Jeep Commander Interior Broken Door Handle – Solved!
May 27, 2012 8:45 am Jeep
Round Jeep interior door handles share the same problem as Grand Cherokees.
© DenLorsTools.com Summary: Jeep Grand Cherokees and Commanders share a faulty interior door handle assembly problem. Learn how 2006 and 2007 Jeep Commander interior handle repairs are made easy. The shape of the handle may be different in each model, however the problem is with the incorrect resin mix which results in a brittle and crumbling material causing failure just the same. This is obviously a manufacturer’s defect, however it’s a fault that is NOT covered under Jeep’s warranty. There’s no recall or service bulletin. Until recently, the only fix was replacing the entire door panels.
Chrysler designed the interior door panels on the Jeep Commander in such a way that the entire door panel had to be replaced rather than just the door handle. The interior door handle is plastic welded at certain points from the backside of the door panel. Now there’s a better way! The Jeep Commander interior door handle housing which typically breaks can now be replaced saving Jeep owners hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Click the following to see the product listings for the Jeep Commander Interior Door Handle Kits.
For example, replacing all four door panels at the Jeep dealer could run $2000. Now with the handle repair kit linked below (CLICK ON THE PICTURE) all four can be fixed for well under $300.
Click to see product listing.
The ZT103 is the Gray Commander Interior Handle Kit.
The ZT104 is the Tan Chrome Commander Interior Handle Kit.
Also Paint to match
Due to different color options, either of these housing kits may be painted to match if they don’t match as desired. Simply use an interior trim paint purchased from a parts store or the local dealer. The dealer will look up the correct interior trim color by using the code found on the drivers door decal or by the VIN (vehicle identification number).
Note: We sell them in sets of four or in pairs. The pair has one left and one right and they can be used on the front or back. Car dealer pricing now available when purchasing 3 sets or more, please inquire. Also see our Grand Cherokee interior door handle kits.
Vehicles affected: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Jeep Commander interior handle.
Jeep Commander
Interior Door Handle Kit Now In Stock-with Handles Included instructions & hardware. It takes mechanically inclined Jeep owners about 45-60 minutes to install the first one and then the rest take approximately 20 minutes each. The door panel is first removed and then the plastic spot welds are removed one of several ways. Either drilled out, cut out with a razor knife or a Dremmel grinder can be used. Then the old handle housing (what’s left of it) can be removed. Then the replacement handle is installed from the back side of the door panel using the hardware we provide. Then the door panel can be re-installed. See the links below.
We want to make an installation video Looking for a Commander owner in the Riverview Florida area that needs a door handle installed. Contact us if you are in our area.
DennisB :
Date: May 30, 2012 @ 8:47 am
Below is a question from a used car dealer that just learned about the Jeep Commander issue. The image at the top of the page and the one below were sent to me by him.
Hi Dennis – This is Daryl L. in San Antonio – I’m a used car dealer and we spoke about the Commander door handle fix last week. Just so I’m sure the handle repair kit will work (which is great BTW) please see the pics from a 2006 Commander I just picked up at a local car auction. Will your door handle cup replacement work for both these doors – drivers and passenger?
Thank you in advance for your time.
Daryl
Daryl,
Thanks for sending the images. Looks like one of the two are missing the lever and springs. Our kit has just the cup portion (which typically breaks) with an updated pivot pin. Unless you have the levers and spring, our kit will only help you repair one of the doors. Since you didn’t own the vehicle when the handles were broken, it’s understandable that you don’t know if the lever and spring was thrown away or not. Sometimes, the lever and spring can be found by removing the door panel. Sometimes the levers just fall down inside the panel. Be careful when removing the door panels, especially around the weaker V shaped portion located towards the front. You don’t want to crack anything else, on this brittle panel. If it’s not found there, I would search the entire vehicle, under the seats glove box, console, cargo area etc. Like a treasure hunt, if you find it, it will be like finding money.
Last resort, I would attempt to find one at a salvage yard. Let them know that you don’t mind if the cup is bad and that you only need the lever and spring. If you can find one (they should be plentiful), it should cost considerably less for a broken one. Even if you find one at a salvage yard that’s not broken or cracked yet; I would still use the kit we have, because it’s likely that the salvage yard one, will crack when it’s installed or shortly thereafter.
Joey :
Date: July 7, 2012 @ 6:08 pm
Hello,
I recently just ordered the Jeep Commander door handle repair kit. My Commander handles were broken for months and checking websites and dealerships wasn’t getting me anywhere. Dealerships quoted me $850 each door to replace the panel. I then researched one more time and came onto your website. Called and spoke to one of your polite and knowledgeable operators, ordered the part, received the box the next day. I am so pleased how high of a quality the repair kit was, Im not the most handy person, but to be honest both doors were replaced under 20 minutes. What a difference, I would definitely use this company again!!! Thank You Very MUCH!!
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: July 7, 2012 @ 8:03 pm
Joey, Thanks for taking the time to let us know how your Commander handle installation went. As of this date we’ve sold enough of these kits to repair around 1400 doors. Figuring $850 a door, at the Jeep dealer those doors would have cost over a million dollars more to repair. See below.
1400 x $850 = $1,190,000
That’s a staggering number! Glad we could help save our customers over a million dollars with this one product, so far. Thanks again.
Danielle :
Date: July 17, 2012 @ 3:39 pm
I just!!! bought a 2006 and the handle broke like the picture above. But why is it so costly for the repair kit? Is it made in china? And is there a way to jery-rig it till its fixed?
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: July 17, 2012 @ 3:47 pm
Danielle, I wouldn’t recommend rigging. In an event of an accident, it’s best to be able to get out of the vehicle quickly if needed. Driving with a broken handle is simply not safe.
I’m not sure if Chrysler’s $5-700 door panels are made in China or not. I can however tell you that our much less expensive repair kits are made right here in the USA. Thanks again to all of our customers that were on the waiting list for this kit to be produced. There in stock now and our back-orders were all filled. Call us or order on-line. Thanks.
Adam :
Date: August 6, 2012 @ 12:48 pm
I have a 2006 commander and the driver side door handle broke into pieces when it was at the auto shop getting the computer module replaced. The company is not taking responsibility for it braking because they said its a manufactory defect. Jeep needs to take responsibility for this problem.
Sharon :
Date: September 12, 2012 @ 9:31 am
I want to confirm what I need to order. On my 2006 Commander, the driver’s side door handle/cup and the passenger door on the driver’s side handle/cup are broken. Do I need to order 4 since the “pair” of replacement parts is left and right (as if both front doors were broken)? Or will ordering the pair do the trick in this situation?
Please advise.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: September 12, 2012 @ 9:44 am
Sharon, you are correct, you need the set of 4. The pair has one left and one right. Since you need both left side parts, the set of four is what you would need. All four typically break eventually, since they are made of the faulty plastic and are the same age. So you may want to consider replacing all four. This way there will be a better match as well, since the aftermarket ones don’t have the trim cover for the screw, like the original equipment ones.
Sharon :
Date: September 12, 2012 @ 10:34 am
Thank you for a prompt response, Dennis! We’ll order 4 then.
Matt :
Date: September 12, 2012 @ 11:27 am
Dennis, I was curious if you or any customers have a picture of the installed kit. My concern is that on my 2006 commander, the handle is beveled, or “raised” from the door panel, where your pieces appear more flush. Not a huge deal, just curious if anyone has a picture of the finished product. will most likely order these, as they are the most cost efficient fix that I can find.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: September 12, 2012 @ 12:01 pm
These kits have worked out great. We have had no returns with the exception of one customer that decided to sell their vehicle to Carmax without doing the repair. Here’s a couple of images below. One shows the inside of the door panel and the other one shows the finished installation.
Jim Berg :
Date: September 13, 2012 @ 12:21 pm
I installed your 4 door kit in my 2006 Jeep Commander, Bravo to you for making my Jeep safe. It took apprx 30 minutes per door to install, a small price to pay for the saftey of me and my passengers. This will be the last Chrysler product I buy due to their lack of concern for the saftey of the customer. Thanks again to you!!!!
