FaultScore

Worst years for a Dodge Nitro

Owners have filed 1,635 complaints about the Dodge Nitro with NHTSA across model years 2005 to 2012. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2007 Dodge Nitro

676 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly fuel & propulsion.

Cleanest on record

2009 Dodge Nitro

36 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Dodge Nitro year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2012 3 0 0 Electrical System
2011 B 197 5 1 63,000 Electrical System
2010 B 111 3 2 60,000 Electrical System
2009 A 36 0 0 89,977 Electrical System
2008 D 611 25 16 85,000 Electrical System
2007 D 676 24 18 73,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2005 1 0 0 Electrical System

What breaks on a Dodge Nitro

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 426 26.1%

Worst in 2008

Fuel & Propulsion 290 17.7%

Worst in 2007

Engine & Cooling 122 7.5%

Worst in 2007

Airbags 105 6.4%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2007

Brakes 78 4.8%

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2007

Lights 62 3.8%

Worst in 2008

Steering 43 2.6%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2007

Exactly what failed on a Dodge Nitro

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 34 33.0%
Door 28 27.2%
Automatic Transmission 8 7.8%
Latch 7 6.8%
Horn 6 5.8%
Tank Assembly 5 4.9%
AIR Conditioner 4 3.9%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 4 3.9%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 4 3.9%
Motor 3 2.9%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Dodge Nitro, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 2007 peak 30 Jul 2026

Dodge Nitro problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Dodge Nitro

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.