Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Jeep Commander, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 13 | 22% |
| Power train | 7 | 12% |
| Engine | 6 | 10% |
| Air bags | 3 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Commander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was i
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The commander turns off on its own, brakes on its own, the alarm does its own thing, the esp/bas lights are on, buttons on dash don’t work most of the time, sunroof drain is faulty, and leaks rivers of water into my car!
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO HER DESTINATION. THE CONTAC
NHTSA complaint: Engine
JUST LIKE THE 2008 MODEL, WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO TURN THE KEY OFF THE WILL NOT TURN OFF ALL THE WAY. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY FROM THE AUXILIARY POSITION TO THE ON POSITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL THE K
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY JEEP HAS PERIODIC STARTING ISSUES. ALL THE LIGHTS WORK ON THE DASH IT JUST CLICKS. THIS IS VERY RANDOM. IF YOU JUMP IT THE VEHICLE WILL START. SOMETIMES IF YOU WAIT A PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL START. TOOK IT TO THE DEALE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE REMOTE CAR STARTER STARTS MY VEHICLE? BUT 5-10 SECONDS LATER IT SHUTS BACK OFF AND MY RADIO TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF EVEN WHILE ITS NOT ON. THE DISPLAY GOES BLACK, MAKES A CLICK, SHOWS THE JEEP LOGO, BARS WHERE THE TI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND MAKES A CHIME NOISE. NOW IT DOES IT OFF AND ON THE WHOLE TIME IT IS BEING DRIVEN. ALSO IF YOUR SITTING STEAL AND YOU TURN THE STEERING WH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS BECOMING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. PERRY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2340 NATIONAL CITY BLVD, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950, (619) 477-1234) ACKNOWLEDGE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Jeep Commander. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Fix: 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-
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 a
Risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
Fix: 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 c
ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE PROPER GRADE 5 CARRIAGE BOLTS. THE IMPROPER GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS COULD EXPERIENCE A LOS
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF EFFECTIVE LIFT AND LOWERING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, POSSIBLY CREATING THE DRIVER TO PANIC WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT 1-518-270-98
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 73 | good |
| Depreciation | 71 | good |
| Performance | 74 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 13 of them (22%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.