2007 Dodge Nitro Steering Problems

Ever since I bought this vehicle, I have been having issues with it registering the key, which keeps causing an automatic security alert system to shut down my vehicle the moment I start it. I've already replaced the battery to my car. I've already had locksmiths examined the issue and nobody can seem to find the problem. The issue with the car is definitely a security issue. The car shuts down automatically and goes into theft mode which prevents me from driving my vehicle. That could be a result to a software malfunction or something but it doesn't register the keys which originally sets off the security warning. Whenever the car does register the key it drives and operates just fine. It's the computer that prevents me from driving it or whatever automatic system that is related to theft mode.

NHTSA ID

11658931

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Nitro. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V396000 (Air bags, Steering) The contact stated the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact then took the vehicle back to the dealer weeks later where they partially serviced the recall but did not have all of the parts to complete the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11421681

Incident

Jun 21, 2021

BRAKES NOT BRAKING UPHILL DASH LIGHTS NOT LIGHTING WHEN HAVE ISSUES LIKE LOW FLUIDS OR OIL DRIVE TRAIN LIGHT COMES ON POWER STEERING MAKES KIND BUMP NOISES WHEN TURNING TRANSMISSION STUDDERS IN REVERSE OR SWITCHING GEARS

NHTSA ID

11400076

Incident

Oct 10, 2020

Mileage

171,000 mi

I HAVE ALREADY PUT IN PROBLEM TO THIS WEB SITE BUT NO ANSWERS SO FAR, I HAVE A 2007 DODGE NITRO SLT THAT THE AIR BAG STRIPS ARE HANGING OUT BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL AND NOW MY HORN DOES NOT BLOW, MY SPEED CONTROL IS NOT WORKING, AND THE WHITE STRIP IS INTERFERING WITH MY STEERING COULD YOU PLEASE HAVE MY CAR RECALLED FOR TAKATA AIR BAG IT WAS ON A CITY STREET WHILE MAKING A TURN.

NHTSA ID

11205543

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

WHITE PLASTIC STRIP TO AIRBAG COMING OUT FROM BEHIND STEERING, TAKATA RECALL WHITE STRIP COMING OUT BEHIND STEERING, SPEED CONTROL NOT WORKING, HORN WILL NOT BLOW, STRIP IS GETTING LONGER AND IS HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11203409

Incident

Apr 17, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND POWER GOES OUT. NO AIR, NO RADIO, ENGINE WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ID

11112837

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HEARD A SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING I FELT MY CAR JERK IN THE REAR SO I TOOK MY CAR TO AAMCO TOTAL CAR CARE THIS EVENING THE COMPANY TOLD ME MY DRIVE TRAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AND MY DIFFERENTIAL SEAL HAS LEAK THE FLUID WAS VERY LOW FROM LEAKING OUT WHICH I HAD THEM ADD FLUID SO MY REAR END DOES NOT LOCK UP AND CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT I ALSO DID MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAPPEN TO GOOGLE MY CAR YEAR MAKE AND MODEL FOR RECALLS IT SHOW A MAJOR RECALLS FOR DODGE NITRO SAFETY HAZARD FROM DRIVE TRAINS WREAKING FROM BAD DRIVE TRAIN ALSO MY FRONT WINDOW WASHER FLUID WILL NOT WORK ON MY DRIVER SIDE AND MY STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE AS WHILE AND I HAVE A ENGINE LIGHT ON AND MY WHEEL WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING

NHTSA ID

11024937

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO, AND HEATER FAILED. WHILE DRIVING, THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED PERIODICALLY ON THEIR OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA ID

10861654

Incident

Jan 10, 2016

Mileage

179,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY, WENT INTO ANOTHER LANE, AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10759428

Incident

Jul 22, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE NITRO WITH MILAGE AT 48,545. I HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS WHERE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR AND WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE MY CAR HAS TURNED OFF ON ME OUT OF NO WHERE ALSO MY STEARING WHEELS LOCKS UP ON ME, THANKFULLY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE I HAVE BEEN ON FREEWAY OR ON STREET DRIVING AT REGULAR DRIVING SPEEDS OTHERWISE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM MY ATTORNEY. ALSO WE DONT GET MUCH RAIN IN CALIFORNIA, HOWEVER DURING THE RAINY SEASON I DONT KNOW FROM WHERE BUT THERE IS WATER GETTING INTO MY CAR ON D, LEAVING PUDDLES OF WATER IN MY CAR. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT MY ALARM GOES OFF AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY BY ITSELF. ALSO I DO REGULAR OIL CHANGES AS NEEDED ON MY CAR,IN BETWEEN OIL CHNAGES I NOTICE MY OIL GOES DOWN SUBSTANTUALLY BOUT 3 TO 4 QUARTS, AND THERE IS NO LEAK IN MY CAR. THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THE VEHCILE I PURCHAED IS A LEMON.

NHTSA ID

10744505

Incident

Jul 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO THE CORRECT POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,093. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10731216

Incident

Jun 25, 2015

Mileage

11,093 mi

STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND THEN SHUT IT OFF AND THEN RESTART IT IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO WORK AGAIN

NHTSA ID

10730481

Incident

Jun 25, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

WE ENDED UP HEADED TOWARDS THE SKY AND TOOK A HARD HEAD NOSE INTO THE EARTH. WE THEN CAME UP TURNED IN THE OTHER DIRECTIONS ROCKING AND ROLLING IN A DRY SHALLOW CREEK BED IN NEVADA. WE WENT UP AGAIN AND LANDED WITH TWO FLAT TIRES, IN GEAR, GOING NO WHERE. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY! MY HUBBY HAD A HUGE LACERATION ON THE INSIDE OF HIS FOREARM. FOUND OUT LATER IN EMERGENCY THAT THE DODGE EMBLEM PROPELLED INTO HIS ARM. THE EMBLEM IS VERY CONCERNING. IT COULD HAVE KNOCKED OUT HIS EYE, ENTERED HIS HEART OR EVEN SLASHED HIS THROAT. IT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ALL DODGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605353

Incident

Aug 9, 2013

WHEN MOVING VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UNDER 5 MILES AN HOUR AND TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT YOU WILL HEAR A KNOCKING TYPE SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN LIKE IT IS HITTING SOMETHING WHILE TURNING. IT ONLY HAPPENS DURING SLOW SPEED LIKE TURNING IN A PARKING LOT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10458624

Incident

Apr 2, 2007

Mileage

900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE DODGE EMBLEM ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHOT OUTWARD AND LODGED ITSELF INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT HOW FORCEFUL THE EMBLEM WAS SHOT OFF FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10434434

Incident

Nov 5, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE IDLING, SHE NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10416672

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10415415

Incident

Jul 14, 2011

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A CHATTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND BOTH WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. BOTH DEALERS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS WELL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,149.

NHTSA ID

10228969

Incident

Feb 22, 2008

Mileage

5,149 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF TWICE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DOWN AN EXIT RAMP, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY CHRYSLER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ID

10192770

Incident

May 14, 2007

Mileage

800 mi