Model year record

2006 Jeep Commander recalls & problems

The 2006 Jeep Commander has 6 safety recalls and 1,635 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (696 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls

Complaints1,635filed by owners

Crashes · fires70 · 12reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths51 · 3reported in complaints

2006 Jeep Commander in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Electrical systemJul 21, 2014

Ignition › Switch

Recall 14V438000649,353 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.

Electrical systemMay 7, 2013

Electrical system

Recall 13V175000295,345 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.
Risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

Components: Electrical system; Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)

SuspensionJun 19, 2009

Suspension

Recall 09E03900044 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE PROPER GRADE 5 CARRIAGE BOLTS. THE IMPROPER GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE BOTTOM STRUT FORK.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF EFFECTIVE LIFT AND LOWERING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, POSSIBLY CREATING THE DRIVER TO PANIC WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT 1-518-270-9822.

Power trainMay 6, 2008

Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Recall 08V20300024,461 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 24,461 MY 2006 JEEP COMMANDER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.7L V8 ENGINES. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WAS PROGRAMMED WITH SOFTWARE THAT MAY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO STALL UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM SOFTWARE IN ALL 4.7L ENGINE EQUIPPED MY 2006 JEEP COMMANDERS BUILT PRIOR TO JANUARY 11, 2006. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Service brakes, hydraulicSep 14, 2007

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module

Recall 07V434000296,550 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MAY ALLOW A MOMENTARY DELAY IN BRAKING WHEN COASTING UP A HILL DURING CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH NEW SOFTWARE THAT PREVENTS THIS CONDITION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Seat beltsFeb 9, 2006

Rear/other

Recall 06V03700024,058 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED RETRACTOR BRACKET EDGE ON THE THIRD ROW SEAT MAY CONTACT THE SEAT BELT DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BELT WEBBING.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE THIRD ROW OCCUPANT WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELTS FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED BELTS. IN ADDITION, AN INJECTED MOLDED COVER WILL BE ADDED TO THE RETRACTOR BRACKET ON BOTH THIRD ROW SEATING POSITIONS TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE FROM BELT CONTACT WITH THE RETRACTOR BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2006 Jeep Commander 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	22.8%

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Commander 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Commander 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Commander 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Commander 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Commander 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Commander 4WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel; Ignition › Switch	696	24	8	14	85,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)	300	11	3	5	80,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	250	7	2	2	20,000 mi
Engine	203	6	0	3	100,000 mi
StructureBody › Door; Body	193	2	1	12	70,000 mi
Unknown or other	87	2	1	2	85,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlCruise control	79	5	0	3	85,835 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist system	68	6	0	2	94,696 mi
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal › Sensor/control module	62	22	0	19	107,000 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Turn signal › Switch	61	4	1	3	78,000 mi
Seat beltsRear/other; Front	60	1	0	3	93,500 mi
Service brakes	48	10	0	4	104,710 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakesCrash1 injury
Brakes failed completely. 2-3 car lengths between be and car in front of me with plenty of time to stop. My jeep did not even slow down when brakes we applied.
Apr 23, 2026
Service brakes
My jeep will shut off unexpectedly, it will do a up and down idle increase and decrease while at a idle the abs will lock up my wheel tight to where itll drag while trying to move forward. The 4x4 low will not engage at all says service 4x4
Dec 31, 1969
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH in a parking lot the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated the failure was intermittent but a recurring failure. The contact stated that the failure occurred at various speeds. The contact stated that the 12-Volt battery had been replaced approximately 2 years ago due to battery drainage issues. The contact stated that the failure with the 12-Volt battery being drained and had jumpstart the vehicle several times. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V203000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the…
Aug 16, 2024 · 200,000 miles
Seat belts
Seat Belts/Rear. The integrated retractor bracket edge on the third row seat may contact the seat belt during certain operating conditions. In the event of a crash, the seat belt may not properly restrain thee third row occupant. Service Brakes. Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited.: Control Unit/Module. On certain sport utility vehicles, the software programmed into this ABS Electronic Control Module allow a momentary delay in breaking when coasting up a kill during certain conditions. This has happened while wet conditions occur some.
Sep 15, 2025
Electrical system
Power Train. The (TCM/PCM/TECM) Chrysler is recalling 24, 461 Jeep Commander vehicles equipped with 407 V8 engines. Th powertrain control module (PCM) was programmed with software that may allow the engine to stall under certain operating conditions. This could cause a crash without warning. ( My Jeep turns on, but it is not able to be moved, it is stalled indefinitely). I asked the dealer @Rockwall Dodge, Rockwall TX to check the PCM/TCM/TECM. They refused. Said they were not able to check this situation. Didn't have that equipment. Electrical System. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The air bag lights comes on randomly. The engine will turn off, which will…
Sep 13, 2025
Engine
Radiator coolant system failed and caused the engine to overheat and loss of power while traveling on an interstate highway. Pulled over to side of highway. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic shop. The shop evaluated the engine could not start as it had seized from overheating. It was determined that the radiator plastic end caps suddenly failed causing the engine to overheat and seize. The radiator temperature is very high and the plastic and aluminum materials expand and contract at different rates therefore weakening the connection between the two materials until the part fails. This is a bad design, application, and mix of materials in a part that does follow the basic…
Jul 16, 2016
Service brakes
Abs, traction control, and another light come on and goes off intermittent. While reversing feels like brakes are locking up. Transmission shifts different intermittently. I have seen that there is recalls for other 06 commanders that reflect the issues I am having.
Mar 21, 2025
Electrical system
Vehicle randomly saying transmission over temp. Vehicle may or may not crank upon turning key Vehicle downshifts to second gear while driving and has caused me to run off the road/slam on brakes to stop Vehicle resets itself to where Jeep dealership cannot even trace wiring harness for shorts or check to see if transmission control module works properly after having my commander from August to December. Suspect faulty Transmission control module/short due to poorly designed wiring and parts on manufacturer's behalf. Other issues include random codes with each new code reader, stereo wiring issues, vehicle changing from v8 to v4 randomly while driving, consuming excessive gas amounts only…
Apr 11, 2024

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bag Non-deploymentClosedLed to recall 14V438000
Chrysler is conducting a safety recall of approximately 643,618 model year 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles to address the problem of ignition turning off while driving (see NHTSA recall 14V-438 for more information).According to Chrysler, these vehicles may experience an unintended change in ignition switch position while driving, which may result in loss of engine power, power steering, and braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash and disabling one or more of the vehicle's safety features including the frontal air bags.Most of the reported incidents occurred as a result of driver interaction with the ignition key.Based on the recall action taken by Chrysler, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.Additionalinformation on this closing resume, and the investigation are in the PE14-017 public file available online at SaferCar.gov.The ODI…
PE14017 · opened Jun 16, 2014 · closed Dec 23, 2014
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditClosed
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and…
AQ10001 · opened Nov 18, 2010 · closed Dec 28, 2015
ENGINE STALLINGClosedLed to recall 08V203000
ON MAY 5, 2008, CHRYSLER LLC (CHRYSLER) SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING AN ENGINE CALIBRATION ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL IN APPROXIMATELY 24,461 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 JEEP COMMANDER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.7L V-8 ENGINE AND BUILT FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2006.ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WAS PROGRAMMED WITH SOFTWARE THAT MAY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO STALL DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM SOFTWARE IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DURING PE07-009 AND EA07-007 INDICATED THAT A REVISED ENGINE CALIBRATION WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION EFFECTIVE JANUARY 12, 2006 FOR THE MY 2006 JEEP COMMANDER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.7L V-8 ENGINES.ODI'S ANALYSIS OFCONSUMER COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND OTHER DATA RELATED TO FIELD EXPERIENCE WITH ENGINE…
EA07007 · opened Apr 27, 2007 · closed May 7, 2008
ENGINE STALLClosed
ODI HAS RECEIVED 76 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 THROUGH 2007 JEEP COMMANDER VEHICLES (SUBJECT VEHICLES).SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS REPORTED ONE OR MORE INCIDENTS OF ENGINE STALL WITH A SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF SOME OR ALL LIGHTING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING HEADLAMPS.TWO ENGINE STALLS RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH.IN ITS RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) INDICATED THAT IT HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF ENGINE STALLING IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THAT IT HASFORMED A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TASK FORCE TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-007) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE AND POTENTIAL SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
PE07009 · opened Feb 12, 2007 · closed Apr 27, 2007
PETITION RE: UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONClosed
ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION CONCERNING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE 2006 JEEP COMMANDER STEMMING FROM A FATAL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN DELAWARE IN DECEMBER 2005.AFTER A CAREFUL REVIEW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THIS INCIDENT, ODI FINDS NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THE INFLUENCE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.LIKEWISE, NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS MODEL EXIST IN THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE.ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION IS DENIED.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISIT THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.
DP06002 · opened Jul 13, 2006 · closed Jan 3, 2007