon as possible with any helpful information as I do drive with little children in the vehicle. I will take the car to the Jeep dealer to get checked out. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Westmont, IL, USA

problem #36

Feb 122014

Commander 8-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Engine idles when stopped and sometimes the Jeep lunges forward. Lights on dash come on intermittently. Tires keep needing replaced even when getting the Jeep continually balanced and rotated. They wear down on the outer rim of front tires only. Have to keep getting new batteries because vehicle keeps dying. I have had more problems with this vehicle since I bought it new in 2006 than I have had with a car in a lifetime. Interior power stations don't work, passenger window will not close or open at times. Some times the horn will just start going off. I keep receiving recall notices almost yearly. Jeep needs to recall this vehicle. It has been a lemon from the second I brought it home.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #35

Mar 112014

Commander 8-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
While driving the Commander at various speeds everything suddenly turns off. Acceleration is immediately decreased and all dashboard functions are gone. I have to shift to neutral and re-start the engine, all while still driving. This is very dangerous. I have had this car for 2 months.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #34

Jan 012013

Commander 8-cyl

  • 98,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Would driving like 25 mph the car stops and engine shot off also light coming on the inside and the air conditioned it does T work low you have to put it always until high the way it can start working also problem with the engine making a noise like rcrccrcrcrcrcrccrc like the manifold or exhaust problems this car is sooo weird I already took it to the private mechanic and they can T do anything cause the manufactured problems.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #33

Dec 182013

Commander 6-cyl

  • 80,095 miles
I was stopped at an intersection. When I proceeded to go across the intersection, the vehicle started going but very slowly no matter how much I pressed the accelerator and there were cars coming at me. It drove very slowly for a couple of blocks and I came to another stop. As I started to go into the intersection again, the vehicle started off very slowly even with the accelerator to the floor. As I proceeded it went a little faster but not much faster. My daughter informed me that this same thing happened to her earlier when she was driving the Jeep and she turned it off and she cut it off completely then restarted it and it ran fine. I proceeded to do the same thing(cutting it off completely and turning it back on) and it ran well again. When I took it to the dealership, they sad that they were unable to duplicate the same problem and can not fix what they can't find.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #32

Oct 012013

Commander 6-cyl

  • 73,168 miles
I purchased my car in July, 2012, it is now Oct, 2013, and I have had numerous problems with the Jeep, for starters the lights and dash board lights keep flickering on an off by themselves, and now Jeep won't pick up speed at times and the engine light came on, I took it to the dealer and they stated that it was a shift module problem that would cost 997. Well I took it from the shop and a week later brought it back and they then stated that they would have to take the transmission apart and clean it because it might be debris that is on it, well later they call me to say that it was the transmission I need a new one and for that it will cost me 2900....there was a recall on this same type of problem back in 2008, could it be that I purchased this vehicle and they never had this problem fixed"?"

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #31

Sep 242013

Commander

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently. The contact also mentioned that the brakes seized and would not immediately release. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic stated that there were no recalls. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The current mileage was 96,000.

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #30

Jul 022013

Commander

  • 65,000 miles
I was driving and when I accelerated the car seemed very sluggish and hesitant to switch gears. As I approached the stop light and came to a stop I noticed the car stalled. So I turned it off and restarted it. This has happen twice now that the car has just stalled. I have now noticed that since this incident my car has been idling rough and has been vary sluggish while driving, especially up hills. I am worried for my safety that this will happen again while I am driving.

- Woodstock, IL, USA

problem #29

Aug 092013

Commander

  • 109,400 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the gear shifted independently and caused the vehicle to accelerate. The vehicle was not been inspected or repaired. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 13V175000 (electrical system, power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 109,400.

- Bakersville, CA, USA

problem #28

Aug 092013

Commander

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle accelerated without manual force. The contact was able to shift into park to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

- Charolete, NC, USA

problem #27

May 202013

Commander 6-cyl

  • 96,444 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving and had to stop behind another driver who was making a left hand turn. I was on a slight incline. When they turned I began to accelerate. This is when I encountered my problem. I had to push the accelerator to the floor. It was as if the car shifted into neutral. Thinking this was strange I looked on my dashboard to make sure the car was still in drive. What I found when I looked was that all the gears were highlighted. At this point the car still wouldn't go over 20-25mph. (I was on a 45mph road on a very busy Monday.) I gently moved my gear shift and that put my gear back into drive. A few seconds later I look at my dashboard and all the gears were briefly highlighted and then it went back to just the drive gear highlighted. I took it in to an authorized Jeep dealer the next day and was told that I needed a new shifter module/bezel. I believe this is a safety hazard and something the Chrysler company should of known about and put a recall out on this vehicle. I called Chrysler and was only told that there are recalls out on Jeep Commanders for it slipping into neutral but that my vehicle was not part of said recall. Although the gear on my car shifted into neutral when I had it in drive. The recall also states that vehicles manufactured between certain dates should be considered for the recall. My car falls into those dates. I had to pay $829 for a part and $209.98 for labor and $14.70 for shop supplies. This brought my total to $1,127.44. I do not understand how a part could cost me this much" am I the only owner with this problem" I got the problem fixed and the vehicle runs fine now. I am wanting Chrysler to admit that this is a defect on their part and reimburse me for the total sum stated above.

- Davenport , IA, USA

problem #26

May 272013

Commander 8-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
Traveling at highway speed the blower motor cut off and the lights on that come on when you first turn the key on came on. When that cycle was over the cruise control came on and the vehicle rapidly accelerated. Had to turn the key off to kill the cruise control. This problem with the key hasn't happened while traveling down the road before only while sitting in park. When we purchased the vehicle they replaced the key saying it was the key causing the problem. The problem continued after the key was replaced.

- Mcalester, OK, USA

problem #25

Jul 152012

Commander 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred intermittently at different speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated the PCV valve would have to be replaced. After the repair, the failure continued. The throttle position sensor and the mat sensor were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 7/22/13 the vehicle completely shut down. It re-started immediately after coming to a complete stop and turning the ignition off and back on.

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #24

Apr 052013

Commander 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
2006 Jeep Commander. Consumer writes in regards to sudden acceleration. The consumer stated while traveling southbound on the northway, the vehicle suddenly and without warning accelerated at a high rate of speed of about 90 mph. At the time, the consumer was about five car lengths from an automobile ahead of him in the same lane, and in 10 seconds he was just a few feet of overtaking and crashing into the vehicle. He applied the brake, then the accelerator, repeating it over and over, but to no avail, unable to bring the vehicle to a stop or even slow it down. Realizing that crashing into the vehicle was imminent, he made an oblique turn into the traffic lane to his left and continued at 90 mph with the engine screaming and with the thrust of a rocket, his foot was on the accelerator, trying to shut the vehicle down. The vehicle continued on at a high speed for another 10 or 15 seconds and then the situation corrected itself and it settled down to 50 mph. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, where an inspection revealed the throttle body plate was full of carbon and that interfered with the performance of the throttle causing the sudden and unexpected acceleration of the vehicle.

- Middlebury, VT, USA

problem #23

Oct 282012

Commander

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle decelerated independently and would not respond to acceleration attempts. The contact also stated that the check engine light illuminated. Additionally, while stopped, the vehicle erroneously surged forward. The failure occurred intermittently at different speeds. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #22

Apr 042012

Commander 8-cyl

  • 79,500 miles
06/16/12 - waiting at a red light on a major intersection, I began accelerating to make a left turn. The 2006 Jeep Commander drove about 4 feet and suddenly with no warning it stalled and shut down. The 2006 Jeep Commander does not turn on any warning lights, it does allow for quick start up. It is a very dangerous issue because it has happen 4 different times, with no solution and at various speed. This truck is an accident waiting to happen.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #21

Aug 122011

Commander

  • 87,147 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander limited. The contact was driving 65 mph when the engine stalled. The throttle control and traction warning lights illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they confirmed that the throttle body needed to be replaced along with updates that needed to be performed on the computer. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 87,147 and the current mileage was 90,000.

- Elmwood, IL, USA

problem #20

Jul 022010

Commander

  • miles
Traction kicks on while accessing highway causing vehicle to feel as though it will stall and wont allow for acceleration. We have to turn off traction as fast as possible for acceleration to work. Extremely dangerous when pulling out in front of traffic.

- Montgomery, TX, USA

problem #19

Jun 062011

Commander

  • 64,000 miles
2006 Jeep Commander. On a recent trip 6-6-11. Wife was driving. Attempted to set (set) cruise control. Experienced runaway throttle wide open. Nearly rearended cars. It continues to do this. I contacted Jeep and reported the experience and have setup a service appointment. Jeep claims no recalls. Strins on the internet would indicate it is not an isolated incident.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #18

Jan 192011

Commander

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated was driving 65 mph when the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 90 mph. The contact depressed the brakes but to no avail, the vehicle did not respond. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting to park. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis of the failure or repairs. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 90,000.

- Carbondale, CO, USA

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