Common problems
Dodge Nitro electrical and lighting problems
How often MOT testers find lights and electrics faults on the Dodge Nitro at each age, against all cars of the same age, and which items come up most. From 4,518 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 15 years, the most tested age
What stands out
- At 15 years, 24.7 of every 100 MOTs of the Dodge Nitro found a lights and electrics fail (n=1,634), against 19.5 for all cars of that age (n=5,591,675).
- It is above the all-car rate at every age with at least 1,000 tests (3 ages).
- The gap is widest at 15 years: 24.7 per 100 MOTs against 19.5 for all cars.
- The lights and electrics fail item recorded most often at 15 years: side/position light not working, on 10.3 per 100 MOTs.
- The most common lights and electrics advisory or minor defect: registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, on 9.5 per 100 MOTs.
Lights and electrics fails by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | Tests (n) | Fails | All cars | Advisories | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 years | 1,466 | 22.2 | 18.3 | 14.3 | 12.2 |
| 15 years | 1,634 | 24.7 | 19.5 | 17.7 | 13.7 |
| 16 years | 1,418 | 24.1 | 20.4 | 18.5 | 15.3 |
Lights and electrics fail items at 15 years
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | Typical repair (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side/position light not working | 10.3 | 5.8 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Brake light not working | 5.6 | 3.7 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Dipped headlight not working | 3.6 | 2.4 | £18 to £86 per lamp |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 2.6 | 2.0 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Headlamp: not working on main beam | 2.4 | 0.4 | £18 to £86 per lamp |
| Headlamp aim: too low | 1.9 | 1.7 | £16 to £39 per car (rough guide) |
| Rear fog lamp: not working | 1.7 | 0.8 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | 1.5 | 2.5 | £16 to £39 per car (rough guide) |
Lights and electrics advisories and minor defects at 15 years
Advisories and minor defects are recorded, but the car still passes. Across all cars, a part with an advisory or minor defect failed at the next MOT 5.5 times in 100 (n=88,666,940 pairs of consecutive MOTs), against 0.3 times in 100 when the same part had none (n=12,936,860,350).
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | If it needs replacing (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 9.5 | 5.9 | |
| Battery(ies): insecure but not likely to fall from carrier | 5.0 | 0.6 | |
| Headlamp: lens slightly defective | 1.8 | 2.0 | |
| Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured | 1.5 | 1.8 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output | 1.4 | 1.7 | £28 to £98 per lamp (rough guide) |
Repair estimates are a guide for an independent garage: labour at the national median local garage rate (median £78 an hour from 65 garages, ONS price quotes) times estimated labour hours, plus a parts band. Labour hours and most parts bands are estimates, not quotes, and prices vary by model, engine and region. A warning light fault shows the cost of the diagnosis only.
What to check on a viewing
On the Dodge Nitro, the lights and electrics items testers fail most are side/position light not working; brake light not working; dipped headlight not working.
- With someone outside, try every light: dipped and main beam, indicators, brake lights, fog lights and number plate lamps.
- Check that the warning lights come on with the ignition and go out once the engine runs.
- Look for misted, cracked or yellowed headlamp lenses.
Ask for the car's MOT history: a lights and electrics advisory that repeats from year to year has not been fixed. GOV.UK MOT history.
Questions
What are the common electrical and lighting problems on the Dodge Nitro?
At 15 years (1,634 MOTs), the lights and electrics fail items testers record most often are side/position light not working (10.3 per 100 MOTs), brake light not working (5.6 per 100 MOTs), dipped headlight not working (3.6 per 100 MOTs). The most common lights and electrics advisories or minor defects are registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (9.5) and battery(ies): insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (5.0).
Does the Dodge Nitro have more electrical and lighting problems than other cars?
At 15 years it has 24.7 lights and electrics fails per 100 MOTs against 19.5 for all cars of the same age (5.2 more). It is above the all-car rate at every age with enough tests (3 ages).
What does a lights and electrics repair cost on the Dodge Nitro?
For side/position light not working, an independent garage estimate is £10 to £47 per lamp. This is a guide built from the national median garage labour rate and estimated labour hours, not a quote.
More on the Dodge Nitro
Electrical and lighting problems on other Dodge models
The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.
Looking at a Dodge Nitro?
These figures describe the model, not the car in front of you. Found one you might buy? See what the VetTheCar Buying Report covers, or use the tools that work without a registration.
See a sample report Car tools · MOT fail rates by model · Compare models by MOT record
Repair estimates: ONS consumer price quotes for local garage labour (09/2025 to 08/2026), the MOT inspection manual for defect wording, and estimated labour hours and parts bands. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ONS.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources