2009 DODGE JOURNEY Complaints

I PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY IN SEPTEMBER 2013, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING DEALER SHIP I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. THERE WERE OTHER THINGS WE WERE TAKING CARE OF WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND AT THE TIME THIS WAS NOT OF PRIORITY, FAST FORWARD ROUGHLY 2-3 WEEKS THE SHAKING GOT WORSE AND WORSE AND THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, APPLYING THE BRAKE BECAME DANGEROUS AND IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT IT WOULD SOON LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO WHICH WE LEFT THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED HOURS LATER, THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS AND IT WAS A HEARD OF PROBLEM WITH THAT VEHICLE, THEY SAID IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE THAT TIME SINCE IT WAS LESS THEN A MONTH OF PURCHASE BUT IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN WE WOULD HAVE TO COVER ALL CHARGES, FAST FORWARD 4 MONTHS AND THE SHAKING STARTED AGAIN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS (INTERSTATE, ETC) IT IS BECOMING UNRELIABLE AS TO WHAT IT WILL DO, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN TO CARE FOR AND THE RISK THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PUT US THROUGH IS RIDICULOUS. UPON INTERNET SEARCHES I LEARNED THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND A VERY WELL KNOWN BY DODGE PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND 2010 DODGE JOURNEYS YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM I CAN'T AFFORD TO CHANGE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY FEW MONTHS JUST SO I CAN SIMPLY CONTROL MY STEERING WHEEL/VEHICLE, THIS PROBLEM WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE A CAR CRASH IF NOT WITH MY DODGE JOURNEY THEN WITH ANOTHER, LIVES ARE BEING PUT AT RISK AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY DEALERSHIP SOON TO SET UP A DATE TO CHANGE MY BRAKES AND ROTORS AGAIN, BUT AT THIS TIME I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO, SO I BARE DOWN AND PRAY TO GOD EVERYTIME I MUST APPLY MY BRAKE HOPING IT DOESN'T GET WORSE TO THE POINT I CAN NO LONGER CONTROL IT. *TR

HAD THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AND ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK A VERY LOUD NOISE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER WHO STATED TRANSFER CASE HAS A LEAK. I HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE WARRANTY COMPANY TO COVER THIS REPLACEMENT. NOW THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS CAUSING MY FAN, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND CHARGERSTO GO ON AND OFF.. *TR

WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR TURN A CORNER, MY IGNITION WILL TURN OFF AND THEN I HAVE NO POWER STEERING, NO LIGHTS NO BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESOLUTION FROM CHRYSLER. *TR

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY R/T IN JANUARY 2013 AND AT THAT TIME THE USED CAR DEALER HAD INSTALLED A NEW SET OF KUHMO TIRES, 225/55X19 ON THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,500. IN SEPTEMBER 2013 WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH, THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED SHIMMY FROM THE FRONT END AND VERY VISIBLE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN HAD THE TIRES REBALANCED AND THE FRONT END CHECKED FOR ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEM. AGAIN, AFTER REBALANCING THE WHEELS (ALL 4), THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS AT THAT TIME MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE KUHMO'S. ON NOVEMBER 8, 2013, THEY WERE REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLE TRED SIZE 235/55X19. SO FAR, THERE IS NO SHIMMY OR SHAKE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE KEPT THE KUHMO'S IF THEY ARE NEEDED FOR ANALYSIS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN VARIOUS DODGE JOURNEY FORUMS AND THERE IS A TSB CONCERNING THE KUHMO'S.

HAVE FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEELS. THE MANDATED "SAFETY" TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS FACTORY INSTALLED HAVE A STEEL SHAFT THROUGH THE RIMS. ROAD SALT REACTS WITH THE METAL PROPERTIES CAUSE ROTTING. IN MY CASE IT BROKE OFF WHEN THE MECHANIC TRIED TO TOP OFF AIR. JUST AS EASY WOULD BE A BUMP CAUSING ONE OR MORE TO BREAK ON THE ROAD. I COMPLAINED DIRECTLY TO DODGE, AFTER THINKING IT OVER FOR THREE WEEKS, THEY CALLED AND REPORTED THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF REPAIRING THEIR FAULTY MATERIAL PROBLEM. THIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS A POTENTIALLY ACCIDENT CAUSING PROBLEM IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK, THE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN, AND THE MIRRORS WERE UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

