2008 Jeep Commander 4X4 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Jeep Commander 4x4 most often report the engine quitting while driving and problems getting the vehicle to start, usually with no warning and often with a temporary recovery after a restart. Complaints span low and high mileage, and many owners say dealers could not reproduce the problem or said the vehicle was not covered by the ignition-related recall.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls and shuts off while driving

   • 43 complaints (39%)
   • median 54,500 mi at 5.4 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2017

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at all speeds — merging on a highway, driving at 55-70 mph, turning at an intersection, or creeping into a parking space — sometimes with the dash gauges going to zero and the electrical system dropping out at the same time. Several report the vehicle restarts after coasting to the shoulder or shifting to neutral, and that the stall happens again later. According to complaints, dealers often found no stored codes or could not reproduce the failure, and in some cases computer updates or sensor replacements did not stop it. Reported from under 5,000 miles up to about 142,000, with many cases in the 30,000-100,000 mile range and no clear weather pattern.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the seller whether the stall has ever been diagnosed or repaired and whether any stored codes were found; during a test drive, watch for hesitation, surging or gauge dropouts and note whether the engine idles steadily in gear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2008 commander has stalled for no reason on two occasions recently. In both instances, we were driving slow, one into a parking spot and one into our garage, and the Jeep stalled. The vehicle has been well-maintained and driven responsibly. We are taking it to the shop this week, but this seems to be a common problem with Jeep commanders and is likely very difficult to resolve.”

   NHTSA complaint #10394412, filed 2011-04, 48,000 miles

   “I was driving down the road and the vehicle lost power. I was able to move to the shoulder and bring the vehicle to a stop. There was no power to any system. The ignition switch was in the off position. I was able to restart the vehicle. This is not the first time the vehicle has lost power while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #10714322, filed 2015-05, 127,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Key won't turn or vehicle won't start

   • 30 complaints (27%)
   • median 70,727 mi at 6.4 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2017

   Owners report inserting the key or fob and finding that it will not turn or that nothing happens on the first tries, sometimes only after several attempts. Some describe the key being hard to remove from the ignition unless the shifter is moved, or the vehicle being towed repeatedly and having ignition modules, starters or batteries replaced without a lasting fix. Complaints frequently mention that the vehicle was included in an ignition-related recall but that the part was unavailable, and that dealers could not confirm when the repair could be done. Often reported between roughly 40,000 and 110,000 miles, with a few cases at very low mileage on vehicles new to their owners.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the key turn freely several times with the engine off and on, ask whether the recall work on the ignition switch has been completed, and check service records for repeated starter, battery or ignition module replacements.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2008 Jeep commander started give problems by not starting, changed the starter once, it work for a few months and then started again, changed the started twice withing 6 months and still gives problems, whats wrong with this car, I cant rely on this vehicle because it leaves me every where.”

   NHTSA complaint #10789401, filed 2015-11, 130,000 miles

   “On numerous occassions our 2008 Jeep commander overland will not start. I'll insert the key fob into the slot, turn, and then nothing happens. Usually after a few attempts the truck will start. (the dealership currently has the truck and still is unable to resolve or isolate the problem).”

   NHTSA complaint #10232510, filed 2008-06, 5,500 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical system drops out (gauges, windows, radio)

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 47,789 mi at 6.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2017

   Owners describe the radio, gauges, windows, door locks, climate controls or wipers suddenly stopping, sometimes with all warning lights illuminating at once and the vehicle still running. Some say the problem was traced to a control module and others that a second key fob restored normal operation. A few also link water entering the passenger-side floor area to electrical faults after rain. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 115,000 miles, with several owners noting the problem recurring over months or years.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: During the test drive, check that every window, lock, radio and gauge works, look under the passenger-side floor mat for dampness or water stains, and ask whether any control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Electrical problem sometimes when I start the Jeep my radio will not come on it won't come until I cut it off and started it back up sometimes it take 2-4 starts. Water problem I have water coming in on the passenger side floor board every time a hard rain comes. Can't find where it comes from. Looked on youtube about 6 people had the same problem with the same kind of Jeep commander. 2008. This has been going on for 8 year on and off some. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10991845, filed 2017-05, 36,988 miles

   “On july 21, 2010 my blinkers and dash lights were not functioning. I took the vehicle to the dealership for repair. They replaced the multi-function switch and updated the key fobs per a recall notice. $240.32 charge. On august 24th, 2010 I experienced being locked inside of my vehicle in 100 degree heat. I could not open the windows, doors, or sunroof. The A/C did not function and the dash lights were not functioning. At this time they did something to the control module. Under warranty - no charge. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10481041, filed 2012-10, 38,019 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle or stability control cuts engine power

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 71,478 mi at 6.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners report the throttle control or stability control warning appearing while driving, followed by a loss of power or the vehicle refusing to accelerate above a low speed until it is shut off and restarted. Some say the problem appeared more often in warm weather or while climbing an on-ramp, and that a gas pedal replacement did not fully resolve it. One owner described the engine holding speed after the electronic throttle warning came on, brought under control with the brakes and lower gears. Spread from very low mileage to about 135,000, with several reports in the 40,000-65,000 mile range.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, pedal assembly or any software update has been addressed, and during a test drive accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade to see whether the throttle or stability warning lights come on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There have been two times that the vehicle just would not start after a rain, but when we had it looked at no problems and it has not happened again. The major issue is that while driving home on the toll road all of the sudden the vehicle just lost power and would not go over about 30mph, so I have to try and get across a toll road in rush hour traffic so that I can turn it off and back on. When I did that it came back on fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10533018, filed 2013-08, 62,456 miles

   “While merging on to the highway the Jeep's esp suddenly engaged and cut engine power. The Jeep stalled and had to be maneuvered off the highway. This is happening with great regularity, usually while merging on an uphill on-ramp. The dealer looked at the Jeep and has not been able to fix the problem. Chrysler was contacted and said they could not help since the warranty was expired. This is a serious safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10637043, filed 2014-09, 80,500 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield and sunroof glass cracking or shattering

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2017

   Owners report the windshield cracking from small road impacts or from the defroster being switched on, and in one case the sunroof glass shattering at highway speed without an obvious cause. Several describe the windshield cracking more than once early in ownership, and one mentions water entering through the sunroof drains and reaching the floor. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 106,000, with several cases below 35,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the windshield and sunroof glass for chips, cracks or prior replacement, check the headliner and floor near the sunroof for water stains, and clear or ask about the sunroof drain tubes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield of 2008 Jeep commander has cracked twice in less than the first 1,000 miles. Both times were very small and slow rocks that would never do any damage to any other windshield I have ever owned. This is an epidemic! I am concerned that this could lead to a future safety issue!”

   NHTSA complaint #10212427, filed 2007-12, 447 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Jeep commander. The windshield cracked from the bottom of the passenger side to the middle of the vehicle after the front defogger was activated. The contact called the dealership and was awaiting a return call. He had not called the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. Updated 05/11/10.”

   NHTSA complaint #10322595, filed 2010-03, 30,000 miles

Buying note. A 2008 Commander is worth a careful test drive and a pre-purchase inspection focused on stalling, starting and electrical behavior, plus requests for all recall and service records. Ask specifically whether ignition-switch recall work was completed and whether any stall or no-start complaint has been diagnosed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.