It started with all dash lights coming on saying it had issues and then just stopped dead in road. I had tpim put in, then alternator , and then new battery. Was fine and then head lights stopped coming on . Next, it starting with horn, and everything under the sun coming on and not stopping. Took to shop and they thought they found it, and drove for a day and as soon as I turned on headlights it stalled. In motion on a street driving.
Lights
2008 Dodge Nitro Lighting problems
Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 2008 Dodge Nitro's lights with NHTSA - 10% of all its complaints, most recently on April 3, 2021. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.
- Complaints
- 39
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Lighting complaints
Vehicle started having electrical issues. Wipers and lights would jump on by themselves while I was driving. Tipm and esp icon lit up on the dash shortly after. Vehicle would make grinding noises when putting vehicle into different gears (park, reverse, and drive). Doors would not automatically lock once the vehicle was moving as it was programmed to do. Functions on key fob no longer worked as they should (lock button would unlock the doors and unlock button would activate the automatic start). I removed the...
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battery from the key fob after my vehicle was broken into once the fob started malfunctioning. Vehicle has been parked for the last 3.5 Weeks after electrical issues got worse and the air bag light started coming on. I have read several reviews and checked for recalls and it seems that some of the issues that I have experienced with my 2008 dodge nitro are very common amongst other dodge drivers as well as chrysler 300 drivers. I know of 2 other people that are having the same issues with their chrysler 300s (older 2007 models). A recall needs to be started for safety purposes because operating these vehicles in this state are highly unsafe. I was driving to work (about 530ish one morning) and the abs, esp, tipm, and airbag icon all came on and then my truck started stalling out. I had to get it towed home and it's been parked ever since. Owners of these vehicles need to be extremely cautious if and once these lights come on.
The wiper turns on at a high speed, faster than normal, horn get stuck, radio goes off and on for a long period of time and when you turn the truck off all continue to work even with the key out of ignition. This happen when I'm driving or when it's stationary. Does not matter where I'm at, could be on expressway, hwy or road. It gives no warning.
When parked my vehicles head lights, dome lights and car unlocks randomly over and over. It causes my battery to die and the remote isn't even being touched.
Tpmi issue -while driving wipers and washer came on by themselves. Horn beeping and headlights went out. Looked on line and there were thousands having the same issue.
Doors unlock lights inside and out all lights come on when no one is touching the keys they keep doing it every couple of minutes and stay on for up to five minutes draining the battery. The vehicle is parked keys out and it still happens
The headlights randomly turn on and off even when the car is not running. This is draining the battery frequently. Replacing the battery has not helped with this issue. The turn signals will randomly begin blinking while I'm driving. The horn has begun sporadically beeping while driving and also when the car is off and parked in my driveway. The heat has completely stopped working - it only blows ice cold air which is the last thing I need when it is below zero here in the mornings when I am leaving for work....
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There is clearly an electrical problem which seems to escalate over time - and it seems other years of this vehicle have been recalled for these same problems. I am not understanding why the 2008 has not been recalled. I am terrified of what this problem will escalate to - I have a young child that I must transport daily to daycare.
Driving on a long stretch of dark highway, lights started flickering on and off, finally lights went totally out leaving me in the dark not able to see forward I then crashed into the side of the off road scary, next day took to shop they said it was the tipm, goes out every 4 to 6 months going on my 3rd one lights are out, lighter, and window
Having intermittent headlight problem some time has headlights and sometimes don't doesn't matter sitting or in motion am afraid to drive at night never know if have lights or not.
I ran a quick errand. When I returned to my vehicle, my windshield wipers and headlights came on as soon as I started it. The wipers wouldn't turn off unless the car was turned. The lights will not come on unless the car is on, the dash lights don't wok, and the signals don't work. I had to drive home that way in plenty of traffic. I felt unsafe driving the vehicle, as I had my grand baby with me, after reading several other complaints identical to mine, happening after 8 years of owning the vehicles, makes it seem that it was done intentionally by the manufacturer to get it back for repair. *Tr
While driving the wipers and fluid will start going off both wipers front and back and the horn will start blaring, have to pull over and pop open the hood and bang on the fuse box, everything will stop and I am able to start the truck up and go on. Now the headlights stop working, I turn on the headlights and they come on for a split second and then off, only the running lights will stay on. I have opened the drivers door and the horn will honk and the wipers will move up briefly. Other times nothing happens for days. *Tr
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...
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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. He believes the issue is with my tipm and it will cost me a few hundred more, just to confirm this was the issue. Dodge also wants to charge me a few hundred to look at my car and diagnosis this issue. Its very frustrating to know that this car manufacturer is aware of all the issues with the tipm and they are not willing to cover the cost. I feel like I bought a lemon. I loved dodge before this. My other car is a 2006 dodge magnum and its still hanging in their just great. I really hope this part is recalled on all models.
Brake lights constantly previously had to replaced by correct bulbs noted in manual. Now both brake lights not working but top brake light does.
2008 Dodge nitro. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle electrical system and mechanical repair problems. *Smd the consumer stated the ac and went out, along with the low and high switch melting some of the under panel where the switch was mounted. Smoke was coming from out the dash while driving. The horn was blared out of control, draining the battery, the radio would not come on, the doors locked and unlocked uncontrollably, the wheel and hub failed on the front of the vehicle, the water pump was replaced,...
