So far the Commander has a wind noise issue. On hot days while driving highway speed in moderate wind, there is a very pronounced and quite annoying whistling noise. Checking the TSBs, there are two wind noises that may occur due to the sunroof and air circulation, respectively, but neither seem to apply here. I haven't given the dealer an opportunity to make things right yet so I won't hold it against them.
I also once packed the car too full and it messed up the lift gate sensor making the computer think the back glass was open when it was not. Removing some stuff from the rear storage immediately fixed the issue.
When I first saw a picture of the Commander from the auto show, we knew this would be our next vehicle. Our former vehicle was a Jeep Cherokee. The wife and I both loved that vehicle, but we were outgrowing it. We disliked the syling of the Grand Cherokee so until the Commander came out, we were seriously considering leaving the Jeep fold. However, the Commander did come out and it is big and beautiful. It claims styling from the Cherokee, but drives a lot more like the Grand Wagoneer.
Some people complain about visibility, but I haven't had a problem with it. One thing to keep in mind is that the driver seat raises up a whole lot. And I mean a whole lot. With it up to the proper height, the only visibility problems I am having are common across all SUVs that size. If I had kept it at the height it was at on the lot, visibility would've been severely limited.
The main sunroof is nice, but a bit small. My kids absolutely love the secondary skylights in the back seat. The shades do seem a bit flimsy though. They remind me of the old roll-up curtains.
The third row is a bit cramped, but a child in a front-facing car seat will have no problems. However, our rear-facing seat does not fit on the third row. Also, the third row of seats lack the latch system and the tether anchor so you'll be using the seat belt to secure a car seat. However, on a hot day it may be worth it to put your kids on the third row if you have rear air.
The 4.7L engine is very torquey. The HEMI had a lot more punch, but the 4.7L was more than adequate and it tows a boat very nicely. I miss my 4.0L in-line 6, but this is a very capable replacement.
Gas mileage is as expected. I get 18MPG average while my wife gets 15MPG average. This is keeping in mind that I usually roll down the windows and sunroof while she usually uses the AC. I also do a bit more highway driving than she does. On a recent trip, we got 15MPG loaded to the brim with people and gear with the AC on. While towing a 3500lb boat rig, I get 13MPG average.
Space is severely limited behind the 3rd row, but if you flip the cargo tray upside down like it tells you to in the manual, you can still fit two standard sized soft-side suitcases back there. For the first time in a vehicle I've owned, I'm actually using the cargo net. With the 3rd rows down, you have about as much space as I did in my 91 Explorer.
The roof rack is pretty nice. So far, I've only tied a spare trailer tire up there, but it held nicely and the car drove just fine with it up there. Much like the Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer, the Commander has such poor wind resistance to begin with that adding things on top doesn't seem to affect it that much.
I have the same whistling noise and I have no sunroof and I can turn off all air circulation and it is still there. Please if you find a cure Email Gutarpick@aol.com. Tks Jim.
I have the same wind problem. The last time it happened the noise lasted for 150 miles. It was about 100 degrees with a strong wind. Dealer has no updates or any idea where the noise is coming from.
I have a 2007 Commander, two weeks old from the dealer. It has a water leak coming from the front passenger grip handle by the windshield post. Being in New York, it was my 1st major rain
storm.
Why am I concerned? Because I had the same problem with my 2005 Grand Cherokee, just on the drivers side, that's why I traded the car for this one; now it's deja vu.
If you've got any info on this, please help. The car is going back to the dealer for a service on this problem, and I just need some intel. I don't want to wait another 2 years to resolve this issue.
Other than that, the car is a dream. Thank you.
I had the same wind noise problem. The Dealer could not pin
point where it was coming from. They contacted their Windshield replacement Provider. They were told they knew where it was coming. Said this was a common problem with the Commander. I was told they had to reseal the lower part of the Windshield.
It's been three months now and I had already forgotten about
it until I read this. Good Luck.
I have had an '07 for almost a year now. I Love it!!!
I have previously owned 2 Jeep Cherokees and swore I would buy nothing but Jeep. Then they discontinued the Cherokee and I though I was doomed!!
The Commander is very Cherokee/Wagoneer.
The common problems with them, however, include the wind noise, which in my vehicle is an ear-popping noise, a whooping noise, when the windows are down.
The windshields break in a lot of them, sometimes very easily. I just had mine replaced and the body shop showed me why they break so easily. The glue that secures the glass is set on some bondo like stuff that chips off leaving space for the windshield to jostle around, and therefore break.
The windows go up and down by themselves sometimes, ghostly!!! My kids say we have a Transformer Jeep!!! How cool!!
The OEM mud flaps you buy don't go on as perfectly as advertised, and the bolts are plastic! My husband bought some real bolts and washers to put my on!!
Gas mileage runs just a little less than my '98 Cherokee.
The hauling capacity and the comfort are worth it. The awesome stereo is worth it, too. My stereo has a very deep bass, even when it's turned to -9, though.
Since this is my first brand spanking new vehicle ever and I am paying $$$ for it, I am not complaining, I just think everyone should be aware of some of the issues. This is what I wanted and I got it!!!
If you love your Jeep Cherokee, the styling, the ruggedness, the Jeep-factor, you will love the Commander.Otherwise...
It's a JEEP thing, you wouldn't understand!!!
I understand one thing... the Commander is a behemoth compared to the Cherokees made from 1984 thru 2001.
Also the Commander is a Chrysler design, the Cherokee was an AMC design. I'd take the old Cherokee, Thank You.
I have a leak from the front passenger handle too! What do I do?
Me and my sister both have Jeep Commanders, and in the same rain storm we both had water in the floor. My sister had way more water than I did. She took hers into the shop and they cleaned the drain on the sunroof. She hasn't had a problem since.
My fas mileage with my HEMI engine is only 9.5 per gallon. I think that's horrible. The dealership lied to me when I bought it saying it would shift down into 4 cylinders on the highway. I get 10 miles to the gallon on the highway. I have had it for 6 months now and have never had it serviced. I hope that can be fixed.
Other than that, we both LOVE our Jeeps!
I Love a Jeep. I will always have a Jeep. I have had my problems with the Jeep's I have purchased in the past. Jeep wrangler sahara edition, I went through three of those in 6 months. They all three leaked from the passenger side. We could never figure out where it come from. I then traded for a Jeep Cherokee Classic. I absolutely loved the vehicle. I had NO problems at all with it. I had a Jeep Cherokee Larado. That vehicle leaked into the rear driver side floor. We purchased today The 2006 Jeep Commander 65th edition. We love it and hope we have no leakage!!!
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