On a 2 lane road at a speed of 25 to 30 MPH, the 2008 Jeep commander quit accelerating when the gas pedal was pushed. It responded as if it was in neutral. RPM's reved up high with no acceleration. When the vehicle was turned off and then back on it continued to do the same thing. Intermittently.
2008 Jeep Commander powertrain problems
severe 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 37 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Jeep Commander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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 37 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 #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Owners report frequent engine stalling without warning, transmission failures, 4WD system problems (especially after the N23 recall), and widespread electrical issues that dealers struggle to diagnose—some problems persist even after recall work. If you're shopping for a 2008 Commander, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on stalling history, electrical diagnostics, and transmission function at various speeds.
2008 Jeep Commander owners describe a pattern of powertrain issues that dealers often cannot reproduce or fix. The most common complaint is unexpected stalling at any speed (25–70 mph) without warning lights, causing loss of power steering and drifting into traffic—the vehicle restarts normally after the event. Owners report multiple dealership visits with no root cause found.
Transmission problems include shifting failures, slipping into neutral at traffic lights, and loss of acceleration where the pedal goes unresponsive and the engine revs without forward motion. Some owners describe transmission fluid dropping repeatedly with no visible leak. One vehicle had the wrong transmission installed at the factory.
The N23 recall for 4WD transfer case programming is a recurring pain point. Owners report the recall either caused 4WD to fail afterward or didn't fix pre-existing 4WD Low engagement issues. Dealerships vary wildly in response—some try software flashes, others immediately charge for shift actuator replacement. One owner paid for actuator replacement only to have 4WD fail again one month later.
Electrical system failures span multiple components simultaneously: windows, sunroof, radio, air conditioning, and transmission electronic control all fail together. One owner's radio reboots every 1–2 hours. Airbag warning lights appear without deployment history. Twenty-plus no-start events over ownership, with key fobs and starters testing normal.
No service bulletins or recalls cover all affected vehicles; owners whose VINs don't match recall lists are told Chrysler cannot help.
Same Jeep Commander powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling while driving
Engine cuts out without warning at various speeds (25–70 mph). Vehicle loses all power, including power steering. Requires restart to resume operation. Occurs intermittently with no advance warning lights in many cases.
When: Throughout ownership; reports range from early purchase to higher mileage (20k–129k miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies suddenly while driving at any speed; No power steering after stall; Vehicle drifts toward shoulder; Check engine light may illuminate after event; Vehicle restarts normally after event
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, ABS light, Stability control light, Brake warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealerships unable to diagnose or replicate the issue. Some suspected front control module defect (Recall 71686 covers only 1,338 vehicles and does not apply to all affected units). One owner mentioned software problem discovered on third attempt.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 71686 for Front Control Module (limited to 1,338 vehicles). Recall 13V175000 and 14V567000 for electrical system and powertrain; however, repair parts were unavailable in some cases.
Loss of power/acceleration and limp mode
Vehicle loses power while driving. Accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive or vehicle fails to accelerate above 30–40 mph. Vehicle may enter limp mode (limited power state). Occurs at highway and city speeds.
When: Various mileages reported; one complaint at 75k miles, another at 145k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal pressed but no response; Vehicle max speed drops to 30–40 mph; Transmission downshift failure; Vehicle bucking and surging; Engine light illuminates; Loss of response for 5 minutes then restoration of power
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Service Park Assist System message, ABS light, Stability control light
Repairs/costs cited: PRNDL (Park/Reverse/Neutral/Drive/Low) wire replacement reported by one dealership. Multiple diagnostic shops unable to identify root cause. Recall 14V567000 parts unavailable in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V567000 (Electrical System) cited but repair parts unavailable. One owner stated part shortage prevented repair completion.
Transmission shifting failures and gear loss
Transmission fails to shift properly, slips out of gear while driving, or shifts into wrong gear unprompted. Vehicle may shift into neutral at traffic lights or while in motion. Transmission may downshift abruptly on grade.
When: Reported at various mileages from 55k to 129k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission won't shift into proper gear; Vehicle shifts into neutral without driver input; Automatic shifts to lower gears mid-drive; Transmission slips; vehicle behaves as if in neutral with revving RPM; Service 4WD warning illuminates; Repeated shifting problems after restart
Codes mentioned: Service 4WD System message, Shift actuator error code, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle had wrong transmission installed at factory (discovered during diagnosis). Transfer cable repair attempted but failure recurred. Transfer case actuator replacement attempted but 4WD failed again one month later.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V175000 (Powertrain) mentioned but vehicle not included. One owner stated incorrect transmission was installed at manufacturer.
4WD system failure and N23 recall-related issues
4WD system disables randomly or fails to engage. Owners report the N23 software recall caused or worsened the problem. 4WD Low becomes unavailable. Service 4WD warning appears. Error codes point to shift actuator but issue resolves when fault codes are cleared, indicating software root cause.
When: Ongoing since 2013–2014 for some owners. N23 recall applied in various years; failures continued or appeared post-recall.
