10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,762 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 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Dodge Nitro:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Dodge Nitro Owner Comments

problem #8

Jun 122018

Nitro

  • 112,000 miles

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

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. I still have vehicle and never made a claim on my I stance because Dodge needs to take the car back I have dash cam footage of the whole situation which I will not turn over unless this goes to court. So Dodge you got a lawsuit coming your way.

- North Ridgeville, OH, USA

problem #7

Aug 022016

Nitro

  • 55,000 miles
It constantly honks horn, flashes lights and locks and unlocks unattended with or without keys in ignition.its so bad runs battery down. Noticed it's tried to stall while driving going around curves or turns. It's been diagnosed as the tipm and warranty won't cover it. I've disconnected the battery due to annoying others as well plus running battery down.this is getting to be a bigger problem.more and more issues.it's definitely a safety issue and needs to be fixed by Chrysler!

- Madisonville, KY, USA

problem #6

Jan 052018

Nitro

  • 154,359 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 35 mph. Bay Dodge in panama city, Florida 32401 was made aware of the failure and stated that the service center was closed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,359.

- Southport, FL, USA

problem #5

May 032010

Nitro

  • 15,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. While driving at various speeds, a loud whining sound was present near the front end of the vehicle. The front end became extremely unstable and difficult to control. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the front wheel bearings. The contact indicated that the failure recurred approximately three years later. In addition, while driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating when the accelerator pedal was depressed and then suddenly accelerated at an extremely high rate of speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be diagnosed. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 15,000.

- Cuming, GA, USA

problem #4

Sep 072013

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 86,300 miles
Wife was driving home from a dinner date with a friend, we were on the phone with each other when the horn started going crazy, wipers rear and front started running on their own spitting out washer fluid, door locks going crazy, both horns going off constantly, and accelerator not working properly. She pulled over and shut the vehicle off. Everything continued to happen she removed the key from ignition and same result. I told her to try door locks on keychain no change, tried panic alarm on key chain and still nothing. She did not have tools to disconnect battery. After a few minutes it stopped. She made it home safely without any injuries except sever panic and anxiety. When this happened first thing I did was get online and look for issues. Apparently this is a commonly known issue by Chrysler. The tipm is bad. Many people reported having same issue. Chrysler wants to rip you off cause its a dealer only item. Known issue and yet no recall was ever issued. I contacted Chrysler they said per the VIN they could not authorize any repairs except for the current recall that is active. This could have led to a serious accident. Especially when you hit the brakes and not slow down at all and have to use emergency brake. So now we are stuck with a vehicle non op and don't have $1000 to fix a known issue by Chrysler. I will never buy another Chrysler product. I will be in touch with them again to seek repairs.

- Ozark, MO, USA

problem #3

Aug 122013

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 48,000 miles
Pulling into my driveway when engine suddenly started running at high rate of speed and car started speeding. Managed to miss house and enterer garage with engine going at top speed. At beginning of driveway when car started speeding, I hit the breaks but it seemed to have no effect. When I realized car was out of control I pushed the brakes with both feet with very little effect. Two of the four brakes finally took hold three quarters of the way in the garage and I skidded to a halt hitting several cabinets and shelves. The only clue I have as to why this happened is that the cruise control has been having a problem for the last few months. It sometimes worked and sometimes would not turn on and sometimes I could not shut is off......

- Pompey, NY, USA

problem #2

Nov 232010

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 49,437 miles
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.

- Brookfield, CT, USA

problem #1

Sep 122010

Nitro

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while driving 2 mph in reverse, the vehicle accelerated on its own by just tapping on the accelerator pedal. The contact crashed into a pedestrian and the contact sustained broken bones. There were damages to the driver's rear side wheel well. The vehicle was at the collision center for diagnostic testing and will be repaired. The manufacturer was not informed about the failure. The failure and the current mileages were 30000.

- Niagra Falls , NY, USA

Not what you are looking for?