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.
8.0
pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,120 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.
We purchased a 2006 Jeep Commander in July of 2006. Since we have owned it, we have had 2 rock chips, that we have had patched. Since then, we have 4 different cracks that have all started below the windshield wipers, and all 4 cracks started within 24 hours of each other. First, it seems that Jeep Commanders are much more susceptible to rock chips than any other car that we have ever owned. Second, the latest 4 cracks do not seem to even have started from rock chips, but since they have all started from the bottom of the windshield, below the windshield wipers (when the wipers were not being used at all), this seems to us to be some kind of design flaw with the Commander's windshield. Perhaps the windshields are just too big, too straight, with little to no slope at all, or just not made sturdy enough. It just seems that there is a design or quality problem with the windshield, and we are concerned about the Jeep dealership that we went to not being willing to repair this problem under warranty. We don't drive our cars on gravel roads at all, we have not driven them through any construction zone areas. We drive them on normal, generally good condition roads, and it doesn't seem reasonable that in 9 months time, we have had 2 rock chips, and now 4 different cracks. We don't feel that we should be responsible to pay $500 to have a windshield repaired, that we are concerned with once it is repaired that the same problem will continue to happen, again and again. We have talked to a few other Commander owners, and they have all experienced the same problem we are having. One couple that we know that owns a Commander is on their 3rd windshield. There seems to be an issue with not just us, but other Commander owners also. We are wondering what Jeep plans to do to rectify this problem" is a recall being considered" is a better, stronger, windshield even a possibility, or is the windshield is just too large, and too straight up and down to not constantly have this problem.
When at or below freezing the windshield wipers will not make contact w/the windshield in certain areas. Medved Chrysler /Jeep replaced the windshield wiper blades, which already was replaced with 3 different types prior to them, it did not change. They then replaced the R/F wiper arm, with no change. I asked if the windshield could be the problem, Chrysler would not replace the windshield. Elite replaced the windshield @ no charge to medved or me. It became even worse!!!! I have seen other Commanders driving towards me w/the same problems in the same area of the windshield. The zone rep for Chrysler even stated "mine does the same thing." The obstruction of view directly in front of the driver and passenger is dangerous!! Chrysler "can't see any physical defect" so it is not a problem. The service manager for the castle rock branch of medved was able to see it all happen firsthand. He called chyrsler, and they blew him off as w/the the first time he called them w/ my complaint. I have called Chrysler's 1-800 number and they were less than helpfull, said "it is up to the dealer you took it to to make a decision. They have done all they can; this is a engeniring or windshield manufacturer defect that is dangerous! this vehicle cannot be driven @ or below freezing w/out the windshield wipers loosing total contact in a circle pattern directly in the drivers and passengers direct line of vision in front of the vehicle, only changed by pulling over and blasting the windshield w/full heat and full defrost with the wipers on medium/high until the circles are gone. Once driven again the circles start small and become larger the more you drive it even w/full heat and defrost!! the defroster air flow seems good in the center of the windshiedl but lower as it goes out to either side.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sioux City, IA, USA