Used car guide · 2007–2009

Dodge Nitro common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Dodge Nitro, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 3,201 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

3,201MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
1,458on the UK register
2008best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

200920082007

What usually goes wrong with a Dodge Nitro?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Dodge Nitro in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Dodge Nitro MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Diesel

  • Battery

    up to 6.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Dodge Nitro MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Dodge Nitro did best (55% passed first time, 2 points below all 2008 cars) and the 2009 did worst (56%, 3 points below all 2009 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200956%59% -31,178
200855%57% -21,567
200754%57% -3456 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Dodge Nitro

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 6.3× as often on the Dodge Nitro as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the Dodge Nitro as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Dodge Nitro as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Dodge Nitro?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score