Dodge Nitro Complaints

1,457 consumer complaints on file.

#10241747September 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
THE VEHICLE WHEN IN DRIVE AT ANY SPEED DOES A JERKING MOTION FORWARD AS IF IT IS SLIPPING GEARS OR LOSING POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE SENSATION IS WORSE, PHYSICALLY MOVING MY BODY FORWARD, WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, 60-70. I KNOW THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DUE TO "BAD GAS" BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IDLING RELATIVELY WELL. IT WAS NOT ELECTRICAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU COULD RELEASE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS AND "COAST" AND THE SENSATION STOPPED. I FOLLOWED UP WITH CHRYSLER TO CONFIRM NO OTHER RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE CAR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER I TOLD THEM I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS FIRST TIME THEY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. WHEN I PICKED IT UP THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THEY SIMPLY UPDATED THE TRANSMISSION VIA THE COMPUTER. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE THE CAR WHICH WAS ON THE FREEWAY- ASSUMING IT WAS FIXED, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY BUT MORE SEVERE, CAUSING MY BODY TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE AGAIN, THIS TIME MAGICALLY IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND A SEAL. I GOT THE CAR BACK, FIRST TIME I DROVE IT.. STILL IS DOING THE SAME THING. I CANT DRIVE MY KIDS IT, ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. TWICE I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE IT TO MAINTAIN MY JOB BUT WILL ONLY DRIVE IN THE SLOW LANE SO THAT I HAVE SOME KIND OF "OUT" IT IS NOW AT THE GARAGE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALER IS FINALLY PAYING FOR THE LOANER. EVEN IF THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT THERE IS NO WAY I CAN TRUST THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM THEM REGARDING THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241460September 9, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN COLD HARD SHIFTING UNTIL WARM. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION IS SLOW TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO ALLOW TIMELY ACCELERATION, CAUSES PERSISTENT VIBRATIONS WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. HAS NOT CAUSED ANY COLLISIONS YET BUT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. MY FEAR IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE OR INABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED TO AVOID A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239058August 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE SHUTTERS OR SURGES BETWEEN 38-50 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER HAD REPAIRED IT. I HAVE HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AND COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED AND NOTHING HAS WORKED. IT IS STILL AT THE SECOND DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY WERE GOING TO PUT A RECORDING DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THEY COULD DETECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238893August 19, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2007 DODGE "NITRO" BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO LESS THAN ONE (1) INCH OF BEING HARD ON THE FLOOR. ON PRESENTING THIS PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP, THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY COULD SHOW ME A 2008 "NITRO" WITH BRAKE PEDAL THE SAME WAY. MY CONSTANT CONCERN IS WHETHER I WILL BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY AT ALL TIMES. I CERTAINLY PAID FOR BRAKES AND FEEL I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED BRAKES THAT ARE SAFE AND DEPENDABLE. I REPORTED THIS CONDITION WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234658July 17, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND NEXT THING I KNOW MY VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS DROPPED DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL COLLIDING INTO A PARKED CAR. THE KNUCKLE HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO DROP TO THE ROAD. MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE MADE CONTACT WITH THE PARKED CARS DRIVERS REAR TIRE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10232910July 1, 2008
SUSPENSION
RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232388June 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
2-3 TIMES A WEEK MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. A/C EVERYTHING. IT STARTED WITH JUST THE TPM GAUGE GOING OFF SAYING IT WAS A FLAT BUT HAS NOW ESCALATED TO ALL THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN APRIL 2008 EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN 2007 MODEL , I HAVE TAKEN IT ABOUT 3 TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD WITNESSES IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED. I AM WORRIED THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS A DISTRACTION AND ALSO I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO THE WHOLE CAR SHUTTING OFF. PLEASE HELP *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230136June 6, 2008
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X2. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITS THE VEHICLE, A PANEL LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES OF THE SEAT CATCHES AND RIPS HER CLOTHING. AS A RESULT, SHE SUSTAINED SCRATCHES ON HER LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER HAS TAKEN OVER A MONTH TO ACQUIRE THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE CONTACT USED PROFANITY WHEN SHE SPOKE WITH THEM, WHICH IS WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN OF ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER CARE TAKER WAS THE ONE SPEAKING WITH THEM AT THE TIME, AND NOT HER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED PAINT ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE SHORT HANDED AND WOULD NOTIFY HER OF WHEN TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. AS OF JUNE 6, 2008, THE DEALER HAS NOT INFORMED HER OF WHEN TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,775 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10229287May 30, 2008
