2011 Dodge NITRO: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10383082 · 2011-02-17 (February 17, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR HER INSURANCE TO PROVIDE AN APPRAISAL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 894.
Owner-reported narrative. 894 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10419419 · 2011-08-15 (August 15, 2011)
I DRIVE A 2011 DODGE NITRO AND I WENT ON A TRIP AND ON MY WAY OVER I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE AND IT SMELLED LIKE RAW GAS, AND AS I WOULD STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD START MISFIRING. THEN ON MY WAY BACK I CONTINUED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND ANOTHER COMPLICATION ARISED MY AIR CONDITION STOPPED BLOWING AIR AND ALL THE LINES WERE FROZEN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419419 at NHTSA ↗
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 10440039 · 2011-12-15 (December 15, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP TIRES, LINE SIZE: 245 50/R20. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, BOTH FRONT TIRES BLEW. THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER WELL WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440039 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 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 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 10473253 · 2012-09-01 (September 1, 2012)
WHEN GETTING INTO VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ADVISED DODGE SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. THEY ADVISED ME OF AN APPOINTMENT THREE DAYS AWAY AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE FINE. KEPT APPOINTMENT WITH SERVICE CENTER AND RESULT AS APPEARS FROM INVOICE: J# 1 52CHZ12 SUP RESTRAINT SYS CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN DASH CHECK AND ADVISE. AIR BAG LIGHT ON. MADE SCAN REPORT. AIR BAG FAULT 1. B2208 ORC INTERNAL POWERS AND GROUNDS GOOD TO MODULE. RECOMMEND REPLACE ORC AND RECHECK. ORDERED PART; REPLACED ORC MODULE RECHECKED OK AT THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473253 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V315000 · Steering:Column
Reported: 2011-06-08 (June 8, 2011)
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP WRANGLER, CHRYSLER 200, CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE, DODGE AVENGER, DODGE NITRO, JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE CALIBER, JEEP COMPASS, JEEP PATRIOT, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED STEERING COLUMN PIVOT RIVET.
Consequence: A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED RIVET COULD COMPROMISE THE ABILITY OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO SUPPORT THE OCCUPANT LOADS IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, DECREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FRONTAL IMPACT SAFETY SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR RIVET PRESENCE AND ALIGNMENT AND REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN PIVOT AS REQUIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V282000 · Air Bags | Electrical System
Reported: 2013-07-02 (July 2, 2013)
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