The Jeep Commanders’ production lifespan was a very short one only running for four years from 2006 to 2010. With this in mind, how reliable is the Jeep Commander?
It’s easy to assume that the reason that the Commander model was stopped is due to the unreliability of the vehicle but it came down to other reasons when Jeep eventually decided to discontinue it. By all intents and purposes, the Commander is actually quite reliable.
In short, Jeep Commander is reliable, when maintained well, the Commander of giving you 150,000 to 200,000 miles or more. This is largely dependent on how well the owner treats their Commander.
This is key for just about any vehicle under the sun. As the saying goes, 75% of a vehicle’s reliability comes down to how well the owner treats it.
Making sure that you maintain it well and take it for service at the recommended times will ensure that you enjoy a long good ownership experience. If you ask Jeep Commander owners, you will hear of different experiences. You will find those who complain about reliability as well those who have gone 150,000miles without any major issues.
Jeep Commanders Reliability
Jeep Commanders sit on the same axles and have the same engines as a Grand Cherokee. They are just as reliable as the Grand Cherokee when you really look at them.
The first Commander debuted in 2006. Though everything else on it was just like the Grand Cherokee, there were 2 main distinguishable differences.
The first was the body shape which had a more box shape. The second difference was that the Commander had a 3rd row of seats which sat an additional 2 people making it ideal for families.
The engines were identical running a 3.7L Penterstar V6, a 4.7L V8 or a 5.7L V8 Hemi. The 5.7L V8 Hemi was considered the best trim of them all. The Commander weighs over 2 tones and the 4.7L V8 and the 5.7L Hemi are better suited for it. The only problem with the 2 bigger engines is that they have the terrible fuel economy. That’s not to say that the 3.6L V6 Pentastar is beyond its capabilities.
It’s quite an efficient engine as attested to by the fact that it continues to be used on Wranglers and Cherokees to this day. You, however, cannot get away from the obvious benefits that come from the bigger engines.
The 5.7L Hemi is also known to be the most reliable of them all as well. This is probably due to the fact that the engine is under much less stress. Overall, all Jeeps are made to last. They are basically engineered to handle the most demanding off-road environments and therefore able to take a lot of strain and pressure.
How Many Miles Can a Jeep Commander Last?
How many miles can you expect to put on your Jeep Commander before calling it a day? Taking all the factors just explained into account, it generally comes down to how well the owner takes care of it. I know we are over-emphasizing this point but that’s really the main thing here.
You will hear different accounts from different owners. Some Commanders start developing problems pretty early on and would have gone through many major and minor repairs before hitting 90,000 miles. You will also hear about other owners who tell you that they are basically problem-free at the 125,000-mile mark.
When a Commander is well maintained, you can expect it to easily go 150,000 to 200,000 miles. Make sure to take it for service a few hundred miles before it’s due and change the oil regularly and you will get a long lifespan from your Commander.
Are Jeep Commanders Expensive to Fix?
Jeep Commanders have basically the same parts and the Grand Cherokee. You will be able to get parts readily and at reasonable prices. The only unique parts will be the different body parts. Even those are not that difficult to obtain and fix.
Final Thoughts on How Reliable is a Jeep Commander
Since they are no longer in production, the only Jeep Commanders available for purchase are used ones. If you are to buy one, you need to avoid the 2006 model if you can.
Usually, the first model on a series comes with kinks that would have been worked out in later ones. 2010 is generally the best of the bunch. When it comes to reliability, 2006 is the worst and then there is a vast improvement in the 2007 model.
