This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The Dodge Nitro has to be the most poorly made car I have ever owned. They just replaced my entire gas tank 2 weeks ago and another letter came in the mail, regarding a recall with the drive shaft. So far 2 recalls and now my car is unlocking itself and turning on its interior and exterior lights on its own. My car was parked in my driveway and keys in the house. A young man from next door came to my door to inform me that my lights were on. We locked the doors and watched the lights go off, only to find them back on an hour later and doors unlocked. Woke up the next morning to find my car dead. At first we thought it was the battery and replaced it for the 3rd time in 5 years, but the problem continues to occur. A friend of mine also has a Nitro that experienced the same problem several months ago. She had to pay $600 for them to rewire her car.
My 2008 Dodge Nitro's electrical system is operating on its own. It seems like it is possessed. On several occasions (at least 10 incidents) for the past few months the following occurs. The front & back windshield wipers start operating by themselves. They go fast & then sometimes they move in a stop & go method. The rhythm of the wipes is random but its common to see them do a partial wipe, then pause, another partial wipe, then pause and keeps repeating. Then all of a sudden it will go fast. The windshield washer sprayer shoot fluid (front & back) on its own, until the tank is empty. The horn goes off non stop. It just goes & goes & goes. The horn & the windshield wipers seem to operate as one. Hazard lights are blinking constantly. The light above the trunk door is blinking. The signal lights stay illuminated. The doors lock/unlock repeatedly. On the dashboard the H.a.S. and the slick road icon illuminate. This occurs while I'm parked or driving. It occurs whether the keys are in the ignition or not. There seems to be a relation between using the remote unlock & a incident occurring. Yet, it happens also when I unlock the door manually. Based on other customer complaints from this message board, they are being told its the tipm or total integrated power module that is causing the madness. Dealerships & Chrysler/Dodge corporate has told them the part is on back order. Basically they have got the run around and not received any help.
Upon disarming the alarm/unlocking doors the wipers, sprayers, lights, and horn went off. I unlocked the door with the key and tried to start the car to disable and it wouldn't. when I removed the key from the ignition it kept running as well. It would not shut off. With the key in the engine wouldn't shut off either, nor get out of park. We disabled the battery... nothing. Finally disabled the alternator and it stopped, only to start again when we plugged it all back in. There have been various occasions that the wipers have turned on when unlocking the doors in the past. Along with quite a few times upon starting with a turn of the key you must turn it twice for it to engage. This has been in for service and they couldn't find a problem at the dealer either time I took it in. This car is a hazard and cant imagine if it happened driving as in a previous story I saw. Unfortunately, none of this happens while still under warranty and if it does, they cant find a problem.
We have a 2008 Dodge Nitro that we had just bought in Nov 2012. After driving it a few months the radio has shorted out and keeps making all kinds of noises. I am afraid its going to cause and electrical fire.
- Grafton, WV, USA
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TL-the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that someone informed him that his alarm had went off. The contact went to turn the alarm off and noticed that the lights were not flashing. The contact stated that he went to the vehicle the next morning and noticed that the vehicle would not start. The contact brought a new battery but that did not solve the cause of failure. The contact stated that he had to have the new battery jumped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the electrical system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 87,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the lights on the instrument panel, the horn and the windshield wiper fluid activated independently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not available.
I purchased my Nitro in 2011 and since then I have had numerous incidents of the doorlocks turning off and on, alarm going off, wind shield wipers going off, lights blinking and fluid discharging, horn blowing. Etc.... numerous owners of the 2008 Nitro are having the same issue and no one from the Dodge dealership is taking responsibility for there malfunctioned parts. I think that says a lot about Dodge in itself if you are not recalling their Nitros and having them fixed before this problem causes a serious injury. I have seen the complaints that it's a tipm part that is the cause of this issue and that the Dodge dealership states that it's on back order or something to that effect my issue is this what happens if my car catches on fire due to there malfunctioned part that they aren't doing anything about. Need to know what and who to speak to that can get this problem resolved because I feel that Dodge needs to rectify this issue we owners of the 2008 Nitro are having.
