NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Dodge Nitro. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK/ VALVE IN THIS MODEL DODGE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I GO TO FUEL UP I HAVE TO GUESS THE NUMBER OF GALLONS IT WILL TAKE BEFORE I STOP PUMPING IN FUEL, OTHERWISE FUEL WILL SPILL OUT ALL OVER THE SIDE AND THE GROUND. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FUEL UP, NO MATTER THE GAS STATION OR TYPE OF PUMP OR FUEL GRADE. SPOKE TO CHRYSLER LLC. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ON THE RECALL FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE BUT IT WAS FOR THE 2007 - 2008 MODELS. WHY IS IT NOT ON THE RECALL!???!!! I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE OUT OF POCKET AS IT IS NOT COVERED IN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND HEALTH ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION ENVIRONMENTAL. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON RECALL IMMEDIATELY. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT IT IS NOT ALREADY. *TR
THIS IS ABOUT THE IGNITION KEY. AN EXTRA KEY COSTS $200, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEBODY LOSES THEIR KEY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD A SPARE. IT IS EXTORTION BY DODGE. ALSO-- TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID? MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND PAY $25 MINIMUM. NEITHER MY MECHANIC NOR THE QUICK OIL CHANGE PLACE CAN CHECK IT-- THERE IS NO DIPSTICK, THERE IS A SPECIAL TOOL AND WHERE THE DIPSTICK WOULD BE IT SAYS "DEALER ONLY" AND THAT IS TRUE. MORE EXTORTION. IT IS NOT RIGHT AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. "A" PILLARS ARE EXTREMELY THICK-- DI TO THE STYLING, OVERALL VISIBILITY IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED. TRANS AND 4WD ARE JERKY AND GROWL AND HOWL. DEALER: "THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT". THESE ARE ALSO VERY MUCH SAFETY ISSUES. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR COMPLETION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V282000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY WERE UNSURE WHEN THEY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V3282000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND NEITHER COULD PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
I BOUGHT MY 2011 NITRO BRAND NEW...LIST OF PROBLEMS: DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT KEEPS HANGING UP AS WELL AS THE DRIVERS SEAT HAVE HARD TIME ADJUSTING.... A/C STOP BLOWING SOME TYPE OF CONTROLL VALVE WAS REPLACED..$345...EVAP LEAK $100 TO DIAGNOSE RECOMMENDED FACTORY GAS CAP 6 CAPS LATER $140.. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON REPLACED PURGE VALVE...$300.....REPLACED EGR VALVE AND VACUUM HOSE...$475 WHEN GETTING GAS IT JUST STARTS SPEWING OUT WHEN CLOSE TO FILLING UP...WHEN DRIVING ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK AND ENGINE REVS REALLY HIGH UNTIL I PUSH IT AGAIN....I THOUGHT IT WAS DIRTY ON THE FENDERS REALIZED IT WAS SMALL PAINT CHIPS.... ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON ABOUT A 1 1/2 AFTER BUYING IT BUT IT WOULD ALWAYS GO OUT I USE PREMIUM GAS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STILL COME ON ABOUT EVERY 3 MONTHS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V282000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,449.
TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE SEAL LEAKED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE SEAL REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND FITZGERALD AUTO MALL LEXINGTON PARK (2231 THREE NOTCH ROAD, LEXINGTON PARK, MD 20653, 301-737-0088) TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE SEALS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,747. *BF *AS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH SUCCESSFULLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BUCKLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKEN SO PASSENGER CAN NOT GET OUT FROM THE INSIDE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED DESPITE ALL THE PASSENGERS BEING SECURED IN THE SEAT BELTS. THE WIPER BLADES THEN INDEPENDENTLY POWERED ON AS ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A GROUND WALL WIRE BEING LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26000.
