Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Nitro submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
ESP BAS LIGHTS (APPEARED AFTER). AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HIT A BRICK WALL EVEN THOUGH IT DIDNT, IT SLAMMED ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN CONTINUED DRIVING. AT THAT POINT, THE ESP BAS LIGHT CAME ON. HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT DODGE OR CHRYSLER BY PHONE WITH NO CHANCE AT REACHING A PERSON CAUSE OF ROBOTIC ANSWERING SERVICES.
TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR REPLACING THE EMBLEM ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE EMBLEM WAS REMOVED BUT THE REPLACEMENT COVER WAS NOT INSTALLED. ALSO THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS NOT DONE.
I BOUGHT MY NITRO BRAND NEW IN 2009. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING EXCEPT THE RADIO. IN 2017 I STARTED HAVING BRAKE ISSUES . I HAD MY BREAKS REPLACED AND CALIPERS 4 TIMES BECAUSE THE BACK BREAKS WOULD NOT RELEASE ALL THE WAY CAUSING MY BREAK PADS TO WEAR FAST. I HAD TO LET IT SIT FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN IN IT FOR FEAR THAT THEY WOULD LOCK UP COMPLETELY. I TOOK IT 1 DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY NITRO FROM AND THEM 3 OTHER MECHANICS TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT 2020 AND I JUST HAD IT IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP WENT AND FOUND OUT MY EMERGENCY BREAK SNAPPED I NEEDED NEW BREAKS AGAIN. I HATE TO GET RID OF MY NITRO BUT IT HAS BEEN NICKLE AND DIMING ME NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE BREAKS.
BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY, PROBLEMS WITH HEATER CORE
THE CAR JERKS BACK AN SHIFTS OFF RANDOMLY IN THE ROAD AN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESN'T WORK IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT
THE ABS, TRACTION, BAS ESP LIGHTS CAME ON JUST A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE A RECALL COMPLETED. YESTERDAY THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED RED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A BRIEF STOP ABRUPT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND I CONTINUED DRIVING. THE A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOCKED UP CAUSING THE GAS METER, SPEEDOMETER AND RPM TO ALL FALL TO ZERO AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. I MADE IT OFF OF THE ROAD BY COASTING THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING SO IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON BRIEFLY AND ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN WENT AWAY. IMAGINE MY DISMAY AS I HAD JUST HAD A RECALL COMPLETED AND WAS NOT INFORMED AS TO WHAT THE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN. I HONESTLY AND TRUTHFULLY BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A RECALLED PLACED ON IT FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. I COULD HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THIS VEHICLE.
I LOVE THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES. WE'VE HAD TO GET THE BRAKES WORKED ON MORE THAN 10 TIMES. WE'VE REPLACED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BRAKES. JUST WHEN YOU THINK THEY ARE FIXED, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. THIS IS A 2008 AND HAS LESS THAN 38000 MILES ON IT. WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYWHERE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL MAKE IT. I WAS GOING TO TRADE MY NITRO IN FOR A FOR SOMETHING NEW. I THINK I WILL BE LOOKING INTO A FORD SUV. VERY , VERY DISSATISFIED!!!!
AUTOMATIC 2 WHEEL DRIVE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD WHEN APPLIED. TOOK TO DODGE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS OR REPAIR. WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. RECALL ON 4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY. HAD NEW BRAKES- ROTORS- CALIBERS AND PADS INSTALLED EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL NOT WORKING.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
VEHICLE LOST POWER, BRAKES & STEERING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP, WIPERS AND PUMP RUNNING CONTINUALLY, HORN BLARING CONTINUALLY, AND FAN MOTOR RUNNING EVEN WITH KEYS OUT OF IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE WAY TO WORK AND I BARELY GOT IT OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC BEFORE COMING A STOP AGAINST A CURB! REPLACED THE TIPM & BATTERY WITHIN THE LAST 4 MONTHS AND IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE!
THE BREAKS ON MY 2008 DODGE NITRO KEEP LOCKING UP COMPLETELY WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HWY. WHICH CAUSES MY TRUCK TO COME TO A ABRUPTLY FORCEFULE STOP. ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 65 OR MORE. I CAN GET THE BRAKES TO RELEASE BY UNHOOKING MY BATTERY FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. LONG ENOUGH FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET. MY BRAKE PADS ARE SLIGHTLY WORN . MY ABS LIGHT IS ALSO ON / ON MY DASH.
