Plate - Planetary
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Jeep Commander powertrain problems
moderate 201 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
201
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4crashes
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 201 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Jeep Commander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 201 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 5 model years of Jeep Commander in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number 06511385A$) are one-time usage. Vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires Service Kit PN 68461214AA; includes Transmission Isolator PN 68264483AA, and Adaptation Bracket 68264479AA and Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA Vehicles built after on or after 10/23/2015 will require only the Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA. 2. All 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the vehicle you are repairing has a crack in the flex plate or failed pump bushing inspect and confirm that both (2) dowel pins
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment. If the pins are missing request to add the dowel pin first and then install the transmission
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment. If the pins are missing request to add the dowel pin first and then install the transmission
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Jeep Commander has serious powertrain and transmission control problems that owners describe as hazardous. Loss of power during acceleration is the most common complaint—vehicle will not exceed 25–30 mph even with full throttle, with all gear indicators lighting up simultaneously on the dash and Service Park Assist warnings appearing. This happens randomly at any speed and has no reliable fix; owners report dealerships cannot duplicate it, yet multiple mechanics note finding the same electronic shift module or transmission control module faults.
Engine stalling is equally alarming. Vehicles shut down without warning at highway speeds (65–70 mph) or sitting at traffic lights, leaving drivers unable to steer or brake. Some owners report ten or more stalls on a single trip. Dealerships replace spark plugs, coils, sensors, ignition switches, alternators, and PCM software, but the stalling continues.
A troubling case involves a parked vehicle with keys inside the house—the gearshift moved freely out of park without ignition or brake pressure, allowing the vehicle to roll downhill into the owner's house while a six-year-old sat in the driver seat pretending to play.
Other failures include transmission overtemp warnings that prevent starting, hard downshifts that sound like impacts, and in one case, a wiring harness fire in the driver door. Water intrusion from the sunroof floods the interior after rain and corrodes electrical systems, causing door speaker failure and dashboard issues.
Owners consistently note that recall coverage is inconsistent—some VINs are excluded despite having identical failures to recalled vehicles, and post-recall repairs sometimes create new problems dealerships refuse to cover.
Same Jeep Commander powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended shift out of park / loss of gear engagement without driver input
Gearshift can move out of park to reverse or other gears without keys in ignition or driver input. Vehicle rolled into house with child in driver seat, keys inside. Dealership confirmed shift mechanism allows gear changes without key or brake pressure. Also related to transfer case unexpectedly shifting to neutral under drive.
When: Varies; one incident 03/28/2008; another after N23 recall service; transfer case cases around 2013-2015
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls without ignition on; Gearshift moves freely without key in ignition; No foot on brake required to shift gears; Child in front seat caused unintended forward motion
Repairs/costs cited: Shift mechanism/shift lever housing replacement noted; transfer case actuator replacement mentioned post-N23 recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: N23 recall (13V-175) addresses transfer case shifting to neutral without driver input; parts (56044129AP transfer case control module) reported on backorder for 6+ weeks
Loss of power and acceleration during driving
Vehicle suddenly loses power, will not accelerate over 25–30 mph even with full throttle, engine stays running but unresponsive. Occurs at random intervals while driving or stopped at traffic lights, at highway speeds and city speeds. Service Park Assist light and all gear indicators (P, R, N, D) illuminate simultaneously on dashboard.
When: Intermittent, unpredictable; some owners report multiple times per day, others once per month; occurs within weeks to months of purchase or ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine response to accelerator; Reduced speed (cannot exceed 25–30 mph); Service Park Assist message on dash; All gear symbols (P, R, N, D) light up simultaneously; Check engine light illuminates; RPMs may run high but vehicle doesn't accelerate; Occurs both in motion and from stopped position
Codes mentioned: U0404 (Invalid Data from Gear Shifter), P0607 (ECU Internal Performance), B1A28 (ECM Mismatch with SKM)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite transmission control module replacement, electronic shift module (ESM) replacement, throttle body service, PCM reflash, fuel sensor replacement (~$750), ignition coil replacement (~$550), transmission cooler line replacement. TSB 18-004-09 REV. A describes clunking and hesitation. Dealers often cannot duplicate problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 18-004-09 REV. A available for hesitation/clunking on V6 engines; recall 08V203000 covered 2006 4.7L V8 only; 2007 V6 owners report being excluded from recalls despite identical symptoms; recall 13V-175 and 14V438000 mentioned but not all VINs included
Engine stalling while driving
Engine stalls without warning at any speed (highway, city, stopped at lights) with no driver input. All dashboard lights and warning messages illuminate. Vehicle restarts after being turned off and restarted. Occurs repeatedly over months/years of ownership. Multiple stalls can occur on single trip (up to 7 times in 12 miles reported).
