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:
21 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,137 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2006 Jeep Commander Owner Comments (Page 1 of 33)

problem #653

Jan 262024

Commander

  • 153,468 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 the dealer had performed the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V438000 (Electrical System) on the vehicle; however, after the repair, the key fob and the radio became inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the ignition switch was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer referred the contact to an independent technician for the reprogramming of the key Fob. The contact stated that he took the vehicle to a second dealer, Chrysler of Lawrenceburg (1181 Bypass S, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342) instead; however, the dealer informed the contact that the key fob could not be reprogrammed. Additionally, the contact stated that the ignition switch failed, which required the contact to jiggle the ignition key inside the ignition switch several times to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,468.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #652

Feb 202023

Commander

  • 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that the radio would make an abnormal ticking sound while starting the vehicle with the ignition key. The contact also stated that the vehicle also had lost motive power and stalled while accelerating from a complete stop. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times. The contact stated while driving above 40 MPH uphill with his 8 months pregnant wife sitting in the front passenger-??s seat, the vehicle shuddered, stalled inadvertently, and started rolling backward. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated that he was unable to shift into park (P) as the gear shifter was stuck. The contact turned the vehicle towards a wall to avoid crashing into another vehicle, and the vehicle stopped. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that he would be charged a diagnostic test fee. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

- Lauderhill, FL, USA

problem #651

Jun 232021

Commander

  • miles
Ignition switch recall which was issued on my jeep commander was addressed and ultimately an appointment was made upon availability. However, since the recall, the jeep will not function normally upon initial start up attempt progressively into more attempts thereafter. Connection between key switch and cylinder not responding to connection, lack thereof. This occurred at first seldom to more and more random periodic "no signal, no start". Recalls are supposed to fix the initial severe problem, correct" Not result into another problem that wasn't present before, right? Found my time fruitless in getting clarity of this issue resolved from dealer. What can I do? What should be done? As the consumer we will feel the job done wasn't done correctly. Fact is there were not any start up issues prior to the recall addressed and ignition switch replaced/fixed"

- Holland, MI, USA

problem #650

Dec 212020

Commander

  • 0 miles

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

The check engine light comes on after starting the shifter stays in 3rd and will not shift in drive just 3rd gear leaving me to only drive in 3rd. Also it won't start faulty start several times prior the check engine light coming on.

- Hallsville, TX, USA

problem #649

Mar 062021

Commander

  • 174,100 miles
My vehicle died in the middle of me driving without warning. I was on a main road turning into a mcdonald's when my car died. I was going about 20 when my car died. My steering locked up, couldn't brake or accelerate, and had to pull over and turn my car off to and back on to get it running again. Once I got my car started again the idle kept pulsating above one thousand RPM and would have to keep it in neutral at a stop so it would lurk forward.

- Paintsville, KY, USA

problem #648

Mar 022021

Commander

  • 142,678 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the imposable fuel volume signal received message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V438000 (electrical system) and took the vehicle to gwinnett Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (5054 ga-78, stone mountain, ga 30087) where the recall was serviced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,678.

- Snellville, GA, USA

problem #647

Jan 272021

Commander

  • 135,013 miles

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

While driving al dash lights will light up and heat will shut off.. come back on and happens again. There's no certain times it happens wheneve it wants to between 1-15 times a day driving and parked. Sunroof leaks through tubes into passenger side floor board and freezes windshield if temp is low. Transmission overheated warning comes on and transmission/ and or fluid is fine. Have had all issues checked and they can not find the problem! also need is reading code that suddenly my key isn't registered since this has been happening and my auto start won't work because of the key not being linked to my car anymore. This is unsafe and eventually will stop me from being able to drive my car. The lights all come on and then go off while driving on any street any speed or even parked. Heat shuts off while lights are on and comes back on after they shut off.

- Rochester, NH, USA

problem #646

Jan 102021

Commander

  • 170,000 miles
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.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #645

Oct 032020

Commander

  • 128,000 miles
2006 Jeep Commander vehicles is shutting off randomly while driving and the steering wheel is locking up. Also the lights on the dash board flicker randomly. Mechanics could not find anything wrong. There is no recalls on my specific VIN but for other 2006 Jeep Commanders. I do not want my family and I driving down the highway and it's does this and we die then you finally say oops yeah there's a recall on that...

- Dubuque, IA, USA

problem #644

Jul 012020

Commander

  • 120,500 miles
I have a 2006 Jeep Commander that I bought 2 months ago. It has been one problem after another. First of all the first day it rained the whole entire cab was soaked, come to find out that there is a problem with the sunroof drainage of these Jeep. The drain lines don't stay connected to the floor and when that occurs the carpet get drenched. I had to pull all of the carpet out of the Jeep because of mold concerns. Secondly shortly thereafter the check engine light came on the first time I drove the Jeep. Took it too a mechanic and the code showed a crank sensor and a cam sensor. Got both of those replaced and it required a driveshaft repair kit. Another day later the check engine light went off again. The truck started to shake and shimmy so we had to pull over on the side of a highway because it wasn't safe. Took it into another mechanic that was closer to where I was having the issues and they put another set of crank and cam sensors in again. Supposingly I was good to go but just 2 days later the check engine light came back on.went back to another mechanic that was close in proximity to where I was having trouble in which the truck started to shake and shimmy again. This mechanic found a short to the ground in altanater unit which required a new altanater because the other one wasn't pulling enough voltage. Today (Sept 5th) went to start the truck and it stalled again and when I restarted it the check engine light was back on. I have spent well over $2000 on this situation and it still isn't fixed. I have read a lot of other customer complaints about this model as well as others who are having the same problem. There should be a recall on this from Chrysler to fix whatever issues these cars are having. They have been getting away with this crap way too long now. Going down the freeway 70 plus miles an hour and all of a sudden the check engine light comes on.

