general problems of the 2008 Dodge Nitro

Tipm connectors melted. Ground wires melted.

I have received multiple recall notices (recall w09/NHTSA 20v-396) since the recall was issued on my vehicle 20 months ago however I have been unable to get the recall completed because Dodge will not provide the parts needed to complete the repair. The notices all say that the part is available yet when my dealership tries to get the part, they are told it is out of stock with no eta as to when it will be available. This is not a timely manner and Dodge needs to provide the part now.

Brakes not working properly, problems with heater core.

While driving car stalls for no rhyme or reason at different times. I've almost put it in the ditch multiple times now. Thankfully all while going 25-40mph and not faster on the highway.

Key ob all of a sudden stopped working it wont lock,unlock or do remote start its like its dead even after replacing the battery.

I was driving my 2008 Dodge Nitro and felt a jerk then air bag tried to deploy and vehicle lost power while driving down the road. It did this twice and air bag on drivers side is trying to deploy with light and dinging every time driven. The gas cap will not seal causing check engine light to stay on and there has been contant electric issues. Head lights and tail lights have to now be constantly replaced and air bag light is always coming on with dinging noise. I believe I'm having issues with the drive train and several other issues that are all recalls in this year of Dodge Nitro.

We were driving straight through a parking lot on Friday, may 11 and suddenly the wipers in the front and back started going at an accelerated rate and the wiper fluid was continuously pumping out and the horn was continuously honking. I got into a parking spot, tried to turn the car off and it wouldn't. I was even able to turn the key in the ignition to the off but it was still running and I could pull the key out while it was running. . I was so startled I am not sure if the lights or any signals were going off. I did research on the web and apparently many, many people have had that and it is the tipm. It is not an isolated incident with these Nitros. I brought it to the dealer today and they said it would be okay but gave me their card in case it happens again. Honestly, I am afraid to drive this thing especially reading about the many incidents they have had. I reported this to Chrysler as well.

The car has turned off while driving on the city street. Also, the car's horn, window wipers and lights in side have just started going on for no reason while leaving for school. Even after stopping car and turning it off, everything was still going on. I've heard it's a tipm issue with Dodge's vehicles.

There have been variant problems such as the power locks stop working or go on and off by themselves, even when no one is by the car (we can hear it). Now the car turns off while driving, even just goes black on the dash and the engine stops.

Driving the vehicle suddenly stop moving, the hazard lights, wipers, windshield washer washer, horn constantly blowing, engine running but not moving, just stopped moving in city traffic, extremely hazardous and life threatening situation. I noticed on social media this appears to be a very common problem with 2008 Dodge Nitroes, why have there not been a recall on such a common problem with these vehicles. This website have a number of other drivers testimonies of this extremely hazardous life threatening problem. What can be done to correct this problem immediately. . Read more...

The headlights randomly turn on and off even when the car is not running. This is draining the battery frequently. Replacing the battery has not helped with this issue. The turn signals will randomly begin blinking while I'm driving. The horn has begun sporadically beeping while driving and also when the car is off and parked in my driveway. The heat has completely stopped working - it only blows ice cold air which is the last thing I need when it is below zero here in the mornings when I am leaving for work. There is clearly an electrical problem which seems to escalate over time - and it seems other years of this vehicle have been recalled for these same problems. I am not understanding why the 2008 has not been recalled. I am terrified of what this problem will escalate to - I have a young child that I must transport daily to daycare.

The intermitten windshield wipers go on and off whenever. Even if the engine is off it still happens. Also the horn with suddenly blow with no warning. I have had it go off at 7:15 a. M. And wake the whole neighborhood. Unplugging the fuse from the electrical box makes it not quite so loud but still blowing. I have taken it to the dealership but unable to leave overnight. Their suggestion was to disconnect the battery and horn would stop blowing. I am 77 years old of sound mind and that is not an option for me. Told me to bring back when it did it again, which it did this morning 9/26/17. They are charging me almost $150. 00 for a diagnostic when I told them what the problem probably is. The tipm circuit board. The service agent said it was a costly repair. I do not think I should be paying anything since this seems to be a problem with this particular vehicle. I'm extremely concerned that if the horn starts to blow and I'm behind someone who takes offense and could end up with a road rage incident. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and I am waiting to hear from them. Help. It makes no difference if the car is in my driveway or on the road (which it was this morning). There is no warning it just happens. I've also been concerned the vehicle will catch on fire .