When: Intermittent and random; some owners report 10+ occurrences over ownership period, others report near-daily incidents; can happen immediately after starting or after long running periods
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown with no warning; Loss of power steering when stalled; Loss of power brakes when stalled; All dashboard lights and gauges illuminate; Check engine light comes on; Rough idling before stall; Loss of motive power on highway requiring emergency pull-over; Vehicle restarts normally after stall
Codes mentioned: Check engine light present but often no stored codes retrieved
Repairs/costs cited: Owners have replaced: spark plugs, ignition coils (~$550), MAP sensor, MDS wiring harness, ignition switch, EGR sensor, throttle position sensor, idle air control sensor, alternator, battery, starter relay, PCM. Dealership unable to duplicate problem despite multiple visits and week-long diagnostics. Some owners spent thousands in repairs without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2006 Jeep Commander 4.7L V8 recall 08V203000 (PCM software reprogramming) issued for stalling; 2007 models not included in recall despite same failure; some dealerships state issue is common (one reported ~1/month), others deny seeing it
Transmission over-temperature false warning and no-start condition
Vehicle displays 'Transmission Over Temp' or 'Transmission Over Heat' warning message on dashboard and will not start or cranks but fails to start. Message appears despite normal transmission temperature and fluid level. Warning clears after hours or days of sitting, allowing vehicle to start temporarily, but recurs within weeks.
When: Intermittent; first reported 2012; recurring every 1–2 months thereafter; becomes worse over time until vehicle stranded
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission over-temp warning on dashboard; No-crank or hard-crank no-start condition; Vehicle towed multiple times (5+ times reported in some cases); Vehicle starts fine after sitting overnight; Check engine light may or may not illuminate; Shaking at idle at traffic lights
Codes mentioned: Transmission over-temp sensor code (specific code not cited)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership updates performed: PCM/computer update, transmission fluid and cooler line replacement, battery replacement, alternator replacement, ignition switch replacement, starter relay replacement, key reprogramming. No permanent fix achieved; problem recurs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership suggested transmission computer update; unable to identify root cause after multiple diagnostic attempts
Hard downshift and transmission jerking
Vehicle downshifts abruptly with loud clunking or banging noise and violent jerk when slowing or coming to a stop, especially at lower speeds. Transmission feel rough, shifts feel delayed or hesitant. On downhill cruise control release, transmission re-engagement is extremely abrupt as if full brakes applied, nearly locking rear wheels.
When: Intermittent; observed during normal deceleration and cruise control transitions; present from early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunk or bang noise during downshift; Violent jerk during transmission engagement; Abrupt, hard downshift from cruise control; Transmission acts like full-force braking when re-engaging; Nearly locks rear wheels on dry pavement; Jerking between shifts at varying speeds and RPMs; Feels like vehicle wants to stall at idle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership has inspected multiple times (4+ visits in one month reported) with no resolution; advised owner may need to 'live with it'; no successful repair method identified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership unable to find problem despite multiple inspections; no recalls or TSBs cited for this specific symptom
Uncontrolled acceleration and RPM surge
Engine RPMs race up suddenly without driver input, causing vehicle to lunge forward without accelerator pedal depression. Occurs during rain or wet conditions. No engine codes present. Vehicle surges and nearly strikes pedestrians or other vehicles.