- Miller Place, NY, USA

problem #643

Jul 252020

Commander

  • 103,000 miles

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

Worst vehicle ever! we got it with around 98K miles on it, and it now only has 103K miles on it and in the last 4K we've put over $5K into it trying to get it to run. We had to put a new transmission in ($2K) and have the lifters in the engine replaced ($2,600). Currently it's been shutting off on its own a few seconds after I start it and giving random "transmission over temp" and "service 4X4 system" messages even though there's not a problem with those systems. I turn the key, it runs for 3 seconds, then shuts off. Sometimes it does this several times in a row and then won't start at all. Other times it starts fine so it's ridiculously hard to diagnose. Sometimes when it's doing it's shut down bit, you can get it to stay on a little longer by revving the engine, and it will let you pull out of the driveway, but then shuts off in the middle of the street. The sun roof leaks horrifically, even after I've tried the "clip the nipples off the bottom of the hoses" trick.

- Philipsburg, PA, USA

problem #642

Feb 022020

Commander 4WD 8-cyl

  • 167,000 miles
Our 2006 Jeep Commander has had a recurring problem of stalling at random times, while both driving and idling. Every day we start the vehicle but cannot drive it right away because it stalls out if we don't wait at least 5 minutes to "warm it up". another example, we were driving on a city street and turning left in an intersection and it stalled out while in motion and lost control of steering and braking. I noticed that there have been recalls for thousands of 2006 Jeep Commanders, but our VIN # shows no recalls for our car. We are having the same exact problem with this truck as the other owners of recalled 2006 Jeep Commanders. It is currently in the shop for the third time and the mechanics cannot recreate the stall while moving issue and cannot figure out why it is hesitating and stalling. This is my 16 year old new driver's vehicle and I'm afraid for her safety.

- Great Falls, VA, USA

problem #641

Jun 032015

Commander

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several warning lights became illuminated. Additionally, the headlights became dim, the radio volume independently lowered, speedometer and tachometer fluctuated. The vehicle was taken to bald hill Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram located at 1035 bald hill rd, warwick, ri 02886, (844) 847-4671) however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that several years ago, the alternator was replaced however, the replacement of the alternator failed to eliminate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

- Lincoln, RI, USA

problem #640

May 172020

Commander

  • 130,000 miles
While driving on the highway, at highway speed the car shut off with out warning. While driving the car on the street or pulling out my driveway the car will shut off with out notice / warning

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #639

Jun 232019

Commander

  • 150,000 miles
While driving this vehicle through a stone tunnel on the blue ridge parkway that had no lighting within the tunnel the Jeep suffered an total electrical failure and a total blackout took place. Thankful that I was not killed and that no one else was in the tunnel at the time, the Jeep was coasted to the outside of the tunnel and off to the side on the grass. Had anyone been coming in either direction I may have had enough light but it was pitch black. I have read of hundreds of electrical failures in this Jeep vehicle and wonder why I was never notified. This is a product warranty issue for Jeep and it nearly was also responsible for vehicular homicide! the Jeep just cut off all electric and not even dashboard lights afforded visual. I have the park Ranger report and she said this most likely was total electrical failure. I have pictures from the accident as the Jeep hit the stone tunnel side and then the steering rod on the right broke. The insurance company chose to junk the Jeep and I was left without even a rental car. I have pictures and the Ranger report and my report if requested. How do I contact Jeep for a product liability complaint?

- Canton, NC, USA

problem #638

Jan 062020

Commander

  • 145,000 miles
In heavy rain the sunroof has leaked and created a large puddle of water inside on the front passenger side floor. This incident has now happened twice and when I contacted Jeep corporate I was told that it was known issue with some of the Jeep however a recall has not been issued. I again I have to pay to have the leak fixed and have my carpet attended too so that mildew will not become an issue.. please assist

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #637

Aug 082019

Commander

  • 112,000 miles
My Jeep loses power every time I drive it stalls out while driving (scary when it happened on the freeway) at times it stops shifting and then slams like the whole transmission fell out of Jeep.

- Gladstone, OR, USA

problem #636

Nov 242019

Commander

  • 200,000 miles
Ignition problem..dealer replaced ignition due a recall on vehicle, but the problem was not fixed.dash turns off suddenly while driving and car stops suddenly too.have to start it sgain. Dealer replaced the ignition switch to prevent this to happen, but it's happening now more than any time. People say that the problem wasn't solved after replacing the ignition.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #635

Oct 152019

Commander

  • 175,000 miles
A window went about 1/3 of the way down and stopped. Could not get it to go up or down after that. The vehicle was parked at the time. We wondered if it was the motor. We watched a video on the internet on how to check it and it said to check the wires behind the door panel because it is a common problem for this type of vehicle to have broken wires and low and behold that's exactly what had happened. Windows need to open and close.

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #634

Oct 132019

Commander

  • 120,000 miles
I have a 06 Jeep Commander with the 5.7 hemi. I have been having a problem tied the vehicle stalling at random time. Most of the time it is while the vehicle is in motion. A few times at highway speeds. Also and I dont know if its coincides but the Jeep will buck like you hit something and the traction control light will illuminate and stay on. (dry roads). Thank god no accidents but was told by countless Jeep dealers there is no issue.

- Jersey Shore, PA, USA

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