2008 Dodge Nitro Owner Complaints

An intermittent electrical failure is affecting multiple vehicle systems. The vehicle has unexpectedly stalled while driving on the interstate, leaving it without power in moving traffic. It has also experienced repeated no-start conditions, transmission entering limp mode, the engine continuing to run after the key was removed, and random operation of the horn, windshield wipers, washer pumps, and other electrical components while driving and while parked. These failures occur without warning and create a serious risk of a crash, injury, or death due to sudden loss of propulsion in interstate traffic and unpredictable vehicle behavior. The problem has become progressively more frequent despite previous repairs. The vehicle is available for inspection. I fear for my life.

NHTSA ID

11750472

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

Car shut off while driving, prior have had issues. Have replaces TIPM module, ignition, grounding, etc

NHTSA ID

11720588

Incident

Sep 18, 2024

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

TIPM system and/or electrical system failure. Right turn signal intermittently works when it wants to. Door locks from the inside at random or will not lock at all when using the master lock button. Now car will not start or turn over at all. Zero sound comes from he vehicle while turning the key. Commonly known problem with other Dodge Nitros and nothing being done about it. A recall needs to happen or at the very least acknowledgement from Dodge.

NHTSA ID

11684228

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

I had just entered Gene Snyder Expressway going west when my throttle light started flashing and I lost gas pressure and it started going down fast and then it shut off and right in the middle of rush-hour traffic and it’s 65 mph on the expressway and People as usual go around 80 mph and I just entered and almost got slammed in the rear but luckily I got off the highway in time. I still have not been able to turn my truck over at all. It is in the throttle electrical system, which is currently being checked out as we speak but it’s spit out two codes. One was PO633 and one was P2 112.

NHTSA ID

11668376

Incident

Jun 13, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11582661

Incident

Apr 5, 2024

TIPM connectors melted. Ground wires melted.

NHTSA ID

11573484

Incident

Dec 16, 2023

The vehicle throws the abs, esp,break and traction control lights and then while driving completely at random then turns off WHILE DRIVING!!!! which can cause an accident (I and my daughter are lucky to be alive) this is not ok the vehicle drives fine then at random throws those lights and shuts off after restarting it the check engine light comes on and says the transmission shift solenoid b is malfunction and the vehicle wouldn't shift properly. Luckily I had my code reader I. The car with me I cleared the code and now the car drives fine until this happens again I'm scared to drive it this is dangerous their's no warning. I drive on the highway everyday their's no warning it happens at random 2 times I've been lucky. No codes came up driving after clearing it and the car drives fine now but it's happened 2 times while driving this is extremely dangerous and I don't know what to do because with the codes gone the issues are gone but they randomly all the lights mentioned above come on and then the car shuts off with no warning then when you restart it it throws a different code for a different problem the first time was a low voltage code I cleared it and even Tho my battery tested good I replaced it and two days later the same issue and a different code

NHTSA ID

11550908

Incident

Oct 19, 2023

Power steering locks up, power steering fluid not helping. Looks like oil mixed in with the coolant. Car smoking and overheating

NHTSA ID

11535132

Incident

Jul 28, 2023

2008 Dodge nitro in a collision going between 35 and 45 miles per hour had a major rear end accident. Police paramedics and fire came on scene. The air bags never deployed. This vehicle was taken for the air bags emblem recall in 2022. The vehicle should have air bags that deploy.

NHTSA ID

11530049

Incident

Jul 2, 2023

Was driving tipm caught fire Now insurance telling me moisture and corrosion

NHTSA ID

11528798

Incident

Jun 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the horn and the rear and front windshield wipers were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that her neighbor disconnected and reconnected the battery and the failure was corrected. The vehicle was not diagnosed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 168,000.

NHTSA ID

11490884

Incident

Oct 22, 2022

Mileage

168,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle the horn inadvertently started blowing and windshield wipers activated independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with an unknown electrical wiring failure. The dealer replaced the battery cables; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.

NHTSA ID

11470450

Incident

Oct 15, 2021

Mileage

57,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the windows, lights, and radio would independently turn off, or on. The contact stated that occasionally while driving, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast off the road safely. The contact stated that she then got out the vehicle to look under the hood to tap the TIPM box, which allowed her to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that she had contacted the dealer to schedule an appointment. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was 85,648.

NHTSA ID

11458870

Incident

Mar 28, 2020

Mileage

85,648 mi

I have received multiple recall notices (recall W09/NHTSA 20V-396) since the recall was issued on my vehicle 20 months ago however I have been unable to get the recall completed because Dodge will not provide the parts needed to complete the repair. The notices all say that the part is available yet when my dealership tries to get the part, they are told it is out of stock with no eta as to when it will be available. This is NOT a timely manner and Dodge needs to provide the part now.

NHTSA ID

11455251

Incident

Jul 7, 2020

Gas keeps overflowing every time I pump gas into no matter what pump or gas station I am using.

NHTSA ID

11453043

Incident

Feb 8, 2020

The TIPM in these vehicles are faulty and nothing is being done about it by Dodge. There are hundreds of complains across several forums and every time Dodge is contacted about the issue they use the no recall excuse. I have a Nitro myself and it has multiple electrical issues for no reason other than poor manufacturing. The TIPM is the issue and it's not just my Nitro having this problem. My vehicle has accelerated without my assistance, it's had braking issues when there should be no issue. Components that need my action to work have activated on their own, such as... horn, wiper, wiper fluid, accelerator, etc... The wiring in these vehicles are faulty and it needs to be fixed by the manufacturer at their expense. It's time they step up a make it right by the consumer.

NHTSA ID

11426121

Incident

Jul 20, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the fuel was spilling from the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11424631

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

IT STARTED WITH ALL DASH LIGHTS COMING ON SAYING IT HAD ISSUES AND THEN JUST STOPPED DEAD IN ROAD. I HAD TPIM PUT IN, THEN ALTERNATOR , AND THEN NEW BATTERY. WAS FINE AND THEN HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED COMING ON . NEXT, IT STARTING WITH HORN, AND EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN COMING ON AND NOT STOPPING. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY THOUGHT THEY FOUND IT, AND DROVE FOR A DAY AND AS SOON AS I TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS IT STALLED. IN MOTION ON A STREET DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11406178

Incident

Apr 2, 2021

Mileage

152,458 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

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.

NHTSA ID

11394940

Incident

Feb 6, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED, THE ALARM, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND HORN ENGAGED. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER CAROLINA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (1001 HALSTEAD BLVD, ELIZABETH CITY, NC 27909, (252) 391-9609) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,668.

NHTSA ID

11387858

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

147,668 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD OVERFLOW WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE IN 2009. THE CONTACT RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARSON DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (3059 S CARSON ST, CARSON CITY, NV 89701) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT SHE HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE DECLINED TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

NHTSA ID

11387169

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

27,000 mi

DRIVING TO WORK AND NOTICED SMOKE. OPENED HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF FUSE BOX. CLOSED HOOD AND GRABBED PURSE AND PHONE. LADY WHO PULLED OVER BEHIND ME AND PEOPLE INSIDE OFFICE CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE ENGINE COMPLETELY INVOLVED. TOOK A BIT FOR FIRE DEPT. TO GAIN CONTROL AND EXTINGUISH. I DID RESEARCH AND SAW SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RE FUSE BOX. INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO EXAMINE 12/7/2020*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11378072

Incident

Dec 3, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

TIPM MALFUNCTIONS..VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING..STARTER CRANKED CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT TURNING ENGINE OVER. CONTINUOUSLY RAN FUEL PUMP WHICH CAUSED NEED FOR REPLACING,AND A NEW BATTERY AS WELL. AFTER REPLACING FUEL PUMP,AND BATTERY,THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN..WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE,AGAIN WILL NOT START. STARTER KEEPS RUNNING UNLESS YOU TURN THE KEY TO THE "OFF POSITION"

NHTSA ID

11376048

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

Mileage

178,000 mi