At any given time all of the electronics on my 2008 Dodge Nitro will go crazy without cause. While your driving or parked, engine on or off, key in or out of the ignition the headlights, wipers, horn, windshield washer fluid, blinkers, door locks, radio interior lights will just start going on or off. This issue has been going on for about 1 year now. I've taken it to the dealership and they advised me that it was the tipm or total integrated power module. They stated that the tipm is on back order and they can not tell me when more will be available for purchase. I contact Dodge/Chrysler in detroit and they too could not give me any information on getting this repaired. I searched the internet and found that there are a lot of Nitro owners who are having the same problem and have been left without answers. If so many vehicles are effected by this issue then why hasn't there been a recall for this problem" if I cant turn to my dealer or manufacturer for help, where do I turn"
I began having problems with my 2008 Dodge Nitro in Nov 2010 (still covered by extended warranty). I was driving and the car systems went haywire, the dash lights illuminating, windshield wipers and washer fluid engaged, the headlights cutting out and the horn blaring uncontrollably. Turning the car off did not correct the problem and it eventually stopped after 3-4 minutes. This happened again on the way to work (this time the radio turned to full volume with no assist), the heat cut out and the windshield/lights/horn went nuts. I took the car in for a diagnostic and was assured they'd find the problem. The Dodge dealership ran diagnostics, pulled codes, but could not replicate the issue so told me it was "absolutely fine" to drive. I continued to deal with the 'freak outs' throughout the years, until another one happened where the car would not stop (until we disconnected the battery). I brought it to a private mechanic who pulled codes and said there was a problem, but I had to bring it to Dodge. On the way to work at approx 70 mph, I lost control of the car (it was as if I were slamming on the brakes-although they were never engaged) I am lucky the person behind me was able to swerve around me and not rear-end me. Dodge determined that the computer told my transmission to go into 'fail mode' thrusting me into 2nd gear. I paid for another diagnostic and they told me a tune-up and a cleaning of the battery coils would clear the problem. The car worked normal for a while, but then had two more incidents, another fail mode on the highway (which also included lights/wipers/horn). I am pregnant and feel very unsafe in this car. Dodge continues to maintain that there is nothing wrong with the car. I have videos of the 'freak outs' so they cannot deny it, but they choose not to help and to continue to encourage me to drive an unsafe vehicle.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 mph, the horn, windshield wipers and door locks activated independently and without warning. The contact was unable to turn any of the components off until the battery was disconnected. The vehicle had not been inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic for the failure. The contact was no longer driving the vehicle due to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The current mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact was attempting to reverse and when the back-up assist system haphazardly alerted that there was an object behind the vehicle. The contact stated that there were no objects or persons behind the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that one of the back-up sensors was pushed inward and the plastic between the bumper was melted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the exhaust pipe was rusted and fractured. The technician also stated that the exhaust pipe, bumper and back up sensor would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while at a traffic stop, the horn, lights and the windshield wiper fluid activated independently. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 80,000.
While driving the car stalled, horn started honking, lights were flashing and windshield wipers turned on and started spraying windshield wiper fluid. I was going 25 mph the first time this occurred, vehicle sat for a few hours then started back up. The 2nd and 3rd time it did the same as the first when I pressed the door unlock button on my key fob, when I hit the fusebox in behind the battery under the hood it ceased.
3 weeks of owning the vehicle the windshield wipers started to go all by themselves, gauges went to 0, A/C stopped working, horn would beep, windows and locks did not work. This would last for approximately 5 minutes as you would drive down the road. This went on for a few days before I could bring it in. Also each and every time I would fill the gas tank it would over flow. Obviously the sensor to know when the tank is full doesnt engage properly. The elestrical issue was fixed and was said it was a censor gone bad. This is now happening again. I can not get anyone to say there is an issue, I am afraid that a fire may start or I could be in an accident with my child and possibly other passengers.
My 2008 Dodge Nitro, while driving on hwy, 60-65 mph, out of nowhere the vehicle powers down. The windshield wipers spray out fluid and moves back and forward. The horn continues to make noise. My satellite radio has no signal. My driver side window button has some kind of short when trying to roll it up.this issue has been going shortly after purchasing the truck. No one seems to know what is wrong. At first Dodge chapman in vegas, they thought reprogramming the remote key. Then I paid over $600, to lithia Dodge in renton, wa because they thought it was something with the fuel tank. But no this issue continues to go. It is beginning to be a safety issue shutting down in the middle of the highway with my kids and me in the car. So I google if anyone else is having this problem and yes it appears problem has arised and it lies with the tipm. This product was recall on the 2007 Dodge Nitro. I took my truck into the dealership 7/18/12. Told them what to check, because I brought the truck there before and they couldn't find the problem. I told them to check the tipm. The service department called me today 7/20/12 and tells me yes, it is the tipm (totally integrated power module). Please help. I called Dodge customer service and they are looking into this, but states there is no recall on this issue with the year of my vehicle.
This problem has not caused an accident but it has caused the gasoline to shoot out of my gas tank and drench me in gas several times. I believe if there is a sensor in my gas tank that it is not working properly enough to indicate that the tank is full or close to full when I'm pumping gas. When I pull out the nozzle the gas shoots out all over the place ( this is after the gas has shut off at the pump). Don't know if there have been similar incidents reported but it is important enough for me to complain about it. The Dodge dealer that sold us the vehicle when new does not seem to want to take the time to investigate my complaint so I'm looking to other sources to see if this is just a random problem or one that is worth investigating further for everyone's benefit.
When unlocking car or starting car, vehicle suddenly starts blaring the horn, all the wipers start running, lights blinking, it looks like I am stealing my own vehicle! this has also happened several times while driving the vehicle!
When unlocking car or starting car, vehicle suddenly starts blaring the horn, all the wipers start running, lights blinking, it looks like I am stealing my own vehicle! this has also happened several times while driving the vehicle!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bartlesville, OK, USA