2009 Dodge NITRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
95,717 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 24 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.2% |
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 | 10 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
Electrical System: 10; Air Bags: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Wheels: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10300397 · 2010-01-20 (January 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE OPENED THE FUEL TANK CAP THE BOLTS WERE COVERED WITH RUST ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BOLTS DO NOT COME WITH A COATING AND THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428820 · 2011-10-05 (October 5, 2011)
WHILE PUMPING MY GAS THE GAS BEGAN TO BACKFLOW UP IN POOR EVERYWHERE AND ALL OVER THE CAR AND THE GROUND AT THE GAS STATION AND ON MY HANDS. THIS CLEARLY IS UNSAFE FOR ONE IT IS A HUGE FIRE HAZARD IT IS DANGEROUS TOWARDS ONES HEALTH AND ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE READ ELSEWHERE OF OTHER PEOPLE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE SINCE 2007 IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES AND AM UNSURE WHY THEY WOULD NOT YET HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BY NOW. WITH THAT SAID I DEFINITELY THINK THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUT A STOP TO THIS FIRE HAZARD BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10519690 · 2013-06-13 (June 13, 2013)
IF I FILL UP MY NITRO WITH GAS IT OVERFLOWS AND SPILLS A LOT ON THE GROUND. EVERY TIME I FILL IT UP THIS HAPPENS SO I QUIT FILLING IT UP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556825 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I CONSULTED WITH THE MANUFACTURER DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE NITRO AIR BAG WHEN IN FACT CHRYSLER MINI-VANS WERE UNDER RECALL FOR A CLOCK SPRING WHICH IS PROBABLY THE SAME PART USED IN THE NITRO. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IS COULD BE SEVERAL THINGS BEGINNING WITH A SWITCH IN ONE SEAT. REPLACED THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THESE PA…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606725 · 2014-06-28 (June 28, 2014)
AFTER LOCKING THE VEHICLE YOU COME BACK AND UNLOCK IT AND PUT IN THE KEY AND IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY HUSBANDS CAR ON 3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS THE FIRST TIME THEY REMOVED THE AFTER MARKET ALARM AND SAID THAT CAUSED THE SECOND TIME THEY REMOVED ANOTHER PART THE 3RD TIME 2 YEARS LATER THEY STATED IT WAS A DIFFERENT PART WHEN I FOUND THE FOLLOWING ONLINE DODGE NITRO PROBLEM 26 REPORTS ME TOO MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 AVERAGE MILEAGE: 67,977 MI (41,000 MI - 107,232 MI) VERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663696 · 2014-12-11 (December 11, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER, REAR DRIVER, AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRONIC POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTEGRATED CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS TO BE ORDERED THOUGH A DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10663696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10712753 · 2015-04-24 (April 24, 2015)
DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN DOORS ARE OPENED ALSO WILL NOT UNLOCK USING KEY REMOTE HAVE TO CLIMB INSIDE AND REACH OVER DRIVERS SEAT TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOOR IF A PASSENGER SHOULD BE INSIDE DURING AN ACCIDENT HIS COULD BE A TERRIBLE SITUATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 54,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761895 · 2015-09-07 (September 7, 2015)
WHILE USING THE REMOTE KEY TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE CARE, THE HORN STARTS BLARING, THE WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR) START GOING, WASHER FLUID SHOOTS OUT, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY. DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK/LOCK WITH REMOTE. THE LIGHTS START BLINKING. I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY UNLOCK THE CAR AND QUICKLY OPEN BEFORE IT LOCKS AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS ALL OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BUT WAS CLEARLY SHOOK UP. WHEN TURNING ON THE ENGINE THE HORN STARTS BLARING AGAIN, WITH LIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,977 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761895 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V396000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