2010 Dodge Nitro Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine cranked, but the vehicle failed to start, and it became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the failure might be related to the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.

NHTSA ID

11710732

Incident

Jan 13, 2026

Mileage

163,000 mi

Passengers front seat head rest deployed on its own. The air back feature of my head rest deployed and it broke in the process. It is available for inspection. It happened when I was cleaning my car. So thank goodness not when I am driving. I was actually cleaning my car to trade it in for a dodge durango but after reading some articles that this is considered normal wear and tear also that dodge won't cover the cost for the repair and don't consider this a recall. I am highly reconsidering staying with dodge now. Specially the outcome of this. It hasn't been inspected yet. No warning signs.

NHTSA ID

11687446

Incident

Sep 5, 2025

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from being stationary, the rear driveshaft suddenly detached from the rear of the vehicle and dragged on the ground. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11631567

Incident

Dec 16, 2024

Mileage

160,000 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V396000 (Air Bags, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part may not be available, and the contact was informed that she would receive a call back to schedule an appointment but had not yet received a callback. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11549536

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

Mileage

145,000 mi

One day the airbag light started cutting on and off and then the horn started blowing randomly without being touched or even without even being in the vehicle with the car turned off. Took it to a mechanic and they have no clue what’s wrong.

NHTSA ID

11472195

Incident

Jan 26, 2022

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn was inoperable while needed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with rear shocks and struts, air compressor, condenser, HVAC system, and electrical system failure. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, engine coils, air compressor, and condenser. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they could not assist since the vehicle was purchased from a Chevrolet dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11444817

Incident

Jul 30, 2021

Mileage

65,000 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the rear driver's side door would not unlock to open. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

NHTSA ID

11443783

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

47,000 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the spring inside the parking brake had become defective causing the parking brake to not operate as needed. The dealer had been notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11440012

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

2010 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT SEAT ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL HAD 3 SMALL HOLES WHERE THE EMBLEM SHOULD BE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN A FIX WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11427983

Incident

Aug 6, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V396000 (AIR BAGS, STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING A ROUTINE CHECK AT NAPLETON'S MID RIVERS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (44951 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY, SAINT PETERS, MO 63376, (636) 242-1471) WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, THE DAB (DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING) WAS NO LONGER PRESENT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11397884

Incident

Feb 3, 2020

Mileage

35,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY HEADREST MALFUNCTIONED AND UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A STOPLIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11350999

Incident

Jun 16, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

I GOT MY DODGE NITRO 4 MONTHS AGO FIRST MONTH I NOTICED MY ENGINE WAS STARLING AND I KNOW IS I HAD ELECTRIC ISSUES I TOLD MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IF THE CAR STILL RUNNING IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT SOME DAYS MY WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL CUT ON BY ITSELF SOME DAYS MY BLINKER DON'T WORK I HAVE 6 MONTH WARRANTY . SO I WAS ON MY WAY GOING HOME COMING OFF THE FREEWAY STOP AT THE RED LIGHT THE LIGHT HIT GREEN I PRESS THE GAS MY WHEELS LOCK UP MY BRAKE LOCK UP AND THE CAR KEEP GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC MY CAR IS GOING INTO THE WRONG LANE I HAVE PICTURES OF THAT MAKING. HARD FOR ME TO TURN MY WHEEL NOW MY CAR BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A MONTH STILL PAYING PAYMENTS

NHTSA ID

11344272

Incident

Jul 24, 2020

THE IGNITION SWITCH OR W.I.N. HAS STOPPED WORKING , THROUGH RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MODEL YEAR TRUCKS. UNSAFE AS IGNITION MAY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY MINE HAS NOT FAILED IN THAT ASPECT, BUT, HAS FAILED ENTIRELY, I SHUT ENGINE OFF, WENT TO RESTART, AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO START VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11319319

Incident

Mar 23, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 20-30 MPH. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING SOUND THEN MY DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE LIGHTS STARTING WITH THE BATTERY AND THEN ALL OF THEM. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. THEY TRIED CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. IT STILL WON'T TURN ON. IT IS NOW AT A DEALERSHIP AND CURRENTLY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

11257156

Incident

Sep 19, 2019

Mileage

147,500 mi

KEY SWITCHES GOING BAD AND CANT GET KEYS OUT 1000S OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS FAULTY DESIGN OR EQUIPMENT

NHTSA ID

11222468

Incident

Jun 25, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

TIPM FLASHING , WIPERS DO NOT WORK, ABS LIGHT ON- SPEED WILL NOT GO OVER 40 AND TAKES A WHILE TO REACH SPEED. ACTS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY

NHTSA ID

11219604

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

127,400 mi

TIPM ISSUES

NHTSA ID

11217420

Incident

Jun 15, 2017

Mileage

122,000 mi

AIRBAG-DASH LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND SHUTTING OFF. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SOME ISSUE. ISSUE STARTED WHEN GOING OVER A STREET HUMP.

NHTSA ID

11208917

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER LOCKING MY CAR AND LEAVING IT I COME BACK TO FIND IT UNLOCKED AND THE WINDOWS DOWN CONSTANTLY. NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS WONT WORK ON THE SIDES BUT THE TOP BRAKE LIGHT DOES. BULBS AND FUSES ARE FINE. ALL THREE LIGHTS ARE CONNECTED BY WIRE SO THEY ALL SHOULD BE ON OR OFF TOGETHER. TODAY MY BATTERY JUST UP AND DIED. JUST WONDERED IF ITS ALL RELATED. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS.IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE ANYTIME OVERNIGHT OR IN THE POURING RAIN WHEN IM OUT AND ABOUT. AFTER THE CAR IS PARKED AND LOCKED. THE TWO SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT ALL THE TIME THE TOP ONE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE JUST HAPPENED 5/2019 THE WINDOW ISSUE HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS 2015

NHTSA ID

11206250

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

HEADLIGHTS FLASH BUT DONT COME ON SOMETIMES ! AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT

NHTSA ID

11176025

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE ROTORS. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH EXTRA FORCE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TRI-COUNTY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM (1290 HEBRON RD, HEATH, OH 43056, (740) 522-3153) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ID

11172069

Incident

Aug 12, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE MOVING FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER. OIL IN ENGINE, DIDN'T KNOW WHY ENGINE LOCKED UP. REPLACED TRANSMISSION, STARTER AND A/C CONDENSER LEAKED.

NHTSA ID

11171350

Incident

Dec 27, 2018

Mileage

178,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. MY 2010 DODGE NITRO MAKES A VERY LOUD, ALMOST DIESEL TRUCK LIKE SOUND, WHENEVER MY CAR IS RUNNING. IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A VACUUM CLEANER INSIDE THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL, SEATS, PEDALS, BODY, AND GEAR SHIFT OF THE DODGE SHAKE CONSTANTLY. THIS HAPPENS SITTING STILL AND IN MOTION. THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING, THEN THE CAR TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON FOR AT LEAST FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS STARTING TO NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11160556

Incident

Aug 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN PROMPTED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ASHEBORO DODGE (1709 EAST DIXIE DR, ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27203, (336-625-6123) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 210,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11114133

Incident

Jul 13, 2018

Mileage

210,000 mi

CARDAN WAS SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS YEAR

NHTSA ID

11104624

Incident

Feb 2, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi