Summary
The Dodge Nitro has 9 recalls covering the 2007-2008 model years, with the most serious being a heat shield on 4x2 models that can drop and wear against the drive shaft until it breaks, sending a section of shaft crashing into the tunnel with enough force to trigger airbag deployment.
The drive shaft issue affects both 2007 and 2008 model years on 4x2 configurations. The 2007 model year carries the majority of the remaining recalls. On 2007 models, the engine control software can allow a stall without warning, creating a crash risk in traffic. There is also a steering wheel emblem on 2007 vehicles that can come loose and, when the airbag fires in a crash, launch the emblem or its metal retainers toward the driver. On the braking side, 2007 models have an anti-lock brake software issue that can cause a brief delay in braking response when coasting uphill, and 2007-2008 vehicles equipped with manual transmissions have a parking brake lever component that can distort and fail to hold the vehicle on a slope, allowing it to roll. The 2007 model year also has a windshield wiper fault where extended use of the intermittent delay mode can eventually disable the wipers entirely, leaving the driver without visibility in rain or snow.
