10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,986 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Dodge Nitro:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #37

Oct 222022

Nitro

  • 168,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the horn and the rear and front windshield wipers were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that her neighbor disconnected and reconnected the battery and the failure was corrected. The vehicle was not diagnosed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 168,000.

- Schererville, IN, USA

problem #36

Oct 152021

Nitro

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle the horn inadvertently started blowing and windshield wipers activated independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with an unknown electrical wiring failure. The dealer replaced the battery cables; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #35

Aug 012017

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
The tipm on this Nitro is causing safety issues. Its stalled going down the highway. It cranks but doesn't start. The wipers will not turn off. It throws up strange error codes then they just go off. My steering wheel controls and cruise control works when they feel like it. Some issues happen while driving, but some happen when stationary.

- Hawkinsville, GA, USA

problem #34

Jan 012020

Nitro

  • 111,000 miles
While driving the exiter ring broke causing ABS/traction control/esp lights to illuminate. Opening the door the spring detached, door now freely swings open. Heater core needs to be replaced due to poor craftsmanship. The car no longer heats up. The rear window wiper no longer works properly. The doors in the rear of the car no longer lock or unlock when using the electric lock control. The heat shield from under the car broke off the vehicle.

- Schofield, WI, USA

problem #33

Jan 012018

Nitro

  • miles
The wiper turns on at a high speed, faster than normal, horn get stuck, radio goes off and on for a long period of time and when you turn the truck off all continue to work even with the key out of ignition. This happen when I'm driving or when it's stationary. Does not matter where I'm at, could be on expressway, hwy or road. It gives no warning.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #32

Mar 042019

Nitro

  • 230,000 miles
Tpmi issue -while driving wipers and washer came on by themselves. Horn beeping and headlights went out. Looked on line and there were thousands having the same issue.

- Camillus, NY, USA

problem #31

Sep 032018

Nitro

  • 80,000 miles
While driving or car sitting it randomly starts honking horn, wipers going, wiper spray, lights flashing. Dangerous while driving on road due to lack of visibility. Suspect tipm (totally integrated power module) is the problem.

- Winton, CA, USA

problem #30

May 112018

Nitro

  • 70,000 miles
We were driving straight through a parking lot on Friday, May 11 and suddenly the wipers in the front and back started going at an accelerated rate and the wiper fluid was continuously pumping out and the horn was continuously honking. I got into a parking spot, tried to turn the car off and it wouldn't. I was even able to turn the key in the ignition to the off but it was still running and I could pull the key out while it was running.. I was so startled I am not sure if the lights or any signals were going off. I did research on the web and apparently many, many people have had that and it is the tipm. It is not an isolated incident with these Nitros. I brought it to the dealer today and they said it would be okay but gave me their card in case it happens again. Honestly, I am afraid to drive this thing especially reading about the many incidents they have had. I reported this to Chrysler as well.

- Summerville, SC, USA

problem #29

Apr 292018

Nitro

  • 90,000 miles
The car has turned off while driving on the city street. Also, the car's horn, window wipers and lights in side have just started going on for no reason while leaving for school. Even after stopping car and turning it off, everything was still going on. I've heard it's a tipm issue with Dodge's vehicles.

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

problem #28

Sep 262017

Nitro

  • 126,064 miles
The intermitten windshield wipers go on and off whenever. Even if the engine is off it still happens. Also the horn with suddenly blow with no warning. I have had it go off at 7:15 a.M. and wake the whole neighborhood. Unplugging the fuse from the electrical box makes it not quite so loud but still blowing. I have taken it to the dealership but unable to leave overnight. Their suggestion was to disconnect the battery and horn would stop blowing. I am 77 years old of sound mind and that is not an option for me. Told me to bring back when it did it again, which it did this morning 9/26/17. They are charging me almost $150 for a diagnostic when I told them what the problem probably is. The tipm circuit board. The service agent said it was a costly repair. I do not think I should be paying anything since this seems to be a problem with this particular vehicle. I'm extremely concerned that if the horn starts to blow and I'm behind someone who takes offense and could end up with a road rage incident. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and I am waiting to hear from them. Help. It makes no difference if the car is in my driveway or on the road (which it was this morning). There is no warning it just happens. I've also been concerned the vehicle will catch on fire.

