2010 Dodge NITRO
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Dodge NITRO has 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: 11/28/2011 at 3:19 am on monday morning, the horn on the vehicle started blowing for no reason. it sounded like someone was trapped in the vehicle and trying to get attention. this went on for about 35 minutes and finally stopped on its own just as it had started on its own. nothing else happened fo. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
111
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
27 complaints- • 11/28/2011 AT 3:19 AM ON MONDAY MORNING, THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING FOR NO REASON. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET ATTENTION. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN JUST AS IT HAD STARTED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FO
- • I HAVE A 2010 DODGE NITRO. SUNDAY NIGHT I HAD THE SCARIEST EPISODE OF UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. THE PEDAL WAS NOT BLOCKED BY ANYTHING, IT MOVED FREELY. BUT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT KEPT ACCELERATING. NOTHING STOPPED THIS SHORT OF PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, EVEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE
- • 10/07/2012 AT 3:00PM ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING FOR NO REASON. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET ATTENTION. THIS WENT ON FOR AND FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN JUST AS IT HAD STARTED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FOR THE FEW DAYS.
“11/28/2011 AT 3:19 AM ON MONDAY MORNING, THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING FOR NO REASON. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET ATTENTION. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN JUST AS IT HAD STARTED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
13 complaints- • WHEN FUELING VEHICLE GAS SPITS OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL SPEWED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
- • I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE. FIRST MY A/C UNIT WENT OUT, THE DODGE DEALERSHIP PUT A DYE IN MY UNIT TO FIND A LEAK, THERE WAS NOT LEAK SO THEY FILLED IT WITH FREON AND I WAS ON MY WAY. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE SAME THINK HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY FILLED IT AGAIN AND COULD NOT
“WHEN FUELING VEHICLE GAS SPITS OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
12 complaints- • 2010 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AFTER SEVERAL VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY HIM LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND BURNING FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND RUBBED AGAINST THE DRIVESHAFT CAUSING DAMAGES. T
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG IN THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HAD A DELAYED DEPLOYMENT. THE P
“2010 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AFTER SEVERAL VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY HIM LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
11 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
- • THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER FLAP DOES NOT OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. THIS RESULTS IN COLD AIR IN THE WINTER AT TIMES AND NO DEFROSTER AND THE WINDOWS ICE UP AND FOG UP. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES AND NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY. SOME DAYS IT WILL WORK AND SOME DAYS IT WILL NOT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROU
- • AT 10 MPH IT ACCELERATOR PEDAL NO RESPONSE TO ENGINE AND BRAKE BOOSTER WAS LOST BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING. *TR
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
10 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS WOULD RANDOMLY STOP OPERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CO
- • I WALKED OUT TO MY CAR AND NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING RED FLUID. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. THE HEATING CORE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN JUNE 2014. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AND I BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED T
- • THE SYSTEM WARNINGS PRESENT LIGHT CAME ON, AND SAID CHECK TPM SYSTEM, WHICH SHOWED HOW MUCH TIRE PRESSURE I HAD. FOR THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IT SAID 36,FRONT PASSENGER SIDE,34, REAR DRIVER SIDE 32, REAR PASSENGER 24. THEN THE 24 DISAPPEARED FROM THE SCREEN, AND THE WARNING LIGHT KEPT BLINKING, WHICH
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS WOULD RANDOMLY STOP OPERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 111 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 11/28/2011 AT 3:19 AM ON MONDAY MORNING, THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING FOR NO REASON. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET ATTENTION. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN JUST AS IT HAD STARTED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: WHEN FUELING VEHICLE GAS SPITS OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: 2010 DODGE NITRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AFTER SEVERAL VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY HIM LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge NITRO — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 111
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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