This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The windshield wipers either won't come on at all or will continually move all over the windshield as you drive. The wiper malfunction is extremely worse if you have the headlights on and use the turn signal. This causes them to quickly fully extend to the very edge of the windshields drivers side. This causes extreme visibility problems. The Dodge dealership has not been able to fix the problem after several visits and multiple attempts of replacing parts including the turn signal wand and the entire wiper assembly. The mechanic said Dodge recommended replacing the tipm, which the manufacturer was aware of a huge problem with this part on Nitros. After doing some research I could not believe all the complaints with no action being taken by Chrysler or the government for my model year. Recalls were issued for older years, so why not the 2008 with the same problems? I can't safely drive my car with my vision constantly compromised and I can't even sell it with all the horrible reviews. Now it just sits in my driveway because I am too nervous to drive it with these problems.
The windshield wipers ran as fast as they could without us being able to shut them off. We had no turn signals or headlights. This was diagnosed as a faulty tipm. We paid $1100 to have it replaced and reprogrammed.
This situation has happened quite a few time and has escalated over the time period. The first time I walked out to my car. I pressed the key to unlock it and the horn started honking, the windshield wipers and spray was going and the lights flashed. This lasted approx. 5 seconds. And stopped. The next incident occurred while driving down the fwy. Same symptoms occurred, but this time lasted approx. 30 seconds then stopped. The third incidence: Same symptoms but would not stop. I opened up the hood, for some reason slapped the fuse box and it stopped but when I went to drive it would not shift from 2nd to 3rd. Gear. This kept happening with increasing frequency and duration. I took it in to the dealer. As I was waiting in line to check in, it happened. Everyone was stunned and amazed, and laughed at my possessed vehicle. Now they can't get it to happen while it is on the computer. It has been almost 2 weeks and I still don't have my car.
While driving, vehicle begins to sound horn, windshield washers/wipers activate. Sometimes won't shift beyond 2nd gear while entering freeway. Headlights, tail lights, flashers come on whenever they feel like it. A/C stops working, then works again. All interior electronics occasionally fail. Engine shuts itself off. Dealer states it is the tipm. Cost to repair with extended warranty - $410... new tipm installed, occasionally still have minor issues.
I was driving down the highway and my horn and lights start flashing and at the same time my windshield wipers and water started going off. As I slowed down and exited the highway I notice my air conditioning had gone off as well. I was lucky I was able to remain calm this was very scary especially with my 15 month old baby in the back seat. After I exited and turned off the car nothing stopped. I pulled out the key and the vehicle remained started with the horn, lights, windshield wipers and water remained on. I ended up popping the hood and undoing the battery to make it stop. After 5 minutes it tried to reconnect and it was still happening. I came back to the car after 30 minutes reconnected the battery and the car acted as normal.
- Irving, TX, USA
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I pushed the unlock button on my key and opened the drivers side door to get in and that's when the problems began. The horn started blaring non stop, the front and rear windshield wipers were going at various speeds and my lights were flashing and the blinkers were going off. I tried to put my key in the ignition and tried to turn the vehicle on but nothing would happen. The car felt like it was on even though I hadn't turned it on but when I got out of the vehicle it definitely showed signs of being on. After just about 30 minutes everything stopped but my horn will no longer work and my check engine light remains on. This is the first occurrence so we will be taking it to the dealership that we got it from since we have only had the vehicle and been driving it for 2 days.
Intermitent problem only corrected by removing the battery cable and reconnecting, the windshield wipers will start working at start up of engine, no lights will respond, signal lights, horn, headligths and wipers cannot be turned off. Car is able to be driven during this malfunctions making it unsafe in case of emergency. Also during normal driving door locks unlock and lock on intervals of one second or two, radio changes stations on its own continuously. Problem has been happening more often now, almost daily.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. While driving 30 mph, the contact stated that both front and rear wipers began to malfunction. The warning lamps illuminated and when the vehicle was turned off it drained the battery. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and the module was reprogrammed. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69000.
The 2008 Dodge Nitro slt's alarm randomly went off in the parking lot and would not stop even after attempts to turn off the alarm with remote key. Windshield wipers were also turned on while the fluid was constantly squirting out. Even after driving the car alarm and wipers would not stop. This issue happened several time until one day when the vehicle stopped making any type of sounds (no honking, no alarm). Problem is said to be caused by the tipm. Lack of honking caused numerous potential accidents by failing to warn other drivers. I am complaining so that Chrysler issues an overdue recall for the tipm as numerous other consumers are experiencing the same issue.
Windshield wipers start by itself once vehicle is started even though they are switched off. The only way to correct is to disconnect the battery cable and reconnect. This has been happening intermittently since purchasing the vehicle in 2011 but has been occurring more frequently in the past year. I am concerned that the problem could get worse or occur while driving the vehicle thus causing an injury or accident.
