There are 2 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2009 Dodge Nitroin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR 75 MINUTES. PULLED OVER TO REST AREA- GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BUMPER ON THE BACK RIGHT SIDE WAS MELTED AND VERY HOT TO TOUCH. THEN NOTICED MY TAIL PIPE WAS GONE. MY GUESS IS THE EXHAUST FROM THE MUFFLER WAS HOT AND MELTED THE BUMPER.
1. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 TO 70MPH MY TRUCK MADE THIS THUMPING SOUND AND A BIG JERK. I STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TRUCK ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF. I DROVE OFF AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO JERK REALLY BAD. WHAT COULD THIS BE????? *TR 2. THE LOCK ON THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN YOU PRESSED THE LOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR AND ON THE KEY, YOU HAD TO PUSH THE KNOB DOWN BY HAND. I HAD TO SPEND MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED. 3. THE PLASTIC THAT'S ON THE SIDE OF THE SEATS HAVE BROKEN WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. LOVE THE BODY OF THIS VEHICLE BUT TOO MANY THINGS WENT WRONG TOO SOON. *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