Vehicle Data Hub

2008 Dodge Nitro electrical system problems

Owners reported electrical system problems in 200 complaints for the 2008 Dodge Nitro, 33% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
200 33% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
91,000 miles 164 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 8
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When electrical system problems show up

Electrical system complaints by mileage, 2008 Dodge Nitro Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 91,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 3 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 9 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 22 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 26 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 41 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 19 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 20 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 9 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 10 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 4 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 91,000 miles
Based on 164 complaints that include mileage. 21% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles3
20k to 40k miles9
40k to 60k miles22
60k to 80k miles26
80k to 100k miles41
100k to 120k miles19
120k to 140k miles20
140k to 160k miles9
160k to 180k miles10
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles4

What the data shows

Of the 164 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 90,000 miles, and 21% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 8 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

While driving my 2008 nitro on the freeway, the check engine light came on - solid, not flashing. I made a comment to my wife about taking it in the next day to have it looked at. About a minute later, the car stalled and I pulled off to the side. My wife and daughter got out and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. By the time traffic cleared enough for me to get out of the car, there were flames coming out from under the hood. The car became fully engulfed within minutes.

Reported at 31,000 miles, October 2009 Fire

All things electrical go crazy, locks are locking and unlocking on there own, even when I am driving down the road and eventually don't work at all. Lights don't work on drivers side of car. I push the brake and the dome light in the hatch area on passenger floor light up. All sensor lights are on, in the dash area, seat belt, brake, air bags, etc. Brake light is flashing on and off and dinging when it feels like it.

Reported at 95,000 miles, January 2014

Other problems reported for the 2008 Dodge Nitro

Electrical system problems in other years

Electrical system problems across all Dodge models