NHTSA Complaint #10439085 — 2010 DODGE NITRO

11/28/2011 AT 3:19 AM ON MONDAY MORNING, THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING FOR NO REASON. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET ATTENTION. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN JUST AS IT HAD STARTED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FOR THE NEXT WEEK. 12/5/2011 AT 12:13 AM ON MONDAY MORNING, THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER AS BEFORE EXCEPT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME (APPROX 30-45 SECONDS) IT WOULD START AND STOP AT RANDOM OVER THE NEXT 7 HOURS. THE HORNS ARE HIDDEN IN THE ENGINE/BUMPER AREA SO MY ONLY CHOICE WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS WAS DONE BY THE PROMPTING OF THE POLICE OFFICER THAT ANSWERED THE "DISTRESS" CALL THAT HE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE 911 DISPATCHER. UPON HOOKING THE BATTERY BACK UP THE NEXT MORNING, NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL UNTIL I STARTED TO DRIVE TO WORK. THE HORN WOULD BLOW AT RANDOM ONCE AGAIN FOR THE ENTIRE 36 MILE TRIP TO MY JOB. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS. I THINK THIS IS SAD TO HAVE A 22 MONTH OLD VEHICLE THAT WAS PURCHASE BRAND NEW AND HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND WHICH FUSES CONTROL THE HORN CIRCUIT AND REMOVED THEM TO KEEP THE PEACE WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND NOT ANGER OTHER DRIVERS . I HAVE HAD 3 ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER DRIVERS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND NEEDED TO SIGNAL THEM, ONLY TO NOT HAVE A HORN. I WAS FORCED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LAST NIGHT (12/7/11) , NO ACCIDENT, BUT REAL DARN CLOSE. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT OF A SAFETY ITEM THE HORN IS UNTIL I DIDN'T HAVE ONE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE FACTORY SECURITY SYSTEM. *TR