POWER STEERING HOSES RUPTURING FROM COLD WEATHER. SECOND HOSE IN LESS THAN 1 MONTH TO BLOW OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND WARMING UP. MANY PEOPLE ONLINE WITH SAME COMPLAINT, WHEN IT GETS COLD THE JOURNEY STARTS BLOWING THE POWER STEERING HOSES. SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE START, BUT THE PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN FIXED AND NEWER MODELS ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FEELS THIS IS DUE TO THE MATERIAL BEING USED IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL, IT IS TOO HARD AND BRITTLE. ONCE THE HOSE BLOWS OUT YOU LOSE THE POWER STEERING WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND IT STARTS TO GET SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS SMOKING IN THE ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

AT 19,000 MILE I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES, THEN ANOTHER 41,000 REPLACE BRAKES, AT 66,000 REPLACE BRAKES, AND REAR BRAKES LOOKED UP AT THE COST OF 650.00. REPLACING BRAKES 90,000 AGAIN!! THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE "FAMILY CAR" I HAVE EVER OWNED. TIRES- I HAVE HAD 4 SETS OF TIRES!! THEY ONLY MADE ONE TIRE (KUMO) FOR A 19" RIM AT A COSTLY EXPENSE. NOW GOODYEAR MAKES A TIRE THAT IS A BETTER GRADE. I HAVE HAD MORE MONEY IN THIS CAR THAN ITS WORTH. NEVER WILL BUY A DODGE AGAIN. THEY CUT A LOT OF COST BUILDING THIS CAR!! AS ADVERTISED AS A FAMILY VEHICLE!! WHAT A JOKE!! *TR

WE BOUGHT THE DODGE JOURNEY IN DEC 2012 3 WEEKS OR SO LATER I RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP WITH A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL THAT THE FRONT END WAS SHAKING AND THAT THERE WAS A LOAD ROAR LONG STORY SHORT EVERY 6 MONTHS ROTORS BRAKES TIRES ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AND I GUESS WHAT REALLY SET THINGS MORE IN MOTION WAS JAN 21 2014 WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE TO TAKE A SICK CHILD TO THE DR THE LEFT FRONT TIRE VALVE STEAM BLEW OUT MY HUSBAND GOT THE CAR OFF THE ROAD ONLY TO JACK IT UP TO CHANGE TIRE WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE BENT THE JACK CAUSING IT TO FALL ALMOST ON MY HUSBANDS FOOT, WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A V6 AND HAD THE ROOM WE NEED TO TRAVEL TO DR APPTS WITH OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TRAVEL SO FAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A FIGHT AGREED TO PUT NEW BRAKES THE MACHINED THE ROTORS AND SAID THE STEERING WAS A DODGE THING NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT ONLY THE LOAD CLICKING WHEN PULLING IN OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE ROAR IN THE FRONT THEY CLAIM IS THE RAOS AND THEY ALSO AT THIS TIME PUT 4 NEW TIRES ON THE CAR NOW MIND YOU THIS WAS ALL DONE 7/6/13 AND THEY DONE ALL OF THIS WHEN THEY PURCHASED THE CAR IN 11/20/12 AND WHEN I GO BACK IN TO THE CAR FAX EVERY 6 MONTHS THE BREAKS ROTORS AND TIRES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. NOW HERE IT IS 6 MONTHS LATER FOR US AND BLOW OUT ALSO WE JUST CHANGES THE ROTORS AND BRAKES ON THE 11 OF THIS MONTH SO SEE THE 6 MONTH DEAL WITH THIS CAR AND WHEN SEARCHING OTHER COMPLAINTS I AM FINDING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAY CALL MY DEALERSHIP I INFORMED [XXX] AT CHRYSLER IT WAS NOT THE DEALERSHIPS PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE CAR. IT IS A DEATH TRAP THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BUT THE DEADLY ONES ARE THE TIRES BLOWING OUT THE BRAKES CRUMBLING AND THE ROTORS WEARING OUT WITH IN 6 MONTHS THANK U AND I SO HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN HELP US. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR