Dodge · Nitro · 2010
3
Recalls
78
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2010 Dodge Nitro has 3 recalls and 78 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (13 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING; DODGE AVENGER AND NITRO; JEEP LIBERTY, COMMANDER AND GRAND CHEROKEE; AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 DODGE RAM TRUCK. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY FORMED OR MISSING BRAKE BOOSTER INPUT ROD RETAINING CLIP.
Remedy Status
CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER INPUT ROD RETAINING CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 LEFT HAND DRIVE JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE NITRO AND RAM 1500 TRUCK; RIGHT AND LEFT HAND DRIVE JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY FORMED MASTER CYLINDER TO HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) BRAKE TUBE ASSEMBLY END FLARE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE TUBES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-853-1403.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine cranked, but the vehicle failed to start, and it became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the failure might be related to the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.
Passengers front seat head rest deployed on its own. The air back feature of my head rest deployed and it broke in the process. It is available for inspection. It happened when I was cleaning my car. So thank goodness not when I am driving. I was actually cleaning my car to trade it in for a dodge durango but after reading some articles that this is considered normal wear and tear also that dodge won't cover the cost for the repair and don't consider this a recall. I am highly reconsidering staying with dodge now. Specially the outcome of this. It hasn't been inspected yet. No warning signs.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from being stationary, the rear driveshaft suddenly detached from the rear of the vehicle and dragged on the ground. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V396000 (Air Bags, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part may not be available, and the contact was informed that she would receive a call back to schedule an appointment but had not yet received a callback. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
One day the airbag light started cutting on and off and then the horn started blowing randomly without being touched or even without even being in the vehicle with the car turned off. Took it to a mechanic and they have no clue what’s wrong.
2010 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT SEAT ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL HAD 3 SMALL HOLES WHERE THE EMBLEM SHOULD BE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN A FIX WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn was inoperable while needed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with rear shocks and struts, air compressor, condenser, HVAC system, and electrical system failure. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, engine coils, air compressor, and condenser. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they could not assist since the vehicle was purchased from a Chevrolet dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
I GOT MY DODGE NITRO 4 MONTHS AGO FIRST MONTH I NOTICED MY ENGINE WAS STARLING AND I KNOW IS I HAD ELECTRIC ISSUES I TOLD MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IF THE CAR STILL RUNNING IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT SOME DAYS MY WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL CUT ON BY ITSELF SOME DAYS MY BLINKER DON'T WORK I HAVE 6 MONTH WARRANTY . SO I WAS ON MY WAY GOING HOME COMING OFF THE FREEWAY STOP AT THE RED LIGHT THE LIGHT HIT GREEN I PRESS THE GAS MY WHEELS LOCK UP MY BRAKE LOCK UP AND THE CAR KEEP GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC MY CAR IS GOING INTO THE WRONG LANE I HAVE PICTURES OF THAT MAKING. HARD FOR ME TO TURN MY WHEEL NOW MY CAR BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A MONTH STILL PAYING PAYMENTS
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the spring inside the parking brake had become defective causing the parking brake to not operate as needed. The dealer had been notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY HEADREST MALFUNCTIONED AND UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A STOPLIGHT.
THE IGNITION SWITCH OR W.I.N. HAS STOPPED WORKING , THROUGH RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MODEL YEAR TRUCKS. UNSAFE AS IGNITION MAY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY MINE HAS NOT FAILED IN THAT ASPECT, BUT, HAS FAILED ENTIRELY, I SHUT ENGINE OFF, WENT TO RESTART, AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO START VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V396000 (AIR BAGS, STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING A ROUTINE CHECK AT NAPLETON'S MID RIVERS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (44951 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY, SAINT PETERS, MO 63376, (636) 242-1471) WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, THE DAB (DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING) WAS NO LONGER PRESENT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.*DT*JB
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 20-30 MPH. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING SOUND THEN MY DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE LIGHTS STARTING WITH THE BATTERY AND THEN ALL OF THEM. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. THEY TRIED CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. IT STILL WON'T TURN ON. IT IS NOW AT A DEALERSHIP AND CURRENTLY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.
KEY SWITCHES GOING BAD AND CANT GET KEYS OUT 1000S OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS FAULTY DESIGN OR EQUIPMENT
AIRBAG-DASH LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND SHUTTING OFF. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SOME ISSUE. ISSUE STARTED WHEN GOING OVER A STREET HUMP.
TIPM FLASHING , WIPERS DO NOT WORK, ABS LIGHT ON- SPEED WILL NOT GO OVER 40 AND TAKES A WHILE TO REACH SPEED. ACTS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY
TAKATA RECALL ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE MOVING FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER. OIL IN ENGINE, DIDN'T KNOW WHY ENGINE LOCKED UP. REPLACED TRANSMISSION, STARTER AND A/C CONDENSER LEAKED.
HEADLIGHTS FLASH BUT DONT COME ON SOMETIMES ! AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT
TAKATA RECALL. MY 2010 DODGE NITRO MAKES A VERY LOUD, ALMOST DIESEL TRUCK LIKE SOUND, WHENEVER MY CAR IS RUNNING. IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A VACUUM CLEANER INSIDE THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL, SEATS, PEDALS, BODY, AND GEAR SHIFT OF THE DODGE SHAKE CONSTANTLY. THIS HAPPENS SITTING STILL AND IN MOTION. THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING, THEN THE CAR TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON FOR AT LEAST FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS STARTING TO NOT WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN PROMPTED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ASHEBORO DODGE (1709 EAST DIXIE DR, ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27203, (336-625-6123) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 210,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2010 Dodge Nitro has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 78 owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Dodge Nitro.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2010 Dodge Nitro.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2010 Dodge Nitro are electrical system (13 reports), air bags (8 reports), fuel/propulsion system (6 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2010 Dodge Nitro. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.