FORCAR
Go Pro

Dodge Nitro VIN Check

NHTSA holds 1,207 owner complaints on the Dodge Nitro from 288 production runs; the worst run has 27, the typical one 4.2.

NHTSA complaint records · 1,207 complaints · 288 runs · 2007–2012 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Nitro run is 1D8GU28K77W (2007 builds) with 27 complaints, 6.4× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 34% of reports; 2007 is the worst model year at 8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for Nitro model years 2007–2012.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Dodge Nitro has 288 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 8% of every Nitro complaint on file.

FIG.01·Dodge Nitro — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1D8GU28K77W••••••20072722
1D8GU58K97W••••••200718——
1D8GU28K87W••••••200718——
1D8GU28K37W••••••200718——
1D8GT28K47W••••••200717——
1D8GT28K27W••••••20071722
1D8GU58677W••••••2007161—
1D8GT58K97W••••••200716——
1D8GU58K37W••••••200716——
1D8GT28K07W••••••200715——
1D8GT28K37W••••••200715——
1D8GU58K27W••••••200715——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 276 Nitro runs has 15 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 16 Nitro VINs so far, most often 2007, 2011, 2008 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Dodge Nitro the gap between build years is 5.7×: a 2007 car draws 8 complaints per run, a 2009 one 1.4.

FIG.02·Dodge Nitro — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20111.5110725
20101.564441
20091.42720—
20084.63287116
200786768421
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2007 at 8 complaints per run; lightest is 2009 at 1.4.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 34% of everything Dodge Nitro owners report: Electrical System, 467 of 1,207 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Dodge Nitro — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Electrical System467420
Fuel System182——
Gasoline180——
Power Train12215
Fuel/propulsion System122——
Air Bags113232
Engine9634
Unknown Or Other81——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 11 recall campaigns on the Dodge Nitro; the 6 below cover build years 2007 to 2012. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Dodge Nitro — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
20V396000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2007–2011
13V282000Electrical System2011–2012
13V121000Power Train:driveline:driveshaft2007–2008
08V525000Parking Brake2007–2008
11V315000Steering:column2011
10V009000Service Brakes, Hydraulic2010
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

20V396000 was opened in 2020 on cars built from 2007: 13 years on the road before the recall.

The Nitro against its rivals

The Nitro draws 4.2 complaints per production run; the Jeep Liberty 7.6, the Jeep Commander 7 and the Chrysler PT Cruiser 4.1.

FIG.05·Dodge Nitro VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Dodge Nitro1,2072884.23.6%
Jeep Liberty7,5229887.66.5%
Jeep Commander2,87941273.5%
Chrysler PT Cruiser2,0304904.17.4%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 1,207 reports on the Dodge Nitro, 3.6% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Dodge Nitro — complaint severity
OutcomeDodge NitroAll vehicles
Complaints filed1,2071,115,966
Involved a crash43 (3.6%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire31 (2.6%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported5258,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 38% below the all-vehicle rate.

Upgrade to Pro

You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.

  • Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • Decode a whole list of VINs at once
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Dodge Nitro share of that is 1,207 complaints over 288 runs, 0.11% of everything on record.

Everything on the Dodge Nitro
Recalls18 campaignsFuel economy19 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems1,456 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices247 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2007–2012

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Dodge Nitro VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1,207 NHTSA complaints from 288 Nitro runs and 11 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Nitro production run has the most complaints?

1D8GU28K77W, a 2007 build, with 27 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Nitro run has 4.2.

Which Nitro years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2007 is heaviest at 8 complaints per run and 2009 lightest at 1.4.

Does the Nitro get more complaints than the Jeep Liberty?

No: 4.2 complaints per production run for the Nitro against 7.6 for the Jeep Liberty.

How many Nitro complaints involve a crash?

3.6% of 1,207 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 31 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →