2011 Dodge NITRO
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Dodge NITRO has 197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: using my keyless entry fob, i unlocked my door and tried to start my vehicle. the vehicle would not start, but the dash lights came on so i knew the battery was not dead. i thought the battery on the key fob might be going out, so i went to purchase another key fob battery. with the new battery i. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
197
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
54 complaints- • USING MY KEYLESS ENTRY FOB, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON SO I KNEW THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB MIGHT BE GOING OUT, SO I WENT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER KEY FOB BATTERY. WITH THE NEW BATTERY I
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. T
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED DESPITE ALL THE PASSENGERS BEING SECURED IN THE SEAT BELTS. THE WIPER BLADES THEN INDEPENDENTLY POWERED ON AS ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE
“USING MY KEYLESS ENTRY FOB, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON SO I KNEW THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB MIGHT BE GOING OUT, SO I WENT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER KEY FOB BATTERY. WITH THE NEW BATTERY I”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
24 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS FACE. THE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH AND ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED YET NO OTHER AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED DURING
- • WHEN GETTING INTO VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ADVISED DODGE SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. THEY ADVISED ME OF AN APPOINTMENT THREE DAYS AWAY AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE FINE. KEPT APPOINTMENT WITH SERVICE CENTER AND RESULT AS APPEARS FROM INVOICE: J# 1 52CHZ12 SUP RESTRAINT SYS CUSTOME
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS FACE. THE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
17 complaints- • FUEL OVERFLOWS WHEN FILLING TRUCK WITH FUEL. *TR
- • THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK/ VALVE IN THIS MODEL DODGE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I GO TO FUEL UP I HAVE TO GUESS THE NUMBER OF GALLONS IT WILL TAKE BEFORE I STOP PUMPING IN FUEL, OTHERWISE FUEL WILL SPILL OUT ALL OVER THE SIDE AND THE GROUND. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FUEL UP, NO MATTER THE GAS S
- • WHEN FILLING UP AT ANY FUEL STATION, THE GAS PUMP WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF AND RAW FUEL WILL SPILL DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON MANY CHRYSLER SUV'S INCLUDING THE JEEP LIBERTY. IT RELATES TO A FAULTY VALVE INSIDE
“FUEL OVERFLOWS WHEN FILLING TRUCK WITH FUEL. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
17 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING IN THE AREA ABOUT 30 MPH THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT TO COME TO A STOP. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY LEAKED OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE, WHO STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER SEAL WAS LOOSE AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN TIGHTEN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE FAILUR
“WHILE DRIVING IN THE AREA ABOUT 30 MPH THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT TO COME TO A STOP. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
16 complaints- • TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR ,PRESS ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN THERE IS A LOUD BANG AND VEHICLES STARTS TO MOVE SLOWLY. ENGINE REVS AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN. VEHICLES BUCKS AND NO ACCELERATION. UNSAFE. TAKEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES UNABLE TO REPLICATE PR
- • WE PURCHASED OUR DODGE NITRO 6/11/2011, NOTICED SHIFTING PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY BUT WAS TOLDED BY DEALER IS WAS JUST STIFF FROM BEING NEW. AS TIME GOES ON THE WARMER THE TRANSMISSION GETS THE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS GETS WORSE, MOSTLY ON CRUISE CONTROL. SOME TIMES WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE ON, IT DOWN SHIF
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED DESPITE ALL THE PASSENGERS BEING SECURED IN THE SEAT BELTS. THE WIPER BLADES THEN INDEPENDENTLY POWERED ON AS ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE
“TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR ,PRESS ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN THERE IS A LOUD BANG AND VEHICLES STARTS TO MOVE SLOWLY. ENGINE REVS AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN. VEHICLES BUCKS AND NO ACCELERATION. UNSAFE. TAKEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES UNABLE TO REPLICATE PR”
— 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 197 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: USING MY KEYLESS ENTRY FOB, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON SO I KNEW THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB MIGHT BE GOING OUT, SO I WENT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER KEY FOB BATTERY. WITH THE NEW BATTERY I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE NITRO HEAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS FACE. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL OVERFLOWS WHEN FILLING TRUCK WITH FUEL. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING IN THE AREA ABOUT 30 MPH THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT TO COME TO A STOP. *TR
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 2011 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
- 197
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 9
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Dodge NITRO