2007 Dodge Nitro 4X4 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X4, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical7623.8%
- Fuel system7322.9%
- Body & structure299.1%
- Engine226.9%
- Visibility196.0%
- Brakes185.6%
- Interior & seats144.4%
- Airbags103.1%
- Driver assistance103.1%
- Powertrain (other)103.1%
- Transmission92.8%
- Other / unspecified82.5%
- Tires & wheels72.2%
- Exterior lighting51.6%
- Steering41.3%
- Suspension30.9%
- Seat belts10.3%
- Heating & air conditioning10.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WON’T LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH REMOTE OR BY BUTTONS IN THE CAR. IT HAS TO BE DONE BY HAND.
WIPER FLUID SHOOTS OUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON THE ALARM GOES OFF AND CAR SHUTS OFF DOES ALL THIS AT ONCE.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS EVERY TIME THAT WE FILL THE TANK. WHEN THE GAS IS FILLED, THE NOZZLE IS FULLY INSERTED IN THE TANK AND WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT-OFF SPILLING GAS EVERYWHERE UNTIL I MANUALLY STOP THE NOZZLE.
REFUELING SPILLAGE DODGE NITRO R/T WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL OVERFLOWS UP THRU THE FILLER NECK AND ONTO THE PERSON WHO IS REFUELING THE SUV, THUS CAUSING IT TO SPILL OVER THE PAINT OF THE CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 30 - 50OZ OF GAS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS OCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME THE NITRO IS FUELED UP. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO A RECALL I HAD ON MY 2005 DODGE DURANGO. BELOW ARE THE ISSUES NOTED BY OTHER DODGE NITRO OWNERS ON THE NITRO FORUMS WEBSITE. HTTPS://WWW.NITROFORUMZ.COM/THREADS/GAS-OVERFLOW-FIXED.700/PAGE-6#POST-159638 HTTPS://WWW.NITROFORUMZ.COM/THREADS/X46-WARRANTY-FUEL-SPIT-BACK-DURING-REFUELING.38708/
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WON’T LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH REMOTE OR BY BUTTONS IN THE CAR. IT HAS TO BE DONE BY HAND.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. DOOR LOCKS IN OPERABLE, NEITHER FOB NOR BUTTON WORKS, KEYFOB LOCKS BUT NOT UNLOCK VEHICLE NOT DIAGNOSED NEITHER DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER CONTACTED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, THE KEYFOB FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYFOB WILL LOCK THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, HAS FAILED IN EVERY ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERNAL LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. AH
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIPER FLUID SHOOTS OUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON THE ALARM GOES OFF AND CAR SHUTS OFF DOES ALL THIS AT ONCE.
THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ESP/BAS, ESP/TCS, ABS, AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE (NO FLASHING) WITH LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOTABLE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING OCCURS WHEN ALL LIGHTS TURN OFF! WITH NO WARNING MALFUNCTION LIGHTS, THE ENGINE MISFIRES AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 55MPH, BREAKS LOCK UP WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BREAK AT ANY SPEED (EVEN COASTING W/DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, AND THERE WILL BE COMPLETE LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL FX. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURN BACK ON, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY W/NO MISFIRING OR BREAKING ISSUES. WHHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK AT THIS TIME ALSO, UNTIL THAT FUNCTION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AFTER A FEW INSTANCES AS STATED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN STOPPED SOUNDING, RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHEN CAR DOOR IS OPENED W/3 BUTTON KEY FOB (NO ENGINE STARTER), RADIO/DISC PLAYER FREEZES INTERMITTENTLY WITH LOSS OF FUNCTION/ABILITY TO CHANGE ANYTHING BESIDES TURNING ON OR OFF. BREAK ILLUMINATION LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON, THEN WILL TURN OFF (NO E BREAK BEING ACTIVATED). WHEN WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, NO CAR DEALERSHIP OR SERVICE IS ABLE TO OBTAIN CODES AND ADAMANTLY STATE THIS IS NOT OKAY/NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE TO BE HAVING THESE SERIOUS ISSUES W/NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING AND FOR VEHICLE TO IMPROVE WHEN WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON. MORE SO, THAT THE SYSTEMS LARGE AMOUNT OF ERRATIC INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTIONING IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD!! CURRENTLY NO RECALLS FOR VIN # BUT 2007 NITROS HAVE RECALLS-MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR SAFETY ISSUES WITH AN EMERGENT NEED TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO NHTSA. I WILL RESUME OPERATING VEHICLE REGULARLY WHEN RESPONSIBILITY IS TAKEN, ADMITTANCE TO THERE BEING PROBLEMS OF NO FAULT OF MY OWN (OWNER 2009 APPROX 2000 MILES AT PURCHASE W/ALL PROPER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED TO DATE). EAGERLY AWAITING NHTSA'S REPLY IN ORDER TO PROPERLY DOCUMENT AND CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE WIPER DOES NOT WORK
WIPER FLUID SHOOTS OUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON THE ALARM GOES OFF AND CAR SHUTS OFF DOES ALL THIS AT ONCE.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF. NO LIGHTS ON DASH OR WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. AFTER GETTING IT STOPPED AND RESTARTING IT WILL DRIVE FINE. OTHER TIMES THE REMOTE WILL NOT WORK THE LOCKS, IT WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEM SELVES AFTER YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND TRY TO START VEHICLE . YOU CAN PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT START LIGHTS ON DASH WILL GO OFF AND ON AND AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS IT WILL START. THERE ARE TIMES YOU CAN NOT PUT IN IN PARK YOU CAN SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT PRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING WORKS TO PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN IT WILL JUST GO IN PARK LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN UP ON OCCASIONS WITH NO WARNING. IT ALL WILL WORK FINE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL ACT UP AGAIN. THE HEATER DOES NOT BLOW HOT AIR ON ONE SIDE, EVERY YEAR YOU CAN FLUSH OUT HEATER HOSE AND RADIATOR AND IT WILL BLOW HOT AIR FOR A MONTH OR SO AND THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO ONLY BLOWING WARM AIR OUT ON ONE SIDE. NO CODES ARE EVER THROWN WHEN THE THINGS HAPPEN. THERE IS NEVER A WARNING AND WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP OR A MECHANIC THEY CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
DURING ACCELERATION, PEDAL SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH DIDN'T ALLOW VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE SPEED. VEHICLE DECELERATED ON INTERSTATE, POSING AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. SINCE, IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE MORE. ONCE IT WOULDN'T ALLOW VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE PAST 35, AND THE SECOND TIME IT WOULDN'T GO HIGHER THAN 10 (ALSO IN A 55 MPH AREA). SECOND, THOUGH THE RECALL HAS BEEN ON MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ONLY, THE PARKING BREAK ON THE 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4 R/T IS FAULTY, AND THOUGH THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING IT IS IN USE, THE PARKING BREAK DOES NOT ENGAGE. THIS HAS BEEN TRUE FROM INITIAL PURCHASE. THIS POSES A RISK WHEN PARKING ON ANY GRADE THAT WILL NEED THE USE OF A PARKING BRAKE. THIS ALSO CAUSES ISSUES IN SOME AREAS IN REGARDS TO INSPECTION, AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIR. FINALLY, WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SIGNAL WILL TRIP, CAUSING THE SIGNAL NOT TO TURN OFF BUT JUST TO KEEP SWITCHING DIRECTIONS AND MUST THEN BE TOGGLED ON AND OFF TO GET IT TO STOP. *TR
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOORS FAILED TO PROPERLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UDATED 10/26/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED DOORS WILL LOCK MANUALLY, BUT NOT ABLE TO LOCK THE REAR HATCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF AND VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT TO CAUSE THIS OCCURANCE! MY SON AND FIANC WERE JUST N A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT IN MY FIANC'S CHEVY AVALANCHE THAT CAUSED THE TRUCK TO ROLL AND OUR FRIEND, PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, TO BEN KILLED. NOW MY SPECIAL NEEDS 10YEAR OLD WON'T GET IN THIS NEW CAR BECAUSE BABY HE'S AFRAID SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IT WILL CAUSE US TO GET INTO A VEHICLE. I NEED A SOLID RESOLUTION TO THIS ASAP! I JUST FINALLY GOT HIM TO RIDE IN A VEHICLE AGAIN!
SO WHY DRIVING THIS 07 NITRO IMEDITALY YOU GET A CHIME FROM THE AIRBAG LIGHT IT VERY SCARY KNOWING THAT YOU GET IN ACCIDENT AND LOOSE YOUR LIFE THINKING AIR BAGS WONT DEPLOY DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT NEVER GOING AWAY AND WHEN IT DOES NOT LONG AND IT RIGHT BACK ONI FEEL THIS BE A RECALL ONLY BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH ANY VEHICLE OUT IN THE WORLD
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONER IS NOT WORKING IN THE DASH ALL THE LIGHT IS ON SAY IS NOT BUS
TAKATA RECALL - THE NITRO WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN THE WHITE PLASTIC STRIP CAME STICKING OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. BEFORE THE WHITE PLASTIC STRIP CAME STICKING OUT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS RUBBING OR GRINDING EVERY TIME I WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE EBS/BAS LIGHT AND THE SLIPPERY WHEN WET LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. NOW THE NITRO WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT WON'T START AND IT WILL CLICK ONE TIME ALONG WITH THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS COMING ON AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY. COULD THIS BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG?
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, CV AXEL BOOT TORE, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD
FAILURE OF DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION AT 94,000 MILES. AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALER SHOP IS SAYING $13,000 TO FIX.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOR 4 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE 2007 DODGE NITRO IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES FOR ISSUES SUCH AS; GAS TANK LOOSE, STALLING, LACK OF POWER, ESP/BAS LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING, TRANSMISSION MIS-SHIFTING, AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER KEEP SAYING THEY ARE RUNNING UPDATES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I AM FEARFUL OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME AND MY CHILDREN WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND IT MALFUNCTIONS AGAIN. *TR
IN FEBRUARY OF 2007,MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE NITRO FROM KEN GARF WEST VALLEY DODGE. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR THE MOMENT WE SAW IT, BUT IT HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE. WITHIN WEEKS OF BRINGING IT HOME WE NOTICED A HESISTATION/SURGING PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR WHENEVER WE TRAVELED AT A SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MPH. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. WE BROUGHT THE NITRO IN; THEY DID A COMPUTER FLASH UPDATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. AGAIN, WE NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER RETURNING HOME. SO, WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK IN. THEY DID THE SAME THIN(COMPUTER FLASH UPDATE) AND TOLD US WHATEVER RESIDUAL SURGING WE FELT IN THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. FOT THE THIRD TIME, WE BROUGHT IT HOME AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO WORSEN, WE BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THE DEALER.BUT THIS TIME WHILE I WAS THERE I TEST-DROVE ANOTHER NITRO OF THE EXACT KIND TO FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL. AFTER DOING THIS AND TELLING THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAD TEST-DROVE ANOTHER NITRO, THEY DECIDE WE NEEDE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR A MONTH AWAY TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GET THE PARTS IN. ONCE AGAIN WE BROUGHT THE NITRO IN, THEY KEPT IT A FEW DAYS TO CHANGE OUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WHEN WE PICKED IT UP THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. WE WERE EXCITED AND RELIEVED TO FINALLY GET THIS BEHIND US. SOON AFTER THIS, THE SURGING WAS STILL TAKING PLACE, BUT NOW AT ANY SPEED WE TRIED TO HOLD STEADY. WE CALLED AGAIN AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS NORMAL, I REMINDED THEM THAT I HAD TEST-DROVE THE EXACT CAR AND THAT IT WAS IN FACT, NOT NORMAL. YET AGAIN, THE SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENTFOR USA TO BRING THE CAR IN. THIS TIME THE HEAD MECHANIC DROVE IT WITH THE COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO IT. HE STATED THAT IT WAS GETTING WORSE, BUT THE COMPUTER WAS SHOWING NO ERRORS AND THEY COULD'NT FIX IT. *JB
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
HORN HONKS WHENEVER IT WANTS. ABS, ESP/BAS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. ABS ESP/BAS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENT BUT NOW ARE CONSISTENT. ENGINE CODE COMES AND GOES AND SAYS IT CANT COMMUNICATE WITH TIPM. OCCASIONALLY WHEN PARKING AND PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING/ RUNS ROUGH WHILE TURNING SHARPLY BUT THERE IS NO LEAK IN POWER STEERING AND IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.
