2007 Dodge Nitro Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE COASTED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN RESTARTED AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 5,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

MY COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO THE NEW DODGE NITRO. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING , TWICE AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND ONCE WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, I LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS. NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO CONTROL. LUCKILY, WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS IT LITERALLY TURNED ITSELF BACK ON. WHEN I COMPLAINED OF THIS TO MY DEALER'S MAINTENANCE SHOP , ARRIGO DODGE ON OKEECHOBEE IN WEST PALM BEACH, THEY DISMISSED IT AS SOME TYPE OF GLITCH, AND DIDN'T SEE HOW THEY COULD SIMULATE A 5 HOUR ROAD-TRIP. WHICH WAS THE SITUATION WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, AND IT WOULD BE UP TO ME TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY, FIND MY OWN REPLACEMENT TRANSPORTATION AND PAY TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE NEW VEHICLE."THIS I FOUND NOT ONLY TO BE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT A POTENTIALLY HUGE LIABILITY TO THE DAIMLER /CHRYSLER CORPORATION. JUST THIS WEEK I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL STATING THAT THIS SAME THING HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN SEVERAL NITRO MODELS, AND THAT I NEED TO BRING THE CAR IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PERSONALLY, I DIDN'T WANT A BRAND NEW CAR THAT WAS ALREADY POSING SOME POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECTS, AND WISHED TO FILE THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT NOT ONLY AGAINST DAIMLER/CHRYSLER, BUT ALSO FOR ARRIGO DODGE. THANK YOU. *AK

IN FEBRUARY OF 2007,MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE NITRO FROM KEN GARF WEST VALLEY DODGE. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR THE MOMENT WE SAW IT, BUT IT HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE. WITHIN WEEKS OF BRINGING IT HOME WE NOTICED A HESISTATION/SURGING PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR WHENEVER WE TRAVELED AT A SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MPH. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. WE BROUGHT THE NITRO IN; THEY DID A COMPUTER FLASH UPDATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. AGAIN, WE NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER RETURNING HOME. SO, WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK IN. THEY DID THE SAME THIN(COMPUTER FLASH UPDATE) AND TOLD US WHATEVER RESIDUAL SURGING WE FELT IN THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. FOT THE THIRD TIME, WE BROUGHT IT HOME AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO WORSEN, WE BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THE DEALER.BUT THIS TIME WHILE I WAS THERE I TEST-DROVE ANOTHER NITRO OF THE EXACT KIND TO FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL. AFTER DOING THIS AND TELLING THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAD TEST-DROVE ANOTHER NITRO, THEY DECIDE WE NEEDE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR A MONTH AWAY TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GET THE PARTS IN. ONCE AGAIN WE BROUGHT THE NITRO IN, THEY KEPT IT A FEW DAYS TO CHANGE OUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WHEN WE PICKED IT UP THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. WE WERE EXCITED AND RELIEVED TO FINALLY GET THIS BEHIND US. SOON AFTER THIS, THE SURGING WAS STILL TAKING PLACE, BUT NOW AT ANY SPEED WE TRIED TO HOLD STEADY. WE CALLED AGAIN AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS NORMAL, I REMINDED THEM THAT I HAD TEST-DROVE THE EXACT CAR AND THAT IT WAS IN FACT, NOT NORMAL. YET AGAIN, THE SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENTFOR USA TO BRING THE CAR IN. THIS TIME THE HEAD MECHANIC DROVE IT WITH THE COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO IT. HE STATED THAT IT WAS GETTING WORSE, BUT THE COMPUTER WAS SHOWING NO ERRORS AND THEY COULD'NT FIX IT. *JB

I OWN A 2007 DODGE NITRO AND HAVE FOR 3 YEARS. GAS OVERFLOWS FROM THE GAS TANK EVERY TIME I FILL UP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB

TRANSMISSION BOGS DOWN. DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WILL HANG UP AT 50 MPH CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT GO. TORQUE CONVERTOR LOCKS UP AT 40-50 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELLERATE DURING LANE CHANGES ON HIGHWAY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE HE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD THREE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY ALSO REPLACED THE SEALANT AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY NEW VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO RUN POORLY. IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS MISSING OUT, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OR LOSING POWER??? I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 2007 AND SHOULD NOT RUN AS POORLY AS IT DOES. THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED SOMETHING ON THE COMPUTER TWICE I THINK FROM WHAT THEY TELL ME. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OKAY FOR A FEW DAYS AND IT STARTS RUNNING POORLY AGAIN. THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, IT IS RECALL NUMBER G25 TO REPROGRAM TIPM ENGINE STALLING, THIS MAY HELP THE PROBLEM BUT I AM NOT SURE YET. I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. I PAID TOO MUCH FOR A NEW VEHICLE FOR IT TO NOT RUN PROPERLY. I ALSO HAD A SERVICE TECH TELL ME THAT THEY WERE JUST NOT AS SENSITIVE TO THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING. I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE VEHICLE IT DOES NOT START PROPERLY. IT STARTS BUT IDLES ROUGHLY AND THIS HAS DONE THIS WHEN IT IS NOT COLD OUTSIDE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART APPROXIMATELY FOUR SECONDS AFTER SHUTTING OFF. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 7,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY, CAR STALLED, ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, CAR RESTARTED. YESTERDAY THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME TRACTOR-TRAILER BEARING DOWN ON MY HUSBAND, HE TRIED FOR THE SHOULDER, HIT SOME DEBRIS THERE, BROKE THE FRONT FASCIA, CAR RESTARTED. MANY OCCURRENCES LISTED ON WWW.NITROFORUMZ.COM FROM MANY DODGE NITRO OWNERS AROUND COUNTRY AND IN CANADA. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, LIFE-THREATENING FLAW IN THE 2007 DODGE NITRO. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A DITCH. SHE STATED THAT HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT. THE POLICE ONSITE STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKES CAUSED THE CRASH. SHE SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER CHEST, FOREHEAD AND LEGS AND SUFFERED A SWOLLEN HEAD, SHOULDER AND NECK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 06V493000). AS OF AUGUST 10, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,900.

2007 DODGE NITRO SXT 4X4. PURCHASED IN JANUARY 7, 2007 FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WAS IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. CPU HAD TO BE REPLACED AND UPDATED WITH NEW SOFT WARE. APRIL 8 2007, DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 75 MPH, AT NIGHT, CAR LIGHTS, ENGINE ALL QUIT, CAME BACK ON SECONDS LATER PANEL LIGHTS STAYED ON FOR 2 MINUTES AFTER, 2 LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER THAT FOR A COUPLE OF MORE MINUTES. MAY 13 2007, DRIVING 15 MPH CAR SPATTERS THEN SHUTS OFF, POWERED IT SELF BACK UP AND PANEL LIGHTS STAY ED ON 1 MINUTE GO OFF BUT 2 AGAIN ARE STILL LIT GOES OFF AFTER 1-2 MINUTES. *AK

REMOTE START DOOR LOCKS ELECTRICAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X2. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION PULLS, STUTTERS, VIBRATES, AND SHAKES. THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN TEN TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE O-RING HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN ADJUSTED, AND FINALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSIST. DAIMLER CHRYSLER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CABLE CORD INSIDE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SNAPPED WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW COULD NOT BE REPLACED UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE LUGGAGE RACK HOLDER ON THE DRIVER SIDE SNAPPED OFF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 16,595 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH HEADLIGHTS, DASH, RADIO ALL DIED FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS. EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON AND DASH WHEN THROUGH ITS START UP CYCLE LIKE WHEN YOU 1ST START UP AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON. AFTER THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. IT WAS 11:45PM 29 DEG OUTSIDE AND I HAD JUST WENT THROUGH A CARWASH. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE 1ST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND I THOUGHT MY EYES WERE PLAYING TRICKS ON ME. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY STARTED AGAIN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAS DOCUMENTATION OF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 11,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, THERE IS A SHUDDER IN EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS IS A CLUNKING NOISE THAT MOST PREVALENTLY APPEARS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. I HAVE ARGUED WITH MY DEALER AND WITH DODGE FOR A REMEDY TO THIS, AND THEY BOTH REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. IT FIRST APPEARED AROUND JANUARY OF 2007 AND CONTINUES. ALSO, I HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE REGARDING THE STALLING ISSUE OF MY NITRO. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, MY NITRO HAS STALLED WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH. THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER AND ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ITEM, BUT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE REPAIRS PERFORMED BY DODGE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS AN UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS PRODUCT. *JB

MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND THEN TURNS BACK ON WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY TURN OFF INCLUDING ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THEN TURNS BACK ON. WHEN IT TURNS BACK ON ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIKE THE ABS AND SRS LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND TURN OFF AS LIKE IF I JUST STARTED THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME THE CAR DID NOT TURN BACK ON (I THINK BECAUSE I WAS ALMOST STOPPED THE OTHER 2 TIMES I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30-65 MPH AND THE ENGINE STARTED BACK UP AUTOMATICALLY). I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTART IT THE 3RD TIME. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2-3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THEREFORE I HAVE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND YOU THE NHTSA IN HOPES OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.NITROFORUMZ.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=18 THANK YOU. *JB

I PURCHASED A DODGE NITRO IN OCTOBER OF 2006. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD IT STALL OUT ON ME, ON THE HIGHWAY, TWICE AND RE-START AUTOMATICALLY. IT'S PRETTY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING A CAR AT 80MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAVE IT STALL OUT AND RESTART ON YOU FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY NITRO OWNER WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. WHEN I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS THEY SAID SINCE THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE IT. I HAVE NOT CALLED CHRYSLER YET, BUT I AM ABOUT TO. I DON'T WANT TO DIE, OR CAUSE THE DEATH OF OTHERS, BECAUSE MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING BEYOND MY CONTROL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED REVOLVING. THEN, ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, I ALLOWED THE CAR TO DECELERATE. THEN, AS QUICKLY AS IT LOST POWER, IT REGAINED POWER. THIS HAPPENED ON THE CAUSEWAY BRIDGE BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND MANDEVILLE. THE BRIDGE HAS NO SHOULDERS TO SPEAK OF. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT THE CAR, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM; THUS, NOTHING WAS FIXED. I HAVE CHECKED THIS PROBLEM OUT ON DODGE NITRO INTERNET FORUMS, AND OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ALSO. *NM

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE NITRO. SINCE ABOUT 400 MILES THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION/BUCKING WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, ONCE A MONTH SINCE PURCHASED ON NOV 25, 2006. THE PROBLEM HAS STILL NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE HESITATION/BUCKING AT ALL SPEEDS IS "NORMAL". *JB

CAR HAS STALLED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND ONE TIME DID NOT RESTART WHICH RESULTED IN IT BEING TOWED. THE HORN AND DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK HAVE BROKEN. I ADVISED THE DEALERSHIP OF MY SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THE STALLING AND ALSO LOW RPM'S. CAR IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP FOR 6TH TIME AND THEY CURRENTLY DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM. CAR HAS APPROX. 8000 MILES. FIRST STALL HAPPENED AROUND 1000 MILES.

FRONT OF ROOF RAILS CRACKING AT FORWARD BOLT, LEFT AND RIGHT. *JB

2007 DODGE NITRO SAFETY ISSUES CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER 3 MONTHS HE NOTICED A HESITATION IN POWER AN HARD SHIFTING**CC THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTER, LOOSING POWER IN FORWARD AND REVERSE AND HARD SHIFTING. *JB

RECALL- TIPM WINDSHIELD WIPER RELAYS ON 2007 DODGE NITRO. *BF THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THE INSPECTION WOULD TAKE LESS THAN 1/2 HOUR. IF NEW RELAYS WERE REQUIRED IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 1 HOUR. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS TOLD IT MAY TAKE 2 HOURS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS NOT BEING HONEST. *JB