2008 Dodge NITRO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
393 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 319 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 195 of 393 complaints (49.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 98 | 24.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 67 | 17.0% |
| Braking behavior | 48 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 195 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 65 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 46 |
| Exterior Lighting | 38 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 37 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 27 |
| Power Train | 25 |
Electrical System: 195; Fuel System, Gasoline: 65; Fuel/Propulsion System: 46; Exterior Lighting: 38; Visibility/Wiper: 37; Engine: 29; Service Brakes: 27; Power Train: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 63 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 64 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 68 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 76 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 63; 50,000 to 74,999: 64; 75,000 to 99,999: 68; 100,000 to 149,999: 76; 150,000 and above: 25
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (76). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 33 |
| 2012 | 45 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 49 |
| 2015 | 59 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 6; 2010: 24; 2011: 33; 2012: 45; 2013: 38; 2014: 49; 2015: 59; 2016: 25; 2017: 21; 2018: 27; 2019: 27; 2020: 11; 2021: 7; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 98 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 67 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10285157 · 2009-09-24 (September 24, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. HE STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN-SHIFT AND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RESUME NORMAL OPERATION WHEN THE BATTERY WAS ADJUSTED OR RECONNECTED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,068.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,068 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10331418 · 2010-05-20 (May 20, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT THE FAILED RECURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341269 · 2010-07-02 (July 2, 2010)
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A 2008 DODGE NITRO RT. WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS, SEVERAL OUNCES OF FUEL WILL SPRAY OUT IF THE GAS TANK INLET AND ON TO THE GROUND. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE SPOUT CLICKS TO END THE FUEL FLOW WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I LEAVE THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION SO THAT I CAN MONITOR THE FUEL AS IT BECOMES FULL. THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. I DO THIS SO I CAN STOP THE FUEL FLOW BEFORE IT SPRAYS OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AT DIFFERENT STATIONS AND IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY/FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ACCOUN…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359016 · 2010-10-04 (October 4, 2010)
CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE PAST 4 TIMES I HAVE FILLED IT WITH GAS, THE GAS COMES BACK SPEWING OUT OF THE FILLER NOZZLE IN THE CAR. IT NEVER SIGNALS THE PUMP TO SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED AT 4 DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY. 2 OF THE TIMES GAS GOT ON MY AND MY CLOTHES. ALL 4 TIMES MY CAR IS COVERED WITH GAS AS WELL AS THE GROUND. AFTER THAT I REALIZE IT IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER ON FRIDAY 10/1/2010 AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE EXACT WORDS THAT CAME OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS W…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226343 · 2008-04-30 (April 30, 2008)
CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY AND NO LAWYER WANTS TO FIGHT CHRYSLER. I AM NOT PUTTING MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY WITH THAT CAR. ON 2/18/08 I LEASED A 2008 DODGE NITRO AT CRESTWOOD DODGE. ON 3/31/08 MY WIFE ROUTINELY STARTED THE NITRO, PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE (AND NOT THE GAS) AND ENGAGED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE. WITHIN A SPLIT SECOND, THE CAR MADE AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR BURSTED BACKWARD TAKING OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR GATE AND A PORTION OF THE FENCE ADJACENT TO THE GATE. THIS TOOK HER BY SURPRISE. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261593 · 2009-03-11 (March 11, 2009)
I BOUGHT MY DODGE NITRO BACK IN JAN OF 09, EVERY SINCE I'VE BEEN BRINGING IT BACK FOR A LOUD ENGINE WHICH KNOCKS WHEN GOING UP HILL, WIND NOISE SEEMS TO BE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER FRONT CABIN, (DRIVEN OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MODEL, LITTLE OR NO NOISE) SALES AT RIVERSIDE DODGE IN CALIFORNIA WAS A DRAGGING HORROR, THEY HELD MY KEYS HOSTAGE UNTIL THEY COULD MAKE A DEAL, I'VE TAKEN IT BACK AND HAD A SERVICE PERSON TELL ME MY VEHICLE IS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AND THAT'S WHY I HEAR NOISE WHEN I TURN, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY COMPUTER HAS TO CATCH UP WITH THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10300126 · 2010-01-18 (January 18, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 NITRO ON THE FREEWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - SOLID, NOT FLASHING. I MADE A COMMENT TO MY WIFE ABOUT TAKING IT IN THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, THE CAR STALLED AND I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER GOT OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BY THE TIME TRAFFIC CLEARED ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR BECAME FULLY ENGULFED WITHIN MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THE CAR WAS A TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362925 · 2010-10-29 (October 29, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING IT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT BUT IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE ALTERNATE KEY FOB AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BATTERY AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,605. THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208735 · 2007-11-12 (November 12, 2007)
STEERING WHEEL IS SQUEAKING, NEEDS POWER STEERING FLUID OR ADJUSTMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10436573 · 2011-11-21 (November 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE AND THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHICH CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO INVOLUNTARILY TURN ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436573 at NHTSA ↗