NHTSA Complaint #10248583 — 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4

DEFECT NOTICE RCDNN-08V525-3946.PDF REPORTS A DEFECT IN 2007 DODGE NITRO PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AFFECTING VEHICLE SAFETY. THE RECALL ONLY INVOLVES VEHICLES WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT SHOULD ALSO COVER VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARKING BRAKE PART IS USED FOR BOTH MODELS, AND THE SAME DEFECT IS FOUND ON THOSE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS- THAT IS, THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD ON THOSE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. MY 2007 NITRO (W/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE CAR FIRMLY WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE CAUSE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS FOR THE MANUAL- TRANSMISSION-EQUIPPED NITROS. THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH MODELS. MY NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION REQUIRES THE PARKING BRAKE TO HOLD, FOR SAFETY REASONS, AND DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART ON MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS THOSE OWNED BY OTHERS, IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM OPERATING SAFELY. A SHORT ONLINE VISIT TO DODGENITROFORUMZ.COM WILL CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER NITRO OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT, YET DODGE IS ONLY RECALLING THE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE REST OF HAVE A USELESS PARKING BRAKE. *TR