Is the 2007 Dodge Nitro a bad year?
823 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 94, 9.4× a quiet Nitro year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 9.4× the complaints of a quiet Nitro year, spread over 8k–99k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Nitro owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 67,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 246 (30%) | 15k–124k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 229 (28%) | 35k–70k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 94 (11%) | 8k–99k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 88 (11%) | 58k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 55 (7%) | 29k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 87 (11%) | 9k–96k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 38 (5%) | 19k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Latches and locks | 35 (4%) | 60k–109k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 28 (3%) | 28k–124k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 25 (3%) | 24k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 61 (7%) | 71k–162k miles · ahead | — |
| Exterior lighting | 18 (2%) | 73k–100k miles · ahead | — |
| Stability control | 18 (2%) | 80k–150k miles · ahead | — |
| Equipment | 15 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 67,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 823 complaints: 24 mention a crash · 17 mention a fire · 21 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
When backing up vehicle hesitates . When speeding up on the highway vehicle bumps like transmission is coming out of case like it is pushing car forward.
When accelerating my vehicle I bought two days prior (Used), from being a a stop light, it jerked/ wouldn't accelerate rpms went very high, made a grinding sound and the check engine light came in immediately.
This is a follow up on the complaint I made in may. My nitro is still not fixed. It still has serious shifting problems, now steering problems.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 67,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Dodge Nitro: 8
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.
The transfer case heat shield may drop down and rub on the drive shaft, weakening it and potentially causing the drive shaft to break. 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.
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. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause impaired visibility increasing the risk of a crash.
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 warning.
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. This could cause a crash without warning.
On certain vehicles, the totally integrated power module (TIPM) was programmed with software that may allow the engine to stall under certain operating conditions. This could cause a crash without warning.
On certain vehicles, the antilock brake system (ABS) control module software may cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions. This could result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning.
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the software programmed into the powertrain control module can cause a momentary lock up of the drive wheels if the vehicle is traveling over 40 MPH and the operator shifts from drive to neutral and back to drive. If the drive wheels locked up, loss of vehicle control could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 25
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Dodge Nitro. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment
Service Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket
Manual transmission pops out of gear
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Engine stalling & electric power loss
Neighbouring years
2008 Nitro: 393 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Nitro year
2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · All Nitro years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 Dodge Nitro a bad year?
823 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 94, 9.4× a quiet Nitro year. At 67,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 9.4× the complaints of a quiet Nitro year, spread over 8k–99k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Dodge Nitro?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (246), fuel system (229), transmission and drivetrain (94), body structure (88), visibility and wipers (55). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 8k–99k miles.
How many recalls does the 2007 Dodge Nitro have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 20V-396), Body structure (NHTSA 13V-121), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 09V-438), Parking brake (NHTSA 08V-525) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.