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.
9.3
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$120
Average Mileage:
93,150 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (5 reports)
replacing entire ignition switch including replacing tumbler (1 reports)
I bought my 2006 Jeep Commander end of July 2018 from a Toyota dealer near Charlotte NC .They said it was a one owner local trade in. Was told no know issues or complaints about it and they delivered to my job site where I signed all the papers being rushed. Prices and interest amounts and length of payments and amount of payment changed. I asked originally if it came with a warranty and was told yes a 36 month powertrain warranty .So I noticed on the paperwork they charged me 2000 at 24.99 %.
Very first time same afternoon as delivery I had keys on console with doors unlocked and windows partially down. Windows went up and doors locked by themselves. Had to break in to my car. Then same night noticed all dash warning lights would light up and ac and engine would shut off and headlights too. Would have no power brakes or steering .I pulled off into a gas station. Called and complained to my salesman about it, waited about 10 minutes with key off then started back up and everything seemed ok.
Made appointment and it did it again on the way to dealership. They looked at it and drove it and said it had nothing wrong and the warning lights and issue wouldn't happen for them. I left and it did it again on way home. Went back to dealer and removed a remote start and some relays they said were aftermarket that they didn't know it even had. So I happened to notice first night battery cable was loose on ground and I noticed my Jeep would start by itself and make alarm go off, on and off overnight running a lot of gas out and pissing neighbors off. So finally figured it out I could lock my jeep using passenger side door lock and get out. Use driver side and it would start and stop and alarm would go off. So removing the remote start and relays but they forgot to tighten battery cable so I caught that. Then battery ran down so I got a jump and went and was told battery no good and was also too small for my Jeep. 215 dollars for new battery seemed ok for a short time .
Lights on dash all lighting up and engine shutting off and ac and headlights . Just replaced entire ignition switch ( electrical module 36.00 that mounts on back of your ignition body and tumbler assembly. Also replaced the tumbler. You can get the tumbler kit that let's you recode the new tumbler to your existing key . Carquest 79.00 . This took care of all electrical issues so far. Oh I also just had my transmission lock in park. Now this is before changing my ignition switch assembly. Same 2 day period I fixed both issues . I found underneath at transmission shift cable has a block that slides into a mouth that's on side of transmission about 8 - 10 inches away from shift selector arm ball eye part of cable. I figured out how to get the block part of cable into bracket and found an adjustment arm at floor shift console you loosen one nut and have some one move floor shifter in park and make sure dash said same and I manually moved shift arm on transmission with cable hooked up through each gear and had them watch and eventually I got both in same gear through all gears tightened nut on floor shifter adjustment arm put my dash back together left floor console assembly out as I test shifter. Shifting better than before and smoother shifting at lower rpms.
My instrument panel is working like it should and shifting great . I will let you know if everything continues as it should be. Hope this helps you Commander owners .I love my Commander comfort and handling and the 5.7 is thirsty but nice to have .
It is very annoying. The radio turns on and off, fog lights turn on and off. Blinkers sometimes stop working. I like the truck, but this is nerve racking. I hope it doesnt cost too much $!
My 2006 Jeep Commander at first started with once in a great while it would happen, now over these last 2 years, the dash lights intermittently flash, blinking, gauges n lights surging or sometimes they don't work at all (the whole dash stops working). Oh lets not forget I have no head light. My Jeep has shut off a handful of time while it has these episodes.
It's been going on for 5yrs and no one has been able to fix it.. since April 2015 the flashing of all the gauges, the shutting down of it has me to scared to drive it.. I have let my friend/mechanic keep it since April 2016 so he can tinker with it when he's not working.. He is pretty sure it's the fuse box.. But get this, YOU CAN NOT BUY A FUSE BOX!! No one is producing them and no junk yards have any?? I don't want one from the junk yard either because it is probably screwed up like my fuse box...so CHRYSLER what are we supposed to do???
This is the only issue with my Jeep!! I have always maintained my Jeep!! I WOULD OF FIX THIS TOO, IF YOU WOULD MAKE THE PARTS AVAILABLE!!
I'm afraid to drive it because of the stalling and flashing of dash lights but come winter time I will have no other choice but to drive it again like I have been for the last 5 years..
My dash lights, headlights, fan and radio will turn on and off randomly. I took the vehicle to the dealer with this problem over a year ago and they said the computed had not registered a problem. At the time, it would happen about once a month. When winter came, the problem stopped, but now that it is hot (AZ) again, it happens almost daily.
