2010 Dodge Nitro Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Nitro years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Dodge Nitro. That ranks 4th out of 7 Nitro model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (26 complaints, 33%), typically at around 81,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 78owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2010 Dodge Nitro problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 26 | 33% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 15% | 80,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 13% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 9 | 12% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 10% | 54,400 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 10% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 6% | 89,400 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 6% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 5% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 5% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% | 48,470 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 4% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 4% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 4,400 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1% | 500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 38,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2010 Dodge Nitro recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module; steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: 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.
Risk: Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 left hand drive jeep liberty, dodge nitro and ram 1500 truck; right and left hand drive jeep wrangler vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with an improperly formed master cylinder to hydraulic control unit (hcu) brake tube assembly end flare.
Risk: This could lead to loss of brake fluid and reduced braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake tubes free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during august 2010. Owners may contact chrysler toll-free at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 chrysler sebring; dodge avenger and nitro; jeep liberty, commander and grand cherokee; and model year 2009-2010 dodge ram truck. These vehicles may have been built with an improperly formed or missing brake booster input rod retaining clip.
Risk: This could result in brake failure without warning which could cause a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will replace the brake booster input rod retaining clip free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during february 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment (PE19014) — opened Sep 9, 2019, closed Feb 25, 2026.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
- Totally Integrated Power Module Failure (DP14004) — opened Sep 25, 2014, closed Jul 24, 2015.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine cranked, but the vehicle failed to start, and it became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired…
Passengers front seat head rest deployed on its own. The air back feature of my head rest deployed and it broke in the process. It is available for inspection. It happened when I was cleaning my car. So thank goodness not when I am driving. I was actually cleaning my car to trade it in for a dodge…
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from being stationary, the rear driveshaft suddenly detached from the rear of the vehicle and dragged on the ground. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined…
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V396000 (Air Bags, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. An…
One day the airbag light started cutting on and off and then the horn started blowing randomly without being touched or even without even being in the vehicle with the car turned off. Took it to a mechanic and they have no clue whatâs wrong.
Other Dodge Nitro years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Nitro | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 Nitro | 122 | 3 |
| 2010 | 78 | 3 |
| 2009 Nitro | 24 | 1 |
| 2008 Nitro | 393 | 3 |
| 2007 Nitro | 494 | 7 |
| 2005 Nitro | 1 | 0 |
See all Dodge Nitro problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Nitro?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 26 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2010 Dodge Nitro?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2010 Dodge Nitro a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Nitro model years, the 2010 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.