2008 Dodge Nitro Engine 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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLS FOR NO RHYME OR REASON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I'VE ALMOST PUT IT IN THE DITCH MULTIPLE TIMES NOW. THANKFULLY ALL WHILE GOING 25-40MPH AND NOT FASTER ON THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11282820

Incident

Nov 25, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2010, IT'S HAD STRANGE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. FIRST, THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER A COUPLE OF USES, THEY NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE REMOTE, OR DOOR LOCK BUTTON. NOR WILL THEY AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THE HORN WOULD RANDOMLY HONK. THE HONKING STOPPED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. TONIGHT, THE HONKING STARTED AT RANDOM AND WOULDN'T STOP. THE KEY WASN'T IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WAS PARKED. I HAD TO REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE TO AVOID A VISIT FROM THE POLICE FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE. THE THIRD ISSUE IS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. YET ANOTHER STRANGE ISSUE. WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, THERE WILL BE S LONG START AS IF THE STARTER STAYS ENGAGED FOR TOO LONG. SOMETIMES , THE ENGINE WILL START, NOT IDLE AND JUST STOP. THE ENGINE HAS STARTED AND BARELY HAD ANY POWER AND WOULD BARELY MOVE.

NHTSA ID

11207943

Incident

May 15, 2019

Mileage

177,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MILFORD CHRYSLER (500 US-209, MILFORD, PA 18337, 1-(570) 296-2636) FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP14004 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TWO TSBS ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11153041

Incident

Sep 24, 2018

PREMATURE RUST THROUGH OF OIL PAN AND TRANS. PAN. DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. WILL LEAK AND CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE AND OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11131156

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE CAR HAS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET. ALSO, THE CAR'S HORN, WINDOW WIPERS AND LIGHTS IN SIDE HAVE JUST STARTED GOING ON FOR NO REASON WHILE LEAVING FOR SCHOOL. EVEN AFTER STOPPING CAR AND TURNING IT OFF, EVERYTHING WAS STILL GOING ON. I'VE HEARD IT'S A TIPM ISSUE WITH DODGE'S VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11090934

Incident

Apr 29, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

THERE HAVE BEEN VARIANT PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE POWER LOCKS STOP WORKING OR GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS BY THE CAR (WE CAN HEAR IT). NOW THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, EVEN JUST GOES BLACK ON THE DASH AND THE ENGINE STOPS.

NHTSA ID

11089926

Incident

Apr 23, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A VERY STRONG ODOR OF BURNING MOTOR OIL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEATER OFF AND LOWERED THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS FROM THE DOC WORK RESIDUE, BUT NEVER WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE NEWER MODELS HAD FILTERS TO PREVENT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND FILED CASE NUMBER: 31564442. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ *AS

NHTSA ID

10983667

Incident

May 4, 2017

Mileage

28,000 mi

I SEEN THAT YOU GUYS HAD A RECALL ON A DODGE NITRO 2008 I WAS WONDERING IF I CAN BRING IT IN AND YOU GUYS CAN INSPECT IT MY PHONE NUMBERS [XXX] MY FIRST NAME IS [XXX] WAS A LITTLE WORRIED WHEN I READ THIS 3 RECALLS ON IT MY ADDRESS IS [XXX] SOMETIMES WHEN YOU CRACK THE KEY AT IT WILL CUT OFF. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10854190

Incident

Mar 6, 2016

THROTTLE STICKING. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART. WILL NOT RESTART ALL THE TIME. DASH DOOR ICON INDICATES REAR DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT. SAFETY ISSUES MAY NOT HAVE A PLACE TO PULL CAR OVER WHEN THROTTLE IS STICKING.FROM 2006-2012 DODGE WAS HAD THESE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE PROBLEMS PLUS OTHERS. FROM DAY ONE WHY NO RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

10852765

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

123,648 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10808682

Incident

Dec 5, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10787762

Incident

Oct 29, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

RANDOMLY THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING! ALMOST DIED!!! ALSO HORN WILL HONK CONTINUOUSLY AND WIPES TURN ON RANDOMLY. CAR SEEMS POSESSED. SCARY AND UNSAFE, 50,000 MILES ON IT. ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. IF I HIT THE TIPM WITH MY HAND THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL UNTIL THE NEXT EPISODE.

