2006 Jeep Commander

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
14–16 mpgcombined; city 13–14, highway 17–18; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$20,300–$23,200U.S. average; Ohio $18,140–$20,730 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
5over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
1,782filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 Commander. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 1,782 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Commander. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system75326815
Power train3151237
Engine and engine cooling283822
Engine214603
Structure2052112
Unknown or other91212
Vehicle speed control82503
Steering73602
Air bags6723019
Exterior lighting66313
Seat belts66103
Service brakes501004
21 more parts
Visibility49011
Latches/locks/linkages48005
Electronic stability control (ESC)38100
Service brakes, hydraulic25400
Seats15010
Suspension14100
Equipment13000
Fuel/propulsion system11100
Tires10101
Fuel system, gasoline9000
Interior lighting6000
Visibility/wiper6100
Back over prevention5300
Wheels5000
Equipment adaptive/mobility3000
Parking brake2000
Service brakes, electric2001
Fuel system, diesel1000
Fuel system, other1000
Service brakes, air1000
Traction control system1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 20061,782
  2. 20071,035
  3. 2008437
  4. 200959
  5. 201045

Every Commander year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2006 Commander over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Electrical system: ignition

NHTSA campaign 14V438000 · reported Jul 21, 2014 · 649,353 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system; Power train: transfer case (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

NHTSA campaign 13V175000 · reported May 7, 2013 · 295,345 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 08V203000 · reported May 6, 2008 · 24,461 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

NHTSA campaign 07V434000 · reported Sep 14, 2007 · 296,550 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seat belts: rear/other

NHTSA campaign 06V037000 · reported Feb 9, 2006 · 24,058 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 75 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Commander, the latest on Oct 30, 2024. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (23), power train (15), engine and engine cooling (13), equipment (13), structure (9).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Preliminary evaluation PE14017
Air Bag Non-deployment
Electrical systemJun 16, 2014Closed Dec 23, 2014
NHTSA's summary names recall 14V438000
NHTSA's record and documents
Audit query AQ10001
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit · covers 10 makes
Unknown or otherNov 18, 2010Closed Dec 28, 2015
NHTSA's record and documents
Engineering analysis EA07007
ENGINE STALLING
Electrical systemApr 27, 2007Closed May 7, 2008
NHTSA's file lists recall 08V203000 with it
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE07009
ENGINE STALL
Electrical systemFeb 12, 2007Closed Apr 27, 2007
Upgraded to EA07007
NHTSA's record and documents
Defect petition DP06002
PETITION RE: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION
Engine and engine coolingJul 13, 2006Closed Jan 3, 2007
Petition denied
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Commander.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Commander
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.7 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 16
Commander
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.7 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 16
Commander
Rear-Wheel Drive
4.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 15
Commander
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline13 / 18 / 15
Commander
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 15
Commander
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline13 / 17 / 14

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data