Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Dodge Nitro
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Dodge Nitro has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 393 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V396000 Brand Emblem and Securing Nuts May be Projectiles NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V121000 Drive Shaft Failure may cause Airbag Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V525000 PARK BRAKE LEVER CLUTH NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 198 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 66 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 46 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 38 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 37 complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
Of the 393 complaints on file, 17 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 393 complaints, owners report 18 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Dodge Nitro has a below-average reliability rating due to a high number of owner complaints, notably concerning electrical systems and fuel systems. The limited recall campaigns suggest that some issues may not have been addressed by the manufacturer. The high volume of electrical complaints highlights a significant area of concern, although the data is limited in terms of identifying specific common failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | very common |
| Fuel system | Unknown | $200–$900 | common |
| Exterior lighting | Unknown | $100–$400 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection and replacement
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Battery replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dashboard warning lights
- Fuel smell or leaks
- Unresponsive airbags
- Irregular headlight function
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Dodge Nitro at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.