The 2008 Dodge Nitro's elevated safety profile includes 1 recall campaigns and 393 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

393

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

20V3960002020-07-07

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro vehicles. These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment.

Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2008 Dodge Nitro has accumulated 393 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with electrical system leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Electrical System88

02Fuel System, Gasoline61

03Fuel/propulsion System34

04Electrical System,visibility/wiper12

05Electrical System,exterior Lighting11

393 total across 1 model years (2008–2008)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Dodge Nitro Fuel Economy

17–19mpg combined

15-16city

20-22hwy

$3,550-$3,950/yr

With 6 configurations tested, the 2008 Dodge Nitro ranges from 17 to 19 MPG combined. That's a 2 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Nitro 2WD - Manual 6-spd

19mpg

3.7L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city22 hwy~$3,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Nitro 2WD - Automatic 4-spd

18mpg

3.7L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city22 hwy~$3,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Nitro 2WD - Automatic 5-spd

18mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city21 hwy~$3,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Nitro 4WD - Manual 6-spd

18mpg

3.7L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

16 city22 hwy~$3,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Nitro 4WD - Automatic 4-spd

17mpg

3.7L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

15 city21 hwy~$3,950/yr-1/10 Poor

Nitro 4WD - Automatic 5-spd

17mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

15 city20 hwy~$3,950/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2008 Dodge Nitro

24States

24%in top 3

If you're near New Jersey, you're in luck: 9% of listings are there. But with 24 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

NJNew Jersey

49%

MIMichigan

49%

AZArizona

37%

MOMissouri

37%

CACalifornia

37%

TXTexas

24%

UTUtah

24%

ILIllinois

24%

NYNew York

24%

OHOhio

24%

GAGeorgia

24%

OKOklahoma

24%

OROregon

24%

DCWashington DC

24%

VAVirginia

12%

NENebraska

12%

NMNew Mexico

12%

FLFlorida

12%

WAWashington

12%

WIWisconsin

12%

KS1

CO1

PA1

LA1

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2008.

Buying a 2008 Dodge Nitro?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2008 Dodge Nitro a good car to buy?

The 2008 Dodge Nitro has 1 recall on record. There is 1 recall on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is electrical system, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2008 Dodge Nitro?

There are 1 documented recall for the 2008 Dodge Nitro. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2008 Dodge Nitro?

Fuel economy ranges from 17 to 19 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $325 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2008 Dodge Nitro?

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the number-one complaint area for the 2008 Dodge Nitro, based on 393 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.