2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2
On the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, and the reports cluster around 10,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 53,000 miles. Overall it scores 74 out of 100, high risk for a 2007.
High risk for a 2007 — 53rd riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. 143 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 30 named failure modes on the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2, and the three most-reported carry 31% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other electrical problem leads with 21 reports, about 35 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 3k to 25,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 12 reports, usually reported between 8k to 80,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
CV axle or driveshaft failure follows with 11 reports, usually reported between 53k to 80,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (29), transmission (20) and fuel (19).
At what mileage it happens
121 of the reports on the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 53,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 48% by 50,000 miles, 73% by 100,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 6 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 29% of the dated reports.
45% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: other electrical problem around 8k, other engine problem around 32k, fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure around 50k and CV axle or driveshaft failure around 57k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 30. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 6 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 1 mentions a crash, 1 a fire and 5 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.95, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, CV axle or driveshaft failure at $450–$2,200 and fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure at $250–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
33% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 21 | 19 | 3k | 8k | 23k | 35.2 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 12 | 9 | 8k | 60k | 82k | 20.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 11 | 8 | 53k | 57k | 82k | 18.5 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 10 | 9 | 40k | 50k | 79k | 16.8 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 10 | 8 | 7k | 32k | 61k | 16.8 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 9 | 7 | — | 60k | — | 15.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 8 | 7 | — | 400 | — | 13.4 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 8 | 4 | — | 58k | — | 13.4 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 161k | — | 6.7 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 146k | — | 6.7 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 5 | — | 5.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 162 | — | 5.0 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 98k | — | 5.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 12k | — | 5.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 148k | — | 5.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 3 | 3 | — | 123k | — | 5.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 51k | — | 3.4 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 143k | — | 3.4 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 9k | — | 3.4 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 5k | — | 3.4 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 220k | — | 3.4 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 2 | 2 | — | 68k | — | 3.4 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 84k | — | 3.4 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 2 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 3.4 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 170k | — | 1.7 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 1.7 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 288k | — | 1.7 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.7 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | — | 1.7 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | — | 1.7 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 6 | 4 | — | 95k | — | 10.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2 draws about 240 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 98th percentile of complaint rates among 2007 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 596 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2007 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other electrical problem
My car shuts off and then turns back on while in motion. The car will completely turn off including all electrical components then turns back on. When it turns back on all the lights on the dash like the ABS and SRS lights light up and turn off as like if I just started the car. This has happened to me three times. The third time the car did not turn back on (I think because I was almost stopped the other 2 times I was going between 30-65 MPH and the engine started back up automatically). I had to put it in park and restart it the 3rd time. It has been to the dealer 2-3 times for this issue and they are unable to diagnose a problem. Therefore I have notified the manufacturer and you the NHTSA in hopes of resolving the problem. There are several other owners with the same problem that can be found at http://www.nitroforumz.com/showthread.php?t=18 thank you. *jb
My dodge nitro has shut off twice while the vehicle was in motion. This can be a potentially dangerous and deadly situation. After reading the dodge nitro forums/blogs, there are a lot of people having the same problem and dealers are unable to find a problem. *nm
Other powertrain problem
I purchased a dodge nitro in october of 2006. Since then I have had it stall out on me, on the highway, twice and re-start automatically. It's pretty unsafe to be driving a car at 80mph on the interstate and have it stall out and restart on you for no apparent reason. I know I am not the only nitro owner who has had this issue. When I explained to the service department at the dealership about this they said since they cannot recreate the problem they cannot diagnose it. I have not called chrysler yet, but I am about to. I don't want to die, or cause the death of others, because my car is malfunctioning beyond my control. Something needs to be done about this.
Approximately 2 weeks after I purchased my new vehicle it began to run poorly. It feels as though it is missing out, transmission slipping or losing power??? I am not sure exactly what the problem is and the service people are not sure exactly what is wrong and they do not know what to do to correct the problem. My vehicle is a 2007 and should not run as poorly as it does. They have reprogrammed something on the computer twice I think from what they tell me. The problem seems to be okay for a few days and it starts running poorly again. There is a recall on my vehicle, it is recall number g25 to reprogram tipm engine stalling, this may help the problem but I am not sure yet. I feel that dodge should stand behind their vehicles. I paid too much for a new vehicle for it to not run properly. I also had a service tech tell me that they were just not as sensitive to the problem that I am having. I hope you will be able to help with this problem. I have also noticed that sometimes when I start the vehicle it does not start properly. It starts but idles roughly and this has done this when it is not cold outside. *jb
CV axle or driveshaft failure
I was taking a left turn at an intersection traveling approximately 5mph. At the completion of the turn I heard a loud bang and the side impact airbags deployed. Upon inspecting the vehicle it was found that the drive shaft had twisted and fallen out of the transmission. The casing along the top of the nitro cracked, and caused damage to the interior headliner and windshield. The car would not go into drive or park indicating damage to the transmission as well. Upon inspection by two separate body shops (one being a dealership) it was determined that there was damage to the drive shaft that resulted in the incident. At this time the warranty is in the process of replacing the drive shaft. *tr
I was taking a left turn at an intersection traveling approximately 5mph. At the completion of the turn I heard a loud bang and the side impact airbags deployed. Upon inspecting the vehicle it was found that the drive shaft had twisted and fallen out of the transmission. The casing along the top of the nitro cracked, and caused damage to the interior headliner and windshield. The car would not go into drive or park indicating damage to the transmission as well. Upon inspection by two separate body shops (one being a dealership) it was determined that there was damage to the drive shaft that resulted in the incident. At this time the warranty is in the process of replacing the drive shaft. *tr
Recalls on the 2007 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2, affecting an estimated 596 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover power train:automatic transmission. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4,770 vehicles 2006-09-07- Defect
- On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the software programmed into the powertrain control module can cause a momentary lock up of the drive wheels if the vehicle is traveling over 40 MPH and the operator shifts from drive to neutral and back to drive.
- Consequence
- If the drive wheels locked up, loss of vehicle control could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module free of charge. The recall began on october 2, 2006. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2007 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2007 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2007 — 53rd riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other electrical problem from about 3k, other engine problem from about 7k, other powertrain problem from about 8k and fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure from about 40k.
On a 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
The limits of complaint data
143 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 143 reports, 121 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 85% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2?
The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (21 reports, median 10,000 miles), other powertrain problem (12 reports, median 60,000 miles) and cv axle or driveshaft failure (11 reports, median 55,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2 problems start?
Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 10,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 5,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 53,000 miles.
Is the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4X2 reliable?
It scores 74 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 53rd riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2007 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed