Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
17 -18 City / 23 -24 HWY
Horsepower
210 -255
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Lauren P
Love my gorgeous and fun nitro!!
I love my 2008 nitro. It has been great I have always wanted an SUV but could not decide on which one to buy. I really like jeeps but they are pretty expensive then I came across the nitro and test drove one and fell in love. I love driving with the sunroof open when it is nice out and it has a fantastic stereo system for just being factory. The nitro has a great exterior I wanted a SUV that didn't look too feminine and it is a great smooth ride also. It is been a great car and I haven't had any major issues with it whatsoever. If I ever get rid of it I'll be buying another nitro for sure!!
accountCircle Linda H
It stands out and looks like a new suv
Love the color, the design and the compy ride
accountCircle Samantha H
A comfortable, affordable vehicle.
It is a quick car. It is extremely comfortable to drive for long distances. Its size makes me feel safer on the road. It is not the most fuel efficient car if you drive far often but for work and errands it's fantastic. It has plenty of space inside and a great radio.
accountCircle Heidi W
Dodge Nitro - snazzy, peppy, and dependable.
Vehicle is reliable and peppy. Have had no major issues with it. FWD is dependable and has not let me down in any type of weather. Has enough room for everything and a hitch in case I need to pull a small trailer behind it. Does great on mileage. Averaging 18 mph. The only thing I would change is the touchiness of the tire pressure monitoring system. That is the most annoying thing in the world.
accountCircle Tina L
Great car in the long haul.
I love how it's held up over the past 11 yrs. I have had 1 mechanical issue which was covered under warranty and one electrical which wasn't covered. It is 6-speed and does great on gas given its a SUV. All in all it has best the best vehicle I have ever owned.
accountCircle Mike O
Best off road vehicle dodge nitro
Performance on the Dodge nitro is amazing, very reliable, super comfort, and has many features like bluetooth, heated seats, etc.
accountCircle Donna E
Sharp looking vehicle. Roomy and the design is great.
I love my nitro..It has the usual maintenance problems. But all in all a very reliable vehicle. Drives nice..Seats are comfortable. Lots of..LoL eg room..Can hold 6 people very nicely..Keep it maintained and it will run forever..It's to bad they do not make this vehicle anymore..Such a sturdy car..
accountCircle Frank M
Good looking sub that is a total eye catcher
I like the appearance. It has a gangster look. Good gas mileage. Nice interior . Eye catcher

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sherry King
PERFECT SIZE FOR CATERINGS AND LOOKED GREAT WHEN BOUGHT
I purchased my Nitro in 2013. I started having issues about 5 years later. Electrical: Horn would honk randomly while parked while turned off or driving down the road. "pulled the fuses", The locks would unlock itself after getting out of car and locking it. "Took the battery out of the key remote.", The lights would come on randomly when not driving, like in the middle of the night. The radio kept draining the battery so I had to have it detached. There was no automatic shut off for filling the gas tank, many gas spills. Then the icing on the cake was the finish on the paint started peeling 4 years ago! I"m not happy about that at all since it is a business vehicle! Paint jobs are too expensive! Now im stuck with an ugly vehicle! Why were there not recalls for any of these problems? I will never buy another Dodge again!!
accountCircle Jessica E
My 2008 Dodge nitro.. Door handles expensive.
I have a 2008 Dodge nitro. It is been a wonderful vehicle for me and my kids. It had extra leg room and is extra wide in seat area which is nice. Its compact enough to get in smaller spaces yet big enough to haul my cabinet when seats are laid down. I have drive it to Nebraska and back to Arkansas 3 times with no issues. It gets decent gas mileage. About 20 miles to the gallon. The parts that I have had to replace on the motor are comparable with other vehicles of its kind. However the door handles are rather pricey and I have had to replace 3. They are not very durable. I have owned Jeeps in the past and like this over them. I would buy another one if I could. Just an updated version of the one I have.
accountCircle JESSIA K
Gets me where I need to be.
It rides like a Jeep. You hear the road noise and feel each little bump. It is comfortable enough but would not be the car I choose next time.
accountCircle Asia D
Car has been a very reliable vehicle. Runs well in the snow.
The Dodge nitro is a reliable car, has nearly 90, 000 miles and has only required normal maintenance, is a familiar brand and I have owned two of the same models. It is the size car I needed and wanted and has four wheel drive. It was in my price range but also had the body style I was looking for. And it handles well in the snow. But there are not a lot built in features or cruise control. Also this model is no longer made making me wonder if there are underlying problems.
accountCircle Mark A
Great 4 wheel drive vehicle awesome for off road use as well as a night out on the town.
Gets great traction in the winter time, pretty good gas mileage, very comfortable to drive and handles very well
accountCircle Jen L
Neat look, fancy, 4 wheel drive
Bought it used seems like everything is falling apart already. I believe there is a hole in the exhaust. The automatic window button just popped off. I just miss having a sports car . It's not terrible on gas though for being a v6. I do like sitting up higher
accountCircle Sonya J
AN oldie but a reliable goody.
The vehicle is no longer made. But it's built well. There is no marking if its rt slx or slt. Minor issues I have close to 200,000 miles and I am starting to have issues with brakes shocks starter motor and transmission. The SUV is roomy and seats 5 comfortably with room for luggage.
accountCircle Rachel B
It has 4-wheel drive and does well in all seasons and weather conditions
Bought as a used car, this vehicle has a lot of miles and repairs that needed to be done. However, the turning radius is fantastic and the car is very comfortable on the inside. I did wish it had cruise control.

