NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Dodge Nitro Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Dodge Nitro has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Dodge Nitro. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Dodge Nitro owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Nitro, describing incidents dated April 6, 2015 to October 27, 2020.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11366769 · Filed October 27, 2020
THE IGNITION SWITCH SNAPPED BACK AND TURNS THE KEY OFF RESULTING IN A COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN AT SPEED. THE STEERING AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT THAT POINT. IT HAPPENED TWICE WHILE GOING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. ONE ADDITIONAL TIME, THE IGNITION SWITCHED SNAPPED BACK, AND THE ENGINE…
ODI #10717116 · Filed May 18, 2015
WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR DODGE NITRO. HOWEVER DODGE HAS MADE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS RECALL CORRECTED IN THE HOPES YOU WON'T TAKE YOUR VEHICLE IN AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY OR TIME CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO HAVE A OUR VEHICLE RECALL CORRECTED…

Read all 2 complaints

Non-Deployment of Head Restraints

NHTSA #13V282000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported July 2, 2013 · Chrysler Group LLC

Potentially affected: 442,320 vehicles

Repair completion: 71.46% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign N38 · Owners notified November 19, 2013 · Vehicles built June 17, 2011 – December 15, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 Dodge Nitro. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Dodge Nitro.

Electrical System

ODI #11366769

Incident: October 27, 2020 · Filed: October 27, 2020

THE IGNITION SWITCH SNAPPED BACK AND TURNS THE KEY OFF RESULTING IN A COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN AT SPEED. THE STEERING AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT THAT POINT. IT HAPPENED TWICE WHILE GOING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. ONE ADDITIONAL TIME, THE IGNITION SWITCHED SNAPPED BACK, AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON AGAIN. JOHNSON AUTO PLAZA IN BRIGHTON, CO, TOLD ME IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE, AND THE SWITCH IS NOW AF OR IN ITS 5TH GENERATION. THIS REPLACEMENT JUST COST ME $593.00. PLEASE PUT A NOTICE OUT THERE AND FORCE RAM TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR FREE OR ELSE THIS COULD END UP KILLING PEOPLE.

Air Bags; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

ODI #10717116

Incident: April 6, 2015 · Filed: May 18, 2015

WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR DODGE NITRO. HOWEVER DODGE HAS MADE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS RECALL CORRECTED IN THE HOPES YOU WON'T TAKE YOUR VEHICLE IN AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY OR TIME CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO HAVE A OUR VEHICLE RECALL CORRECTED WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD TO BRING IN OUR VEHICLE IN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SO IT DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS SO IT COULD BE INSPECTED. AFTER THEY INSPECT IT THEY TELL YOU THERE IS A PROBLEM AND YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS. THIS NOW REQUIRES YOU TO TAKE OFF TIME DURING WORK TWICE BUT YOU ARE ALSO WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO HOLD ONTO IT.

Other Dodge Nitro model years

Check your 2012 Dodge Nitro VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Nitro at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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