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: September 13, 2012 @ 12:30 pm
Jim, thanks for taking time to comment. It does seem strange that Chrysler hasn’t came out with a kit by now. I suppose they are more focused on the Fiat line now rather than worrying with past mistakes. Anyway, thanks again.
Jason Washer :
Date: September 17, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
I live in Canada and just recently purchased a grand cherokee 2005 and interior door handles are falling off. I phoned my dealer and he said he never heard of such a thing. I told him to check out this website and see how many people are having this problem. Why do dealers treat us like we are the only ones having problems. I see there is a kit available for diy but before buying it and paying for the shipping to Canada, has anyone used this kit and had success with it.
Jerry Stein :
Date: October 4, 2012 @ 10:33 am
why no answers since september 13th
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: October 4, 2012 @ 10:39 am
Jerry, if you have any specific questions, I’ll see if I can answer them for you.
Erin :
Date: October 16, 2012 @ 3:21 pm
I just bought a 2006 Jeep Commander…the door handle isn’t broken, it’s just missing the access cover located behind the door handle. I was just told by a dealer that that in order to get that one, small part I was going to have to purchase the entire door panel which was going to be around $500-700. Do I have to buy a kit or can I just purchse the individual piece I am needing?
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: October 16, 2012 @ 3:24 pm
Erin, the dealer does not have the repair kit available . We do. Click on the image in the article above to go to the product listing on our website. Thanks.
JCA :
Date: November 18, 2012 @ 9:19 pm
I installed your 2 door kit in my 2006 Jeep Commander. It took 30 minutes to repair the door. Now I have a spare in case another door goes. Jeep/Chrysler should just admit the flaw and have a recall. At least I didn’t give them my money to repair the door! They are a bunch of thieves to charge such and excessive price for something they clearly didn’t get right on the production line.
BocaWindows :
Date: December 3, 2012 @ 6:47 pm
OK. SO I bought a 2006 Jeep Commander all 4 door handles were broken, obvioulsy a manufacturers defect that was never recalled.
I also went to the dealr $700 for a door panel plus labor X 4 !!!
I bought two of the replacements sold here. I went in my garage and within 10 minuted (no kidding) I was done with one door. The color match isnt perfect but no one else will notice. THIS IS A GREAT PRODUCT SOLUTION.
Thanks!
luis :
Date: January 15, 2013 @ 12:35 pm
Im in need of the whole door panel. The old one came off and its broken in some places.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: January 15, 2013 @ 12:44 pm
Luis, we don’t sell the entire door panel. I would consider repairing the door with epoxy on the backside of the panel and install a replacement handle. If you have to replace the entire door panel it would be much more expensive. Good Luck.
manuel :
Date: February 6, 2013 @ 9:49 pm
WOW!I hope this is really true. I have all 4 door handles broken and I almost insulted the dealer guy when he gave me a quote on the 4 door panels. 3 of the 4 door handles do open but they are broken like in the main picture on your page. Does the kit have instructions on how to replace?
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: February 7, 2013 @ 6:28 am
Yes. It’s surprising how many Jeep dealers don’t know about this fix. Just click on the following to the Jeep Commander Door Handle Kit.
Charity ibeabuchi :
Date: March 18, 2013 @ 9:52 pm
I need to get my 2007 commander jeep interior door handle.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: March 19, 2013 @ 7:09 am
We have the handles with the lever now. The price has came down also. Click the image below to go to our main site and view our handle, product description page. DenLorsTools.com 800-524-9783
Lisa Mercado :
Date: May 21, 2013 @ 11:35 am
Hi Dennis
I live in the Lake Mary Florida area (Central Florida) and would volunteer my jeep for you to make a repair video with!!
Thanks
Lisa
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: May 21, 2013 @ 11:57 am
Lisa, thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, that would be almost 4 hours round trip. If you plan on being in the Tampa area soon let me know and we will see if we can work something out.