FUEL OVERFLOWS WHEN FILLING TRUCK WITH FUEL. *TR
WHEN GETTING INTO VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ADVISED DODGE SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. THEY ADVISED ME OF AN APPOINTMENT THREE DAYS AWAY AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE FINE. KEPT APPOINTMENT WITH SERVICE CENTER AND RESULT AS APPEARS FROM INVOICE: J# 1 52CHZ12 SUP RESTRAINT SYS CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN DASH CHECK AND ADVISE. AIR BAG LIGHT ON. MADE SCAN REPORT. AIR BAG FAULT 1. B2208 ORC INTERNAL POWERS AND GROUNDS GOOD TO MODULE. RECOMMEND REPLACE ORC AND RECHECK. ORDERED PART; REPLACED ORC MODULE RECHECKED OK AT THIS TIME. 56054601-AC MODULE OC 8035034 WR 1759. SERVICE CENTER ADVISED THERE WAS A BULLETIN LISTED FOR CHRYSLER VANS OF SAME PROBLEM. NONE FOUND FOR THE 2011 DODGE NITRO. PERHAPS THIS SHOULD BE ADDED ON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH AND ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED YET NO OTHER AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR ,PRESS ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN THERE IS A LOUD BANG AND VEHICLES STARTS TO MOVE SLOWLY. ENGINE REVS AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN. VEHICLES BUCKS AND NO ACCELERATION. UNSAFE. TAKEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. THEY ADJUSTED THE COMPUTER ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. BACK IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP TIRES, LINE SIZE: 245 50/R20. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, BOTH FRONT TIRES BLEW. THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER WELL WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
USING MY KEYLESS ENTRY FOB, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON SO I KNEW THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB MIGHT BE GOING OUT, SO I WENT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER KEY FOB BATTERY. WITH THE NEW BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB, I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I USED THE KEY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR DOOR, AND THE ALARM WENT OFF. I TRIED TO DEACTIVATE THE ALARM WITH THE KEY FOB AND BY INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THE ALARM WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. I THOUGHT THE KEY FOB WAS BAD, SO I GOT MY EXTRA KEY FOB AND TRIED IT. WITH THE EXTRA KEY FOB, I STILL INCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM -- COULD NOT START MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO USE DODGE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE KEY FOB AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. HE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BY PULLING THE FUSE. AFTER HE RE-INSERTED THE FUSE, HE WAS ABLE TO USE THE KEY FOB AND START THE VEHICLE. IN CHECKING THE DIAGNOSTICS, NO ERRORS WERE REPORTED. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO START MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF FAILURE REMAINED UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION WHEN IT RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,300. UPDATED 10/19/12 *CN UPDATED 10/23/2012 *JS
I DRIVE A 2011 DODGE NITRO AND I WENT ON A TRIP AND ON MY WAY OVER I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE AND IT SMELLED LIKE RAW GAS, AND AS I WOULD STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD START MISFIRING. THEN ON MY WAY BACK I CONTINUED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND ANOTHER COMPLICATION ARISED MY AIR CONDITION STOPPED BLOWING AIR AND ALL THE LINES WERE FROZEN. *TR
ENGINE STALLS WHILE PARKED OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. IT DOES THE SAME WHILE TAKING A CURVE AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE CURVE ENDED. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GASOLINE COMING FROM THE TANK AND THE ENGINE STARVES. IT DOES IT WHEN THE ENGINE HAS FINISHED WARMING AND ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS AS SOON AS 1 WEEK AFTER. *TR
WE PURCHASED OUR DODGE NITRO 6/11/2011, NOTICED SHIFTING PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY BUT WAS TOLDED BY DEALER IS WAS JUST STIFF FROM BEING NEW. AS TIME GOES ON THE WARMER THE TRANSMISSION GETS THE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS GETS WORSE, MOSTLY ON CRUISE CONTROL. SOME TIMES WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE ON, IT DOWN SHIFTS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE BOTTOM IS FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. TOOK BACK TO DEALER 4 TIMES ON THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD BY TRANSMISSION SPEC. TECH. AT DEALERS THAT CHRYSLER PUT A 4 LITER TRANSMISSION IN A 6 LITER CAR, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THAT. AND WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY OR MAYNOT GET WORSE AS TIME AS BY. I NOW HAVE 7400 MILES ON THE CAR AND ITS GETING WORSE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. NO WONDER CHRYSLER NEEDED A BAILOUT... TO ME THE CAR IS GREAT EXCEPT THE TRANSMISSION !!!!! *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23. UPDATED 03/10/15*LJ UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR HER INSURANCE TO PROVIDE AN APPRAISAL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 894.