NHTSA ID

10787383

Incident

Aug 2, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10805785

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY, THE VEHICLES HORN WILL HONK STEADILY, WIPERS AND SQUIRTERS WILL OPERATE, DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, HEAD LIGHTS WILL FLASH, AND ENGINE WILL DIE (IF IN MOTION). ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY.IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL A CAR AT HIWAY SPEEDS WHEN ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND THE MOTOR SHUTS OFF. I HAVE READ FORUMS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) IS THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE TIPM FOR MY YEAR AND THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS NO WARNING.... IT JUST HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

10780460

Incident

Oct 5, 2015

Mileage

65,985 mi

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY; ENGINE DIED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER CAME ON, DASH LIGHTS FLASHING ALL OVER THE PLACE. MANAGED TO COAST ON TO SHOULDER AND PULLED BATTERY CABLES LOOSE TO MAKE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUS STOP. WHEN IT HAD COOLED DOWN SOME, I RE-ATTACHED THE BATTERY AND IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE THEN, AND TODAY, IT WON'T START.

NHTSA ID

10778180

Incident

Aug 5, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10763451

Incident

Sep 13, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN BUT THE HORN WAS GOING NON STOP AND THE WIPERS TOO. I COULDN'T PULL OVER BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO STOP WHEN MY FIANC ATTEMPTED TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES TOTALLY. THE LAST TIME I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT, IT WAS DARK AND THE WIPERS WENT CRAZY AND MY LIGHTS WENT OUT THEN THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN, I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, THANK GOD NO CAR WAS PASSING BY. AT TIMES IT DOESN'T WANT TO START BUT THE WIPERS COME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND AFTER A FEW HRS THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTEGRATED POWER MODULE. VERY EXPENSIVE THAT I CAN'T FIX RIGHT NOW. VERY UNSAFE!

NHTSA ID

10743551

Incident

Jul 11, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

ALL OF OUR DASH WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND THEN EVENTUALLY GO OFF BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. FROM THEN ON THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START ON OCCASION. TOOK IN TO DEALER THREE TIMES, THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE MAYBE YOU JUST NEED A NEW BATTERY. FINALLY ON THE THIRD TRY WHEN WE COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM WAS BAD. SEEING AS HOW THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM FOR DODGE MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE STARTED THERE, ALSO THE PART TO REPLACE IT IS ON INDEFINITE BACK ORDER.

NHTSA ID

10721019

Incident

May 8, 2015

Mileage

79,000 mi

MY TRUCK HAS A TENDENCY TO STALL WHEN AT IDLE SPEED. HAPPENS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. I FIRST TOOK IT TO ALLEN SAMUEL'S DODGE ON 610 FREEWAY IN HOUSTON, TX. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, SUGGESTED THROTTLE BODY SERVICE WHICH WAS PERFORM. DIDN'T CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOOK IT TO GILMAN CHRYSLER ON 59 SW FREEWAY IN HOUSTON, THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE HAD FUEL INJECTOR SERVICE, SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AND FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, ALL AT THE ABOVE DEALERSHIPS. VEHICLE NOW HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES. PROBLEM STILL EXIST ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. I AM AFRAID THAT IT MAY STALL IN TRAFFIC WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR FREEWAY TRAFFIC JAM WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE 2007 DODGE NITROS WERE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I SHOWED THE DEALERS THE RECALL FORM SAFECAR BUT THEIR COMMENT WAS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALL AND SINCE THEY WERE NOT GETTING ANY CODES MY PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT. I DISAGREE, IT HAS TO BE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AS WITH THE DODGE NITRO 2007. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2008 AND AM THE ONLY OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695174

Incident

Apr 4, 2011

Mileage

35,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-459, THERE WAS A LARGE PIECE OF A 18 WHEELER TIRE GOING ACROSS THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN THE OTHER LANE SWERVED TO MISS THE TIRE WHICH KNOCKED IT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO OVER IT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I ROLLED OVER IT MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I STOPPED MY CAR AND HAD TO CALL A TOW SERVICE TO COME AND PICK MY VEHICLE UP TO BE SERVICED. I HAD A BUSTED RADIATOR, CONDENSOR, AND RADIATOR BRACKET.

NHTSA ID

10633560

Incident

Sep 3, 2014

Mileage

105,192 mi