Dodge Nitro Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Dodge Nitro model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2005 drew the fewest (1) and the 2007 the most (825).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
36 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 17–18 |
| 2010 | 78 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 17–18 |
| 2011 Among the most complaints |
122 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 17–18 |
| 2008 Among the most complaints |
393 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 17–19 |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
825 | 8 | Electrical system | — | 17–19 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Dodge Nitro years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2007 Dodge Nitro: 825 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 246 (30%); Fuel system 148 (18%); Power train 94 (11%).
Reports mention 24 crashes, 17 fires, 30 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Dodge Nitro: 393 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 198 (50%); Fuel system 66 (17%); Fuel/propulsion system 46 (12%).
Reports mention 17 crashes, 12 fires, 18 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 79,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2011 Dodge Nitro: 122 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 54 (44%); Air bags 24 (20%); Engine 16 (13%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 62,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
The Dodge Nitro years with the fewest complaints
2012 Dodge Nitro: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (50%); Electrical system 1 (50%); Equipment adaptive/mobility 1 (50%).
1 recall campaign listed.
2009 Dodge Nitro: 36 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 15 (42%); Latches/locks/linkages 6 (17%); Air bags 5 (14%).
Reports mention 1 fire, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 101,456 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Dodge Nitro owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 122 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 62,000 |
| 2010 | 78 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2009 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 101,456 |
| 2008 | 393 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 79,000 |
| 2007 | 825 | 24 | 17 | 30 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Dodge Nitro recalls
- Brand Emblem and Securing Nuts May be Projectiles (2007–2011 model years; 925,239 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2020; 20V396000)
- Non-Deployment of Head Restraints (2011–2012 model years; 442,320 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2013; 13V282000)
- ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (2007 model year; 296,550 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2007; 07V434000)
- WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM (2007 model year; 82,079 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2009; 09V438000)
- TIPM/ENGINE STALLING (2007 model year; 80,894 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2007; 07V291000)
All 12 Dodge Nitro recall campaigns · Dodge Nitro problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Dodge Nitro years FAQ
Which Dodge Nitro year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2005 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Dodge Nitro years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2007, 2008 and 2011 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Dodge Nitro problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (541 of 1,457 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Dodge Nitro have?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns covering the Dodge Nitro. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Dodge Nitro recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.