There are 6 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2008 Dodge Nitroin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHEN I START MY TRUCK IT DO NOT START RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE TO TRY AT LEAST 3 TIMES. WHEN I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE THE CAR STALLS AN THEN I HAVE TO APPL THE GAS HARD AN IT JERKS AN DOESN'T MOVE. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE TRY TO REVERSE AGAIN. THERE'S ALSO A LOUD RUBBING NOISE WHILE IN REVERSE. THERE'S ALSO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THE RADIO GOES IN AN OUT. THERE IS BLACK PADDING AROUND MY CAR BATTERY TO KEEP THE WIRES FROM TOUCHING. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THEY TOOK THE TRUCK AND MADE THE REPAIRS. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS FIXED WAS THE HEAT. I AM STILL DEALING WITH THE OTHER ISSUES. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. TWO OF THEM HAVE DISABILITIES. AUTISM AND ADHD. THIS SITUATION IS VERY STRESSFUL. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS LEASED SUV I HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS AN I STILL HAVE THEM.
DRIVING ON A BUMPY RODE, I COME ACROSS A PIT HOLE, I HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID ANY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND WHILE DOUG SO I FEEL MY BRAKE SHAKE AND THE SUSPENSION GIVE OUT CAUSE THE BRAKES TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS IF I HAVE NO BRAKE POWER, TOOK TO SHOP THEY DID A TOTAL BREAK REPAIR OF $400, COME ANOTHER RAINY DAY BRAKES GO OUT THE SAME WAY, SHOP SAID ITS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD WHINING SOUND WAS PRESENT NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END BECAME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND NEXT THING I KNOW MY VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS DROPPED DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL COLLIDING INTO A PARKED CAR. THE KNUCKLE HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO DROP TO THE ROAD. MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE MADE CONTACT WITH THE PARKED CARS DRIVERS REAR TIRE. *TR
RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026