2008 Dodge Nitro transmission problems

Filed Dec 29, 2025 · Airbags, Body · 203,000 miles · TX · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 5 MPH, the front drive shaft fractured, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop, and the front driver's side and passenger's side airbags erroneously deployed. The contact stated that there was no collision during the incident. The contact's son sustained a concussion and facial injuries, causing severe swelling to the face and severe headaches. No medical treatment was received, but the son remained bed ridden for several days from the injuries sustained during the air bag deployment. The cause of the failures were not determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer were notified of the failures. The contact was informed of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V121000(Power Train, Air Bags, Structure), which the contact's son related to the failure. The failure mileage was 203,000.

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 Jul 28, 2023 · Steering, Transmission · MI

Power steering locks up, power steering fluid not helping. Looks like oil mixed in with the coolant. Car smoking and overheating

Filed Jan 24, 2020 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 111,000 miles · WI

While driving the exiter ring broke causing ABS/traction control/esp lights to illuminate. Opening the door the spring detached, door now freely swings open. Heater core needs to be replaced due to poor craftsmanship. The car no longer heats up. The rear window wiper no longer works properly. The doors in the rear of the car no longer lock or unlock when using the electric lock control. The heat shield from under the car broke off the vehicle.

Filed Sep 3, 2019 · Driver assistance, Lights · 253,000 miles · SC

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.

Filed May 16, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 177,000 miles · CA

Since I purchased the vehicle in 2010, it's had strange electrical issues. First, the door locks have been malfunctioning. After a couple of uses, they no longer respond to the remote, or door lock button. Nor will they automatically lock while the vehicle is in motion. That's very dangerous. The second issue is that the horn would randomly honk. The honking stopped for about a year. Tonight, the honking started at random and wouldn't stop. The key wasn't in the ignition and the car was parked. I had to remove the negative battery cable to avoid a visit from the police for disturbing the peace. The third issue is that the airbag light came on. Yet another strange issue. When starting the engine, there will be s long start as if the starter stays engaged for too long. Sometimes , the engine will start, not idle and just stop. The engine has started and barely had any power and would barely move.

Filed Jan 2, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · KY

4 big things wrong: first, the fuel spills out onto the ground when filling it up at gas station because it does not click off. I am always in a hurry to leave the gas station so no sparks ignite the fuel on the ground and then blow up my truck. Second, there are electrical problems. None of the inner dome lights work and the passenger headlight has a short in the wiring. 3rd, the heater stopped blowing through the main vents and also it gets cold then hot then cold again. The temperature on heater wont stay warm. 4th:the transmission is slipping and wont run right. It will not move when gas is pushed then after a few seconds it will kick in and go. Then it slips between gear shifting. Its an automatic

Filed Sep 25, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 100,000 miles · OH

Premature rust through of oil pan and trans. Pan. Due to defective materials. Will leak and cause a possible fire and or loss of control of the vehicle.

Filed Sep 4, 2018 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · MN

The heat shield protecting the tunnel on my 4x4 dodge nitro broke loose and began rubbing on the drive shaft. The heat shailed failed and corroded at all fastening points. The heat shield and drive shaft were both damaged. The service bulleting about the heat shield and drive shaft from the 4x2 model of the 2008 dodge nitro should also apply to this model year.

Filed Jun 19, 2017 · Airbags, Transmission · 140,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. While driving 15 MPH, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. Upon stopping the vehicle and looking underneath, the drive shaft was detached and on the ground. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.