2008 DODGE NITRO Exterior Lighting Problems

IT STARTED WITH ALL DASH LIGHTS COMING ON SAYING IT HAD ISSUES AND THEN JUST STOPPED DEAD IN ROAD. I HAD TPIM PUT IN, THEN ALTERNATOR , AND THEN NEW BATTERY. WAS FINE AND THEN HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED COMING ON . NEXT, IT STARTING WITH HORN, AND EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN COMING ON AND NOT STOPPING. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY THOUGHT THEY FOUND IT, AND DROVE FOR A DAY AND AS SOON AS I TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS IT STALLED. IN MOTION ON A STREET DRIVING.

Mileage: 152,458

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.

Mileage: 253,000

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.

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.

TPMI ISSUE -WHILE DRIVING WIPERS AND WASHER CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. HORN BEEPING AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. LOOKED ON LINE AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

Mileage: 230,000

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 HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. THIS IS DRAINING THE BATTERY FREQUENTLY. REPLACING THE BATTERY HAS NOT HELPED WITH THIS ISSUE. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL RANDOMLY BEGIN BLINKING WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE HORN HAS BEGUN SPORADICALLY BEEPING WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE HEAT HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING - IT ONLY BLOWS ICE COLD AIR WHICH IS THE LAST THING I NEED WHEN IT IS BELOW ZERO HERE IN THE MORNINGS WHEN I AM LEAVING FOR WORK. THERE IS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO ESCALATE OVER TIME - AND IT SEEMS OTHER YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THESE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE 2008 HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I AM TERRIFIED OF WHAT THIS PROBLEM WILL ESCALATE TO - I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD THAT I MUST TRANSPORT DAILY TO DAYCARE.

Mileage: 90,000

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

Mileage: 210,000

HAVING INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM SOME TIME HAS HEADLIGHTS AND SOMETIMES DON'T DOESN'T MATTER SITTING OR IN MOTION AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT NEVER KNOW IF HAVE LIGHTS OR NOT.

I RAN A QUICK ERRAND. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AS SOON AS I STARTED IT. THE WIPERS WOULDN'T TURN OFF UNLESS THE CAR WAS TURNED. THE LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON UNLESS THE CAR IS ON, THE DASH LIGHTS DON'T WOK, AND THE SIGNALS DON'T WORK. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME THAT WAY IN PLENTY OF TRAFFIC. I FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AS I HAD MY GRAND BABY WITH ME, AFTER READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO MINE, HAPPENING AFTER 8 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLES, MAKES IT SEEM THAT IT WAS DONE INTENTIONALLY BY THE MANUFACTURER TO GET IT BACK FOR REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

WHILE DRIVING THE WIPERS AND FLUID WILL START GOING OFF BOTH WIPERS FRONT AND BACK AND THE HORN WILL START BLARING, HAVE TO PULL OVER AND POP OPEN THE HOOD AND BANG ON THE FUSE BOX, EVERYTHING WILL STOP AND I AM ABLE TO START THE TRUCK UP AND GO ON. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING, I TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY COME ON FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN OFF, ONLY THE RUNNING LIGHTS WILL STAY ON. I HAVE OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE HORN WILL HONK AND THE WIPERS WILL MOVE UP BRIEFLY. OTHER TIMES NOTHING HAPPENS FOR DAYS. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

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.

Mileage: 86,000

BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY PREVIOUSLY HAD TO REPLACED BY CORRECT BULBS NOTED IN MANUAL. NOW BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING BUT TOP BRAKE LIGHT DOES.

