AI DamageDodge Nitro: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Dodge Nitro across 7 model years: 1,114 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 38% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 12% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 423 complaints (38% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 157 complaints (14% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 130 complaints (12% of all).
- Air bags: 105 complaints (9% of all), 24 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 102 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2007–2011named in 3 complaints
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2007–2011
- automatic, 4-speed 2007–2011
- automatic, 5-speed 2007–2011
- manual, 6-speed 2007–2008named in 6 complaints
Drive: RWD, AWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,114 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 423 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 157 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 130 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 105 | 24 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 102 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 91 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 87 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 72 | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 66 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 61 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 43 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 40 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 36 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 33 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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..
The air bags did not deploy. There were no reported injuries. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was a police report filed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 143,220.
2008 dodge nitro rt loved the car until the car would not come out of cruise control. I attempted to break which break went to the floors causing me to swerve out of a pedestrians way and wreck my vehicle info a wall.
Started to drive and suv accelerated on its own, not sure how fast it would of gotten up to, only way to slow down, step on break with both feet. I was close to home so just wanted to get home. Turned into driveway unable to stop in time drove right through garage door.
His air bags never deployed in the accident. Our life changed significantly and I went back to work after retirement to meet our responsibilities. My pictures will not upload. 20171025 ..updated 11/06/17 updated 9/12/18
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.