YearToAvoid

2009 Jeep Commander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 Commander years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Jeep Commander has 46 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 40 out of 100 — #4 highest of 6 Commander model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (22 complaints, 48% of the total).

Complaints
46
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2009 Jeep Commander problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System22 (48%)
  2. Engine10 (22%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain8 (17%)
  4. Airbags6 (13%)
  5. Structure & Body5 (11%)
  6. Other4 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (9%)
  8. Fuel System2 (4%)
  9. Steering2 (4%)
  10. Brakes1 (2%)
2009 Jeep Commander complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2010Feb 2013Nov 2014Oct 2015Jun 2017Oct 2018Nov 2019Feb 2022
65 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2010 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2015 (4).

2009 Jeep Commander recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid80696515
2008Caution60326415
2009Good4046215
2010Best2045416

All Jeep Commander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Jeep Commander a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Jeep Commander ranks #4 of 6 among Commander model years (Complaint Index 40/100, verdict: Good). It has 46 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Jeep Commander?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (22 complaints), engine (10 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (8 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 78,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Jeep Commander have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Jeep Commander, most recently reported 2013, covering electrical system and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Jeep Commander?
EPA rates the 2009 Jeep Commander at 15 MPG combined (14 city / 19 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.