Mileage: 55,000

2008 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL REPAIR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AC AND WENT OUT, ALONG WITH THE LOW AND HIGH SWITCH MELTING SOME OF THE UNDER PANEL WHERE THE SWITCH WAS MOUNTED. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OUT THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. THE HORN WAS BLARED OUT OF CONTROL, DRAINING THE BATTERY, THE RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED UNCONTROLLABLY, THE WHEEL AND HUB FAILED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, IN ONE YEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER CLICKED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY PAD, THE DOOR LOCKS WENT HAYWIRE, IT WOULD LOCK AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE TIPM WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, A WEEK LATER, THE PROBLEMS RETURNED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON, THE HORN BLARING OUT OF CONTROL AND THE DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE 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. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 132,000

FOR MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE USING THE KEY FOB. PROBLEMS HAVE SINCE WORSENED IN THE LAST WEEK TO INCLUDE LOSS OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, UNCONTROLLABLE HORN HONKING, FRONT AND REAR WIPER ACTIVATION WHEN NOT ENGAGED, DOORS LOCKING ON THEIR OWN, OVERNIGHT BATTERY DRAINAGE, TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE NOT TURNING OFF WITH KEY REMOVED, HORN HONKING WHILE DRIVING, ESP/BAS LIGHTS FLASHING, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHING, LIGHTS DIMMING AND A/C SYSTEM TURNING OFF ON ITS OWN. ALL RESEARCH POINTS TO A FAULTY TIPM SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR PREVIOUS YEARS, AND YEARS FOLLOWING THE 2008 MODEL YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE. SOME OF THESE ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE SITTING PARKED WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, OTHER ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT'S VERY CONCERNING, AS THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE, THAT THESE ISSUES COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR THIS SAME MODEL YEAR VEHICLE TO THE NHTSA OF VEHICLES LOSING CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WITH A TWO YEAR OLD, HIS SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT, AND THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNSAFE FOR US TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 97,460

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...

Mileage: 95,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS BLINKED TWICE THEN SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIPM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Mileage: 51,000

THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. AT FIRST THEY WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF. AFTER 4 OR 5 TIMES OF TURNING ON THE LIGHTS, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN FLASH. WE TRIED CHANGING THE FUSES, BUT NOTHING WORKED. THE LIGHTS REMAINED INOPERATIVE UNTIL IT RAINED. ONCE IT RAINED, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHTS STARTED OPERATING NORMALLY. THIS PATTERN HAS CONTINUED FOR OVER A YEAR. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A TIPM PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE NITROS. WE DID HAVE A MECHANIC REPLACE THE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL LEVER IN THE CAR. THE LIGHTS WORKED WITHOUT ISSUE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. NOW, THEY ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN. AND NOW WE ARE HAVING OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS THE HORN GOING OFF AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER FLUID GOING OFF RANDOMLY AND NOTHING I DO WILL STOP IT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, EVERYTHING STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THANKFULLY, WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DANGER IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THIS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AFFECTED.

Mileage: 94,000

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.

Mileage: 70,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER WON'T COME ON AT ALL OR WILL CONTINUALLY MOVE ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD AS YOU DRIVE. THE WIPER MALFUNCTION IS EXTREMELY WORSE IF YOU HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND USE THE TURN SIGNAL. THIS CAUSES THEM TO QUICKLY FULLY EXTEND TO THE VERY EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELDS DRIVERS SIDE. THIS CAUSES EXTREME VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL VISITS AND MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF REPLACING PARTS INCLUDING THE TURN SIGNAL WAND AND THE ENTIRE WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE MECHANIC SAID DODGE RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TIPM, WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART ON NITROS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I COULD NOT BELIEVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH NO ACTION BEING TAKEN BY CHRYSLER OR THE GOVERNMENT FOR MY MODEL YEAR. RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR OLDER YEARS, SO WHY NOT THE 2008 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS? I CAN'T SAFELY DRIVE MY CAR WITH MY VISION CONSTANTLY COMPROMISED AND I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT WITH ALL THE HORRIBLE REVIEWS. NOW IT JUST SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I AM TOO NERVOUS TO DRIVE IT WITH THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

