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.
I walked out to my car one morning to make a trip into town. The instant I opened the door the horn started blaring without a pause, the windshield wipers both front and rear were running on their top speed. I have absolutely no control over the car. I cant even get it out of park to have a tow truck pick it up. The gauge cluster says "no bus" and the only culprit I can think of would be the famous Dodge tipm.
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.
It was may of 2013, not sure of exact date. It was evening and raining out. I went to get in my car and when I started the ignition and put my headlights on, they went off. After about 15 seconds they came back on, but started to flicker. After I shut the car off and turned back on the headlights remained on. Over the past year this has happened more and more. Each time is when there is moisture: Rain, snow or frost. This year the occurrences are getting more frequent. I have had head lights replaced. The switch. A battery. I was finally told it is the tipm. The part will be between $600-700 (just for the part), its on national backorder, it could be months until they even get it in. Now this means my only vehicle I can't drive. I leave for work at 5:00 a.M, which is dark and return in the evening (in winter) around 5:30 which is dark. These lights go out randomly and Dodge said they are unaware of any tipm problems. This is a major safety issue to myself and the public.
Headlights came on by themselves and stayed on for approximately 30 seconds each time; this happened 3 times. The keys were lying on a table undisturbed. The doors have also locked by themselves.
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.
- Draper, UT, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the head lights failed to operate. The contact mentioned that the lights would flash three times before shutting off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the tipm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
When attempting to turn on headlights, they flash 2 or 3 times and go off. They will not stay on. It's like the computer or a relay is attempting several times and then gives up. I disconnected the battery for 30 minutes and the problem cleared for a few hours. It came back exactly like before. Another disconnect would not clear the problem again. Also, the horn will now sound when unlocking the doors. This has been an intermittent problem for several years. Press the remote unlock and the alarm horn sounds. Previously it was about once every couple of months but now is several times per day. Sometimes it does it even when unlocking the door manually rather than with the remote. The fog lights are fine but high and low beams are unusable, now. Based on internet research, this is a very common problem among various Dodge vehicles and often requires replacing the tipm for around $1000.
I have been a police officer for over 21 plus years of my life worse Dodge vehicle I have ever owned. This vehicle is a 2008 Dodge Nitro.I am praying that this will help before somebody gets killed in this vehicle. The road noise in this vehicle is so loud U cant hear yourself talk. The vehicle started shooting wiper fluid driving down the roadway, turned windshield wipers on and they don't work. Stopped the vehicle without wrecking because of traffic they come on and wont turn off. Horn goes off all the time going down the roadway. The headlights will turn off without any notice. The transmission will stop shifting, stops U in the roadway. The back running lights go off and on. The air conditioner has now stopped working. The window will roll down at any given time. This has happened several times in rain storms where nothing works vehicle will shut off. I know the 2007 had a recall on the tipm but nothing yet on the 2008. I had this vehicle in the shop sense may I had no other means of getting to work so I'm driving this vehicle now and letting my wife drive my truck. The mechanic said I should sell this death trap. I cant do that I will trust that someone on this site will help. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. Please help with getting these problem placed on an active recall. Been making payments on a vehicle I cant even drive. I would even be glad to let yall run test on this vehicle. They call me moparlawman. I don't know how long I can stay fateful to a company putting vehicles out for sale like this. Thanks
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.
All things electrical go crazy, locks are locking and unlocking on there own, even when I am driving down the road and eventually don't work at all. Lights don't work on drivers side of car. I push the brake and the dome light in the hatch area on passenger floor light up. All sensor lights are on, in the dash area, seat belt, brake, air bags, etc. Brake light is flashing on and off and dinging when it feels like it. This is an on going problem for a lot of the 2008 Dodge Nitro and I see 152 complaints alone on this website and a lot more on the carcomplaints.com. Since they are no longer making this vehicle, but a majority of people that bought this 2008 Nitro are having this problem. I beg you to please look into this and have a recall on this! thank you!
The first incident, I was leaving my house at night. As soon as I pulled out of my driveway, the headlights shut off.I replaced the headlight switch and thought that fixed it. Within the week, the headlights quit working again only this time I was on the interstate approximately 50 miles from home. While trying to figure out the problem, I was driving only in daytime hours with clear sunny weather. About two weeks later, my vehicle seemed to become possessed. The wipers turn on spontaneously along with wiper fluid spurting and the horn going off. This continued even after my vehicle was turned off and the key out. My battery had to be disconnected to stop the madness. I found out by internet research that my problem was most likely the tipm since many people with the same vehicle had to replace it. I replaced that part today and thus far fixed my previous problems. However, now my front passenger airbag light is on indicating that airbag is turned off. The light stayed on when I had an adult riding in that seat. I feel the makers of my vehicle put many of their customers in danger knowing this was a problem. The tipm was on back-order at my local Dodge dealership and many others.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the front driver's side power window switch failed. In addition, the front driver's side interior door handle was fractured. The contact was unable to open the door from inside the vehicle. The front passenger side low beam headlight and the driver's side brake light also failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was reported to the manufacturer who refused to offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 76,325. The current mileage was 76,359.
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.
I began having problems with my 2008 Dodge Nitro in Nov 2010 (still covered by extended warranty). I was driving and the car systems went haywire, the dash lights illuminating, windshield wipers and washer fluid engaged, the headlights cutting out and the horn blaring uncontrollably. Turning the car off did not correct the problem and it eventually stopped after 3-4 minutes. This happened again on the way to work (this time the radio turned to full volume with no assist), the heat cut out and the windshield/lights/horn went nuts. I took the car in for a diagnostic and was assured they'd find the problem. The Dodge dealership ran diagnostics, pulled codes, but could not replicate the issue so told me it was "absolutely fine" to drive. I continued to deal with the 'freak outs' throughout the years, until another one happened where the car would not stop (until we disconnected the battery). I brought it to a private mechanic who pulled codes and said there was a problem, but I had to bring it to Dodge. On the way to work at approx 70 mph, I lost control of the car (it was as if I were slamming on the brakes-although they were never engaged) I am lucky the person behind me was able to swerve around me and not rear-end me. Dodge determined that the computer told my transmission to go into 'fail mode' thrusting me into 2nd gear. I paid for another diagnostic and they told me a tune-up and a cleaning of the battery coils would clear the problem. The car worked normal for a while, but then had two more incidents, another fail mode on the highway (which also included lights/wipers/horn). I am pregnant and feel very unsafe in this car. Dodge continues to maintain that there is nothing wrong with the car. I have videos of the 'freak outs' so they cannot deny it, but they choose not to help and to continue to encourage me to drive an unsafe vehicle.
I live in metro atlanta and I have a 2008 Dodge Nitro. I love my truck but 12/01/11 brought my love to like and I don't know what to do. I work 2.7 miles from home - on my way home 12/01/11, the horn started sounding, lights were flashing, doors were trying to locking and unlock, front and rear wipers came on, and the water for the wipers started spraying. I pulled over, cut the truck off for about 5 minutes and started it back up. Needless to say that did not resolve the issue. I drove all the way home with all these things happening. Once I got home, 'I cut the truck off" and the wipers were still going as well as the horn, the exterior lights, and the door locks. So 'I took the key out' and wouldn't you know - everything continue to do the same thing. Ended up disconnecting the battery. 12/02/11 I connected the battery from the disconnect the night beofre and the horn sounded for a few seconds but now my heater is not working - on the way into the office everything happened again. Pulled over and had truck towed to the nearest Dodge dealer. My Nitro has 77,006 miles on it.
Inadequate high beam headlights. When the high beams are selected, the roadway actually becomes darker. This vehicle utilizes a single headlight assy on each side consisting of an H13 high/low beam lamp. Single beam headlight systems have traditionally powered both the high and low beam filaments when the high beam mode is selected and when low beam mode is selected only the low beam filament is powered. When high beam is selected in this vehicle, both filaments are enable briefly during the transition from low to high. During this transition period the light intensity is at the level one would expect to see when high beam lights are selected. However this ideal illumination is short lived because immediately the low beam filament is extinguished leaving only the high beam filament to light the way and it simply is not sufficient. On a dark road acceptable lighting can only be achieved with the combination of low beam lighting and fog lamps. I carried my vehicle in for service and I was told that the lights were operating properly and that this is the way that Chrysler vehicle lighting systems operate. I purchased this vehicle new in June 2008 and after a road trip in Jan 2009, I realized that the headlight system on this vehicle is woefully inadequate. I did a google search and discovered online bloggs where other owners complained about weak headlights on the Dodge Nitro as well as other Chrysler products.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Edmond, OK, USA