2008 Dodge NITRO: complaints, problems and recalls

STEERING WHEEL IS SQUEAKING, NEEDS POWER STEERING FLUID OR ADJUSTMENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208735 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232910 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND NEXT THING I KNOW MY VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS DROPPED DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL COLLIDING INTO A PARKED CAR. THE KNUCKLE HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO DROP TO THE ROAD. MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE MADE CONTACT WITH THE PARKED CARS DRIVERS REAR TIRE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234658 at NHTSA ↗

WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. DOORS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AND WINDSHIELD RESEALED, NEITHER OF THESE FIXED PROBLEM. LISTENED UNDER HOOD AND APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM HEAD GASKET/AIR INTAKE AREA. POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH HEAD GASKET BEING WRONG SIZE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 129 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249108 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

COMPONENTS UNDER CAR HAS A LOT OF RUST ON THEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10263258 at NHTSA ↗

THE CHROME ACCENT PIECE ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE DODGE NITRO (JUST UNDER THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER) IS A LARGE HIGHLY REFLECTIVE SURFACE AREA THAT IS LOCATED AT EYE LEVEL FOR MOST DRIVES FOLLOWING THESE VEHICLES. THE SURFACE REFLECTION FROM THIS 'MIRROR LIKE' PIECE BLINDS THE DRIVES FOLLOWING THESE VEHICLES CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOLLOWING THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS TO SHIELD MY EYES FROM THE REFLECTION WAS BLINDED TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER TO ALLOW MY EYES TIME RECOVER (THE EFFECT WAS S…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10269332 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 3,663 MY 2007-2008 DODGE NITRO AND MY 2008 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE PARK BRAKE LEVER CLUTCH DRUM MAY DISTORT AND REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE INADVERTENTLY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARK BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2013-04-03 (April 3, 2013)

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Dodge Nitro 4X2 vehicles manufactured March 21, 2006, through March 1, 2008; and 2008 Jeep Liberty 4X2 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2007, through March 1, 2008. The transfer case heat shield may drop down and rub on the drive shaft, weakening it and potentially causing the drive shaft to break.

Consequence: If the drive shaft breaks, a section of it can strike the transfer case tunnel with enough force that the airbag computer will believe the vehicle is in a crash and thus deploy the airbags. Additionally, the drive shaft failure will result in a loss of motive power. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a bracket to support the rear of the heat shield, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 29, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N10.

Reported: 2020-07-07 (July 7, 2020)

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro vehicles. These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment.

Consequence: Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag cover with a redesigned cover, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W09.