- Lake Park, FL, USA

problem #27

Nov 272016

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
I ran a quick errand. When I returned to my vehicle, my windshield wipers and headlights came on as soon as I started it. The wipers wouldn't turn off unless the car was turned. The lights will not come on unless the car is on, the dash lights don't wok, and the signals don't work. I had to drive home that way in plenty of traffic. I felt unsafe driving the vehicle, as I had my grand baby with me, after reading several other complaints identical to mine, happening after 8 years of owning the vehicles, makes it seem that it was done intentionally by the manufacturer to get it back for repair.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #26

Jan 012016

Nitro

  • miles
I drive a 2008 Dodge Nitro, had it for 3 years, had no issues untill this year 2016, at the beginning of 2016 I had my car accelerate on its own while I was a red light, that almost caused and accident, took it in to the dealership to get that checked out but after paying $140 they did not do a thing because, they could not duplicate"? then months later, it happened a few other times, ones on my drive way and another in a parking lot at wal-mart, had.no issues for about afew months, but then suddenly just a few months ago I had a sudden scare of my car turning it self off on the freeway, I had my kids in the behicle and it was at night, glad nothing bad happened, but then I started to notice the lights on my pannel started to turn on, first it was the security red light, then, tire gauge, they till this day keep turning on and off, but the latest issue and most frequent is the windshield wipers, they stay truned on, the pannel lights and windshield wiper issue all started to happen since june2016 I called Dodge not the dealership but their actually office, and all they kept doing was giving me the run arround, asking me to go spend my hard owned money to get it checked out, yet I had already done that when that first started, and they could never "duplicate" it, and that was when it would just take off on its own, I recently did a search and found out that all Dodge Nitros were going thru the same issues, yet no recalls have been done, not sure what they are waiting for, but these are very dangerous issues, why a lawsuit has.not been filed??" please of there is a lawsuit im not aware off please post it, we all need safe cars to drive, also im curious have any of you Nitro owners have had Dodge trying to buy your car from you, I have had offer after offer, I find this something strange

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #25

Jan 282016

Nitro

  • 102,000 miles
The doors will not unlock without using the keys manually. But more frightening is that the wipers stay on all the time and many electrical issues began showing up at 70,000 miles. Dash warning lights will come & go! no hi- beams at times. What is it going to take, a death & law suit?

- Belleville, KS, USA

problem #24

Dec 312015

Nitro

  • 98,000 miles
I clicked the unlock button on my key and the horn started blowing constantly, doors were locking and unlocking, wipers were going really fast with washer fluid going everywhere. I crank it up thinking it would stop. It all kept going. I cut the key off and took the key out. The engine kept running, the horn was still blowing, wipers still going with washer fluid spraying and door locking and unlocking. I took the battery cable loose and this all kept going on! it ran for about 5 more minutes and then stopped. I left the battery unhooked over night thinking it may reset. The next day I hooked the battery up and it ran fine for 1 day. All of the same problems started again one morning while heading to work. Then it started doing it on me while going down the road one night on a major hwy!! I have had it in 2 dealerships and they both are not sure whats wrong. But I had to pay them to look at it and give me no answer!! the last one told me to just drive it and when it done it again bring it to them and they will look at it again. I have been without a vehicle for 2 weeks now and still no answers. All while still having to pay someone to tell me nothing, I just went and got it yesterday from the Dodge dealership. It acted fine last night but on the way to work this am it started acting up again while driving it on a major hwy while raining, the wipers were spraying fluid everywhere, then they just stopped while its pouring down. The doors started unlocking and locking by themselves. The horn did not start blowing this time because the dealership unhooked it yesterday. I have googled problems with this and it all shows a faulty tipm. They have recalled the tipm in the newer models of the Dodge Nitros but not in the 2008S. It will cost $900 to replace the part!!! I can not afford this!! I shouldn't have to pay this when it is the company's fault this is very dangerous!

