Jeep Commander engine failure problems

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 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 Dec 28, 2022 · Engine · PA · 1 injury

Original owner of this vehicle. Has 73,000 on 5.7 hemi engine. Engine blew up on 12/25/2022. Only warning was the gauge went to overheat high red. Stopped vehicle, at fuel station and added more anti freeze. Gauge dropped to while normal range. Got back on highway drove 7 miles and enginle like came on and heat gauge went to high red then dropped to nothing. Got vehilcle off the road and it immediately shut down. Engine blew up. Had vehilcle towed to Jeep Dealership 12/26/2022. Need engine replaced at only 73, 000 miles. Chrysler no longer makes this engine and a rebuilt will have to go into this vehicle. No offer or explanation of why this engine blew up with such low mileage. I was left stranded in 5 degree weather for about 45 minutes along interstate trying to get my roadside assistance to help. They couldn't speak understandable english. After 40 minutes of this call I ended up calling State Police for help. I knew I was starting to go into hypothermia. State Police arrived in minutes and put me in their car to warm me up and they called tow co. That co. showed up in 15 minutes. I called Chrysler myself to try to find a new engine but they discontinued this engine in July 2022, early cut off for an engine. No new engines in inventory. No offer of any kind to assist or ask questions about possible injury/causes/or where the vehicle was. No engine should blow with this low mileage. Why did they cut off mfg of this engine so early? No answers. Vehicle is at Hillview Motors, Greensburg, PA 15601(Jeep Dealership) for repair. Jeep Dealership inspected engine and determined it was blown. Only warning was guage went hot then engine blew. Nothing in the past on this vehicle.

Filed Aug 25, 2022 · Engine · MO

The engine failed while driving at major intersection. Multiple individuals had to assist and avoid causing an accident. After a week at diagnostic Jeep service department, techs determined compression failure in cylinders 2 and 4 with 0 psi. There no codes or check engine lights other than a brief blinking right before failure.

Filed Sep 5, 2019 · Electrical, Transmission · 88,242 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep commander. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked, lunged forward, and seized. Also, the transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed by an independent towing company to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch and gear shifter needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced, but the gear shifter was not. The failure recurred. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v175000 (power train, electrical system) as the possible cause of the failure. Motor world toyota (150 motorworld drive, wilkes-barre, pa 18702, 570‑846‑4098) was contacted about the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,242.*dt *js*jb *bf

Filed Aug 1, 2019 · Electrical · 188,507 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep commander. While the contact's husband was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate. The driver was able to park on the side of the road before the vehicle seized. The contact waited an hour before restarting the vehicle and driving home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic multiple times, but they were unable to duplicate the failure the first time. The second time, the dealer diagnosed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but continued to experience the failure. The contact called champion chrysler dodge jeep ram (located at 435 e pass rd, gulfport, ms 39507, (228) 896-1515) and was informed that the part would not be available for one month. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system). The part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 188,507. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Mar 2, 2019 · Engine · 140,000 miles · IL

Engine does not start sometimes, have had recalled ignition put in already. Then it stalled on highway, had it towed to mechanic, couldn't get it jumped. He took off serpentine belt and showed us engine was locked up. It has a 5.7 hemi in it. I get all fluids changed when I'm supposed to. Change oil and filter religiously with best oil and filter available . Mechanic even said all fluids looked great. He can't understand it. This vehicle has had numerous problems, from leaking weepholes in son roof to drivetrain, not wanting to start and stalling when ever to now a seized engine!

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

Engine died while driving on highway twice

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 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.