IT WAS MAY OF 2013, NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE. IT WAS EVENING AND RAINING OUT. I WENT TO GET IN MY CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE IGNITION AND PUT MY HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY WENT OFF. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS THEY CAME BACK ON, BUT STARTED TO FLICKER. AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK ON THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON. OVER THE PAST YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE AND MORE. EACH TIME IS WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE: RAIN, SNOW OR FROST. THIS YEAR THE OCCURRENCES ARE GETTING MORE FREQUENT. I HAVE HAD HEAD LIGHTS REPLACED. THE SWITCH. A BATTERY. I WAS FINALLY TOLD IT IS THE TIPM. THE PART WILL BE BETWEEN $600-700 (JUST FOR THE PART), ITS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER, IT COULD BE MONTHS UNTIL THEY EVEN GET IT IN. NOW THIS MEANS MY ONLY VEHICLE I CAN'T DRIVE. I LEAVE FOR WORK AT 5:00 A.M, WHICH IS DARK AND RETURN IN THE EVENING (IN WINTER) AROUND 5:30 WHICH IS DARK. THESE LIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY AND DODGE SAID THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY TIPM PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO MYSELF AND THE PUBLIC. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

HEADLIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND STAYED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS EACH TIME; THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE KEYS WERE LYING ON A TABLE UNDISTURBED. THE DOORS HAVE ALSO LOCKED BY THEMSELVES. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS RAN AS FAST AS THEY COULD WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO SHUT THEM OFF. WE HAD NO TURN SIGNALS OR HEADLIGHTS. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY TIPM. WE PAID $1100 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

TL* 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.

Mileage: 118,000

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS, THEY FLASH 2 OR 3 TIMES AND GO OFF. THEY WILL NOT STAY ON. IT'S LIKE THE COMPUTER OR A RELAY IS ATTEMPTING SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN GIVES UP. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR 30 MINUTES AND THE PROBLEM CLEARED FOR A FEW HOURS. IT CAME BACK EXACTLY LIKE BEFORE. ANOTHER DISCONNECT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM AGAIN. ALSO, THE HORN WILL NOW SOUND WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOORS. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. PRESS THE REMOTE UNLOCK AND THE ALARM HORN SOUNDS. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS ABOUT ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT NOW IS SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY. SOMETIMES IT DOES IT EVEN WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOOR MANUALLY RATHER THAN WITH THE REMOTE. THE FOG LIGHTS ARE FINE BUT HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ARE UNUSABLE, NOW. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG VARIOUS DODGE VEHICLES AND OFTEN REQUIRES REPLACING THE TIPM FOR AROUND $1000. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

I HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR OVER 21 PLUS YEARS OF MY LIFE WORSE DODGE VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 DODGE NITRO.I AM PRAYING THAT THIS WILL HELP BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE ROAD NOISE IN THIS VEHICLE IS SO LOUD U CANT HEAR YOURSELF TALK. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHOOTING WIPER FLUID DRIVING DOWN THE ROADWAY, TURNED WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AND THEY DON'T WORK. STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WRECKING BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC THEY COME ON AND WONT TURN OFF. HORN GOES OFF ALL THE TIME GOING DOWN THE ROADWAY. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. THE TRANSMISSION WILL STOP SHIFTING, STOPS U IN THE ROADWAY. THE BACK RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOW STOPPED WORKING. THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN RAIN STORMS WHERE NOTHING WORKS VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. I KNOW THE 2007 HAD A RECALL ON THE TIPM BUT NOTHING YET ON THE 2008. I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP SENSE MAY I HAD NO OTHER MEANS OF GETTING TO WORK SO I'M DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOW AND LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE MY TRUCK. THE MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD SELL THIS DEATH TRAP. I CANT DO THAT I WILL TRUST THAT SOMEONE ON THIS SITE WILL HELP. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO DO UNTO YOU. PLEASE HELP WITH GETTING THESE PROBLEM PLACED ON AN ACTIVE RECALL. BEEN MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I CANT EVEN DRIVE. I WOULD EVEN BE GLAD TO LET YALL RUN TEST ON THIS VEHICLE. THEY CALL ME MOPARLAWMAN. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN STAY FATEFUL TO A COMPANY PUTTING VEHICLES OUT FOR SALE LIKE THIS. THANKS *JS

Mileage: 90,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 100,009

ALL THINGS ELECTRICAL GO CRAZY, LOCKS ARE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ON THERE OWN, EVEN WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY DON'T WORK AT ALL. LIGHTS DON'T WORK ON DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR. I PUSH THE BRAKE AND THE DOME LIGHT IN THE HATCH AREA ON PASSENGER FLOOR LIGHT UP. ALL SENSOR LIGHTS ARE ON, IN THE DASH AREA, SEAT BELT, BRAKE, AIR BAGS, ETC. BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND DINGING WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF THE 2008 DODGE NITRO AND I SEE 152 COMPLAINTS ALONE ON THIS WEBSITE AND A LOT MORE ON THE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. SINCE THEY ARE NO LONGER MAKING THIS VEHICLE, BUT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT THIS 2008 NITRO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I BEG YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HAVE A RECALL ON THIS! THANK YOU! *TR

Mileage: 95,000

BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY. HEADLIGHTS AND FRONT WIPERS DO NOT TURN OFF. REAR WIPER WILL NOT TURN ON. HORN BLASTS OCCASIONALLY AT WILL. *TR

THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE AT NIGHT. AS SOON AS I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF.I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THOUGHT THAT FIXED IT. WITHIN THE WEEK, THE HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES FROM HOME. WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING ONLY IN DAYTIME HOURS WITH CLEAR SUNNY WEATHER. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO BECOME POSSESSED. THE WIPERS TURN ON SPONTANEOUSLY ALONG WITH WIPER FLUID SPURTING AND THE HORN GOING OFF. THIS CONTINUED EVEN AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY OUT. MY BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO STOP THE MADNESS. I FOUND OUT BY INTERNET RESEARCH THAT MY PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY THE TIPM SINCE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAD TO REPLACE IT. I REPLACED THAT PART TODAY AND THUS FAR FIXED MY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, NOW MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON INDICATING THAT AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF. THE LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN I HAD AN ADULT RIDING IN THAT SEAT. I FEEL THE MAKERS OF MY VEHICLE PUT MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS IN DANGER KNOWING THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE TIPM WAS ON BACK-ORDER AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND MANY OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 84,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,325. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,359.

Mileage: 76,325

MY 2008 DODGE NITRO'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS OPERATING ON ITS OWN. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS POSSESSED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (AT LEAST 10 INCIDENTS) FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE FOLLOWING OCCURS. THE FRONT & BACK WINDSHIELD WIPERS START OPERATING BY THEMSELVES. THEY GO FAST & THEN SOMETIMES THEY MOVE IN A STOP & GO METHOD. THE RHYTHM OF THE WIPES IS RANDOM BUT ITS COMMON TO SEE THEM DO A PARTIAL WIPE,THEN PAUSE, ANOTHER PARTIAL WIPE, THEN PAUSE AND KEEPS REPEATING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL GO FAST. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYER SHOOT FLUID (FRONT & BACK) ON ITS OWN, UNTIL THE TANK IS EMPTY. THE HORN GOES OFF NON STOP. IT JUST GOES & GOES & GOES. THE HORN & THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEEM TO OPERATE AS ONE. HAZARD LIGHTS ARE BLINKING CONSTANTLY. THE LIGHT ABOVE THE TRUNK DOOR IS BLINKING. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED. THE DOORS LOCK/UNLOCK REPEATEDLY. ON THE DASHBOARD THE H.A.S. AND THE SLICK ROAD ICON ILLUMINATE. THIS OCCURS WHILE I'M PARKED OR DRIVING. IT OCCURS WHETHER THE KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATION BETWEEN USING THE REMOTE UNLOCK & A INCIDENT OCCURRING. YET, IT HAPPENS ALSO WHEN I UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY. BASED ON OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS FROM THIS MESSAGE BOARD, THEY ARE BEING TOLD ITS THE TIPM OR TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE THAT IS CAUSING THE MADNESS. DEALERSHIPS & CHRYSLER/DODGE CORPORATE HAS TOLD THEM THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. BASICALLY THEY HAVE GOT THE RUN AROUND AND NOT RECEIVED ANY HELP. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

