13 problems related to exterior lighting have been reported for the 2008 Dodge Nitro. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Vehicle started having electrical issues. Wipers and lights would jump on by themselves while I was driving. Tipm and esp icon lit up on the dash shortly after. Vehicle would make grinding noises when putting vehicle into different gears (park, reverse, and drive). Doors would not automatically lock once the vehicle was moving as it was programmed to do. Functions on key fob no longer worked as they should (lock button would unlock the doors and unlock button would activate the automatic start). I removed the battery from the key fob after my vehicle was broken into once the fob started malfunctioning. Vehicle has been parked for the last 3. 5 weeks after electrical issues got worse and the air bag light started coming on. I have read several reviews and checked for recalls and it seems that some of the issues that I have experienced with my 2008 Dodge Nitro are very common amongst other Dodge drivers as well as Chrysler 300 drivers. I know of 2 other people that are having the same issues with their Chrysler 300s (older 2007 models). A recall needs to be started for safety purposes because operating these vehicles in this state are highly unsafe. I was driving to work (about 530ish one morning) and the abs, esp, tipm, and airbag icon all came on and then my truck started stalling out. I had to get it towed home and it's been parked ever since. Owners of these vehicles need to be extremely cautious if and once these lights come on.
When parked my vehicles head lights, dome lights and car unlocks randomly over and over. It causes my battery to die and the remote isn't even being touched.
Doors unlock lights inside and out all lights come on when no one is touching the keys they keep doing it every couple of minutes and stay on for up to five minutes draining the battery. The vehicle is parked keys out and it still happens.
The wiper turns on at a high speed, faster than normal, horn get stuck, radio goes off and on for a long period of time and when you turn the truck off all continue to work even with the key out of ignition. This happen when I'm driving or when it's stationary. Does not matter where I'm at, could be on expressway, hwy or road. It gives no warning.
Driving on a long stretch of dark highway, lights started flickering on and off, finally lights went totally out leaving me in the dark not able to see forward I then crashed into the side of the off road scary, next day took to shop they said it was the tipm, goes out every 4 to 6 months going on my 3rd one lights are out, lighter, and window.
Tl-the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked the head lights became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the the computer module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. Ec.
This is my third incident with a faulty tipm on my 2008 Dodge Nitro slt. Lights, horns, front and rear wipers as well as the washer fluid spraying out of control. I remove the fuse for both the left and right horns to silence them, then remove the positive battery cable to reset the tipm. It has been successful so far. Looking for a replacement unit for preventive measures.
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 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.
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 wouldnt. When I removed the key from the ignition it kept running as well. It would not shut off. With the key in the engine wouldnt 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 alll back in. There have been various occations 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 couldnt find a problem at the dealer either time I took it in. This car is a hazard and cant imagine if it happed 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.
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. . .
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.
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.