Symptoms owners cite: 4WD disables randomly while driving or stationary; 4WD Low does not engage; Service 4WD System warning light appears; 4WD engages normally after pulling fuse or software flash; Deteriorating gas mileage (6 mpg loss reported after recall work)
Codes mentioned: Service 4WD System warning, Shift actuator error codes
Repairs/costs cited: Pulling fuse for Final Drive Control Module sometimes corrects issue temporarily. Dealerships vary in response: some attempt software flash; others proceed directly to replace shift actuator motor (costly). After N23 recall, one owner reported 4WD failed one month after transfer case actuator replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: N23 recall applied but owners report ongoing failures. Chrysler contacted since 2014 with no resolution. Dealerships refuse software flash troubleshooting in some cases.
Shift lock failure and inability to exit Park
Vehicle cannot be shifted out of Park without using manual shift lock override. Gear shift becomes stuck. Service Park Assist System message displayed.
When: Within 48 hours of purchase for one owner; reported at 150 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to shift out of Park; Manual shift lock override required; Service Park Assist System message displayed; Malfunction indicator light on
Codes mentioned: Malfunction Indicator Light, Service Park Assist System message
Repairs/costs cited: Faulty PRNDL wire replacement performed by dealership. Resolved issue initially but same problem recurred four days later.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall mentioned; dealership replaced PRNDL wire.
Engine running on its own without key
Vehicle starts and runs on its own while parked and ignition off, with no remote start feature. Engine revs as if accelerator pedal is pressed to floor. Occurs hours or minutes after vehicle is shut off.
When: Started around 20k miles; reported 5 times by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cranks and runs while parked and ignition off; Engine revs high as if pedal is floored; Sounds like engine will blow up; Occurs randomly, hours or minutes after shutdown; Vehicle in Park but acting as if drivable
Repairs/costs cited: Owner concerned about fire risk in garage or unintended vehicle movement. No repair documented.
Intermittent no-start and remote key fob failure
Vehicle fails to start with key fob despite battery being good. Key fob becomes non-responsive temporarily, then works again without intervention. Multiple no-start events over vehicle ownership.
When: Couple months after purchase, recurring throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob will not start vehicle; No response from both fobs; Random start failures; vehicle suddenly starts after hours or days; Has required towing twice; One incident while driving: vehicle shut off completely with no dash lights
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced key fob but problem recurred. Owner reports matching multiple recalls for make/model but VIN not included.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership replaced FOB; no permanent resolution.
Vehicle shifting into gear while parked and in Park
Vehicle independently shifts from Park into Reverse or other gear while parked with ignition running and parking brake engaged. Vehicle lurches forward or backward.
When: At 55k miles for one incident
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts into Reverse without driver input while parked; Ignition running, parking brake engaged; Vehicle moves unexpectedly
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle crashed into waterway and was destroyed. Driver sustained swollen ankle jumping from vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; vehicle not repaired (destroyed).
Transmission fluid loss without visible leak
Transmission fluid level drops repeatedly despite no visible leaks. Adding one quart temporarily corrects shifting problems but problem recurs within days.
When: Reported at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fluid loss without visible leak; Vehicle drops from 70 mph to 30 mph unexpectedly; Unable to get out of first gear; Temporary fix with one quart fluid lasting few days
Repairs/costs cited: Three mechanics inspected; no leaks found. Root cause not identified.
Electrical system failures affecting multiple components
Widespread electrical system malfunction affecting multiple vehicle systems simultaneously: windows, sunroof, radio, seats, air conditioning, transmission control, 4WD system. Center sound system shuts down and reboots every 1–2 hours. Failures escalate over time.
When: Radio issues began 2019; broader failures began spring 2021; ongoing for 10+ years in some cases (sunroof)
Symptoms owners cite: Windows, sunroof, radio, seats, air conditioning non-operational; Radio shuts off and reboots every 1–2 hours; Airbag warning light illuminates without deployment history; Service 4WD warning appears; Transmission electronic control failure; Gears slip; vehicle behaves as 4-cylinder despite V6; Vehicle fails to start 20+ times over period; Check engine light illuminates
Codes mentioned: Airbag warning light, Service 4WD System message, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics state issue is electrical system; one professional recommended Chrysler manufacturer diagnosis. Repair cost estimated in thousands of dollars.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V175000 and 14V567000 cited; parts unavailable in some cases.
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Left car on but in "park" as we pumped gas. About a minute into pumping gas, the car lunged forward a few inches then came to a stop automatically. *tr
Tamara recall the Jeep will cut off randomly while driving down the road. It will also make attempts to cut off while driving at 60 MPH and below. The esp light and traction control light will come on. Once able to get the Jeep stopped with out getting in an accident it will restart and all lights will go off. This has happened now 3 times with in 4 days with it cutting completely off and 5 times…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2008 Jeep Commander?
It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 55,434 and 118,000 miles, with the median around 103,138. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,434; a quarter make it past 118,000. 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/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.