Customer Satisfaction Notification P73 Reprogram Final Drive Control Module The Final Drive Control Module (FDCM) software on about 295,600 of the above vehicles may cause the ?Service 4WD? light to come on and an inability to switch 4WD mode when trying to shift out of the current selected mode. The Final Drive Control Module (FDCM) must be reprogrammed with new software.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Jeep Commander airbags problems
critical 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
12injuries
2fatalities
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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.
CHRYSLER (JEEP) SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. SIDE AIRBAG INFLATABLE CURTAIN. THE SIDE AIRBAG INFLATABLE CURTAIN (SABIC) ON VEHICLES MAY NOT POSITION PROPERLY DURING INFLATION. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE SABIC DEPLOYING BEHIND THE UPPER B PILLAR TRIM. CSC LETTER WAS REC'D.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report five distinct airbag failure patterns on 2008 Jeep Commanders. Most serious: front airbags fail to deploy in frontal collisions severe enough to total vehicles. One crash at 30 mph with $14,000 damage saw no deployment; another fatal tree strike resulted in driver death with airbags inert. Side curtain airbags similarly fail during rollovers and side impacts—vehicles flipping or rolling with roof and door crushing, yet curtain bags remain inactive.
Clock spring defects in the steering wheel column are widespread: the component fails around 48,000–140,000 miles, triggering intermittent or permanent airbag warning lights. Jeep dealers confirm the clock spring prevents airbag deployment. Paradoxically, 2007–2010 Jeep Wranglers with the same steering system were recalled for this issue, but 2008 Commanders are excluded.
Spontaneous deployments also occur—airbags firing without any crash or impact during routine turning or highway driving, with one destroying the steering wheel assembly and exposing wiring.
Dealers and the manufacturer provide no consistent resolution. Some warn owners they lack answers; others refuse repairs based on VIN checks despite multiple owners reporting identical failures on their Commanders.
Same Jeep Commander airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag Non-Deployment in Frontal Impacts
Front driver and/or passenger airbags failed to deploy during significant frontal and front-offset collisions that met deployment criteria, including impacts at 30 mph, 50+ mph rear-end strikes, and high-speed frontal collisions. One fatal crash involved failure to deploy with passenger-side damage extensive enough to warrant deployment.
When: Crashes occurring at various mileages: 27,000 miles (fatal); 155,000 miles; 230,000 miles; unspecified mileage on other incidents
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment despite severe front-end damage and deformation; Seat belt did not lock/restrain occupant properly during impact; Occupant struck steering wheel or dashboard with force; Injuries including concussion, whiplash, and fatal head trauma reported
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; vehicles either totaled or owner sought manufacturer response without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated no answer available for airbag problem at this time; no recalls issued for these failure modes on 2008 Commander
Side Curtain Airbag Non-Deployment in Rollovers and Side Impacts
Side curtain airbags failed to deploy or deployed only partially during vehicle rollovers and severe side impacts. Vehicles rolled onto their side or roof with crushing damage to the side structure, including roof contact above driver's seat and windshield-roof intersection, yet airbags did not activate despite owner's manual stating they should trigger in moderate to severe side collisions and rollover events.
When: Mileages documented at 155,000 miles (rollover) and 230,000 miles (rollover); one fatal incident at 27,000 miles with tree impact; multiple unspecified mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled or flipped with roof and side structure contact with ground; Severe crushing damage to driver's side door and roof; Driver's side mirror pushed through window by impact force; Head trauma including temporal artery laceration, severe concussion, brain swelling; No deployment despite crushing side and roof contact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles deemed destroyed or totaled; no repairs performed
Clock Spring Failure with Intermittent Airbag Warning Light
Clock spring assembly in steering wheel developed faults causing persistent or intermittent airbag warning light illumination. Dealers diagnosed the defective clock spring as preventing airbag deployment if needed. Issue appeared across multiple 2008 Commander units; similar recalls existed for 2007-2010 Jeep Wranglers with the same steering system.
When: Mileages ranging 48,000 to 140,000 miles; one case noted at 120,000 miles; failures present from initial purchase on some units
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light comes on and off intermittently; Light may stay on most of the time or cycle on and off while driving; Chiming sound accompanies light activation; None of the steering wheel instruments operative after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Chrysler dealer replaced clock spring at significant cost; one independent mechanic diagnosed faulty clock spring sensor requiring replacement but vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2008 Commander despite similar recalls for 2007-2010 Jeep Wranglers; manufacturers stated recalls not applicable to complainant's VIN
Spontaneous Airbag Deployment Without Impact
Driver's side and passenger side airbags deployed without any collision, impact, or crash event. Incidents occurred during normal low-speed driving such as turning off a city street into a parking lot and driving at highway speed with no accident. One deployment destroyed steering wheel assembly with wiring exposed.
When: One incident at 136,750 miles; another at 150,071 miles (highway driving at 60 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys while turning into parking lot with no impact; Airbag deploys during highway driving at normal speed with no accident; Steering wheel instruments non-operative after deployment; Exposed wiring visible on steering wheel assembly; Potential hazard to driver and pedestrians
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not repaired; one dealership referred owner to auto body shop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall referenced in two reports but VIN unknown or VIN not included in complaint
Airbag Warning Light Illumination Without Confirmed Cause
Airbag warning light illuminates continuously or intermittently on the dashboard with no clear diagnosis. Dealers indicated airbag replacement needed but manufacturer stated no recall applied. Multiple instances show intermittent light cycling across various mileages.
When: Mileages 97,000 to 110,000 miles; one intermittent failure at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator light remains on continuously; Passenger side airbag warning indicator illuminates intermittently at various speeds; Light goes out then comes back on periodically; Recurring failures on multiple occasions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers advised replacement but vehicle not repaired in most cases; one dealer successfully repaired root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated no recall related to airbag failure; recalls refused for some VINs despite owner reports of same problems on other same-model Jeeps
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 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 airbags problem on the 2008 Jeep Commander?
It's a serious issue. 20 complaints have been filed, including 8 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 39,500 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,500; a quarter make it past 140,000. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2008/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.