2008 Jeep Commander: engine failure

Filed Feb 14, 2023 · Acceleration, Electrical · TN

The Electrical System has failed. The center sound system shuts off and reboots on its own every hour or 2 causing electronic failure and has proven to get worse over time. Following that the Jeep will randomly not start, mechanics have told me that it must be the Electrical System because it is not starter, alternator or the battery. Failure to start engine has occurred over 20 times...effecting my ability to drive to work a few times. Power Train has failure has caused electronic control, software, shift lever/gear control and indicator devices, torque, drive axles, hubs, shafts, CV joints, housings and related safety systems to fail/stop working while in drive; example the Jeep was driving 50 miles an hour and transmission gears shut down and i tried shifting into neutral attempt to start transmission/engine failure. All transmission gears shut off. Then after 5 minutes came back on and started working again while driving down a country highway , luckily no other vehicles passed during this incident. This scared me and the passenger in fear of wreaking from lack of control of the vehicle. This has happened 2 times. Having severe problems with gear shifting or transmission failure. Has presented a safety hazard. The speed control fluctuates when driving up a hill or vehicle stalling while driving at 50 mph and must let off the accelerater in order to get vehicle back into correct gear. Vehicle has been inspected by mechanic by using diagnostic tests and each time they cannot find anything wrong with the transmission or engine...only Electrical System which makes sense because the Jeep is a smart car and professionals have informed me to take the jeep to the manufacturer inorder to fix the Electrical Systems malfunctions. there were no messages/warnings prior to each failure which began in the spring of 2021. Except the radio/center electronic consol which failure of the screen, DVD/Video, & radio transmissions that shut down and reboot every 2 hours started 2019.

Filed May 21, 2018 · Engine · 110,000 miles · HI

"takata recall" I own a 2008 jeep commander with a 3.7 liter engine. I always made my oil change at 50,000 miles or 6 months intervals. I have learned that jeep chrysler and dodge vehicles produced from 2005 to 2012 all have the same problem of the oil pickup tube not working properly or gets clogged with slim so tht no engine oil reaches the pistons and cylinder head. While driving, my engine threw a piston rod trough the engine block and into the oil pan. I am sure that jeep knew of the problem with the oil pickup tube but did nothing to correct the problem since the engine would have to be pulled from the vehicle to replace the oil pickup tube. I love my jeep but again, jeep knew about this issue with the 3.7l engine with the 8th digit of the VIN being k. Jeep/dodge/chrysler should be responsible for the repairs of these vehicles especially when the engine is now blown all due to a defective oil pickup tube. The customers/owners of these vehicles with the 3,7l engine should be able to get a new engine for free if the engine block has become damaged or replace the oil pickup tubes for those who have yet to have their engine blown. I have seen many complaints about this engine and this was one of the top issue and that being a bad oil pickup tube which causes internal damage to the engine. I was driving in town taking btrash to the dump when it threw a cylinder and sounded like broken metal in the engine. Engine lost compression and had to have vehicle towed home. What I thought may be a starter problem, I noticed that the cylinder actually went thru the block and oil pan. Google up dodge/jeep/chrysler oil pickup tube complaints, you will find that their are many complaints about this issue mainly effecting the vehicles from 2005 to 2012 with the 8th digit of the VIN being a letter (k). Like to get my engine replaced with a good used engine at no cost to me.

Filed Sep 9, 2015 · Transmission · 118,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 jeep commander. While driving approximately 65 MPH, a loud noise was coming from the front of the vehicle and the front driver side wheel suddenly seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transfer casing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.

Filed Feb 25, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 101,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 jeep commander. The contact stated that while making a right turn at 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact shifted into park and turned the key to the off and then to the on position in order to regain function of the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v567000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 101,000.

Filed Jan 12, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 73,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 jeep commander. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated and the headlights malfunctioned. Also, the contact mentioned that the ignition switch seized on the accessory position. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v567000 (electrical system); however, the part needed 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 73,000.

Filed Nov 9, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 79,995 miles · OH

It seem that the majority / every jeep commander or g. Cherokee has gone through one or more rack and pinion replacements. It is difficult to even find a steering rack to replace the defective one... As if that will last long. Chrysler needs to address this issue as if there are not enough issues with these newer jeeps. I will never purchase a 2005 or newer jeep again! Chrysler has really dropped the ball on this and completely ruined a great name for jeep and their products. This jeep is falling apart at not even 80k miles. If I had to pay someone - the dealer /"stealer" to replace all the defective parts I would have to sell my home. I have buckets and buckets of parts (rubber suspension components, ball joints, seized brake components etc etc) and now this. Nothing can be worked on, if you take it apart you better buy a new one. Everything is throw away.

Filed May 3, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 36,203 miles · TX

Engine stalls: engine stalls randomly, at a light, around a corner, and even on freeway at 70 MPH. Engine will not restart after a stall until the key has been removed from the ignition. I have had at least 15-20 stalls since I have owned the vehicle. Transmission jerks: this started in the last few months. Transmission disengages while driving down the road then suddenly reengages, jerking the car forward. Sometimes the car will continue ok, sometimes the engine will die. Electrical issues: not a safety issue but maybe related, I have had numerous problems with my nav system going dark (won't display until engine restarted) - lost settings. Rear dvd has totally gone out. Dealer says there is a code for "lost communication with radio" due to an open short. Last incident: 04/11/2012 (51000 miles): on interstate 75 MPH - took foot off the accelerator to slow down and felt like the engine had died (lost momentum and was coasting). I applied the gas and the RPM's o the engine increased but the car did not gain speed. Felt like transmission had disengaged. The car jerked forward like the transmission reengaged. Momentum was returned for about 1 second then disengaged again. The second time, the engine died and I had to coast to the side of the interstate. Car restarted and I was able to continue down the road. After driving for another 3 hours, the "service 4wd" message came up on the display. Pulled to the side of the road, turned the car off and back on, same message came up. Continued driving to my destination - message cleared. After the car sat in the parking lot for several hours, went back out and started it, the message was gone and has not reappeared. Dealer had car 6 days - there are no codes in the system. They can not duplicate issue. Vehicle dying on freeway is very dangerous and I have small children, please investigate.

Filed Nov 27, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 62,001 miles · NC

My adult children's 2008 jeep commander engine has quit running, while they are driving, eight times in the past 4 months. (7/26/2010 thru 11/26/2010). The last time the engine quit running my son was driving the car, he was able to restart the engine with the car in drive (turning the key multiple times). They have had many issues with warning lights flickering and/or staying on. They have taken the jeep to waldorf chrysler jeep dealer 8 times due to engine failure. They have repaired module wiring, replaced the starter and turned the core, performed routine check up and maintenance, run/start circuit repaired, throttle and gasket repaired/replaced twice, currently in the repair shop. Dealer would only provide rental car if the kids paid for it. Also took the jeep to dodge dealership in waldorf 8/2010, they could not find a problem.