Problem Lookup › Dodge › Nitro › 2012
Car problem report
2012 Dodge Nitro problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Dodge Nitro has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 2owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
Every Dodge Nitro model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Dodge Nitro?
The components named most often in the 2 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2012 Dodge Nitro been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Electrical System Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.
Is the 2012 Dodge Nitro recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAThe driver's airbag emblem may have become loose or detached
Risk: The driver's airbag emblem may have become loose or detached.
Fix: Remove the emblem and the emblem retainers
EU Safety GateThe trade-mark logo may not have been properly affixed.As a result, it may become detached in the event of an airbag release and be projected into the passenger compartment, causing injury to the occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2012 Dodge Nitro owners report?
2 of the 2 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
THE IGNITION SWITCH SNAPPED BACK AND TURNS THE KEY OFF RESULTING IN A COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN AT SPEED. THE STEERING AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT THAT POINT. IT HAPPENED TWICE WHILE GOING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. ONE ADDITIONAL TIME, THE IGNITION SWITCHED SNAPPED BACK, AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON AGAIN. JOHNSON AUTO PLAZA IN BRIGHTON, CO, TOLD ME IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE, AND THE SWITCH IS NOW AF OR IN ITS 5TH GENERATION. THIS REPLACEMENT JUST COST ME $593.00. PLEASE PUT A NOTICE OUT THERE AND FORCE RAM TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR FREE OR ELSE THIS COULD END UP KILLING PEOPLE.
WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR DODGE NITRO. HOWEVER DODGE HAS MADE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS RECALL CORRECTED IN THE HOPES YOU WON'T TAKE YOUR VEHICLE IN AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY OR TIME CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO HAVE A OUR VEHICLE RECALL CORRECTED WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD TO BRING IN OUR VEHICLE IN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SO IT DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS SO IT COULD BE INSPECTED. AFTER THEY INSPECT IT THEY TELL YOU THERE IS A PROBLEM AND YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS. THIS NOW…
2012 Dodge Nitro: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Dodge Nitro reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Nitro; the most common categories were air bags (1, 50%), electrical system (1, 50%), equipment adaptive/mobility (1, 50%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Nitro?
Across 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (50% of complaints), electrical system (50% of complaints), equipment adaptive/mobility (50% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Dodge Nitro have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Dodge Nitro; the most recent (campaign 13V282000, 2013-07-02) concerns Electrical System. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own Nitro
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.