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the brakes were replaced three times, in one year. When the consumer clicked the unlock button on the key pad, the door locks went haywire, it would lock and the consumer was unable to enter the vehicle. Also, the catalytic converter was replaced. The tipm was replaced. However, a week later, the problems returned with the headlights staying on, the horn blaring out of control and the doors locking and unlocking and not being able to enter the vehicle. The head lights and tail lights were replaced several times. *Jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the headlights became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the computer module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. The vin was not available.
For months, we have been having issues with unlocking the vehicle using the key fob. Problems have since worsened in the last week to include loss of low beam headlights, uncontrollable horn honking, front and rear wiper activation when not engaged, doors locking on their own, overnight battery drainage, trouble starting the vehicle, vehicle not turning off with key removed, horn honking while driving, esp/bas lights flashing, traction control light flashing, lights dimming and a/c system turning off on its own....
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All research points to a faulty tipm system, which has been recalled for previous years, and years following the 2008 model year of this vehicle. Some of these issues have occurred while sitting parked with no key in the ignition, other issues have occurred while the vehicle is in motion. It's very concerning, as this is our only vehicle, that these issues could cause loss of vehicle control. There have been dozens of complaints reported for this same model year vehicle to the nhtsa of vehicles losing control of steering and braking systems at highway speeds. With a two year old, his safety is paramount, and this potentially dangerous vehicle is becoming increasingly unsafe for us to drive.
The horn / alarm/ lights/ locks / windows , constantly go off & on with no warning. It happened randomly at first but now 09/03/2015 it is a everyday occurrence. I have taken it to the dealer to switch out remote, update electrical system and still the dealer has no idea. Ive disconnected the battery, replaced fuses, nothing. I was told it might be the tipm since several 2008 models have the same problem. They replaced the 2010-2012 but not the 2007 & 2008 models. I need this problem fixed before a severe electrical problem occurs...
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge nitro. After starting the vehicle, the headlights blinked twice then shut off. The failure recurred multiple times intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the tipm module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.
The headlights stopped working. At first they would flash on and off. After 4 or 5 times of turning on the lights, they wouldn't even flash. We tried changing the fuses, but nothing worked. The lights remained inoperative until it rained. Once it rained, all of a sudden the lights started operating normally. This pattern has continued for over a year. Sometimes the lights work and sometimes they don't. The dealer says it is a tipm problem. Apparently, this is a common problem with dodge nitros. We did have...
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a mechanic replace the lights/turn signal lever in the car. The lights worked without issue for about 3 months. Now, they are not working again. And now we are having other issues such as the horn going off and the windshield wipers and washer fluid going off randomly and nothing I do will stop it. After about 5 minutes, everything stopped on its own. Thankfully, we were in a parking lot at the time. I can only imagine the danger if this happened while driving in heavy traffic or at a high rate of speed. This is a huge safety issue. Chrysler should recall this and repair the vehicles affected.
This is my third incident with a faulty tipm on my 2008 dodge nitro slt. Lights, horns, front and rear wipers as well as the washer fluid spraying out of control. I remove the fuse for both the left and right horns to silence them, then remove the positive battery cable to reset the tipm. It has been successful so far. Looking for a replacement unit for preventive measures.
I walked out to my car one morning to make a trip into town. The instant I opened the door the horn started blaring without a pause, the windshield wipers both front and rear were running on their top speed. I have absolutely no control over the car. I cant even get it out of park to have a tow truck pick it up. The gauge cluster says "no bus" and the only culprit I can think of would be the famous dodge tipm. *Tr
The windshield wipers either won't come on at all or will continually move all over the windshield as you drive. The wiper malfunction is extremely worse if you have the headlights on and use the turn signal. This causes them to quickly fully extend to the very edge of the windshields drivers side. This causes extreme visibility problems. The dodge dealership has not been able to fix the problem after several visits and multiple attempts of replacing parts including the turn signal wand and the entire wiper...
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assembly. The mechanic said dodge recommended replacing the tipm, which the manufacturer was aware of a huge problem with this part on nitros. After doing some research I could not believe all the complaints with no action being taken by chrysler or the government for my model year. Recalls were issued for older years, so why not the 2008 with the same problems? I can't safely drive my car with my vision constantly compromised and I can't even sell it with all the horrible reviews. Now it just sits in my driveway because I am too nervous to drive it with these problems. *Tr
It was may of 2013, not sure of exact date. It was evening and raining out. I went to get in my car and when I started the ignition and put my headlights on, they went off. After about 15 seconds they came back on, but started to flicker. After I shut the car off and turned back on the headlights remained on. Over the past year this has happened more and more. Each time is when there is moisture: rain, snow or frost. This year the occurrences are getting more frequent. I have had head lights replaced. The switch....
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A battery. I was finally told it is the tipm. The part will be between $600-700 (just for the part), its on national backorder, it could be months until they even get it in. Now this means my only vehicle I can't drive. I leave for work at 5:00 a.M, which is dark and return in the evening (in winter) around 5:30 which is dark. These lights go out randomly and dodge said they are unaware of any tipm problems. This is a major safety issue to myself and the public. *Tr
Headlights came on by themselves and stayed on for approximately 30 seconds each time; this happened 3 times. The keys were lying on a table undisturbed. The doors have also locked by themselves. *Tr
The windshield wipers ran as fast as they could without us being able to shut them off. We had no turn signals or headlights. This was diagnosed as a faulty tipm. We paid $1100 to have it replaced and reprogrammed. *Tr
Dodge Nitro lighting complaints by year
Nitro lighting problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data