U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Dodge NITRO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

122 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

61,750 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 122 complaints (43.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	27	22.1%
Braking behavior	12	9.8%
Engine operation	10	8.2%
Fuel system concerns	9	7.4%
Transmission and shifting	7	5.7%
Steering behavior	7	5.7%

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.

Electrical System

Air Bags

Engine

Power Train

Fuel/Propulsion System

Visibility/Wiper

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System: 53; Air Bags: 23; Engine: 16; Power Train: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Visibility/Wiper: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Unknown Or Other: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 5

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 30 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.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2026

2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 17; 2015: 14; 2016: 16; 2017: 10; 2018: 16; 2019: 12; 2020: 5; 2021: 7; 2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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 10438116 · 2011-12-02 (December 2, 2011)

USING MY KEYLESS ENTRY FOB, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON SO I KNEW THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB MIGHT BE GOING OUT, SO I WENT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER KEY FOB BATTERY. WITH THE NEW BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB, I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I USED THE KEY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR DOOR, AND THE ALARM WENT OFF. I TRIED TO DEACTIVATE THE ALARM WITH THE KEY FOB AND BY INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO START …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438116 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10547415 · 2013-10-09 (October 9, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V282000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,449 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10669641 · 2015-01-02 (January 2, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23. UPDATED 03/10/15*LJ UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS

Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669641 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10809755 · 2015-12-11 (December 11, 2015)

DRIVING ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BRAKE HARD AS ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT ME OFF. AS SOON AS I DID (BRAKE) MY SUV SHUT OFF...ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASH BOARD. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE FLASHERS ON AND HOPED I DIDN'T GET REAR-ENDED. I TRIED 3X TO RESTART MY 2011 DODGE NITRO- IT FINALLY STARTED. I WAS NEAR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I PULLED IN, TOLD THEM WHAT JUST HAPPENED. THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND REPORTED 'NO ERRORS'. IT WAS A NEAR MISS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, AND I AM WORRIED IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I DON'T F…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10616371 · 2014-07-25 (July 25, 2014)

ENGINE STALLS WHILE PARKED OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. IT DOES THE SAME WHILE TAKING A CURVE AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE CURVE ENDED. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GASOLINE COMING FROM THE TANK AND THE ENGINE STARVES. IT DOES IT WHEN THE ENGINE HAS FINISHED WARMING AND ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS AS SOON AS 1 WEEK AFTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616371 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10618691 · 2014-08-04 (August 4, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618691 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10558371 · 2014-01-03 (January 3, 2014)

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK/ VALVE IN THIS MODEL DODGE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I GO TO FUEL UP I HAVE TO GUESS THE NUMBER OF GALLONS IT WILL TAKE BEFORE I STOP PUMPING IN FUEL, OTHERWISE FUEL WILL SPILL OUT ALL OVER THE SIDE AND THE GROUND. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FUEL UP, NO MATTER THE GAS STATION OR TYPE OF PUMP OR FUEL GRADE. SPOKE TO CHRYSLER LLC. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ON THE RECALL FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE BUT IT WAS FOR THE 2007 - 2008 MODELS. WHY IS IT NOT ON THE RECALL!???!!! I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE OUT OF …

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558371 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10564616 · 2014-02-17 (February 17, 2014)

WHEN FILLING UP AT ANY FUEL STATION, THE GAS PUMP WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF AND RAW FUEL WILL SPILL DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON MANY CHRYSLER SUV'S INCLUDING THE JEEP LIBERTY. IT RELATES TO A FAULTY VALVE INSIDE THE GAS TANK TO PREVENT FUEL FROM SPILLING OUT IN A ROLLOVER SITUATION. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLED AT EVERY FILL UP IS ROUGHLY 1/4 TO 1/2 GALLON. IF STANDING NEXT TO THE FILLER OPENING THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT GAS WILL SPILL ON THE PERSON FIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564616 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447111 · 2012-02-08 (February 8, 2012)

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR ,PRESS ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN THERE IS A LOUD BANG AND VEHICLES STARTS TO MOVE SLOWLY. ENGINE REVS AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN. VEHICLES BUCKS AND NO ACCELERATION. UNSAFE. TAKEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. THEY ADJUSTED THE COMPUTER ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. BACK IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10464034 · 2012-07-03 (July 3, 2012)

WE PURCHASED OUR DODGE NITRO 6/11/2011, NOTICED SHIFTING PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY BUT WAS TOLDED BY DEALER IS WAS JUST STIFF FROM BEING NEW. AS TIME GOES ON THE WARMER THE TRANSMISSION GETS THE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS GETS WORSE, MOSTLY ON CRUISE CONTROL. SOME TIMES WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE ON, IT DOWN SHIFTS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE BOTTOM IS FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. TOOK BACK TO DEALER 4 TIMES ON THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD BY TRANSMISSION SPEC. TECH. AT DEALERS THAT CHRYSLER PUT A 4 LITER TRANSMISSION IN A 6 LITER CAR, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 278 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464034 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10451191 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH AND ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED YET NO OTHER AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451191 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10573303 · 2014-03-18 (March 18, 2014)

MID NOV. 7:45AM WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A LOW ROAR LIKE THE NITRO WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR BUT IT WASN'T, SOUND CONTINUED AND THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT, WAITED THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND WENT TO WORK. AT 2:30 THE DASH THERMOMETER SAID ?120 DEGREES? I HAVE THE TEMPERATURE ON MY PHONE SO I KNOW IT WAS 80. I CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT AND NOT TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE A BIG FUSS AND I NEEDED MY CAR. WED, 3-12-14 7:50AM I WAS DRIVING THE 2011 DODGE NITRO TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573303 at NHTSA ↗