- Batesville, MS, USA

problem #23

Oct 022015

Nitro

  • miles
The wipers stopped working and the lights blink on and off while I was driving around a curve on a rainy night. Also the car wouldn't excellerate. When I pulled over I was almost hit by a truck. The electrical system comes on by itself and it's makes me afraid it will catch on fire. You can hear the motor and a loud clicking.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #22

Sep 192015

Nitro

  • 67,009 miles
My 2008 Dodge Nitro would not unlock with the remote. I had to unlock it manually. Then the car would not start with the key. All the lights and everything we're working but the car would not start. Then all the sudden the horn went off the wipers were going off and the washer squirters were squirting and would not quit until I unhook the battery.I read a forum online that it could possibly be the tipm module which is located by the battery.I open the cover and pushed on all the fuses. I hook the battery back up and tried to start the car and it started.I'm glad this didn't happen while I was driving because god only knows what could have happened. I am afraid to drive the car until I know it is fixed. I've also read that there is recalls on these modules on several years in the Dodge Nitro. Even though there is no recall on my Nitro I am very concerned because this has been a big problem with other Nitros.

- Gladstone, MO, USA

problem #21

Jul 242015

Nitro

  • 78,590 miles
My thirteen year old daughter and I were leaving a store parking lot when I started the vehicle. After starting I attempted to turn on the air conditioning, blower motor would not work. While pulling onto the road horn started blaring, wipers fore and aft started going without being activated. Windshield wiper fluid spraying uncontrollable, again, without my activation. Pulled into a parking lot and shut of vehicle, all problems stated above persisted. Left parking lot in an attempt to get the vehicle the seven miles home. Halfway home, all problems stopped. Wipers stopped in complete vertical position, horn stopped blaring, washer fluid stopped spraying. Upon reaching home disconnected positive battery cable in an attempt to somehow "reboot" the system. After reconnecting cable, started vehicle and up to this point all seems normal, for now. In my opinion under different circumstances this could have been a very dangerous situation. I just purchased this vehicle three weeks ago and do not feel it is safe to drive if this should happen again, potentially causing injury to me, my family or the public in general.

- Mason, MI, USA

problem #20

Aug 142014

Nitro

  • 94,000 miles
The headlights stopped working. At first they would flash on and off. After 4 or 5 times of turning on the lights, they wouldn't even flash. We tried changing the fuses, but nothing worked. The lights remained inoperative until it rained. Once it rained, all of a sudden the lights started operating normally. This pattern has continued for over a year. Sometimes the lights work and sometimes they don't. the dealer says it is a tipm problem. Apparently, this is a common problem with Dodge Nitros. We did have a mechanic replace the lights/turn signal lever in the car. The lights worked without issue for about 3 months. Now, they are not working again. And now we are having other issues such as the horn going off and the windshield wipers and washer fluid going off randomly and nothing I do will stop it. After about 5 minutes, everything stopped on its own. Thankfully, we were in a parking lot at the time. I can only imagine the danger if this happened while driving in heavy traffic or at a high rate of speed. This is a huge safety issue. Chrysler should recall this and repair the vehicles affected.

- Lockport, IL, USA

problem #19

May 272015

Nitro

  • 70,000 miles
This is my third incident with a faulty tipm on my 2008 Dodge Nitro slt. Lights, horns, front and rear wipers as well as the washer fluid spraying out of control. I remove the fuse for both the left and right horns to silence them, then remove the positive battery cable to reset the tipm. It has been successful so far. Looking for a replacement unit for preventive measures.

- Sterling, VA, USA

problem #18

Jan 222015

Nitro 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
I walked out to my car one morning to make a trip into town. The instant I opened the door the horn started blaring without a pause, the windshield wipers both front and rear were running on their top speed. I have absolutely no control over the car. I cant even get it out of park to have a tow truck pick it up. The gauge cluster says "no bus" and the only culprit I can think of would be the famous Dodge tipm.

- Edmond, OK, USA

Read the next 17 complaints »