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 WOULDN'T. WHEN I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IT KEPT RUNNING AS WELL. IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. WITH THE KEY IN THE ENGINE WOULDN'T 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 ALL BACK IN. THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS OCCASIONS 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 COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM AT THE DEALER EITHER TIME I TOOK IT IN. THIS CAR IS A HAZARD AND CANT IMAGINE IF IT HAPPENED 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. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 DODGE NITRO IN NOV 2010 (STILL COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY). I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SYSTEMS WENT HAYWIRE, THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER FLUID ENGAGED, THE HEADLIGHTS CUTTING OUT AND THE HORN BLARING UNCONTROLLABLY. TURNING THE CAR OFF DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER 3-4 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE WAY TO WORK (THIS TIME THE RADIO TURNED TO FULL VOLUME WITH NO ASSIST), THE HEAT CUT OUT AND THE WINDSHIELD/LIGHTS/HORN WENT NUTS. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS ASSURED THEY'D FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTICS, PULLED CODES, BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE SO TOLD ME IT WAS "ABSOLUTELY FINE" TO DRIVE. I CONTINUED TO DEAL WITH THE 'FREAK OUTS' THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, UNTIL ANOTHER ONE HAPPENED WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP (UNTIL WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY). I BROUGHT IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO PULLED CODES AND SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT I HAD TO BRING IT TO DODGE. ON THE WAY TO WORK AT APPROX 70 MPH, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR (IT WAS AS IF I WERE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES-ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NEVER ENGAGED) I AM LUCKY THE PERSON BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND ME AND NOT REAR-END ME. DODGE DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER TOLD MY TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO 'FAIL MODE' THRUSTING ME INTO 2ND GEAR. I PAID FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY TOLD ME A TUNE-UP AND A CLEANING OF THE BATTERY COILS WOULD CLEAR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WORKED NORMAL FOR A WHILE, BUT THEN HAD TWO MORE INCIDENTS, ANOTHER FAIL MODE ON THE HIGHWAY (WHICH ALSO INCLUDED LIGHTS/WIPERS/HORN). I AM PREGNANT AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. DODGE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE VIDEOS OF THE 'FREAK OUTS' SO THEY CANNOT DENY IT, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO HELP AND TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE ME TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 49,437

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. *TR

Mileage: 77,002

INADEQUATE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE SELECTED, THE ROADWAY ACTUALLY BECOMES DARKER. THIS VEHICLE UTILIZES A SINGLE HEADLIGHT ASSY ON EACH SIDE CONSISTING OF AN H13 HIGH/LOW BEAM LAMP. SINGLE BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEMS HAVE TRADITIONALLY POWERED BOTH THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM FILAMENTS WHEN THE HIGH BEAM MODE IS SELECTED AND WHEN LOW BEAM MODE IS SELECTED ONLY THE LOW BEAM FILAMENT IS POWERED. WHEN HIGH BEAM IS SELECTED IN THIS VEHICLE, BOTH FILAMENTS ARE ENABLE BRIEFLY DURING THE TRANSITION FROM LOW TO HIGH. DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD THE LIGHT INTENSITY IS AT THE LEVEL ONE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE WHEN HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE SELECTED. HOWEVER THIS IDEAL ILLUMINATION IS SHORT LIVED BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY THE LOW BEAM FILAMENT IS EXTINGUISHED LEAVING ONLY THE HIGH BEAM FILAMENT TO LIGHT THE WAY AND IT SIMPLY IS NOT SUFFICIENT. ON A DARK ROAD ACCEPTABLE LIGHTING CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WITH THE COMBINATION OF LOW BEAM LIGHTING AND FOG LAMPS. I CARRIED MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHTS WERE OPERATING PROPERLY AND THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT CHRYSLER VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEMS OPERATE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JUNE 2008 AND AFTER A ROAD TRIP IN JAN 2009, I REALIZED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND DISCOVERED ONLINE BLOGGS WHERE OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT WEAK HEADLIGHTS ON THE DODGE NITRO AS WELL AS OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. *TR

Mileage: 9,729