Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Dodge Nitro problems

Owners filed 393 complaints about the 2008 Dodge Nitro with NHTSA between Nov 2007 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (198).

Complaints
393
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system198
  2. Fuel system, gasoline66
  3. Fuel/propulsion system46
  4. Exterior lighting38
  5. Visibility/wiper37
  6. Engine29
  7. Service brakes27
  8. Power train26
  9. Air bags23
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)18
  11. Structure14
  12. Steering12
  13. Engine and engine cooling9
  14. Vehicle speed control8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20071
20084
20096
201024
201133
201245
201338
201449
201559
201625
201721
201827
201927
202011
20217
20225
20234
20242
20253
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

198 reports8 fires
“An intermittent electrical failure is affecting multiple vehicle systems. The vehicle has unexpectedly stalled while driving on the interstate, leaving it without power in moving traffic. It has also experienced repeated no-start conditions, transmission entering limp mode, the engine continuing to run after the key was removed, and random operation of the horn, windshield wipers, washer pumps, and other electrical components while driving and while parked. These failures occur without warning and create a serious risk of a crash, injury, or death due to sudden loss of propulsion in interstate traffic and unpredictable vehicle behavior. The problem has become progressively more frequent despite previous repairs. The vehicle is available for inspection. I fear for my life.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11750472

Fuel system, gasoline

66 reports
“The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the fuel was spilling from the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2021Fuel system, gasolineODI 11424631

Fuel/propulsion system

46 reports
“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"”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2020Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11376048

Exterior lighting

38 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11406178

Visibility/wiper

37 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the horn and the rear and front windshield wipers were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that her neighbor disconnected and reconnected the battery and the failure was corrected. The vehicle was not diagnosed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 168,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2022Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11490884

Engine

29 reports2 crashes1 fire
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2023Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11550908
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.