WHILE DRIVING AND GETTING CLOSE TO A STOP, IF I HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING, THE BREAKS WILL FAIL AND AND LOOSE ALL PRESSURE IN PEDAL. STILL BRAKES, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO STEP HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. YOU GET PRESSURE BACK ON PEDAL SOMETIMES A FEW DAYS AFTER HAVE TO PUMP ON PEDAL TO GET PRESSURE
...SO, I LEFT MY HOUSE, GOT ABOUT A BLOCK DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HORN STARTS BLARING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED MOVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID SPRAYED, ALL OF MY INTERIOR AND WARNING LIGHTS STARTING BLINKING IN AND OUT AND MY NITRO STARTED SPUTTERING. AT THIS POINT I HAD LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES BUT I MANAGED TO PULL IT OVER TO THE CURB AND THE CAR DIES. I'M SITTING THERE THINKING TO MYSELF, "WHAT IN THE HELL?!" I WAS ALREADY STARTLED FROM THE HORN RANDOMLY BLARING, SO I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SWALLOWING MY HEART WHEN HEAVY, THICK SMOKE STARTS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ...AND IT STINKS LIKE SMOLDERING WIRING. I SNATCHED MY KEYS, POPPED THE HOOD (WHICH PROBABLY WASN'T TOO BRIGHT IN HINDSIGHT) AND RIPPED THE WIRING OFF OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. IT WAS HOT UNDER THAT HOOD AND I'M GLAD I HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I REALIZED THEN THAT THE CAR WAS NEVER GOING TO START AGAIN, NOR WOULD I WANT TO. I HAD A FRIEND TOW IT TO HIS SHOP AND HE HAD A LOOK. THE TIPM, WIRING HARNESS/WIRING AND SURROUNDING PLASTIC WAS ALL DESTROYED. HE SAID THE WIRES GOT SO HOT THAT IT WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE RE-RUN THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, A $3500 TO 4000 ESTIMATE. FORGET THAT NOISE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR WAS MOVING WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AND HAD I NOT BEEN IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH, MUCH WORSE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED.
MY NITRO IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKING UP OR SOMETIMES CHATTERING THEN LOCKING UP WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE ON SLIPPERY CITY AND HIGHWAY ROADS, ADDITIONALLY WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR IN THAT SITUATION IT ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP.
DRIVING ON A BUMPY RODE, I COME ACROSS A PIT HOLE, I HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID ANY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND WHILE DOUG SO I FEEL MY BRAKE SHAKE AND THE SUSPENSION GIVE OUT CAUSE THE BRAKES TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS IF I HAVE NO BRAKE POWER, TOOK TO SHOP THEY DID A TOTAL BREAK REPAIR OF $400, COME ANOTHER RAINY DAY BRAKES GO OUT THE SAME WAY, SHOP SAID ITS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT
THE COMPUTER MAKES THE THE TRUCK STALL,WIPERS,HORN,LOCKS AND WASHER FLUID GOES HAYWIRE AND IT DOES THIS WHILE DRIVE AND PARKED.PARK BRAKE DONT LOCK BRAKES SECURE.AIRBAG SENSERS STAYS ON.ITS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE JULY 2015 TOOK TO DODGE DEALER IN LAKE CHARLES LA.HAD COMPUTER REPLACE BUT HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN.
HORN BLOWS WILL UNOCCUPIED.DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY ITSELF IN OR OUT IF VEHICLE, VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES,BREAK LIGHT ON AND BREAKS FAILED ,HEATED SEAT EITHER BURN YOU OR WON'T WORK, A/C COMES ON BY ITSELF,GAS IS DISAPPEARING REALLY QUICK,OIL LIGHT COMES ON, STARTER STICKING, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TIPM FAILING.S SEVERAL TIMES ITS TRIED TO STALL ON ME TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND FRIDAY RAN UPON A SLOW VEHICLE IN A CURVE AND BREAK LIGHT CAME ONE AS I APPLIED BREAKS AND HAD LITTLE TO NO BREAKS.I ALMOST HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THIS .THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE HANDLED .AND ITS EVEN AFFECT THE REMOTE START AS WELL .IT WON'T RUN 30SECONDS AND IT SHUTS OFF .CAN'T LOCK DOORS KNOWING THEY'LL STAY LOCKED EITHER .BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ABOVE ALL IS THE STALLING OUT ITS ALL TRIED TO DO AND MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL ITS DUMPING INTO ENGINE GETTING INTO MY OIL RUINING MY VEHICLE AND THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE IS GONNA CAUSE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.
THE PARK BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, CAUSING UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. EVEN WHEN LEFT IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE CREEPS ON STEEPER INCLINES. WHEN TALKING TO CHRYSLER, I AM TOLD MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THERE WAS A RECALL (H28) THAT ADDRESSED THIS SITUATION ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE HAND BRAKE SLACK ADJUSTER. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES WERE INSPECTED AND PROPERLY ADJUSTED. THE HAND BRAKE LEVER RUNS OUT OF TRAVEL BEFORE THE BRAKE CABLE TIGHTENS ENOUGH TO SECURELY SET THE BRAKES.
