Dodge Nitro Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Dodge Nitro across 5 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “heat shield” (8% of reports).
- 102power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Heat shield: mentioned in 8 of 102 complaints (8%)
- Power train structure: mentioned in 7 of 102 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 81 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 102 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 6 an injury.
Dodge Nitro power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Nitro | 16 | 13% | 47,793 |
| 2010 Nitro | 5 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 2009 Nitro | 1 | 4% | 101,456 |
| 2008 Nitro | 26 | 7% | 95,000 |
| 2007 Nitro | 54 | 11% | 72,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure; air bags; power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2007, 2008
Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Dodge Nitro 4X2 vehicles manufactured March 21, 2006, through March 1, 2008; and 2008 Jeep Liberty 4X2 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2007, through March 1, 2008. The transfer case heat shield may drop down and rub on the drive shaft, weakening it and potentially causing the drive shaft to break.
Risk: If the drive shaft breaks, a section of it can strike the transfer case tunnel with enough force that the airbag computer will believe the vehicle is in a crash and thus deploy the airbags. Additionally, the drive shaft failure will result in a loss of motive power. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a bracket to support the rear of the heat shield, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 29, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N10.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 5 MPH, the front drive shaft fractured, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop, and the front driver's side and passenger's side airbags erroneously deployed. The contact stated that there was no…
The contact owned a 2007 Dodge Nitro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V121000 (POWER TRAIN, AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE). The contact stated that while stopped, the sound of an explosion was heard, and the side air bags deployed. The contact believed the vehicle had been…
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V121000 (Power Train, Air Bags, Structure); however, the failure persisted. The vehicle…
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 vehicle throws the abs, esp,break and traction control lights and then while driving completely at random then turns off WHILE DRIVING!!!! which can cause an accident (I and my daughter are lucky to be alive) this is not ok the vehicle drives fine then at random throws those lights and shuts…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Nitros have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 102 owner complaints about power train for the Dodge Nitro. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Nitro power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Dodge Nitro?
The most frequent phrase is “heat shield”, in 8 of 102 complaints, followed by “power train structure” (7).
Other Dodge Nitro problems
See all Dodge Nitro problems.