The tipm failed in my 2008 Dodge Nitro cause me to lose shifting capability. I lost all control of electrical features. The window wipers, fluid, horn were all on and uncontrollable. I turned the car off but it kept running. The door locks locked and unlocked randomly. After reading about the incident the 2007 Dodge Nitro had its tipm recalled and I believe this falls under the same category. Below is the action number. NHTSA action number : pe07027nhtsa recall campaign number : 07V291000.
Wife was driving home from a dinner date with a friend, we were on the phone with each other when the horn started going crazy, wipers rear and front started running on their own spitting out washer fluid, door locks going crazy, both horns going off constantly, and accelerator not working properly. She pulled over and shut the vehicle off. Everything continued to happen she removed the key from ignition and same result. I told her to try door locks on keychain no change, tried panic alarm on key chain and still nothing. She did not have tools to disconnect battery. After a few minutes it stopped. She made it home safely without any injuries except sever panic and anxiety. When this happened first thing I did was get online and look for issues. Apparently this is a commonly known issue by Chrysler. The tipm is bad. Many people reported having same issue. Chrysler wants to rip you off cause its a dealer only item. Known issue and yet no recall was ever issued. I contacted Chrysler they said per the VIN they could not authorize any repairs except for the current recall that is active. This could have led to a serious accident. Especially when you hit the brakes and not slow down at all and have to use emergency brake. So now we are stuck with a vehicle non op and don't have $1000 to fix a known issue by Chrysler. I will never buy another Chrysler product. I will be in touch with them again to seek repairs.
The tipm malfunctioned on my car. Which causes me driving down the interstate to lose electronics, horn stayed on, wipers stayed on and my car down shifted and would not up shift. I had to swerve to the side of the highway to avoid being hit. The dealership saw the car in person while all the electronic parts were going haywire. Then car would not shut off even with the key out of the ignition. The battery had to be disconnected. This could have been a major accident on the highway in rush hour.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that he noticed smoke and saw that the windshield wiper motor had caught on fire. The fire was contained by the contact. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
My 2008 Dodge Nitro's electrical system is operating on its own. It seems like it is possessed. On several occasions (at least 10 incidents) for the past few months the following occurs. The front & back windshield wipers start operating by themselves. They go fast & then sometimes they move in a stop & go method. The rhythm of the wipes is random but its common to see them do a partial wipe, then pause, another partial wipe, then pause and keeps repeating. Then all of a sudden it will go fast. The windshield washer sprayer shoot fluid (front & back) on its own, until the tank is empty. The horn goes off non stop. It just goes & goes & goes. The horn & the windshield wipers seem to operate as one. Hazard lights are blinking constantly. The light above the trunk door is blinking. The signal lights stay illuminated. The doors lock/unlock repeatedly. On the dashboard the H.a.S. and the slick road icon illuminate. This occurs while I'm parked or driving. It occurs whether the keys are in the ignition or not. There seems to be a relation between using the remote unlock & a incident occurring. Yet, it happens also when I unlock the door manually. Based on other customer complaints from this message board, they are being told its the tipm or total integrated power module that is causing the madness. Dealerships & Chrysler/Dodge corporate has told them the part is on back order. Basically they have got the run around and not received any help.
Upon disarming the alarm/unlocking doors the wipers, sprayers, lights, and horn went off. I unlocked the door with the key and tried to start the car to disable and it wouldn't. when I removed the key from the ignition it kept running as well. It would not shut off. With the key in the engine wouldn't shut off either, nor get out of park. We disabled the battery... nothing. Finally disabled the alternator and it stopped, only to start again when we plugged it all back in. There have been various occasions that the wipers have turned on when unlocking the doors in the past. Along with quite a few times upon starting with a turn of the key you must turn it twice for it to engage. This has been in for service and they couldn't find a problem at the dealer either time I took it in. This car is a hazard and cant imagine if it happened driving as in a previous story I saw. Unfortunately, none of this happens while still under warranty and if it does, they cant find a problem.
My 2008 Dodge Nitro, while driving on hwy, 60-65 mph, out of nowhere the vehicle powers down. The windshield wipers spray out fluid and moves back and forward. The horn continues to make noise. My satellite radio has no signal. My driver side window button has some kind of short when trying to roll it up.this issue has been going shortly after purchasing the truck. No one seems to know what is wrong. At first Dodge chapman in vegas, they thought reprogramming the remote key. Then I paid over $600, to lithia Dodge in renton, wa because they thought it was something with the fuel tank. But no this issue continues to go. It is beginning to be a safety issue shutting down in the middle of the highway with my kids and me in the car. So I google if anyone else is having this problem and yes it appears problem has arised and it lies with the tipm. This product was recall on the 2007 Dodge Nitro. I took my truck into the dealership 7/18/12. Told them what to check, because I brought the truck there before and they couldn't find the problem. I told them to check the tipm. The service department called me today 7/20/12 and tells me yes, it is the tipm (totally integrated power module). Please help. I called Dodge customer service and they are looking into this, but states there is no recall on this issue with the year of my vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cardington, OH, USA