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, ON HILLS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF PARKING. VEHICLE ROLLS. DEALER CANNOT FIX IT, CHECKED 4 OTHER MODELS, THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228969May 27, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A CHATTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND BOTH WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. BOTH DEALERS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS WELL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,149.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226343April 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY AND NO LAWYER WANTS TO FIGHT CHRYSLER. I AM NOT PUTTING MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY WITH THAT CAR. ON 2/18/08 I LEASED A 2008 DODGE NITRO AT CRESTWOOD DODGE. ON 3/31/08 MY WIFE ROUTINELY STARTED THE NITRO, PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE (AND NOT THE GAS) AND ENGAGED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE. WITHIN A SPLIT SECOND, THE CAR MADE AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR BURSTED BACKWARD TAKING OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR GATE AND A PORTION OF THE FENCE ADJACENT TO THE GATE. THIS TOOK HER BY SURPRISE. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE WAS NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE AS THE TRANSMISSION HAD TORQUED THE ENGINE SO HARD THAT IT FORCED HER INTO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THE REAR BUMPER RAMMED INTO A BRICK PILLAR SUPPORTING THE ROOF OF THE FRONT PORCH AND DAMAGED THE CAR. THE IMPACT OF HITTING THE HOUSE AND THE PILLAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE MOMENTUM OF THE NITRO. I CALLED THE SERVICE MGR AT CRESTWOOD TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY KNOWN RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING ON THE NITRO. HE TOLD ME NO. I ASKED HIM FOR ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO. HE REFERRED ME TO THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP. (CCCRG) I FILED A CLAIM WITH THIS CCCRG. THEN WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM THEM STATING THAT THEY WILL SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE NITRO. CCCRG INFORMED US THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED AT DEARBORN COLLISION AND THAT WE WILL RECEIVE AN ANSWER. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE CASE MGR. ON 4/9/08 WE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THE INSPECTOR FOUND NO INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTIONING DEFECT. I SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH DEARBORN COLLISION AND ASKED ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION. THEY STATED THAT THE INVESTIGATOR HARDLY LOOKED AT ANYTHING. NEVER EVEN STARTED THE CAR AND THAT HE WERE IN AND OUT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. ON 4/10/08 I SPOKE TO THE CASE MANAGER AND DISCUSSED HOW WE CAN JUST GET A NEW LEASE. HE ADVISED ME THAT IF I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ARRANGE A MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT MGR THAT GOVERNS CRESTWOOD DODGE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223177April 2, 2008
VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WITH THE HEATER SETTINGS ON THE HIGH AND LOW SELECTIONS, THE AIR THAT CAME FROM THE FLOOR VENTS PRODUCED A LOT OF COLD AIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WARM AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS ABOVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS WITH THE DEALER FOR THREE DAYS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE. THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT 100% REPAIRED, AND THE FOAM PLACED UNDER THE CONSOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THE COLD AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS. A CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE WAS NOTIFIED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2, 2008, BUT IT WAS RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 3, 2008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,852 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222985March 31, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID THEY REPROGRAMMED A COMPUTER BUT ALSO SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T GET THEM TO STOP I DON'T THINK ITS FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222162March 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY 2007 DODGE NITRO HAS HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DOOR LOCKS ARE OFTEN INOPERABLE, THE WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN WHEN DRIVING, THE RADIO IS OFTEN ON WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, AND THE BACK GATE PERIODICALLY WILL NOT OPEN. LASTLY, WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS UP TO 55 MPH THE ENGINE CUTS OFF CREATING A STALL WHILE IN ADDITION ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (HAZARDS, LOCKS, ETC.) DO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221623March 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS CONTINUOUSLY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE ENTIRE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER FOR OVER A YEAR, BUT THEY ARE NOT ASSISTING AND WILL NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221353March 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START HAD TO BE TOWED IN AND IT TOOK 2 DAYS TO GET THE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220739March 10, 2008
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD AUTOMOBILE. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED TEMPORARILY BUT THE BRAKE AGAIN STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. I AGAIN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE ORDERED THE PARTS. THREE MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE LAST COMPLAINT AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. SINCE I HAVE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, AND OFTEN HAVE TO PARK ON SLOPES, THE BRAKE IS AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY FEATURE. ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE GOTTEN IN THE CAR AND PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO START THE CAR AND HAD THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO ROLL, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE LEVER WAS FULLY ENGAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219951March 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPORADICALLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IT USUALLY TAKES APPROXIMATELY THIRTY SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS SIGNALED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE ABS. NINE MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THAT COMPONENT, BUT SHE COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,792.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216524January 30, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- VEHICLE DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT OR BACKING UP, THEN WITH OUT NOTICE SURGE. - DRIVING UP LARGE HILL, COMING UP ON TRACTOR AND TRAILER AHEAD, DOING 45 MPH, LEFT OFF GAS SLIGHTLY TO ADJUST SPEED WENT TO RESUME SPEED THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, NO POWER, LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON DASH AND ENGINE HAD NOT CUT OUT. TWO TO THREE SECONDS LATER, ENGINE/VEHICLE REGAINED POWER. -PULLING OUT OF DRIVE WAY, ON A INCLINE AND ACCELERATING, THEN LEFT OFF GAS TO LEVEL SPEED BEFORE A BEND. VEHICLE THROTTLE DID NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED AT SPEED. APPLIED BRAKES, " BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND". DROVE VEHICLE INTO SOMEONE'S YARD, AND SHUT ENGINE DOWN. - DRIVING A CONGESTED STREET IN A TOWN, NO MORE THAN 25 MPH, BETWEEN STOP SIGNS. VEHICLE CONTINUED AT SPEED WHEN LEFT OFF GAS, BRAKES DID WORK. LEFT AMPLE ROOM TO STOP, BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214870January 15, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4. DURING ACCELERATION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND INCREASES TO 85 MPH. THE GAS PEDAL MUST BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND REPLACED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED CURRENTLY THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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