When: Multiple times per year during heavy rain; March 2013 incident nearly hit pedestrian
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM surge without accelerator input; Sudden forward lunge; No engine codes present despite symptom; Correlated with rain/wet conditions; No check engine light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to find problem; no components replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership found no codes and stated issue similar to 2006 recall but vehicle not included in recall; no diagnosis provided
Electronic shift module (ESM) failure
Electronic shift module fails, either initially within first years of ownership or as recurring failure years later. Module replacement occurs at significant cost once warranty expires. Same part fails again after 4 years despite replacement.
When: First failure around 31,500 miles; second failure at 82,000 miles (4 years later); some failures within 1 year of original replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power during driving; Transmission enters 'limp' mode limiting speed to 25 mph; RPMs won't rise above 3,000; Hard shifts; Service Park Assist light; All gear indicators illuminate
Codes mentioned: U0404
Repairs/costs cited: ESM (part 68021352 or similar) replacement cost $1,000+ out of warranty (was $100 in-warranty at 31,505 miles); part price doubled over 4-year period; one dealer reported seeing this failure ~1/month
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty replaced ESM as 'goodwill' gesture initially but refused coverage on second failure; V6 models not included in recall despite V8 models having transmission recall; Chrysler customer service unable to explain recurring failure
Water intrusion and electrical system corrosion from sunroof and body drains
Vehicle interior floods after rain due to improper drainage from sunroof and body drain holes. Water pours into front cabin, flooding driver and passenger carpet. Repeated flooding after every rainstorm causes mold smell and water damage. Electronic components affected, including door speakers and radio display.
When: Ongoing from purchase (November 2012 reported) recurring after each rain event
Symptoms owners cite: Interior flooded after rain; Water on driver and passenger side carpet; Mold smell develops; Door speaker failure (intermittent, then permanent on all four); Radio display goes black/dimmer; Dashboard lights flash intermittently; TPMS warning lights recurring despite sensor replacement
Repairs/costs cited: TPMS sensors replaced (all four) but warning recurs; no structural repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response cited; owner reports hesitation to use dealer due to lack of resources and dealer inability to recreate phantom problems
Wiring harness fire in driver door boot
Wiring harness catches fire inside driver-side door boot shortly after vehicle purchase. Fire causes windows and door locks to malfunction.
When: Shortly after purchase of used 2007 Commander
Symptoms owners cite: Visible fire in door boot; Windows inoperative post-fire; Door locks inoperative post-fire
Repairs/costs cited: Fire damage; windows and locks require replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None cited
Transfer case actuator electrical failure after N23 recall
After N23 recall service (transfer case control module reprogramming/replacement), 4LO (four-wheel-low) mode stops working. Dealership diagnoses transfer case actuator electrical failure but refuses coverage, claiming it is unrelated to recall despite recall paperwork specifically addressing transfer case actuator electrical failure.
When: Days to weeks after N23 recall completion
Symptoms owners cite: 4LO mode does not engage; Service 4WD System message on dash; Transfer case actuator not communicating
Repairs/costs cited: Transfer case actuator replacement required; owner charged for part and diagnostic fee
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: N23 recall (13V-175) paperwork shows recall is for transfer case actuator electrical failure, yet dealership and Chrysler customer service deny connection and refuse coverage; dealership charged diagnostic fee
Synthesized from 201 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
At intermittent times the vehicle would delay upon pressing the accelerator and not shift properly. It was taken to be serviced after the transmission reverted to "safe mode" while driving. Dealer reset the system. Acceleration and shifting problems continued until "check engine" light illuminated together with the "service parking assist system" message. Were informed by the dealer that the…
I was pulling out onto the highway. As I got up to around 15 MPH, all the shift indicator lights lit up ,around park, neutral, drive and reverse. My acceleration cut off. I couldn't accelerate past, maybe, 20 MPH. The rpms would go up, with no response from the vehicle. I had cars coming up fast behind me and I couldn't go any faster or pull off, till the next turn off. Also, if I'm pulling out,…
2007 Jeep commander engine stall in stop and in freeway at 65mph out of the blue could barely drive it almost caused us to get into an accident, had to pull over multiple times. *tr
Had powertrain trouble with your 2007 Jeep Commander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2007 Jeep Commander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 201 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 177 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 47,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Jeep/Commander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.