Which year to buy
2011GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual Extended coverage
87 serious complaints of 122, the most about air bags (24) and power train (16); per car on the road, 1.0× this model's usual year. 3 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA19001: electrical overstress.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2011 dodge nitro. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 13v282000 (air bags, electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no repair solution.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Aug 2016
“The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while his daughter was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel inadvertently lost power steering functionality. Additionally, the windshield wipers remained operational after the windshield wiper button was disengaged.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Jan 2022
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage Customers may comment on the following:The AHR is deployed on one or both front seats and will not reset. (23-028-20, Nov 2020)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
122 owner complaints · 3 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 17–18 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2011 trims and features
2010GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual Extended coverage
52 serious complaints of 78, the most about air bags (12) and fuel system (10); per car on the road, 0.8× this model's usual year. 3 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA19001: electrical overstress.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Nitro. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V396000 (Air Bags, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Oct 2023
“Tipm flashing , wipers do not work, abs light on- speed will not go over 40 and takes a while to reach speed. Acts as if the vehicle is running out of gas, brakes not working properly”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the fuel system, Jun 2019
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage Customers may comment on the following:The AHR is deployed on one or both front seats and will not reset. (23-028-20, Nov 2020)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
78 owner complaints · 3 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 17–18 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2010 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3.7L 6-cyl 4.0L 6-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17–18 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 122 | Electrical system (54) | — |
| 2010 | 3.7L 6-cyl 4.0L 6-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17–18 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 78 | Electrical system (26) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Trims and features
Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl; 4.0L 6-cyl · Drive: 4WD, RWD
2011 Nitro trims
| Detonator | Heat | SE | SXT | Shock |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Dodge reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Dodge aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dodge Nitro SUV 4WD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 122 |
| 2011 | Dodge Nitro SUV RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 122 |
| 2010 | Dodge Nitro 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 78 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Nitro 2WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
18 |
| 2011 | Nitro 4WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
17 |
| 2010 | Nitro 2WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
18 |
| 2010 | Nitro 4WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
17 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.