I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE NITRO ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO. FIRST THE HEATER WENT OUT. NEXT THE DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO STARTED TO FLICKER AND DIM. NOW THE ONLY TIME THE LIGHTS TURN ON IN THE DASH AREA AND RADIO AREA, IS WHEN I TURN MY RIGHT BLINKER ON. I WAS PULLED OVER LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD MY 2 BRAKE/TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT, AND ONLY THE BRAKE LIGHT BAR ON THE LIFT GATE WAS WORKING. I REPLACED THE BULBS AND STILL NO LIGHTS. I HAVE ALL THE FUSES CHECK AND ALSO HAD THE BRAKE SWITCH CHANGED... AND NOTHING! I TOOK MY CAR TO 1 MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE. NOW, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON SO I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC. HE FOUND AN ABS BRAKE SENSOR ISSUE... BUT THAT WAS NOT CAUSING 2 OF MY 3 BRAKE LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. HE BELIEVES THE ISSUE IS WITH MY TIPM AND IT WILL COST ME A FEW HUNDRED MORE, JUST TO CONFIRM THIS WAS THE ISSUE. DODGE ALSO WANTS TO CHARGE ME A FEW HUNDRED TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND DIAGNOSIS THIS ISSUE. ITS VERY FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT THIS CAR MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF ALL THE ISSUES WITH THE TIPM AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST. I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT A LEMON. I LOVED DODGE BEFORE THIS. MY OTHER CAR IS A 2006 DODGE MAGNUM AND ITS STILL HANGING IN THEIR JUST GREAT. I REALLY HOPE THIS PART IS RECALLED ON ALL MODELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED SEVERAL TMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,883.
2008 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL REPAIR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AC AND WENT OUT, ALONG WITH THE LOW AND HIGH SWITCH MELTING SOME OF THE UNDER PANEL WHERE THE SWITCH WAS MOUNTED. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OUT THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. THE HORN WAS BLARED OUT OF CONTROL, DRAINING THE BATTERY, THE RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED UNCONTROLLABLY, THE WHEEL AND HUB FAILED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, IN ONE YEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER CLICKED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY PAD, THE DOOR LOCKS WENT HAYWIRE, IT WOULD LOCK AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE TIPM WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, A WEEK LATER, THE PROBLEMS RETURNED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON, THE HORN BLARING OUT OF CONTROL AND THE DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHENEVER ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS. ALSO, THE LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THE TIMP AND THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
I HAVE A 2008 DODGE NITRO 4X4 3.7L . MY REAR BRAKE PADS HAVE WORN ABOUT 1/8" INTO THE ROTOR. I HAD GOTTEN NEW TIRES FOR MY VEHICLE NOT TOO LONG AGO & EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN HEARING WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A CLANKING SOUND THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM EITHER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR OR FRONT TIRE AREA. IT ONLY MAKES THIS SOUND BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 5MPH TO 30MPH, THEN IT SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER DOING 40+MPH. MY BRAKES DON'T SQUEAL OR MAKE SOUNDS WHEN I PUSH THEM. ONLY WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP DOES THIS CLANKING SOUND OCCUR. I HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE ROTOR YET,BUT LOOKS FINE FROM WHAT I CAN SEE. I KNOW I'M GONNA NEED NEW BRAKE PADS SOON BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT OR WHERE THIS SOUND IS COMING FROM. *TR
I HAD 2 CONSECUTIVE INSTANCES YESTERDAY WHERE, WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF THE NOTICES CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY, MY ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THEN RELEASED, ALONG WITH MY HORN AND FRONT AND REAR WIPERS ENGAGING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF. ALSO, ONCE I PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE KEYS, THESE ISSUES CONTINUED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING DESPITE NO KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES, AND ONCE ALL OF THE ANTI THEFT FEATURES HAD STOPPED, I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR, STARTED IT, AND NO MORE THAN 40 FEET DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE REPEATED THE EARLIER ISSUE WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKING UP MOMENTARILY, THE HORN WAS BLARING, AND BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WIPERS STARTED AND WOULDN'T STOP EVEN WHEN TRYING TO USE THE WIPER CONTROL TO TURN THEM OFF. AGAIN, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO STILL BE RUNNING EVEN AFTER SHUTTING THE KEY OFF AND REMOVING IT FROM THE IGNITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V525000 (PARKING BRAKE). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE ELECTRICAL AND I AM AFRAID OF IT CAUSING A FIRE. I HAVE HAD DASH LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE BREAKS ONLY TO HAVE THE CHRYSLER DEALER TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG. THEN WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS TURNED ON THE DOME LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THEN 4 DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BREAK SYSTEM BROUGHT TO MECHANIC HE DONE AN ANALYSIS SAID I NEEDED A PART. A WEEK LATER THE LIGHTS ARE OUT SO I WENT BACK AND THIS TIME WAS TOLD AS LONG AS THE LIGHTS ARE OUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I AM NOT A MECHANIC OR SCIENTIST BUT I DON'T THINK IT TAKES A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE ELECTRICAL. THE LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES AND THIS ZAPS MY BATTERY. I HAVE A BRAND NEW BATTERY WHICH IS DEAD TODAY. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER ANALYSIS DONE???? THIS IS CRAZY! *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .