2008 Dodge Nitro Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 5 MPH, the front drive shaft fractured, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop, and the front driver's side and passenger's side airbags erroneously deployed. The contact stated that there was no collision during the incident. The contact's son sustained a concussion and facial injuries, causing severe swelling to the face and severe headaches. No medical treatment was received, but the son remained bed ridden for several days from the injuries sustained during the air bag deployment. The cause of the failures were not determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer were notified of the failures. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V121000(Power Train, Air Bags, Structure), which the contact's son related to the failure. The failure mileage was 203,000.

NHTSA ID

11707455

Incident

May 31, 2025

Mileage

203,000 mi

ON 2/11/2021 ME AN MY MOM WAS HEAD TO DOCTOR AT 445AM AND IT WAS JUST RAINING COLD AND WE HIT A PATCH OF ICE GOING 20 MILES AND HOUR AND I LOST CONTROL AND WE WENT ROLLING 3 TIMES AND AIR. BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT RESTRIORS DIDNT RESTRICT AS WE WAS ROLLING SOME TIME IN PROCESS MY HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD AND GOT KNOCKED OUT IT WAS ON A HWY MOVING THEIR WAS NO ONE ON THE ROAD BUT US.. IT WOUNT LET ME UP LOAD MY PICTURES I HAVE BUT WILL BE GLADE TO MAIL THEM TO U WAITING ON POLICE REPORT HE PUT WRONG INFORMATION ABOUT ME ON FOR SO IT NEEDTO BE FIXED.*DT

NHTSA ID

11405233

Incident

Feb 11, 2021

Mileage

134,024 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO LOCK OR OPEN THE DOORS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 06/23/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10983584

Incident

Apr 20, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HEARD HERENDOUS SQUEALING NOISE SO LOUD COULDN'T STAY INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE MOVING. UPON EXAMINATION I DISCOVERED A HEAT SHIELD HAD FALLEN AGAINST AND WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT. I NOW KNOW THE ALUMINUM PIECE TO BE THE HEAT SHIELD FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS SHIELD IS ONE INVOLVED FOR RECALLS OF SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL TWO WHEEL DRIVE. MY DODGE NITRO 2008 IS A 4X4 MODEL NOT INCLUDED IN SAID RECALL. MY QUESTION TO THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS CHRYSLER IS ONE OF WHY NOT??? FIX MY VEHICLE SAFETY HAZARD TOO...

NHTSA ID

10723060

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE FAILED TO LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB WHILE CLOSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY FOB DOOR LOCK WAS ENGAGED AND THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN, THE LOCK LATCHED AND FAILED TO UNLATCH TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,471.

NHTSA ID

10701382

Incident

Nov 20, 2014

Mileage

94,471 mi

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE, REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE EXTERIOR. IN ADDITION, THE REAR LIFT GATE FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. DJR

NHTSA ID

10670661

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET WHERE I HAD NO STOP SIGNS OR STOP LIGHTS AND AT THE CROSS STREET, I WAS HIT (T-BONE) BY SOMEONE . THE PERSON HAD JUST BEEN AT THE STOP SIGN BUT DID NOT SEE THAT I WAS PASSING BY AS I HAD NO STOP SIGN. THEIR CAR COLLIDED WITH MINE ON THE DRIVER / LEFT PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR SHUT OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN IN ON TO MOVE IT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS JAMMED SHUT. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 30 DAYS DUE TO THE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584042

Incident

Oct 26, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V121000 (AIR BAGS , POWER TRAIN , STRUCTURE) AND THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10537765

Incident

May 8, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,325. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,359.

NHTSA ID

10515453

Incident

Jun 5, 2013

Mileage

76,325 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE AND WHEN THE BACK-UP ASSIST SYSTEM HAPHAZARDLY ALERTED THAT THERE WAS AN OBJECT BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OBJECTS OR PERSONS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE BACK-UP SENSORS WAS PUSHED INWARD AND THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE BUMPER WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE, BUMPER AND BACK UP SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10474472

Incident

Sep 8, 2012

Mileage

51,000 mi

CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO POLE. THE CAR IS TOTALED. PASSENGER AIRBAGS WENT OFF. DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT THE CAR TOOK ON, THE DRIVERS AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD, FOUR BROKEN RIBS, 2 BROKEN TOES, ONE DISLOCATED. HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED NOW FOR 6 DAYS. AND NOW GETTING TRANSFERRED TO A REHABILATION HOSPITAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466650

Incident

Jul 14, 2012

I RECENTLY FILED A CLAIM WITH DODGE DUE TO RUST DEVELOPING UNDER CLEAR COAT OF MY 2008 SILVER DODGE NITRO R/T 4X4, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. I ALSO PURCHASED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PROTECTION PACKAGE AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE, I DEVELOPED RUST ON THE REAR HATCH SO EXTENSIVE THAT IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. DURING THE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR, COLOR, MAKE AND MODEL AND ALL ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME RUST DEVELOPING ON ENTIRE CAR. THE ANTI-CORROSION PERFORATION LIMITED WARRANTY STATES ALL PANELS 3 YEARS 36,000 MILES AND OUTER PANELS 5 YEARS 100,000 MILES IN WHICH MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE BEEN DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR UNDER THE DODGE CASE NUMBER 22173077 ALONG WITH ONE OTHER PERSON WHO WAS DENIED UNDER CASE NUMBER 22212592, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS RAIL DUST FROM TRANSPORTING THE VEHICLE VIA TRAIN, AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE CLEANED THE CAR PRIOR TO HAVING THE OUTER PROTECTION BEING APPLIED. BEING THAT IT WAS ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO TAKING DELIVERY I FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. PICTURES FROM MY AND OTHER VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457863

Incident

Apr 9, 2012

Mileage

56,200 mi

THE CHROME ACCENT PIECE ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE DODGE NITRO (JUST UNDER THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER) IS A LARGE HIGHLY REFLECTIVE SURFACE AREA THAT IS LOCATED AT EYE LEVEL FOR MOST DRIVES FOLLOWING THESE VEHICLES. THE SURFACE REFLECTION FROM THIS 'MIRROR LIKE' PIECE BLINDS THE DRIVES FOLLOWING THESE VEHICLES CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOLLOWING THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS TO SHIELD MY EYES FROM THE REFLECTION WAS BLINDED TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER TO ALLOW MY EYES TIME RECOVER (THE EFFECT WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF STARRING AT A WELDING ARC). A SIMPLE DESIGN CHANGE BY THE MANUFACTURE COULD ELIMINATE THIS HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269332

Incident

May 5, 2009

COMPONENTS UNDER CAR HAS A LOT OF RUST ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263258

Incident

Jan 3, 2009