Which Years Of Used Jeep Commanders Are Most Reliable?
When it comes to outdoor and off-road performance, one brand that buyers gravitate to is Jeep. Of course, Jeep produced many top-tier vehicles designed for tacking challenging terrains, including the iconic Jeep Wrangler. With that said, one model that was seemingly forgotten by Jeep fans is the Commander SUV.
First introduced in 2005, the Jeep Commander has the distinction as the biggest Jeep by the manufacturer. Although it looks like a traditional SUV and is mechanically similar to the Grand Cherokee, the Commander is a genuine Jeep that offers a rugged design and serious off-road chops. On top of that, the Commander housed a potent optional (but thirsty) V8 engine.
THE JEEP COMMANDER YEARS TO AVOID
If you want to buy a used Commander, know that there are some Jeep Commander years to avoid. We’ve highlighted the Jeep Commander years to avoid and which model you should get instead.
Unfortunately, the Jeep Commander had a relatively short run because it failed to meet sales expectations – which is a shame. Regardless, a used Jeep Commander is a solid off-road SUV with good value. However, ensure you’re getting the most reliable years.
Today, we take a look at every model year and determine which is the most reliable Jeep Commander year and which ones you should avoid. Let’s get to it.
2006-2010 Jeep Commander (1st Generation)
As mentioned, the Jeep Commander was built on the same platform as the Dodge Grand Cherokee but with a boxier profile. It offered three rows of seats, but both the second and third rows were cramped. In terms of reliability, the Commander was not known for long-term reliability, and we recommend skipping all models except for one.
Avoid: 2006 Jeep Commander
If you’re going to skip one model year of the Commander SUV, make it the 2006 version. True enough, the 2006 model is the least reliable year of the Commander. Debut models are generally problematic and have the worst long-term reliability ratings, and the 2006 Commander made no significant strides to dispel that belief.
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According to CarComplaints.com, the 2006 Jeep Commander had racked up more than 2,000 complaints and six recalls, and it earned the “Beware of the Clunker” seal of disapproval. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells the same story, with a whopping 1767 complaints and counting. What made the 2006 Jeep Commander such an unreliable vehicle?
Engine Stalls
According to numerous unhappy owners, the 2006 Commander’s engine was very prone to stalling while on the road. Many reports indicated that the stalls happened while driving at freeway speeds, which is nothing short of dangerous. The Jeep would stall at varying speeds and lose power shortly. After stalling, many owners couldn’t restart their SUVs and had to call emergency roadside services. A frustrated owner from Georgia wrote:
“The car shuts down without warning. This has been happening from the second week of ownership. They can neither fix or induce the problem. Georgia “Lemon Law” says I will have to pay for the mileage I’ve used if I Jeep takes the car back. I’m now at 30,000 miles and can’t afford to pay for that much mileage.”
Body Integrity Issues
Engine-related issues are definite deal breakers, but the 2006 Commander also struggled with body integrity issues – particularly with the door handles. Many owners complained that their SUV’s door handles broke after just a few months of ownership. In the most extreme cases, people had to pull their windows down to get in or out of the vehicle. While it does paint a funny picture, this is a massive safety issue since the broken handles would prevent occupants from leaving the car in case of emergencies.
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Avoid: 2007 Jeep Commander
Although the 2007 model received fewer complaints from owners, it’s still not the most reliable Jeep Commander year. In fact, we recommend skipping this iteration since it retained many of the problems of the debut model. As per CarComplaints.com, the 2007 Commander received over 1,000 complaints and six recalls – not as bad as the 2006 model, but still a lot of complaints. Meanwhile, the NHTSA logged about 1030 complaints and counting, so many people are not fans of the 2007 Commander.
Coming back for round 2, the 2007 Commander still suffered from random engine stalls. Most of the complaints detailed how the Commander would cut off power while driving, sometimes at highway speeds which is a considerable safety risk. Some drivers even reported they were too afraid to drive their vehicles due to the fear of causing an accident.
With the persistent engine issues, we cannot recommend the 2007 Jeep Commander.
Avoid: 2008 Jeep Commander
As of this writing, the 2008 Commander has received 476 complaints and five recalls, which is a massive improvement over the previous models. Unfortunately, this Commander also struggled with the dreaded engine stalling issue, which made it an instant pass for us.
Although it’s less prevalent here, the 2008 Commander still received many complaints about engine stalls. Many frustrated owners told their familiar experience of experiencing loss of power before their SUV stopped to a halt. In addition, this model year also received reports of rust formation under the windshield, so it’s worth checking a used Commander for this issue.
Avoid: 2009 Jeep Commander
The 2009 Jeep Commander is a capable off-road SUV with significantly more power if you opt for the Hemi V8 engine. However, we still recommend passing up on this model year because of, you guessed it, engine issues.
We must commend Fiat Chrysler for this Commander year because the stalling engine was less widespread. However, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a concern here. Hence, we’re struggling to recommend the 2009 Jeep Commander. With that said, if you can find a great deal for this off-road SUV, perhaps you can consider it.
Buy: 2010 Jeep Commander
The final model before discontinuation is the most reliable Jeep Commander year. It offers traditional Jeep styling, a potent 5.7 liter V8 engine, and top-tier off-road capabilities. Best of all, the 2010 Jeep Commander was spared from the annoying engine stall issues. There was a report about a leaky sunroof, but it’s only a single report. Overall, the 2010 Jeep Commander is a great-value off-road SUV that you can safely buy used.
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