2009 Jeep Commander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2009 Jeep Commander has 46 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 40, ranking 4th-worst of 6 model years with a "Good" verdict relative to other Commander years. Electrical system issues dominate, making up 48% of complaints, alongside two recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #4 of 6 Commander years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 46
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 14 city / 19 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2009 Jeep Commander problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System22 (48%)
- Engine10 (22%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (17%)
- Airbags6 (13%)
- Structure & Body5 (11%)
- Other4 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (9%)
- Fuel System2 (4%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicles stall unexpectedly at various speeds, sometimes with dashboard lights illuminating and power steering loss.
- Some owners report the drive controller had to be reflashed multiple times after the FWD warning indicator illuminated and the transmission would not shift into low range.
- Key fobs reportedly split apart, causing the vehicle to shut off intermittently while driving.
- Tire pressure warning lights preceded rapid deflation events, with owners finding cracked valve stems or worn, separated tread.
- Oil pressure warning lights appeared before stalling episodes that dealers were unable to diagnose.
2009 Jeep Commander recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 13V175000May 7, 2013Electrical System295,345 vehicles
Electrical system
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 09V118000Apr 9, 2009Airbags4,314 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Chrysler is recalling 4,314 my 2009 dodge journey, jeep grand cherokee, commander and wrangler vehicles. Wiring may be reversed on the steering column control module driver airbag squib connector. The driver's airbag may not deploy as intended.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver's airbag may not properly inflate and may not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's airbag squib wires and replace the steering column control module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
2009 Jeep Commander fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 19 MPG
- Combined
- 15 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Commander years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Jeep Commander reliable?
- Compared with other Commander model years, the 2009 ranks 4th-worst of 6 years but carries a "Good" verdict, with a complaint index of 40 versus 100 for the worst year (2006).
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Jeep Commander?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints lead at 48% of all reports, followed by Engine at 22% and Transmission & Powertrain at 17%.
- Does the 2009 Jeep Commander have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2009 Commander: one for an electrical final drive controller issue and one for reversed airbag wiring that could prevent the driver's airbag from deploying.
- What year Jeep Commander should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint data, 2006 and 2007 are rated "Avoid" with complaint indexes of 100 and 80, while 2009 and 2010 rank lowest in complaints among the six years covered.
- At what mileage do 2009 Jeep Commander problems typically occur?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Electrical System issues appeared around 83,500 miles, Engine issues around 72,000 miles, and Transmission & Powertrain around 82,603 miles.