Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PE07027CHRYSLER GROUP LLC05/29/200708/02/2007ENGINE STALLING & ELECTRIC POWER LOSS07V291000
 On july 3, 2007, daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) submitted a defect information report to nhtsa describing a defect that could result in engine stall while driving in approximately 80,894 model year (my) 2007 jeep wrangler and dodge nitro vehicles manufactured between january 30, 2006 and january 22, 2007 (nhtsa recall 07v-291, dcc recall g25).according to dcc, the totally integrated power module (tipm) in these vehicles was programmed with software that may allow the engine to stall under certain conditions.dcc will reprogram the tipm in the recalled vehicles with revised software. odi opened pe07-027 on may 29, 2007, based on 53 complaints alleging engine stall and/or loss of electrical power in my 2007 jeep wrangler vehicles.odi was also monitoring similar complaints in my 2007 dodge nitro vehicles.dcc's analysis of complaints to dcc and nhtsa found that many described events with a momentary loss of electrical power inside the vehicle and a corresponding loss of engine power.many of the reports also indicated that the instrument cluster telltale lamps momentarily illuminated during the event. dcc's engineering analysis determined that the tipm could initiate an internal reset cycle lasting approximately 75 ms in response to error messages on the communication bus.the key on signal from the tipm to the powertrain control module (pcm) is lost during a tipm reset.if the pcm loses the key on signal for longer than 40 ms, it interprets it as the vehicle ignition being turned off and begins a power down routine.after the tipm reset, the key on signal is restored and the pcm powers back up.if the rotating components of the engine contain sufficient inertia, the vehicle may restart with no input from the operator as reported in some of the complaints.if the engine does not restart in this manner, it can be restarted by the operator.a revision to the tipm software on january 22, 2007 changed the tipm reset time to 17 ms, removing the potential for pcm power down and engine stall. odi has received 178 complaints potentially related to the alleged defect in my 2007 jeep wrangler vehicles and 52 complaints involving my 2007 dodge nitro vehicles.two of the nitro complaints allege that a crash resulted from an engine stall incident, one of which caused minor injuries to a passenger.as of june 1, 2007, dcc identified 151 wrangler complaints and 128 nitro complaints. this investigation has been closed with dcc's recall.
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PE07027CHRYSLER GROUP LLC05/29/200708/02/2007ENGINE STALLING & ELECTRIC POWER LOSS07V291000
 On july 3, 2007, daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) submitted a defect information report to nhtsa describing a defect that could result in engine stall while driving in approximately 80,894 model year (my) 2007 jeep wrangler and dodge nitro vehicles manufactured between january 30, 2006 and january 22, 2007 (nhtsa recall 07v-291, dcc recall g25).according to dcc, the totally integrated power module (tipm) in these vehicles was programmed with software that may allow the engine to stall under certain conditions.dcc will reprogram the tipm in the recalled vehicles with revised software. odi opened pe07-027 on may 29, 2007, based on 53 complaints alleging engine stall and/or loss of electrical power in my 2007 jeep wrangler vehicles.odi was also monitoring similar complaints in my 2007 dodge nitro vehicles.dcc's analysis of complaints to dcc and nhtsa found that many described events with a momentary loss of electrical power inside the vehicle and a corresponding loss of engine power.many of the reports also indicated that the instrument cluster telltale lamps momentarily illuminated during the event. dcc's engineering analysis determined that the tipm could initiate an internal reset cycle lasting approximately 75 ms in response to error messages on the communication bus.the key on signal from the tipm to the powertrain control module (pcm) is lost during a tipm reset.if the pcm loses the key on signal for longer than 40 ms, it interprets it as the vehicle ignition being turned off and begins a power down routine.after the tipm reset, the key on signal is restored and the pcm powers back up.if the rotating components of the engine contain sufficient inertia, the vehicle may restart with no input from the operator as reported in some of the complaints.if the engine does not restart in this manner, it can be restarted by the operator.a revision to the tipm software on january 22, 2007 changed the tipm reset time to 17 ms, removing the potential for pcm power down and engine stall. odi has received 178 complaints potentially related to the alleged defect in my 2007 jeep wrangler vehicles and 52 complaints involving my 2007 dodge nitro vehicles.two of the nitro complaints allege that a crash resulted from an engine stall incident, one of which caused minor injuries to a passenger.as of june 1, 2007, dcc identified 151 wrangler complaints and 128 nitro complaints. this investigation has been closed with dcc's recall.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
POWER TRAIN
10/01/201055000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2007 dodge nitro. while driving 65 mph the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate over 25 mph. the failure was experienced numerous times. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test that indicated the failure in the transmission speed sensor. the manufacturer filed report 20696273, and advised her to have the dealership diagnose the failure. the dealers diagnostic test indicated that the transmission speed sensor had failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 58,000.
10/01/201055000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2007 dodge nitro. while driving 65mph the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate over 25mph. the failure was experienced numerous times. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic whom performed a diagnosed that located the failure at the transmission speed sensor. the manufacturer took a 20696273, and advised to have the dealership diagnosed the failure. the dealership diagnose also located the failure at the transmission speed sensor. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 58,000. li
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
07/26/2007113806/14/2007
 For 4 months since purchase of this vehicle 2007 dodge nitro it has been in the shop 8 times for issues such as; gas tank loose, stalling, lack of power, esp/bas lights malfunctioning, transmission mis-shifting, air bag malfunctioning. the dealer keep saying they are running updates but the problem still occurs. i am fearful of what could happen to me and my children while driving this vehicle and it malfunctions again. *tr
10/01/20076700403/15/2007
 I have had a continuous problems with stalling, transmission, and braking with my new vehicle! the dealer did the recalls the reprogramming for all compontents and even replaced a kinked fuel line and they did not document that they replaced it, they told me that it wasn't available from dodge so they said they pulled it off one on the lot! the transmission slips, chugs, chatters, shudders,everything that a transmission is not susposto do! so they replaced the torque converter,i got it back and after about 20 minutes of driving the same problems started again just not as bad, each time i drive it it gets worst just not as frequent,now with the brakes, the esp/bas light comes on, when its on the brakes are real touchy like sudden stopping ,and lunging you forward, the dealer cut the rotors for a pulsation but did nothing about the light coming on! i guess if the computer doesn't say there is something wrong then nothing is, a computer is only as smart as who programmed it! there are many other problems, its been in the dealer 3 times for a total of ten days so far mainly the same three components well i have to take it back again because there is still something wrong with it, and now the engine has a loud tick, and a hissing sound along with the same concerns as before. *tr
06/18/20071011/14/2006
 My 2007 dodge nitro had transmission issues, surging etc. the dealership replaced the torque converter which did not fix the problem. now, stopped at a slight incline when i remove my foot from the brake it rolls backwards. dealership states that this is normal. updated 09/18/07 *tr
05/01/20074408412/23/2006
 Nitro vibrates between 38- 42 mph as though it was in over drive. not enough power at that speed in over drive. v-6 engine was supposed to get 18-24 mpg, we got 14 city ,18 highway. very hard shifting. been to dealer 4 times so far with no correct results. also, died at stop signs at times. *ak
11/08/2006511/01/2006
 2007 dodge nitro safety issues customer states that after 3 months he noticed a hesitation in power an hard shifting**cc the consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer, and after several attempts to repair the problem which included replacement of the torque converter, the dealership informed the consumer there was no fix for the problem. the consumer believed the problem to be potentially dangerous because of the transmission shutter, loosing power in forward and reverse and hard shifting. *jb
03/31/200717402912/30/2006
 2007 dodge nitro 4x4 transmission when upshifting stalls/shudders from 25-35 mph, may lead to accident. *tr
12/14/2006638110/25/2006
 I have a 2007 dodge nitro. since about 400 miles there has been a hesitation/bucking while trying to maintain a steady speed. it has been to the dealership 3 times, once a month since purchased on nov 25, 2006. the problem has still not been corrected and i am now told that the hesitation/bucking at all speeds is normal. *jb
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER
02/12/20071000102/12/2007
 In february of 2007,my wife and i purchased a 2007 dodge nitro from ken garf west valley dodge. we fell in love with the car the moment we saw it, but it has become a nightmare. within weeks of bringing it home we noticed a hesistation/surging problem with the motor whenever we traveled at a speed of 35 to 45 mph. we immediately contacted the maintenance department of the dealer and scheduled an appointment. we brought the nitro in; they did a computer flash update to fix the problem and sent us on our way. again, we noticed the same problem shortly after returning home. so, we made another appointment and brought the vehicle back in. they did the same thin(computer flash update) and told us whatever residual surging we felt in the vehicle was normal. fot the third time, we brought it home and the problem continued to worsen, we brought it back in to the dealer.but this time while i was there i test-drove another nitro of the exact kind to find that this problem was not normal. after doing this and telling the maintenance department that i had test-drove another nitro, they decide we neede to schedule another appointment to replace the torque converter. we scheduled an appointment for a month away to give them time to get the parts in. once again we brought the nitro in, they kept it a few days to change out the torque converter. when we picked it up they said it was fixed. we were excited and relieved to finally get this behind us. soon after this, the surging was still taking place, but now at any speed we tried to hold steady. we called again and they told us it was normal, i reminded them that i had test-drove the exact car and that it was in fact, not normal. yet again, the scheduled another appointmentfor usa to bring the car in. this time the head mechanic drove it with the computer hooked up to it. he stated that it was getting worse, but the computer was showing no errors and they could'nt fix it. *jb
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
06/09/20075500202/09/2007
 When shifting from 1-2 gear at times there wa sk, when shifting through all gears there was a surge in power or lack of gas power. took vehicle to dealer, could not find,anything wrong or duplicate the problem. *ak