Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Nitro. While driving 60 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel as it became very loose. The contact had to steer the vehicle in excess to keep the vehicle in position. The traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack fractured and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the vehicle was repaired, the traction control warning light illuminated intermittently and the brakes independently engaged. In addition, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the brake pedal and it failed to depress. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but it could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the rear passenger side brake light did not illuminate when depressing the brake pedal. The contact also mentioned that the ABS and air bag warning indicators were illuminated. The contact called mac haik Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (12111 katy fwy, houston, tx 77079, [phone]) and was informed that the vehicle had no recalls; therefore, they could not assist. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that the spring inside the parking brake had become defective causing the parking brake to not operate as needed. The dealer had been notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. While driving 65 MPH, the contact detected a burning rubber odor inside the vehicle. After releasing the brake pedal, the brakes failed to release from the rotors. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal with extra force to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to tri-county Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram (1290 hebron rd, heath, oh 43056, [phone]) to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
...so, I left my house, got about a block down the street and all of a sudden my horn starts blaring, windshield wipers started moving, the windshield wiper fluid sprayed, all of my interior and warning lights starting blinking in and out and my Nitro started sputtering. At this point I had lost power steering and power brakes but I managed to pull it over to the curb and the car dies. I'm sitting there thinking to myself, "what in the hell?!" I was already startled from the horn randomly blaring, so I'm in the middle of swallowing my heart when heavy, thick smoke starts coming from under the hood. ...and it stinks like smoldering wiring. I snatched my keys, popped the hood (which probably wasn't too bright in hindsight) and ripped the wiring off of the battery terminals. It was hot under that hood and I'm glad I had the wherewithal to disconnect the battery. …
I purchased a 2008 Dodge Nitro about 2 years ago. Everything was great until about a month ago. First the heater went out. Next the dash lights and radio started to flicker and dim. Now the only time the lights turn on in the dash area and radio area, is when I turn my right blinker on. I was pulled over last week and was told my 2 brake/tail lights were out, and only the brake light bar on the lift gate was working. I replaced the bulbs and still no lights. I have all the fuses check and also had the brake switch changed... And nothing! I took my car to 1 mechanic who could not find the issue. Now, my check engine light went on so I was able to take my car back to the mechanic. He found an ABS brake sensor issue... But that was not causing 2 of my 3 brake lights to malfunction. …
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. …
Related recalls (5)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 left hand drive Jeep liberty, Dodge nitro and Ram 1500 truck; right and left hand drive Jeep wrangler vehicles. These vehicles May have been built with an improperly formed master cylinder to hydraulic control unit (hcu) brake tube assembly end flare.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake tubes free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during August 2010. Owners May contact Chrysler toll-free at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 Chrysler sebring; Dodge avenger and nitro; Jeep liberty, commander and grand cherokee; and model year 2009-2010 Dodge Ram truck. These vehicles May have been built with an improperly formed or missing brake booster input rod retaining clip.
Remedy: Chrysler will replace the brake booster input rod retaining clip free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during February 2010. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Nitro years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (51), 2008 (33), 2010 (10) and 2011 (9) model years. Brake complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Dodge Nitro brake problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 10V-315 (master cylinder, Jul 7, 2010); 10V-009 (service brakes, hydraulic, Jan 11, 2010); 08V-525 (parking brake, Oct 8, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Nitro brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles; 39% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (4 mentions), followed by the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3).
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.