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Before you buy a used Dodge Nitro.

2007–2011 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Dodge Nitro, real photo of this generation
IFCAR · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.

  • Engine mounts and starting on the Dodge NitroEngine
    Period mentioned
    2007–2011
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: A broken engine mount at about 40,000 km and four years (with a long wait for the part); on the 2.8 diesel, starting problems not cured by replacing injectors and crank and camshaft sensors.

3.7 V6

Petrol

2.8 CRD

Diesel

  • EGR, turbo and timing belt on the 2.8 CRD (VM Motori)Engine
    Period mentioned
    2001–2018
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: The block is considered robust: problems usually come from the ancillaries (turbo, intercooler and emissions equipment, especially the EGR valve). Owners point out that the timing belt is expensive and must be changed on time (about 160,000 km).

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Dodge Nitro
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
3.7 V6Petrol21 with conditions4
2.8 CRDDiesel24

According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Dodge dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Loose driver airbag emblemAirbags and seat belts

How to check it: Confirm VIN; remove emblem and retainers under the recall.

View full entry
Dodge brake recalls (2007–2008)Brakes

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Dodge steering recalls (2011–2011)Steering

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Dodge electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2010–2010)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 3 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: A broken engine mount at about 40,000 km and four years (with a long wait for the part); on the 2.8 diesel, starting problems not cured by replacing injectors and crank and camshaft sensors.

    Ask them to check: Listen for knocks when accelerating and braking; check the mounts.

  • Look out for: Hesitation, smoke and loss of power from the EGR or particulate filter; a failing turbo or intercooler; if the timing belt breaks, serious damage (interference engine).

    Ask them to check: Check when the belt was changed; read the EGR and filter codes; check the turbo and intercooler pipes.

Suspension and steering

  • Look out for: Brake failure without warning, with a risk of a crash.

    Ask them to check: Check by VIN whether the car was in the campaign and whether it was done.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

More Dodge buying guides

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