10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,458 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Dodge Nitro electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Dodge Nitro Owner Comments (Page 1 of 10)

problem #191

Dec 162023

Nitro

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

TIPM connectors melted. Ground wires melted.

- Derby, KS, USA

problem #190

Oct 192023

Nitro

  • miles
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

- Thurmont, MD, USA

problem #189

Jun 122023

Nitro

  • miles
Was driving tipm caught fire Now insurance telling me moisture and corrosion

- Swift Current , MT, USA

problem #188

Mar 282020

Nitro

  • 85,648 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #187

Jul 202021

Nitro

  • miles
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.

- Helena, MT, USA

problem #186

Apr 022021

Nitro

  • 152,458 miles
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.

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #185

Jan 222020

Nitro

  • 147,668 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Edenton, NC, USA

problem #184

Dec 032020

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
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 the consumer provided photos.

- Live Oak, FL, USA

problem #183

Nov 232020

Nitro

  • 178,000 miles
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"

- Moyock, NC, USA

problem #182

Jun 262020

Nitro

  • 63,000 miles
Was driving it an the whole dash lights up random codes now won't start

- Bedford, VA, USA

problem #181

Jun 052020

Nitro

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Colville, WA, USA

problem #180

May 112020

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 168,000 miles
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.

- Lockport, NY, USA

problem #179

Aug 012017

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
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.

- Hawkinsville, GA, USA

problem #178

Jun 012010

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
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.

- Freeland, PA, USA

problem #177

Dec 052019

Nitro

  • 162,000 miles
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

- Fallentimber, PA, USA

problem #176

Nov 072019

Nitro

  • miles
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.

- Schofield, WI, USA

problem #175

Nov 062019

Nitro

  • 80,000 miles
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.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #174

Sep 142019

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 190,000 miles
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

- Dolphin, VA, USA

problem #173

Aug 142019

Nitro

  • 97,000 miles
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.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #172

Aug 142019

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 173,543 miles
The total integrated power module has gone, car won't run, anti-theft alarm won't stop going off. The car is stationary, only way to stop alarm was to unhook battery cables. Lights flashing, windshield wipes going, windshield fluid pouring out, horn blurring, this has happened 6 time, now car won't start, but the anti-theft alarm keeps going

- Columbia, SC, USA

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