Takata recall . . . Once again nothing is still being done and my problems got worse it's already been diagnosed as the tipm and not only did it start out as horn blowing and doors locking and unlocking by its self and trying to stall while driving now lights are flashing while unoccupied and have flashed off going down the road. . And as I went to go to work due to lights continuously flashing it ran my battery completely down left me stranded. This is a major issue. Ive spoken with my warranty company they said it's not covered I've also called Chrysler and they refuse to do anything about . Let me add heat and air and heated seats go hay wire as well . But I guess it's time to get a lawyer. . I'm not paying big money for something that's gonna cause me harm .

Electrical for door panel went out. Can't roll windows up or down, and can't lock door from driver side. But the light is still on in the panel.

The winshield wipers turn on and off, the horn keeps honking, doors lock and unlock on their own, heater turns on and off, and the vehicle will not start sometimes. The vehicle isn't constantly doing this but it will randomly happen when the vehicle is in motion or even when it's on idle.

I have a 2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4 3. 7l . My rear break pads have worn about 1/8" into the rotor. I had gotten new tires for my vehicle not too long ago & ever since then I have been hearing what sounds like a clanking sound that seems to be coming from either the driver side rear or front tire area. It only makes this sound between speeds of 5mph to 30mph, then it seems to go away after doing 40+mph. My breaks don't squeal or make sounds when I push them. Only when I accelerate from a complete stop does this clanking sound occur. I have not inspected the rotor yet,but looks fine from what I can see. I know I'm gonna need new break pads soon but I have no clue what or where this sound is coming from.

The headlights stopped working. At first they would flash on and off. After 4 or 5 times of turning on the lights, they wouldn't even flash. We tried changing the fuses, but nothing worked. The lights remained inoperative until it rained. Once it rained, all of a sudden the lights started operating normally. This pattern has continued for over a year. Sometimes the lights work and sometimes they don't. The dealer says it is a tipm problem. Apparently, this is a common problem with Dodge Nitros. We did have a mechanic replace the lights/turn signal lever in the car. The lights worked without issue for about 3 months. Now, they are not working again. And now we are having other issues such as the horn going off and the windshield wipers and washer fluid going off randomly and nothing I do will stop it. After about 5 minutes, everything stopped on its own. Thankfully, we were in a parking lot at the time. I can only imagine the danger if this happened while driving in heavy traffic or at a high rate of speed. This is a huge safety issue. Chrysler should recall this and repair the vehicles affected.

Driving down road when all of a sudden heard herendous squealing noise so loud couldn't stay inside vehicle while moving. Upon examination I discovered a heat shield had fallen against and wrapped itself around the drive shaft. I now know the aluminum piece to be the heat shield from the transfer case. This shield is one involved for recalls of same year make and model two wheel drive. My Dodge Nitro 2008 is a 4x4 model not included in said recall. My question to the government as well as Chrysler is one of why not??? fix my vehicle safety hazard too. . .

Tl-the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph on a downhill road, the horn and windshield wipers went off on their own and the entire instrument panel illuminated intermittently. The contact pulled the vehicle over. When the contact attempted to turn the vehicle off and take the key out of the ignition, the vehicle was still running. The contact had to disconnect the battery cables to turn the vehicle off. The problem recurred 60 times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000. Cs.

Was driving no warning car over heated pulled over waited hour to cool car wouldn't start had towed motor blown no warning had problems since purchase electrical brakes etc.

I pushed the unlock button on my key and opened the drivers side door to get in and that's when the problems began. The horn started blaring non stop, the front and rear windshield wipers were going at various speeds and my lights were flashing and the blinkers were going off. I tried to put my key in the ignition and tried to turn the vehicle on but nothing would happen. The car felt like it was on even though I hadn't turned it on but when I got out of the vehicle it definitely showed signs of being on. After just about 30 minutes everything stopped but my horn will no longer work and my check engine light remains on. This is the first occurrence so we will be taking it to the dealership that we got it from since we have only had the vehicle and been driving it for 2 days.

First occurrence was random honking of horn while vehicle is turned off and parked in store parking lot. Second occurrence was while driving approx. 30-35 miles per hour on access road then on to highway and it started to honk continuously without stop or pause. I had to pull over and locate the fuses and remove so honking would stop. Bought brand new fuses and replaced but still does the same things. And in order to get car inspected, your horn has to be working correctly in the state of texas.

The tipm malfunctioned on my car. Which causes me driving down the interstate to lose electronics, horn stayed on, wipers stayed on and my car downshifted and would not up shift. I had to swerve to the side of the highway to avoid being hit. The dealership saw the car in person while all the electronic parts were going haywire. Then car would not shut off even with the key out of the ignition. The battery had to be disconnected. This could have been a major accident on the highway in rush hour.

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. . .

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!.