2007 DODGE NITRO Recalls Canada & USA – Major League Recalls
2007 DODGE NITRO Recalls — Canada & USA
Summary
The 2007 Dodge Nitro has 9 recalls, the most serious involving a heat shield that can drop and wear through the drive shaft, which may then break, trigger the airbag computer, and cause the airbags to deploy without a crash.
A separate electrical recall addresses a software issue in the power module that can cause the engine to stall without warning. There is also a steering wheel concern: the center emblem can loosen and, if the airbag fires in a crash, send the emblem or its retaining hardware into the cabin. On the braking side, a software fault in the anti-lock brake module can cause a brief delay in braking response when coasting uphill. Manual transmission models have an additional issue where the parking brake lever clutch drum can distort and lose holding force, potentially allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly. The windshield wiper system rounds out the list: heavy use of the delay wiper setting can eventually cause the wipers to stop working entirely, leaving the driver without visibility in rain or snow.
On certain vehicles, the emblem on the steering wheel could become loose. If this happens, the emblem or its retainers could become projectiles when the airbag inflates in a crash.
Safety Risk
Loose parts that are projected toward the occupants when an airbag deploys could increase the risk of an injury.
Remedy
FCA Canada will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the airbag cover on the steering wheel.
On certain vehicles, the tunnel heat shield may drop down and rub on the drive shaft, which could eventually result in the drive shaft breaking and loss of motive power. In conjunction with traffic and road conditions and driver reactions, this could increase the risk of a crash. A broken drive shaft could also impact the tunnel with sufficient force to cause airbag deployment. Unintended airbag deployment, in a non-warranted (non-impact) situation could startle the driver which could result in a vehicle crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. In some instances, inadvertent deployment could cause minor injuries to vehicle occupants.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will install a heat shield support bracket.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Dodge Nitro 4X2 vehicles manufactured March 21, 2006, through March 1, 2008; and 2008 Jeep Liberty 4X2 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2007, through March 1, 2008. The transfer case heat shield may drop down and rub on the drive shaft, weakening it and potentially causing the drive shaft to break.
Safety Risk
If the drive shaft breaks, a section of it can strike the transfer case tunnel with enough force that the airbag computer will believe the vehicle is in a crash and thus deploy the airbags. Additionally, the drive shaft failure will result in a loss of motive power. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a bracket to support the rear of the heat shield, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 29, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N10.
On certain vehicles, high usage of the variable pause windshield wiper function (delay mode) may eventually affect primary wiper function, rendering the wiper system inoperable. Should this occur during a rainy/snowy day, it could increase the risk of a crash, causing property damage, personal injury or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will add an external relay and update the wiper control software.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 DODGE NITRO PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION OVER TIME WHERE HIGH USAGE OF THE VARIABLE PAUSE WIPER FUNCTION ("DELAY" MODE) MAY EVENTUALLY AFFECT PRIMARY WIPER FUNCTION, RENDERING THE WIPER SYSTEM INOPERABLE.
Safety Risk
INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE IMPAIRED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ADD EXTERNAL RELAYS AND UPDATE THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE SOFTWARE TO CONTROL THE WIPER FUNCTIONS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403.
On certain vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the park brake lever clutch drum may distort and reduce the effectiveness of the park brake system. This could allow the vehicle to move inadvertently and cause a crash without any warning.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the park brake lever assembly.
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.
Safety Risk
THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE INADVERTENTLY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
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.
Safety Risk
THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) WAS PROGRAMMED WITH SOFTWARE THAT MAY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO STALL UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Safety Risk
THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE TIPM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.