This time I was going to go to visit a friend 100 miles away and had to go back home, couldn't trust the vehicle. The tach was malfunctioning and I could hear the engine straining... this is a new symptom that has been added to this problem. When I was going 60MPH, the tach was at 5500 RPM. I know when I take it into the dealer again, they will tell me once again that the computer does not show a problem. I believe this is becoming a major safety issue as it is as though the computer is acting on its own and challenging the electronic controls.
Has anyone found a solution to this problem? I know I won't find a solution at the dealer, I just want a log of the issues in the event this causes me to be in an accident at some point.
Have owned 6 Jeep Grand Cherokees this is the first Jeep Commander it sux.. bottom line.. lights flashing on and off gauges wipers. Transmission light keeps coming on telling me it is over heating and it isn't. Had warranty recall work done on four wheel drive not going into four wheel low. Since we have owned this piece of junk it leaks water when it rains.. heavy rains floods the floor.. Would not recommend it to any one.. gas mileage stinks. Over all performance stinks.
- Bud G.,
Everton, AR, US
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I bought my Commander in March 2011. In April 2011, the dashboard lights started blinking at night. Then it progressed to also blinking when a CD was playing, then eventually the headlights started blinking during the day. Now the dashboard and headlights blink constantly at night or during the day. So now when I drive during the day, people think I am flashing my headlights at them on purpose. In March 2015, I had the electrical computer module replaced, but the blinking did not stop. It kept on even the day I picked it up from the shop. I had it checked out again yesterday 09/17/15, and nothing could be found. Can anyone help me get this figured out and give me a solution?!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I bought my 2006 Jeep Commander end of July 2018 from a Toyota dealer near Charlotte NC .They said it was a one owner local trade in. Was told no know issues or complaints about it and they delivered to my job site where I signed all the papers being rushed. Prices and interest amounts and length of payments and amount of payment changed. I asked originally if it came with a warranty and was told yes a 36 month powertrain warranty .So I noticed on the paperwork they charged me 2000 at 24.99 %.
Very first time same afternoon as delivery I had keys on console with doors unlocked and windows partially down. Windows went up and doors locked by themselves. Had to break in to my car. Then same night noticed all dash warning lights would light up and ac and engine would shut off and headlights too. Would have no power brakes or steering .I pulled off into a gas station. Called and complained to my salesman about it, waited about 10 minutes with key off then started back up and everything seemed ok.
Made appointment and it did it again on the way to dealership. They looked at it and drove it and said it had nothing wrong and the warning lights and issue wouldn't happen for them. I left and it did it again on way home. Went back to dealer and removed a remote start and some relays they said were aftermarket that they didn't know it even had. So I happened to notice first night battery cable was loose on ground and I noticed my Jeep would start by itself and make alarm go off, on and off overnight running a lot of gas out and pissing neighbors off. So finally figured it out I could lock my jeep using passenger side door lock and get out. Use driver side and it would start and stop and alarm would go off. So removing the remote start and relays but they forgot to tighten battery cable so I caught that. Then battery ran down so I got a jump and went and was told battery no good and was also too small for my Jeep. 215 dollars for new battery seemed ok for a short time .
Lights on dash all lighting up and engine shutting off and ac and headlights . Just replaced entire ignition switch ( electrical module 36.00 that mounts on back of your ignition body and tumbler assembly. Also replaced the tumbler. You can get the tumbler kit that let's you recode the new tumbler to your existing key . Carquest 79.00 . This took care of all electrical issues so far. Oh I also just had my transmission lock in park. Now this is before changing my ignition switch assembly. Same 2 day period I fixed both issues . I found underneath at transmission shift cable has a block that slides into a mouth that's on side of transmission about 8 - 10 inches away from shift selector arm ball eye part of cable. I figured out how to get the block part of cable into bracket and found an adjustment arm at floor shift console you loosen one nut and have some one move floor shifter in park and make sure dash said same and I manually moved shift arm on transmission with cable hooked up through each gear and had them watch and eventually I got both in same gear through all gears tightened nut on floor shifter adjustment arm put my dash back together left floor console assembly out as I test shifter. Shifting better than before and smoother shifting at lower rpms.
My instrument panel is working like it should and shifting great . I will let you know if everything continues as it should be. Hope this helps you Commander owners .I love my Commander comfort and handling and the 5.7 is thirsty but nice to have .
- Todd W., Penn Yan, NY, US