2008 Dodge Nitro: check engine light

Filed Oct 19, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · MD

The vehicle throws the abs, esp,break and traction control lights and then while driving completely at random then turns off WHILE DRIVING!!!! which can cause an accident (I and my daughter are lucky to be alive) this is not ok the vehicle drives fine then at random throws those lights and shuts off after restarting it the check engine light comes on and says the transmission shift solenoid b is malfunction and the vehicle wouldn't shift properly. Luckily I had my code reader I. The car with me I cleared the code and now the car drives fine until this happens again I'm scared to drive it this is dangerous their's no warning. I drive on the highway everyday their's no warning it happens at random 2 times I've been lucky. No codes came up driving after clearing it and the car drives fine now but it's happened 2 times while driving this is extremely dangerous and I don't know what to do because with the codes gone the issues are gone but they randomly all the lights mentioned above come on and then the car shuts off with no warning then when you restart it it throws a different code for a different problem the first time was a low voltage code I cleared it and even Tho my battery tested good I replaced it and two days later the same issue and a different code

Filed Jan 13, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 147,668 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. The contact stated that when the vehicle was unlocked, the alarm, windshield wipers, and horn engaged. The electronic throttle control and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer carolina chrysler jeep dodge ram (1001 halstead blvd, elizabeth city, nc 27909, (252) 391-9609) where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred with the check engine warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,668.

Filed Oct 9, 2019 · Brakes · 195,700 miles · GA

The ABS, traction, bas esp lights came on just a week after I purchased the vehicle after I took it in to have a recall completed. Yesterday the vehicle's brake light illuminated red and the vehicle came to a brief stop abrupt while I was driving. The light went off and I continued driving. The a few miles down the road the vehicle suddenly locked up causing the gas meter, speedometer and RPM to all fall to zero and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. I made it off of the road by coasting the car and put it in park. The engine was still running so it wasn't the battery. I turned the vehicle off and proceeded to my destination and the brake light came back on briefly and along with the check engine light then went away. Imagine my dismay as I had just had a recall completed and was not informed as to what the other issues with the vehicle may have been. I honestly and truthfully believe that this vehicle should have a recalled placed on it for the antilock brake system. I could have died because of the malfunctioning of this vehicle.

Filed Aug 29, 2019 · Electrical · 97,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. The contact stated that the vehicle's horn sounds independently and remained activated, the radio turned off on its own, the windshield wipers operate faster than normal, and the speed decreased from 60 to 40 MPH, which caused the vehicle to decelerate and jerk. In addition, the liftgate indicator displayed that it was open when it really was not and the esp, check engine, air bag, and no fuse warning indicators illuminated. Furthermore, the door locks were locking and unlocking independently. The contact called sherman dodge chrysler jeep ram (7601 skokie blvd, skokie, il 60077, (847) 262-3598) and was informed it could be the tipm and was to schedule an appointment. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

Filed Nov 12, 2018 · Airbags, Electrical · 175,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Mar 7, 2016 · Fuel system · 5,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. While driving various speeds, the fuel cap warning light and check engine warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a small evaporator leak. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the charcoal and fuel cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the warning lights illuminated intermittently. When the fuel reached empty, the vehicle would not accept fuel and it had to be forced into the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.

Filed Jan 4, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 86,000 miles · CA

I purchased a 2008 dodge nitro about 2 years ago. Everything was great until about a month ago. First the heater went out. Next the dash lights and radio started to flicker and dim. Now the only time the lights turn on in the dash area and radio area, is when I turn my right blinker on. I was pulled over last week and was told my 2 brake/tail lights were out, and only the brake light bar on the lift gate was working. I replaced the bulbs and still no lights. I have all the fuses check and also had the brake switch changed... And nothing! I took my car to 1 mechanic who could not find the issue. Now, my check engine light went on so I was able to take my car back to the mechanic. He found an ABS brake sensor issue... But that was not causing 2 of my 3 brake lights to malfunction. He believes the issue is with my tipm and it will cost me a few hundred more, just to confirm this was the issue. Dodge also wants to charge me a few hundred to look at my car and diagnosis this issue. Its very frustrating to know that this car manufacturer is aware of all the issues with the tipm and they are not willing to cover the cost. I feel like I bought a lemon. I loved dodge before this. My other car is a 2006 dodge magnum and its still hanging in their just great. I really hope this part is recalled on all models.

Filed Oct 7, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 65,985 miles · MO

Without warning while driving or stationary, the vehicles horn will honk steadily, wipers and squirters will operate, door locks will lock and unlock, head lights will flash, and engine will die (if in motion). All simultaneously.it is very hard to control a car at hiway speeds when all of these things happen and the motor shuts off. I have read forums online and have found that the totally integrated power module (tipm) is the cause of these problems. I have filed a complaint with chrysler and they informed me that there are no recalls for the tipm for my year and that this is not a safety issue. I do not agree with them. No engine warning light comes on and there is no warning.... It just happens.

Filed Sep 14, 2015 · Engine · 100,000 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and was in the process of being diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed May 22, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 79,000 miles · NE

All of our dash warning lights would come on and then eventually go off but the check engine light would stay on. From then on the car would fail to start on occasion. Took in to dealer three times, the first two times they said everything is fine maybe you just need a new battery. Finally on the third try when we couldn't get the vehicle started, they diagnosed that the tipm was bad. Seeing as how this is a reoccurring problem for dodge maybe they should have started there, also the part to replace it is on indefinite back order.

Filed Feb 23, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · 91,590 miles · WI

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.

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.