2011 Dodge Nitro Steering Problems

“While driving down interstate with 3 passengers including a toddler the keys fell out of the ignition. The truck lost power and steering abilities. When the truck reached 20 MPH I noticed the keys were not in the ignition. I grabbed them, handed them to my husband. He put truck in neutral, started truck. This happened again at an intersection about a month later. I usually only have truck key and or a house key on a single ring. Please consider testing vehicles for this possibility and the deadly probability. Update 9/15/15 the consumer has since sold the vehicle. Updated 10/01/15”

“The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Dodge Nitro. The contact stated that while his daughter was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel inadvertently lost power steering functionality. Additionally, the windshield wipers remained operational after the windshield wiper button was disengaged. The contact's daughter was also unable to move the gear shifter from PARK to DRIVE. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. …”

“The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Nitro. While driving 60 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel as it became very loose. The contact had to steer the vehicle in excess to keep the vehicle in position. The traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack fractured and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the vehicle was repaired, the traction control warning light illuminated intermittently and the brakes independently engaged. …”

“For several days it turns on the dash light airbag and intermittently the alert sounds indicating the problem with the airbag, when the car is in motion, across the street or in the road.”