2008 Dodge Nitro Electrical Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WAS DRIVING IT AN THE WHOLE DASH LIGHTS UP RANDOM CODES NOW WON'T START

NHTSA ID

11342749

Incident

Jun 26, 2020

Mileage

63,000 mi

3 DIFFERENT TIMES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN MY NITRO DUE TO THE STEREO. THE RADIO IS NOT POWERING DOWN PROPERLY AND KEEPING THE COMMUNICATION BUS AWAKE CAUSING PARASITIC BATTERY DRAW. I HAVE A MYGIG HEAD UNIT WITH NAVIGATION AND SIRIUS SATELLITE DVD PLAYER. AT TIME THE THE NITRO WILL LOCK ME IN OR OUT DUE TO THE STEREO NOT POWERING OFF PROPERLY DUE TO THIS ISSUE YOU ALSO CAN NOT GET SATELLITE SERVICE TO WORK. DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE AS WE DID NOT ASK FOR THE ISSUE. ALSO WHEN FILLING UP WITH FUEL IT DOES NOT STOP ON IT IS OWN LIKE OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS, IT SPITS FUEL BACK OUT AT YOU AND SPILLS EVERYWHERE ON YOU THE CAR AND GROUND. THE BATTERY PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

11342675

Incident

Jun 5, 2020

Mileage

145,000 mi

TWO ISSUES. IT STALLS GOING AT SPEED ON HIGHWAY AND IT ALSO HAD THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP LIKE AN XMAS TREE WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON AND THEN THE CAR WILL NOT START. EVERYTHING HAS POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT THE TRUCK WILL NOT START AT ALL. WHEN YOU EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE TRUCK STILL ACTS LIKE THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE KEY IS IGNITION AS IT DINGS AS A WARNING. I HAVE HAD THE POWER MODULE REPLACED TWICE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324123

Incident

May 11, 2020

Mileage

168,000 mi

THE TIPM ON THIS NITRO IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. ITS STALLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT CRANKS BUT DOESN'T START. THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT THROWS UP STRANGE ERROR CODES THEN THEY JUST GO OFF. MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND CRUISE CONTROL WORKS WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. SOME ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING , BUT SOME HAPPEN WHEN STATIONARY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323857

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY NITRO BRAND NEW IN 2009 2 YEARS LATER MY RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND DOOR WAS OPEN. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE SO MY BATTERY WOULD NOT DIE. IT ALSO WOULD SHIFT OFF AND ON WHEN EVER IT FELT LIKE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FLASHED IT BUT IT ONLY MAD IT WORSE. NOW IF THE FUSE WAS IN I WOULD BE DRIVING AND I'LL OF A SUDDEN MY WHOLE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP AND MY GAUGES WOULD START GOING BACK AND FORTH OUT OF CONTROL AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON. I TOOK THE FUSE OUT IN 2010 AND STILL HAVE NOT HAD A RADIO IN MY NITRO SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11318924

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHEN I TRIED TO START THE DODGE NITRO THE DOORS LOCKED , HORN BLOWS, WIPERS AND FLUID RUN. AND NOW THE CAR WONT START AT ALL. UNHOOKED THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND HOOKED IT BACK UP, DOORS ALL LOCK WITH KEYS INSIDE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2007 NITROS FOR THE SAME REASONS. WHY WONT THEY FIX THE 2008 MODELS AS WELL. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS

NHTSA ID

11288319

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

Mileage

162,000 mi

THE DOOR LOCKS FOR THE REAR DOORS DO NOT WORK. THE ENGINE HEATER CORE ALSO STOPPED PROVIDING HEAT TO THE CAR. EVEN AFTER CLEANING IT OUT.

NHTSA ID

11282844

Incident

Nov 7, 2019

2008 DODGE NITRO WITH 80,000 MILES DRIVING IN TOWN AND ALL THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BLINKING AND THE ENGINE ALMOST STALLED. IT CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING IT. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC NEXT DAY BUT LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. 3 PAGES OF "LOST COMMUNICATION" CODES PRINTED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE MAIN COMPUTER BUT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON SO THEY COULDN'T FIX. THE NEXT DAY LIGHTS ALL CAME BACK ON DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR ALMOST STALLED AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT. WE DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MECHANIC. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THANKFULLY IT WAS PARKED AT THIS TIME. MECHANIC SAID IT'S THE MAIN COMPUTER MODULE AND WILL COST $1500-$2500 TO FIX. IF IT DIED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC! IT HAS UNDER 100,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY. WE DID NOT TAKE PICTURES OF ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY EVIDENCE WE HAVE. WE CAN UPLOAD A BILL ONCE WE GET IT.

NHTSA ID

11279182

Incident

Nov 6, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11278033

Incident

Sep 14, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN SOUNDS INDEPENDENTLY AND REMAINED ACTIVATED, THE RADIO TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE FASTER THAN NORMAL, AND THE SPEED DECREASED FROM 60 TO 40 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE AND JERK. IN ADDITION, THE LIFTGATE INDICATOR DISPLAYED THAT IT WAS OPEN WHEN IT REALLY WAS NOT AND THE ESP, CHECK ENGINE, AIR BAG, AND NO FUSE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. FURTHERMORE, THE DOOR LOCKS WERE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED SHERMAN DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (7601 SKOKIE BLVD, SKOKIE, IL 60077, (847) 262-3598) AND WAS INFORMED IT COULD BE THE TIPM AND WAS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11252264

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi