2006 Jeep Commander: engine failure

Filed Jun 20, 2025 · Engine · OH

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.

Filed Jun 29, 2018 · Engine · 100,000 miles · NY

Engine died while driving on highway twice

Filed Mar 26, 2018 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the front passenger side tire ball joint failed. The contact stated that after the ball joint fractured, the steering wheel seized as well as braking was difficult due to a brake fluid leak. The contact veered off into oncoming traffic and was only able to stop the vehicle after the axle fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer or dealer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Dec 31, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 62,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. While driving 10 MPH, the power steering seized and the instrument panel lights illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Nov 10, 2015 · Engine · 20,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle shook and the engine sensor light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine was faulty. The engine was replaced and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 20,000.

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 98,000 miles · IL

My family and I were driving down the highway at 75 MPH and without any warning, the engine died. When the engine died, the engine indicator light came on. Power steering and braking were fine at first. I steered the car to the side of the road. Before coming to a stop, the power steering stopped working. Once on the side of the road, I turned the ignition off and then tried to restart the vehicle. The car re-started immediately, however, the engine light remained on. I have taken the car into the shop and the technician was unable to find any problems with the vehicle. ...updated 09/22/15 *bf about one week prior to the above event, I was driving home from the train station on a perfectly dry and clear day and when I was driving, the various traction control lights came on and the car would periodically buck while the RPM's would rev higher for a moment. After arriving home, I turned the car off and parked it in the garage. The nest day when I started it, the traction lights were off and the car appeared to drive normally. The lights that were on were the esp, bas, and the picture of the car sliding. When I took the car in for repair, the dealer couldn't find any issue with the traction system. The same traction issue has happened several more times and has yet to be repaired. Updated 09/29/15

Filed Jun 29, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 90,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the engine seized. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. While attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to start. The engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Mar 31, 2015 · Engine · 156,000 miles · CA

This jeep commander was sitting at the gas station after driving it home 30 miles. Upon ignition of engine, there was a loud explosives sound, the engine sounded like a bucket of bolts. I shut off the ignition immediately, then got it towed home until I got it to the dealership. The car requires a new engine. There are many similar cases to my story, and I believe there was a major failure due to faulty engine components. An investigation should be launched. There are too many people reporting the same failure, if not on this site, than on other jeep commander forum sites. Enough is enough. I was told by the dealership mechanic that there is am bad part in the cylinder #8 that malfunctions causing immediate failure upon restarting the car. This is not acceptable. There are over 1500 complaints for th same problem and no one has fixed the problem.

Filed Mar 26, 2015 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. While attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to start without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000. Updated 6/8/15*cn the consumer stated the dealer advised there was no repair to be made. Updated 11/6/15

Filed Dec 22, 2014 · Electrical · 89,000 miles · NJ · crash · 3 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. As a result, the steering wheel seized and the brake pedal failed to respond when depressed. The contact crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that three occupants in the other vehicle sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switched needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 89,000.

Filed Nov 17, 2014 · Electrical · 109,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 jeep commander. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. However, the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system). The contact mentioned that the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact believed that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.