MY NITRO HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON , MY TIRE SENSOR SHOWS THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR , AIRBAG LIGHT ON . VERY SCARY TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON . THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. WINDOW PANEL DON'T WORK , PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE CAR BREAK . AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER DON'T WORK . CAR TURNS OFF BY ITSELF . READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINT ONLINE ABOUT THIS CAR AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE . 2007 NITRO SHOULD BE BAND IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE .
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL I LEASED MY DODGE NITRO IN 2007 AND DECIDED TO BUY IT OUT DUE TO OVER MILEAGE ALLOWANCE. ISSUES WITH THIS CAR STARTED SLOWLY AND ESCALATED OVER TIME. MY TIRES LOST AIR CONSTANTLY. NEW TIRES DIDN'T HELP. WINTER I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN ALL TIRES ONCE A WEEK. POSSIBLY DUE TO RIMS. WHEN BACKING UP THIS VEHICLE WOULD JOLT OUT ON ITS OWN NOT GIVING ME ENOUGH TIME TO REACT TO HITTING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THE ENGINE WAS SPORADIC WITH THE WAY IT HANDLED POWER AND ADMINISTERING IT THROUGHOUT FUNCTIONS. CONSTANT LEAKING OF FLUIDS. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH POWER LOSS WAS GETTING ONTO HIGHWAY, SPED UP LOSING POWER AND LUCKILY ABLE TO REACH THE BREAK DOWN LANE SAFELY.AFTER SEVERAL TIMES THE DEALER TOOK IT IN AND SAID THEY FIXED IT. THEN TRUCK STARTED TO OVER HEAT AND ANTI FREEZE WOULD NOT STAY IN ENGINE AND OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULD JUMP TO HOT,LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER ANYWHERE I COULD. AFTER 5 TIMES OR MORE HERB CHAMBERS COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY KEPT MY TRUCK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS FIXING MY HEAD GASKET , WATER PUMP AND 5 OTHER PARTS, THEY TOLD ME I WAS ALL SET TO GO. I DROVE OFF LOT 10 MINUTES UP THE HIGHWAY TO HAVE IT OVER HEAT LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AGAIN WITHOUT POWER BACK IT GOES TO REPLACE THE HEATING CORE ELEMENT. SIX MONTHS LATER I LOSE POWER AROUND A ROTARY, ON HIGHWAY AND IN A FEW PARKING LOTS.I DECIDE TO INVESTIGATE MY OPTIONS TO DISCOVER THERE IS A RECALL AND PURSUE THE DEALER ABOUT HOW UNSAFE THIS VEHICLE IS AND NO ONE EVER TOLD ME IT HAD A RECALL AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE GOING ANY FURTHER. I WAS TOLD TO SETTLE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND DIDN'T SEEM WORRIED SENDING ME &MY KIDS BACK INTO AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I BECAME SICK DURING THE LAST FEW YRS OF THIS AND AM STILL BATTLING WITH MY HEALTH. SOME OF THIS PROLONGED TIME HAS BEEN A RESULT OF NOT HAVING THE MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CAPABILITY. *TR
GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES ,ALL 4 TIRES SPLIT ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL,AT 30,000 MILES,ON A 2007 DODGE NITRO.TIRE SIZE 235/65/17. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY LOW BEAMS STOPPED WORKING, IT IS NOT THE BULBS. HIGH BEAMS WORK AND SO DO THE FOG LIGHTS, JUST NOT THE LOW BEAMS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT.
THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WONT TURN OFF AND TURN ON, AND TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHEN YOU USE THE TURN SIGNAL, OR THE WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHENEVER THIS RANDOM SITUATION OCCURS THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO NOT START. THE STARTER TURNS BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT KICK OVER. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AT 25,000 MILES AND THE DRIVERS SIDE CONTROLS FOR THE WINDOWS AND LOCKS OPERATES AT ABOUT 25% FUNCTIONALITY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
HORN HONKS WHENEVER IT WANTS. ABS, ESP/BAS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. ABS ESP/BAS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENT BUT NOW ARE CONSISTENT. ENGINE CODE COMES AND GOES AND SAYS IT CANT COMMUNICATE WITH TIPM. OCCASIONALLY WHEN PARKING AND PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING/ RUNS ROUGH WHILE TURNING SHARPLY BUT THERE IS NO LEAK IN POWER STEERING AND IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF. NO LIGHTS ON DASH OR WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. AFTER GETTING IT STOPPED AND RESTARTING IT WILL DRIVE FINE. OTHER TIMES THE REMOTE WILL NOT WORK THE LOCKS, IT WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEM SELVES AFTER YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND TRY TO START VEHICLE . YOU CAN PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT START LIGHTS ON DASH WILL GO OFF AND ON AND AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS IT WILL START. THERE ARE TIMES YOU CAN NOT PUT IN IN PARK YOU CAN SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT PRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING WORKS TO PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN IT WILL JUST GO IN PARK LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN UP ON OCCASIONS WITH NO WARNING. IT ALL WILL WORK FINE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL ACT UP AGAIN. THE HEATER DOES NOT BLOW HOT AIR ON ONE SIDE, EVERY YEAR YOU CAN FLUSH OUT HEATER HOSE AND RADIATOR AND IT WILL BLOW HOT AIR FOR A MONTH OR SO AND THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO ONLY BLOWING WARM AIR OUT ON ONE SIDE. NO CODES ARE EVER THROWN WHEN THE THINGS HAPPEN. THERE IS NEVER A WARNING AND WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP OR A MECHANIC THEY CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOWER TRACK BAR REAR IS A BOX TUBE WITH WELDED EYELET AT EACH END . THEY RUST AND BREAK AND CAN FALL DOWN TO ROAD SURFACE WHICH COULD CASE ACCIDENTS
DODGE NITRO R/T PACKAGE (SPORT SUSPENSION AND 20 INCH TIRE/RIM). POOR HIGHWAY HANDLING ON BUMPS AT BRIDGE AND ROAD JOINT IF SPEEDS ARE GREATER THAN 60MPH; YOU WILL NOTICE LOSS OF GRIP AND MAY RESULT IN ROLL-OVER OR CRASH. HANDLING IS WORST WHEN ITS SLIPPERY OR WET CONDITIONS. I SLOW DOWN ON ALL BRIDGES IN GEORGIA AND OHIO. I NOTICE THIS ISSUE WHEN DRIVE IN 2008-2009 PUTTING 7500 MI PER YEAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY ISSUES. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES HARD TO PUSH WITH LITTLE BRAKING EFFECT THEN WILL SUDDENLY LOOSEN UP AND APPLY HARD BRAKES. THE SEAT BELTS ACT UP. THE DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE BREAK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SO YOU CANNOT GET OUT FROM INSIDE. THE ENGINE REVS AND HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS BLIND SPOTS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS SOMETIMES SLOW TO START. THE WINDOW CONTROLS ARE IN A BAD LOCATION. THERE IS ONLY ONE KEY CYLINDER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH A KEY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BROUGHT TRUCK TO THE DEALER DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER (A?C) NOT COOLING OFF THE TRUCK. THEY STATED THEY TESTED AND IT WAS WORKING NORMALLY. AFTER PICKING UP THE TRUCK ON / 7/19/07 WENT HOME WITH AC ON, IT WAS 84 DEGREES OUTSIDE. PUT THE THERMOMETER IN TRUCK AND DROVE WITH WINDOWS UP AND A/C ON HIGH FOR 1 HOUR. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS STILL 84 DEGREES, BUT TEMPERATURE INSIDE TRUCK WAS 80 DEGREES. DROVE BACK TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, LEFT TRUCK RUNNING, SHOWED THEM, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL, BECAUSE THE COLD AIR AT THE VENT WAS 45 DEGREES, BUT AT THE DRIVER'S SEAT IT WAS 80 DEGREES. THIS HAS TO BE A PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .