Dodge Nitro Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,114 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on file for the Dodge Nitro, across 7 model years (2005–2012). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (494). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Dodge Nitro years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Nitro year: 2007, 2008, 2011. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 Nitro: 494 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2008 Nitro: 393 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2011 Nitro: 122 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2005 Nitro: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2012 Nitro: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2009 Nitro: 24 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Dodge Nitro problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 423 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 157 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 130 | 5 | 0 |
| Air Bags problems | 105 | 6 | 24 |
| Power Train problems | 102 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine | 91 | 5 | 3 |
| Structure | 72 | 5 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 69 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 61 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 54 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 43 | 5 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 40 | 4 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 4 | 7 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 33 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 30 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 3 | 3 |
| Suspension | 11 | 3 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Equipment | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Dodge Nitro problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2011: electrical system (54)
- 2008: electrical system (198) · fuel system, gasoline (66)
- 2007: electrical system (133) · fuel system, gasoline (82) · fuel/propulsion system (57) · power train (54) · structure (53)
All Dodge Nitro model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Nitro | 2 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2011 Nitro | 122 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Nitro | 78 | 3 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2009 Nitro | 24 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Nitro | 393 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Nitro | 494 | 7 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Nitro | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Dodge: all Dodge models · Dodge VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Nitro years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (494), 2008 (393), 2011 (122) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Nitro year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Dodge Nitro?
Electrical System, with 423 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Dodge Nitro have?
11 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.