How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Nitro have?

NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2008 Dodge Nitro model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

2005: 1 owner complaint, Not judged

Our take: the data says look elsewhere. Owners filed 3.3 times the complaints of a typical year of this model.

Year verdict

Pass, meaning Skip

3.3× a typical year

Skip this year if you can.

Confidence: Medium

The typical year comes from only 4 years.

NHTSA did not answer for 24 years, so this may change.

Past 100,000 miles

Locked

How this year held up past 100,000 miles.

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How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 59 complaints, the median of 4 nearby years. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 2007; this one had 200.

Same car, better year: 2009 or 2010 Nitro (both Worthy)

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Odometer check

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WhipWorthy sticker

2008 Dodge Nitro

Complaints393From owners
Loading owner complaints
Recalls3On file
Loading recalls
CrashNoneNo overall stars
Loading crash ratings
MPG17 to 19Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every Nitro year

Car report

Park this car in My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Fuel: $3,400 to $3,800 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

393 complaints; the part named most is the electrical

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Nov 12, 2007 to Jul 14, 2026. 18% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 17 crashes, 12 fires and 18 injuries in these complaints.

Electrical198 · 50%
Fuel system112 · 28%
Brakes49 · 12%

What one owner wrote about the electrical

An intermittent electrical failure is affecting multiple vehicle systems. The vehicle has unexpectedly stalled while driving on the interstate, leaving it without power in moving traffic. It has also experienced repeated no-start conditions, transmission entering limp mode, the engine continuing to run after the key was removed, and random operation of the…

Filed Jul 14, 2026NHTSA complaint 117504721 of 18 owner quotes

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14 more parts, and 18 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 2008 Dodge Nitro, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Engine, Transmission and drivetrain, Body and frame.

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SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Dodge Nitro. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

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Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 2008 Dodge Nitro, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

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Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

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Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2008 Dodge Nitro, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

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When problems show up

Electrical: the middle complaint around 85,000 miles

The bar holds the middle half of the complaints that gave a mileage; the dark mark is the middle one. 82 complaints of 393 gave one. Owners file when something fails, so this shows when problems were reported, not how long the cars last.

Electrical60,000 to 120,000 mi
Half of these 42 complaints came between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles, the middle one around 85,000.

SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Dodge Nitro. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

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1 problem zone to lay against your loan

See the month of your loan each one lands in, and what you would still owe then.

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Recalls

3 recalls on file

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Air bags
Jul 7, 2020 · Recall 20V396000
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro vehicles. These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment.
What can happen
Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag cover with a redesigned cover, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W09.
Transmission and drivetrain
Apr 3, 2013 · Recall 13V121000
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Dodge Nitro 4X2 vehicles manufactured March 21, 2006, through March 1, 2008; and 2008 Jeep Liberty 4X2 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2007, through March 1, 2008. The transfer case heat shield may drop down and rub on the drive shaft, weakening it and potentially causing the drive shaft to break.
What can happen
If the drive shaft breaks, a section of it can strike the transfer case tunnel with enough force that the airbag computer will believe the vehicle is in a crash and thus deploy the airbags. Additionally, the drive shaft failure will result in a loss of motive power. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a bracket to support the rear of the heat shield, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 29, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N10.
Brakes
Oct 8, 2008 · Recall 08V525000
Chrysler is recalling 3,663 my 2007-2008 dodge nitro and my 2008 jeep liberty vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The park brake lever clutch drum may distort and reduce the effectiveness of the park brake system.
What can happen
This could allow the vehicle to move inadvertently and cause a crash without warning.
The fix
Dealers will replace the park brake lever assembly free of charge. The recall began on october 27, 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 2008 Dodge Nitro. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Crash ratings

No overall rating given

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.

2008 Dodge Nitro 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not rated
Front
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
21.9% chance of a rollover in a one car crash, by NHTSA's estimate.
Stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Not available
Lane departure warning
Not available

NHTSA investigations: 1

SourceNHTSA crash ratings for the 2008 Dodge Nitro. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Fuel economy

17 to 19 mpg combined, across 6 versions

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in.

Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
Nitro 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
16 mpg
Highway
22 mpg
Combined
18 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,550
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L
Nitro 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
16 mpg
Highway
21 mpg
Combined
18 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,550
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
Nitro 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
16 mpg
Highway
22 mpg
Combined
19 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,400
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
Nitro 4WD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Regular gas
City
15 mpg
Highway
21 mpg
Combined
17 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov

Show 2 more versions

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L
Nitro 4WD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Regular gas
City
15 mpg
Highway
20 mpg
Combined
17 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
Nitro 4WD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Regular gas
City
16 mpg
Highway
22 mpg

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

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What it really costs to own

What the 2008 Dodge Nitro costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

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Every year of the Nitro

3 Worthy, 0 Maybe, 2 Pass, of 7 years on file

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the Nitro

NHTSA did not answer for 27 years, so the chart may be missing some.

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Nitro. NHTSA, checked Oct 24, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the electrical

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 3 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the electrical. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the electrical first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the electrical.
Try every switch, screen, light and lock, and make sure it starts every time.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
2005	1	Not judged
2007	825	Pass
2008	393	Pass
2009	36	Worthy
2010	78	Worthy
2011	122	Worthy
2012	2	Not judged

The verdict on the 2008 Dodge Nitro

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Air bags

What can happen

The fix

Transmission and drivetrain

What can happen

The fix

Brakes

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

2008 Dodge Nitro 4-DR. w/SAB

Fuel economy

Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Nitro

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Air bags

What can happen

The fix

Transmission and drivetrain

What can happen

The fix

Brakes

What can happen

The fix

Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L

2008 Dodge Nitro 4-DR. w/SAB