2008 Dodge Nitro: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 26, 2023 · Electrical · MT · fire

Was driving tipm caught fire Now insurance telling me moisture and corrosion

Filed Dec 6, 2020 · Electrical · 125,000 miles · FL · fire

Driving to work and noticed smoke. Opened hood and flames were coming out of fuse box. Closed hood and grabbed purse and phone. Lady who pulled over behind me and people inside office called fire department because engine completely involved. Took a bit for fire dept. To gain control and extinguish. I did research and saw several similar complaints re fuse box. Insurance adjuster to examine 12/7/2020*dt the consumer provided photos.

Filed Jun 12, 2019 · Electrical · 108,000 miles · CO · fire

Started vehicle and drove a block with heater and wipers running. The heater shut off and on and the horn started blaring off and on. During this time the locks were going up and down too. Pulled over, turned ignition to the off position and removed the key. The engine still ran for a little bit, horn still blaring, and front/back wipers still ran without a key in the ignition. Eventually the engine shut down with everything except for the wipers. The wipers continued to run until we had the vehicle towed away a couple hours later. There was smoke coming from the fuse box and a terrible smell of a melting electrical system. This is a huge safety concern because I could have been on the highway traveling over 75 miles per hour in the rocky mountains when this all occurred. Thankfully this happened while exiting a business instead. Recall needs to happen before someone dies. Unfortunately the local shop couldn't take my vehicle in to inspect. Tried other shops in nearby towns plus a dealership and they were not able to take the vehicle either. So I eventually had the vehicle towed from eagle, co to the denver metro. Cost me nearly $600 just for the tow to my house. I still need to have it towed to the local garage and accessed. Looks like it will cost plenty. The garage suggested fixing the problem was not worth the effort. The cost to remove, replace, service, adjust, reprogram, and install would exceed $5500 and that would not guarantee the vehicle to properly work. Blue book value for private sale is listed at $5804 when the vehicle was running properly. Ended donating vehicle to vehicles for veterans so they could part out the remaining items that were still good. Purchased new/used vehicle to replace the nitro. I would like to recover at least the blue book value of $5804 if possible. This breakdown has caused financial hardship within our home.

Filed May 23, 2019 · Electrical · 108,000 miles · CO · fire

Started vehicle and drove a block with heater and wipers running. The heater shut off and on and the horn started blaring off and on. During this time the locks were going up and down too. Pulled over, turned ignition to the off position and removed the key. The engine still ran for a little bit, horn still blaring, and front/back wipers still ran without a key in the ignition. Eventually the engine shut down with everything except for the wipers. The wipers continued to run until we had the vehicle towed away a couple hours later. There was smoke coming from the fuse box and a terrible smell of a melting electrical system. This is a huge safety concern because I could have been on the highway traveling over 75 miles per hour in the rocky mountains when this all occurred. Thankfully this happened while exiting a business instead. Recall needs to happen before someone dies. Unfortunately the local shop couldn't take my vehicle in to inspect. Tried other shops in nearby towns plus a dealership and they were not able to take the vehicle either. So I eventually had the vehicle towed from eagle, co to the denver metro. Cost me nearly $600 just for the tow to my house. I still need to have it towed to the local garage and accessed. Looks like it will cost plenty.

Filed Sep 26, 2017 · Visibility · 126,064 miles · FL

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 .

Filed Oct 26, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · TN

The wipers stopped working and the lights blink on and off while I was driving around a curve on a rainy night. Also the car wouldn't excellerate. When I pulled over I was almost hit by a truck. The electrical system comes on by itself and it's makes me afraid it will catch on fire. You can hear the motor and a loud clicking.

Filed May 23, 2015 · Electrical · 151,800 miles · IL

I purchased my pre-owned 2008 dodge nitro 2 months ago. A week ago it all went haywire like my car was possessed. It also happened the following week. -- while using the key fob to lock/unlock the car the horn starts blaring, the wipers (front and rear) start going, washer fluid shooting out, doors locking and unlocking, and the lights blinking. -- doors will not lock/unlock with the remote. I have to physically lock/unlock each door with the key. -- rear passenger doors and the rear hatch wont unlock. -- when turning on the engine the horn starts blaring, the wipers (front and rear) start going, washer fluid shooting out, doors locking and unlocking, and the lights blinking for about 5 minutes. When I turned the car off it was still doing the same thing. -- if I turn on/off the windshield wipers the horn starts blaring and lights start flashing -- when pressing the actual door lock the horn starts blaring based on the research I did and other 2008 dodge nitro owners the diagnosis is apparently a faulty tipm. There seems to be a national backorder on this part. I am afraid to drive my car for fear of something major happening while driving. My doors wont unlock and I am terrified to have anyone in my car. What would happen if we are in an accident the car catches on fire? I wont be able to get any one out. Dodge has recalled the 2010-2012 but has failed to recall the 2008 despite the national backorder for the part needed to fix these vehicles. I am really surprised that dodge/chrysler has not stood by their products and is putting the owners of these vehicles at risk. What is it going to take to issue a recall on the faulty tipm on all dodge/chrysler vehicles? Why has dodge/chrysler not rectified this situation before it becomes a bigger issue like the ford tire recall, gm ignition recall and the recent airbag recalls?

Filed Sep 9, 2013 · Electrical · 88,300 miles · WV

This vehicle caught on fire in may, we got it put out, and I turned it into my insurance company, they had us take it to a garage and I did. I took it to waterfront jeep garage, they said they didn't see anything that had been on fire and we told them how the wires are and everything. We paid $94 to get it back. I was taking my daughter and niece (1yearold), nephew(2yearold)swimming and decided to go pick my husband up first, I dropped my nephew off and was going home, stopped at my mother in laws and it was smoldering with smoke we all got out safe but my vehicle burnt. The insurance company now is geico, and they have been good at taking care of it, but they don't pay the whole loan off, only what it was worth, which is -600. The bank keeps charging interest but what to do until they are paid. My question is can I do anything about waterfront sending us back out in an unsafe car or the insurance company I had then, which I had to pay the taxes of the difference of the rental car since they don't pay taxes.

Filed May 16, 2013 · Visibility · 100,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. The contact stated that he noticed smoke and saw that the windshield wiper motor had caught on fire. The fire was contained by the contact. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Feb 11, 2013 · Electrical · NC

I purchased my nitro in 2011 and since then I have had numerous incidents of the doorlocks turning off and on,alarm going off,wind shield wipers going off,lights blinking and fluid discharging,horn blowing. Etc.... Numerous owners of the 2008 nitro are having the same issue and no one from the dodge dealership is taking responsibility for there malfunctioned parts. I think that says a lot about dodge in itself if you are not recalling their nitros and having them fixed before this problem causes a serious injury. I have seen the complaints that it's a tipm part that is the cause of this issue and that the dodge dealership states that it's on back order or something to that effect my issue is this what happens if my car catches on fire due to there malfunctioned part that they aren't doing anything about. Need to know what and who to speak to that can get this problem resolved because I feel that dodge needs to rectify this issue we owners of the 2008 nitro are having.

Filed Feb 8, 2012 · Engine · 38,000 miles · TX · fire

I was driving down the highway with the cruise control set to about 70-71 miles per hour when suddenly I heard a ding and check engine light came on. The closest exit was less than a quarter of a mile away so I took that exit. As I began to exit the interstate the truck began to act really strange. The speed of the truck was acting up, slowing down/speeding up unpredictably, and even the steering got really hard to control. At this point a few more warning lights dinged on. As this happened, I quickly pulled off to the shoulder of the frontage road, put the truck into park, and engaged the parking brake. The engine had already shut itself off. At this point I turned off the truck with the keys, opened the door and noticed white smoke coming from under the hood. I pulled the hood release prepared to inspect under the hood and noticed a lot more white smoke than the few moments before. Having walked over to the front of the truck, I wondered if it was safe to put my hand under the hood to release the locking mechanism due to the large amounts of white smoke. I decided not to and proceeded to walk around to the passenger side when I immediately noticed fire. Up until this point, the total time elapsed from the moment the check engine light came on was no more than a few minutes. Because I was driving up state to move into a dorm for my last semester of college, most of my possessions were lost in the fire.

Filed Oct 27, 2010 · Fuel system · 60,000 miles · NY

Currently own a 2008 dodge nitro. The past 3 times I have filled it with gas, the gas comes back spewing out even though the pump has shut off. This happened at 3 different gas stations and different times of the day. Each time gas got on me and my clothes. Each time my car is covered with gas as well as the ground. This should be considered a recall! This is a pretty serious situation and after doing some research on the internet it has definitely happened to other people with the same car. One little spark could light me and my car on fire as well as a gas station. I have called my dealer and am awaiting resolution.