Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Dodge Nitro owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The wiper relays went out recently and somehow caused the door locks to beep and go crazy then die completely. And a few weeks ago the brake came undone somehow and fell into the wheel well, ripping the inside of the rim open causing a blow out while my wife, 2 year old and I were on the freeway. And now after taking it to 2 different dodge dealerships, the problems are not fixed, there is more warning lights on than I've ever seen. And so far both places have told me they fixed an emblem on the steering wheel, and that the other recalls aren't applicable because of being a 2007 and the recalls are for the 2008. Even though my nitro is obviously having the same if not worse problems. All the way down to the emergency brake not working, we love our nitro and dodge as a company and would please like some kind of help with this situation. …
While driving the vehicle on the interstate it will just shut off. No lights on dash or warning. When this happens you have no power steering or brakes. After getting it stopped and restarting it will drive fine. Other times the remote will not work the locks, it will lock and unlock by them selves after you open the door and try to start vehicle . You can put the key in the ignition and it will not start lights on dash will go off and on and after a few attempts it will start. There are times you can not put in in park you can shut it off and restart it press brake pedal and nothing works to put it in park and then it will just go in park like nothing was wrong. All of these things happen up on occasions with no warning. It all will work fine for weeks or months and then it will act up again. …
During acceleration, pedal sensor malfunctioned, which didn't allow vehicle to maintain or increase speed. Vehicle decelerated on interstate, posing an immediate hazard to other drivers. Since, it has happened twice more. Once it wouldn't allow vehicle to accelerate past 35, and the second time it wouldn't go higher than 10 (also in a 55 MPH area). Second, though the recall has been on manual transmissions only, the parking break on the 2007 Dodge Nitro 4x4 r/t is faulty, and though the light comes on indicating it is in use, the parking break does not engage. This has been true from initial purchase. This poses a risk when parking on any grade that will need the use of a parking brake. This also causes issues in some areas in regards to inspection, and will not pass inspection without repair. …
During the last major snow storm I noticed what I thought was a brake failure after talking to a coworker he said that sometimes a lot of snow can mess with the brakes. His explanation seemed logical. On 4/17/10 I was driving down the road and started coasting towards traffic that just started moving. My approach speed was a little faster but by no means nothing that couldn't be stopped. When I went to push the brake pedal and the breaks didn't work. I felt like I was standing on them. I tried to make a correction maneuver to not injure anyone but I couldn't without going into oncoming traffic.and rearended someone. Who in inturn rearended someone (4 cars total because everyone was moving). All of the brake recalls were done at the dealership at my 36,000 mile service. This was the same feeling I had during the snow incident but it didn't happen again until yesterday. …
Tl contact owns a 2007 Dodge Nitro. While driving 20 MPH uphill, the contact depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle began to shimmy and would not stop until it crashed into another vehicle. There were no warning indicator lights and the road conditions were normal. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that there was no failure. A week before the incident, the vehicle was serviced for NHTSA campaign id number 06V493000 (service brakes, hydraulic:anti-lock:control unit/module). The current and failure mileages were 6,470. Updated 03/10/08. The consumer received a recall notice in the mail. He took the vehicle to the dealer and 10 minutes later, the cosumer was told a computer software program was downloaded and the vehicle was ready. The consumer believed the accident was a result of the recall.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Dodge Nitro. While driving 55 MPH she lost control of the vehicle and crashed head on into a ditch. She stated that her head hit the windshield and her chest hit the steering wheel. The side airbags deployed however, the front airbags did not. The police onsite stated that the brakes were not applied. The contact felt that the antilock brakes caused the crash. She sustained bruises to her chest, forehead and legs and suffered a swollen head, shoulder and neck. There is a recall for the antilock brakes (NHTSA campaign# 06V493000). As of August 10, 2007, the dealer has not determined the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 19,900.
While driving vehicle home from work yesterday, the brakes began to require a considerable amount of more pressure to engage the brakes than they had earlier in the day. Since this problem began it has steadily increased requiring me to push my brakes almost all the way to the floor before the brakes will engage. In a few cases my brakes have failed to engage at all requiring me to swerve out of traffic lanes in order to avoid causing a wreck. I have been forced to use my emergency brake twice to bring the vehicle to a complete stop after pumping the brakes several times trying to stop the vehicle without the brakes engaging.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated the brakes failed on the vehicle while driving at 35 MPH. He depressed the brakes to stop, but even after the pedal went down to the floor board, there was no response. The failure caused the contact to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The contact was sure of two injuries and suspects that there were injuries in the other vehicle. The ABS light did not illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop, but the vehicle had not been inspected to determine what caused the brake failure. The failure mileage and current was 81,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Nitro. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly began to jerk and hesitate and the check engine light illuminated. While depressing the brake pedal to stop, the vehicle would not immediately stop and the braking distance was extended. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.
When backing up vehicle hesitates . When speeding up on the highway vehicle bumps like transmission is coming out of case like it is pushing car forward. When stopping at high speeds vehicle steering wheel shakes and car squeals coming from left front brakes. While driving down the road vehicle pulls to the right. When at a stop light rpms go all the way down like vehicle is ready to stall.
Related recalls
Parking brake
Chrysler is recalling 3,663 my 2007-2008 Dodge nitro and my 2008 Jeep liberty vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The park brake lever clutch drum May distort and reduce the effectiveness of the park brake system.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the park brake lever assembly free of charge. The recall began on October 27, 2008. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain sport utility vehicles, the software programmed into the ABS electronic control module May allow a momentary delay in braking when coasting up a hill during certain conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ABS electronic control module with new software that prevents this condition free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2007. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain vehicles, the antilock brake system (ABS) control module software May cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ABS electronic control unit. The recall began on February 19, 2007. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Brake complaints in other Nitro years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2007 Dodge Nitro?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the brakes of the 2007 Dodge Nitro, 6% of the model year's 825 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Dodge Nitro brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-525 (parking brake, Oct 8, 2008); NHTSA recall 07V-434 (control unit/module, Sep 14, 2007); NHTSA recall 06V-493 (control unit/module, Dec 29, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Dodge Nitro brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.