Dodge Nitro Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
SXT
210 HP 20-21 MPG 5 Seats
car
R/T
210-255 HP 21-21 MPG 5 Seats
car
SLT
210 HP 20-20 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2008 Dodge Nitro Owner Reviews

4.18
91 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 40%
4 stars 40%
3 stars 20%
2 stars 1%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Sherry King on August 2, 2021
PERFECT SIZE FOR CATERINGS AND LOOKED GREAT WHEN BOUGHT
I purchased my Nitro in 2013. I started having issues about 5 years later. Electrical: Horn would honk randomly while parked while turned off or driving down the road. "pulled the fuses", The locks would unlock itself after getting out of car and locking it. "Took the battery out of the key remote.", The lights would come on randomly when not driving, like in the middle of the night. The radio kept draining the battery so I had to have it detached. There was no automatic shut off for filling the gas tank, many gas spills. Then the icing on the cake was the finish on the paint started peeling 4 years ago! I"m not happy about that at all since it is a business vehicle! Paint jobs are too expensive! Now im stuck with an ugly vehicle! Why were there not recalls for any of these problems? I will never buy another Dodge again!!
accountCircle Cynthia K on March 29, 2021
The sophisticated and durable nitro.
My nitro performs well, it is spacious, very comfortable ride, back seats let down flat and easy when needing to pick up large items. When I drive it, I get compliments and it turn heads. It comes with a regular wall outlet to charge devices easy. Parts are easy to find and affordable when repairs are needed.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Sarah F.

Comfortable, reliable, spacious, lots of power plugins, auto oil change reminder, tire pressure system, thermometer, car seat anchors, easy fold down back seats, power windows and locks, radio controls on steering wheel.

likeFilled Blake A.

Leather interior, touchscreen radio, heat and ac work well, ability to lay down seats to haul things, and 4x4. It also has cruise control, a sunroof, a built in DVD player, and a v6 engine. I also like the heated seats especially during the winter.

likeFilled Anie D.

Reliability, available parts, space, 4 wheel drive, look, steady wheel grip, easy to park, great highway, breaks do not go bad often, easy to unlock, seatbelts in all seats, space for 5, laches nice in trunk.

likeFilled Kassie K.

4WD, good for small families, good size. I really like the style, and how it runs. It is very family friendly, seats 5 people and the roof is high enough that you do not bump your head easily. Very good in winter when it's slippery out.

likeFilled Brianna K.

It drives good, durable, very spacious, and love the 4wd. Has easy upkeep on it. With it being used when bought and being a 2008 it is still in well shape but the repairs are not cheap at all. We have had to put a new motor in costing 5000 dollars and a few other expensive repairs, that would be my only complaint.

likeFilled Becky S.

Comfortable, a lot of legroom in passenger side as the glove box is molded into front. A lot of cargo room in back seat and clear back. It is size is easy to park and drives nice. Pretty easy on gas and the moon roof is great with two settings. It is also easy to see out of if you are short like I am.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Sarah F.

Everything's electronic or runs off sensors, had problems with the back hatch not closing all the way and making the inside lights come on spontaneously, sometimes oil change reminder does not shut off and alerts me every time I start the vehicle.

dislikeFilled Blake A.

It has horrible gas mileage, the vehicle is white which I do not love, it can be hard to change the touchscreen radio when you are driving down the road. I also do not like the model that I have had 20 inch wheels because that makes the tires more expensive as well limits them gas mileage.

dislikeFilled Anie D.

Gas shoots out when full, water pump goes out often, tires wear fast, hood comes UNC. Latched sometimes, seatbelt in drivers side dings often when buckled, passenger airbag dings when heavy objects other than human is in seat.

dislikeFilled Kassie K.

It is getting older, now that it is 2020 it is 12 years old. If you have a large family you might want more seats than this offers. Not a lot of storage space, the trunk is a regular size but can't store much under the latch because the spare tire is there.

dislikeFilled Brianna K.

I like it alot because it is very spacious, you can load it up for moving or just a vacation and still room for the pets. It drives very well, off road, interstate, any type of ground to drive on it does well. The four wheel drive especially comes in handy during the winter, drives well even on the ice. Some repairs are minor and inexpensive but have also had some expensive repairs as well like most vehicles.

dislikeFilled Becky S.

My vehicle has. Problem with rust on the hatchback. Door around the lock. It has totally shut down once when the computer went haywire. Turned on lights and windshield wipers went on. Horn blew and it left me set. After shutting everything off and removing battery wires, it started up again without any problem. The air conditioning has been a pain as the whole dash had to be removed to fix. But, it is not a new vehicle.

Ranks #10 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2008 Dodge Nitro has an average owner rating of 4.18 out of 5 which ranks it #10 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.54
10
Tie
car
4.24

Ranks #8 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Dodge Nitro has a combined MPG of 26 which ranks it #8 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
31 MPG
2
car
30 MPG
8
Tie
car
24 MPG

Is The 2008 Dodge Nitro A Good Car?

Yes I am happy with my car performance. It rides smooth and I haven't had any problems with it so far. Minimal work to do on it and very satisfied.
Maricela D.
Yes for the most part. The place I purchased the vehicle sold me a lemon. I have put a lot of money into the vehicle and now my vehicle is a very great car.
Beth G.
Yes reliable and great vehicle for an SUV. 4WD is a positive thing about the nitro along with safety equipment even in the basic models
Toni L.

How Reliable Is The 2008 Dodge Nitro?

It is very reliable. I have taken many trips and it has not failed me so far. I love taking long drives in it and it works great in the winter.
Maricela D.
Yes it is very reliable now. I had a lot of issues when I bought it. There has been one issue that so far has been good the last few months and that is my vehicle would unlock itself and turn on its... Read More
Beth G.
Electrical issues are the most common with the dodge nitros. Specifically the main fuse box and the relays within the fuse box
Kristen M.

Is The 2008 Dodge Nitro A Good Value?

I got my dodge as a second lease but I got it for a very good price and it's worth what I paid for. I think I got a steal on my low price for the quality of the car.
Maricela D.
It cost me $6000. With the money I had to put into it, no it was not a good value. If I would have bought it new, then it would be a good value.
Beth G.
I paid almost 6,000 for mine and I believe it's a good value if it's in good shape. I would not recommend getting if it has any electrical issues
Shane L.

Related Articles for 2008 Dodge Nitro

From the Vehicle History blog

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2008 Dodge Nitro Problems Range from Airbag Recalls to Engine Stalling and Transmission Shuddering
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Dodge Nitro Problems To Keep On Your Radar

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2008 Dodge Nitro starter relay location?

Answer: The 2008 Dodge Nitro starter relay location is under the hood and in the computerized fuse box. This piece of the car will eventually become ineffective. The battery will need to be changed every 50,000 to...

What's the 2008 Dodge Nitro fuel filter location?

Answer: The 2008 Dodge Nitro's fuel filter is found inside of the vehicle's fuel tank, as part of the fuel pump assembly. It's not considered a serviceable or replaceable part, as complete replacement of the...

What oil goes in a 2008 dodge nitro?

Answer: The oil that goes in a 2008 Dodge Nitro iS5w-20. Having high quality oil is important for the engine to run smoothly. You will run into issues with the oil at some point. Bad oil can cause the engine to stop...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety