Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Jeep Commander problems

Owners filed 1,782 complaints about the 2006 Jeep Commander with NHTSA between Dec 2005 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (753).

Complaints
1,782
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
74
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
53
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system753
  2. Power train315
  3. Engine and engine cooling283
  4. Engine214
  5. Structure205
  6. Vehicle speed control82
  7. Steering73
  8. Air bags67
  9. Seat belts66
  10. Exterior lighting66
  11. Service brakes50
  12. Visibility49
  13. Latches/locks/linkages48
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)38

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20051
200664
2007222
200885
200950
201065
2011133
2012130
2013140
2014230
2015380
201696
201742
201852
201935
202022
202113
20226
20235
20242
20257
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

753 reports26 crashes8 fires1 related recall
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11710463

Power train

315 reports12 crashes3 fires2 related recalls
“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 recall. The contact also replaced the ECM module independently. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2025Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11694039

Engine and engine cooling

283 reports8 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT WAS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2018Engine and engine coolingODI 11115392

Engine

214 reports6 crashes
“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 principles of thermodynamics.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2025EngineODI 11668118

Structure

205 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. ORLANDO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM LOCATED AT 4101 WEST COLONIAL DR. ORLANDO, FL 32808 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2020Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11323466

Vehicle speed control

82 reports5 crashes
“THIS HAS BEEN THE 3RD TIME THIS TYPE OF EVENT HAPPENS, THE FIRST TIME WAS AT A CITY STREET DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD AT 30-35MPH AND THE ENGINE STARTED STALLING, TRUCK COMPLETELY WENT OFF, HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF, ALONG WITH MY INTERIOR DASHBOARD INDICATORS AND MEDIA CENTER. SECOND TIME, SAME THING, AND THE THIRD TIME WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40MPH IN A CITY STREET AND GRADUALLY SLOWING DOWN TO 10-15MPH TO MAKE A LEFT THE TRUCK COMPLETELY WENT OFF, HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF, ALONG WITH MY INTERIOR DASHBOARD INDICATORS AND MEDIA CENTER. IT SEEM LIKE I HAD TURNED OFF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FOR LIKE A SPLIT SECOND. I THOUGH IT MIGHT'VE BEEN THAT I HIT THE KEY WITH MY KNEE, BUT I PULLED OVER RESTARTED THE ENGINE AFTER 15 MIN, AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE POWER WOULD SHUT DOWN, WHEN PUTTING THE GEARS, IT WOULD SOUND VERY FORCING. I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND WAITED 30 MIN, RESTARTED THE TRUCK AGAIN IT DID THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT WAS LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2021Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11388571
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.