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 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.
2008 Dodge Nitro. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle electrical system and mechanical repair problems. The consumer stated the ac and went out, along with the low and high switch melting some of the under panel where the switch was mounted. Smoke was coming from out the dash while driving. The horn was blared out of control, draining the battery, the radio would not come on, the doors locked and unlocked uncontrollably, the wheel and hub failed on the front of the vehicle, the water pump was replaced, the brakes were replaced three times, in one year. When the consumer clicked the unlock button on the key pad, the door locks went haywire, it would lock and the consumer was unable to enter the vehicle. Also, the catalytic converter was replaced. The tipm was replaced. However, a week later, the problems returned with the headlights staying on, the horn blaring out of control and the doors locking and unlocking and not being able to enter the vehicle. The head lights and tail lights were replaced several times.
Without warning while driving or stationary, the vehicles horn will honk steadily, wipers and squirters will operate, door locks will lock and unlock, head lights will flash, and engine will die (if in motion). All simultaneously.it is very hard to control a car at hiway speeds when all of these things happen and the motor shuts off. I have read forums online and have found that the totally integrated power module (tipm) is the cause of these problems. I have filed a complaint with Chrysler and they informed me that there are no recalls for the tipm for my year and that this is not a safety issue. I do not agree with them. No engine warning light comes on and there is no warning.... it just happens.
Was driving on highway; engine died, windshield wipers and washer came on, dash lights flashing all over the place. Managed to coast on to shoulder and pulled battery cables loose to make the electrical circus stop. When it had cooled down some, I re-attached the battery and it started and ran normally. Has happened 2 times since then, and today, it won't start.
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
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For months, we have been having issues with unlocking the vehicle using the key fob. Problems have since worsened in the last week to include loss of low beam headlights, uncontrollable horn honking, front and rear wiper activation when not engaged, doors locking on their own, overnight battery drainage, trouble starting the vehicle, vehicle not turning off with key removed, horn honking while driving, esp/bas lights flashing, traction control light flashing, lights dimming and A/C system turning off on its own. All research points to a faulty tipm system, which has been recalled for previous years, and years following the 2008 model year of this vehicle. Some of these issues have occurred while sitting parked with no key in the ignition, other issues have occurred while the vehicle is in motion. It's very concerning, as this is our only vehicle, that these issues could cause loss of vehicle control. There have been dozens of complaints reported for this same model year vehicle to the NHTSA of vehicles losing control of steering and braking systems at highway speeds. With a two year old, his safety is paramount, and this potentially dangerous vehicle is becoming increasingly unsafe for us to drive.
Had a spring under cylinder break, $375 to fix. Replaced the tipm $555.95 now the skim needs to be replaced. I have been waiting since 8/28/15 for the part to come in. It is now 9/5/15 and the dealerships telling me they don't now where the part is and why it hasn't came in yet. Also since it is a hoilday weekend they can't find out any thing until 9/8. I have no other means of transportation. Very frustrated! I will tell everybody I see with a Nitro to go trade it in asap buy anything but a Dodge!
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. While driving approximately 55 mph, the horn, headlights, and windshield wipers activated independently. In addition, the contact mentioned that the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. After attempting to restart the vehicle, the no bus warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
The horn / alarm/ lights/ locks / windows, constantly go off & on with no warning. It happened randomly at first but now 09/03/2015 it is a everyday occurrence. I have taken it to the dealer to switch out remote, update electrical system and still the dealer has no idea. Ive disconnected the battery, replaced fuses, nothing. I was told it might be the tipm since several 2008 models have the same problem. They replaced the 2010-2012 but not the 2007 & 2008 models. I need this problem fixed before a severe electrical problem occurs...
Tipm. Absolutely no warnings and/or codes. I went to start my vehicle, it ran for about 10 seconds and died. Took it to the dealer which cost me a total of $1232. I have seen reports this module can fail while driving, if these reports are in fact true, I absolutely do not feel safe driving this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. While driving approximately 35 mph, the horn and the windshield wipers activated independently. In addition, the windshield fluid started to rush out of the reservoir and the locks on the doors unlocked and locked. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and detached fuses as a temporarily repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000. The VIN was not available.
The tipm (totally integrated power module) is malfunctioning. Several electronic features (blower motor, power locks, and A/C outlet) in the vehicle stopped working at the same time. I have read that this is a common problem with Nitros but for all kinds of different electrical problems stemming from the tipm and nothing is being done about it. Every electrical feature comes through this box including power to the ignition. I would hate to lose power while driving down the road with my kids in the car.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while parked, the door latches, horn and windshield wipers activated independently on and off multiple times. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic nor was it diagnosed. The contact stated that NHTSA action number: DP14004 was directly related to the failure the vehicle was experiencing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000.
The first time it happened I had just turned off the highway and the vehicle completely shut down but the horn was going non stop and the wipers too. I couldn't pull over because the steering was not working correctly. I eventually was able to get it to stop when my fianc attempted to unhook the battery. This has happened about 4 times totally. The last time I was driving home from work at night, it was dark and the wipers went crazy and my lights went out then the vehicle just shut down, I couldn't see anything, thank god no car was passing by. At times it doesn't want to start but the wipers come on. I took it to the shop and after a few hrs they said it was the integrated power module. Very expensive that I can't fix right now. Very unsafe!
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.
While driving home at night lights randomly go off almost causing me to wreck. Also before this the car would randomly honk, light flash, horn blow really fast and windshield washer's and fluid would go off.
Driving down the road, the horn started blowing steady, wipers came on, washer fluid squirted, lights went off, engine would not shut down. This continued for 10 min as I drove it home to get tools to disconnect the battery. It seems to have fried the horn as it started making funny noises then quit while others continued. I could smell burnt electrical. The keys would not shut the car off. I disconnected the positive battery cable and after about a minute everything stopped then the engine shut off. The PCM relay was very hot. Car is currently in my driveway with positive battery disconnected.
The horn goes off in the middle of the day for hours. Once it stops the vehicle won't start and (no bus) shows up on the cluster gauge. The local Dodge dealership tells me that the tipm might have went out. From what the reviews are on this vehicle, the part and replacement of this part are very expensive and I think Chrysler/Dodge should replace and recall this part. Great vehicle just crappy manufacturing company. Won't drive a Dodge again even if they gave me one for free.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Nashville, TN, USA