2009 DODGE JOURNEY Complaints

04/10/11 NHTSA HEADQUARTERS 1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE WEST BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20590 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I AM WRITING YOU IN REFERENCE OF THE PURCHASED OF MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE, A 2009-DODGE JOURNEY SE ON JUNE 08, 2008. THIS CAR BEGINNING TO HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER IT 6,000 MILES HAVING A NUMEROUS REPAIRS SINCE THEM. I SUBMITTED THE CAR TO THE LEMON LAW BEFORE THE WARRANTY TIME EXPIRED. CHRYSLER GROUP DENIED IT ARGUING THAT MY CAR IS RUNNING UNDER THE COMPANY EXPECTATION. CURRENTLY THE CAR STILL HAS SUSPENSION PROBLEM AND NOISES(SUCH AS BRAKE NOISES, TURN WHEEL NOISES AND OTHER). THE CAR BOUNCING AFTER 50 MP MILES AND EVERY TIME THAT BUMPS ON THE STREET OR ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE MAKES STRONGLY BOUNCES. THE COMPANY STATES THE BOUNCING AND THE NOISES ARE PART OF THE CARS MANUFACTURED. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE REPORTED REPAIRS, THE SEATS GET EASILY STAIN WITH ANY TYPE OF LIQUID AND THE BLACK COLOR OF THE INTERIOR IS FADING, I MEAN THE BLACK IS BECOMING GRAY. I WILL SUBMIT ANY DOCUMENT THAT COULD SUPPORT MY CLAIM IF IS REQUIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE REPAIRS AND AN ALIGNMENT WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A STABILIZER BAR INSTALLED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE COMPONENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A STABILIZER BAR. THE CONTACT WAS CONSIDERED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURER INCORRECTLY AND WITHOUT THE STABILIZER BAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

AFTER 27,000 MILES MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY NEEDS A SET OF NEW BRAKES FOR THE FRONT TIRES. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SUV'S TO FAR SURPASS THIS MILEAGE WITH NO NEW BRAKES NEEDED. AFTER TAKING MY JOURNEY TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT 15 MINUTES BEFORE HE HAD AN IDENTICAL 2009 DODGE JOURNEY WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I CAME HOME, I RESEARCHED DODGE JOURNEY BRAKE PROBLEMS ONLINE AND WAS SHOCKED AT WHAT A PROBLEM THIS WAS FOR JOURNEY OWNERS. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE DEMANDED. MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR TO BUY AMERICAN..... AND THIS IS WHAT WE GET. *TR

MY WIFE AND I WERE ABOUT AN HOUR FROM HOME WHEN THE BRAKES ON OUR 2009 DODGE JOURNEY STARTED SQUEALING VERY, VERY LOUD. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, GOT UNDER THE CAR TO CHECK. I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING SPECIFIC AND LET THE CAR SIT IDLE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. AS SOON AS I STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN, AT LESS THAN 5MPH, THE BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING AGAIN, JUST AS LOUD. I DROVE TO A NEARBY FIRESTONE FACILITY, DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND THE PUT IT ON THE RACK TO CHECK THE BRAKES. THE JOURNEY HAD 29,400 MILES ON IT.......AND THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY, TOTALLY WORN OUT!! THEY BROUGHT THE BRAKES AND ROTOR FOR ME TO SEE AND THE ROTORS WERE BADLY GROOVED. THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT THE BRAKES WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE SIZE, WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND I TEND TO AGREE, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO AN ACT OF SUICIDE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE JOURNEY AND I AGREE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!! AND FROM WHAT I READ, DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I AM NOW 08T $300, AND COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A BAD ACCIDENT FROM FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. *TR

HEARD REAR BRAKES SQUEALING AND TOOK JOURNEY TO MECHANIC. MECHANICS SAID THE BRAKES WERE MORE WORN ON THE INNER PADS THAN THE OUTER PADS. MECHANIC SAID BRAKE PADS ARE SUPPOSE TO WEAR EVENLY AND THIS WAS A BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM. HE ALSO STATED THE CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT WAS ALSO UNHEARD OF WITH A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 40000 MILES ON IT. HE RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM FIX SINCE THIS WAS A BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM AND NOT JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY NEW, IN 2009. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 18,329 MILES -- IT'S BASICALLY STILL BRAND NEW -- ITS STILL UNDER WARRANTY!!!!. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE JUST HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR (4) BRAKE PADS, AND HAD ALL FOUR(4) ROTORS RESURFACED. THIS COST OVER $500 -- AND THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS! IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS FULLY AWARE OF. STILL, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED, AND NO WARNING HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE OWNERS (THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL OF AN UNDER-DESIGNED BRAKING SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES. APPARENTLY (MY UNDERSTANDING -- YOU PROBABLY KNOW BETTER), DODGE KNOWS THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE TOO SMALL (?). IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS IN MY LIFE, AND HAVE NEVER HAD BOTH FRONT & REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS COMPLETELY WEAR-OUT IN LESS THAN 20K MILES. EVEN IF THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED PADS THAT WERE TOO SOFT, OR TO THIN, THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING GIVEN TO THE CONSUMER -- IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAT THE CONSUMER NOT INSTALL THE SAME PADS AS A REPAIR. MOREOVER, AFTER-MARKET DEALERS, LIKE MIDAS, SHOULD BE ALERTED -- BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REPLACEMENT PADS. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT A COMPANY THE SIZE OF DODGE WOULD PUT AT RISK, THE SAFETY OF THE VERY CONSUMERS THAT KEEP THEIR COMPANY SOLVENT -- IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE OUR LIVES (AND THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES) SIMPLY TO "SAVE FACE," THEN WHO WILL BE LEFT TO PURCHASE THEIR FUTURE PRODUCTS? FROM REPORTS I'VE READ, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE LITERALLY SPENT THOUSANDS ATTEMPTING TO FIX THEIR JOURNEYS. WHILE I HAVEN'T SPENT AS MUCH AS OTHERS, I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO SPEND THIS TYPE OF MONEY ON A VEHICLE THAT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

OUR DODGE JOURNEY BEGAN HAVING BRAKING ISSUES. A TRIP TO THE DEALER REVEALED THAT AT ONLY 30,000 MILES, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BASICALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL. WE NEEDED TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS, WHICH WERE FAR BEYOND MACHINING, ON THE FRONT AND PADS ON THE REAR AS WELL AS HAVING THE REAR ROTORS TURNED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH ONLY 30, 000 MILES. *TR

MY WIFE TRIED TO TAKE THE CAP OFF ONE OF HER TIRES TO PUT AIR IN HER TIRE. AS SHE WAS TRYING TO TWIST THE CAP OFF, IT BLEW OFF OF THE TIRE AND HIT HER IN THE FACE. I TOOK THE TIRE TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE WHEEL SENSOR THAT THE TIP CORRODED OFF. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THAT TIRE AND THEN WENT TO CHECK THE PRESSURE ON THE OTHER TIRES. WHEN THEY TRIED TO TAKE THE CAP OFF OF ANOTHER TIRE, THE END OF THAT TIRE SENSOR ALSO SNAPPED OFF. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE IS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THEY SAID THAT THE SENSOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY WHEN IT BREAKS OFF AT THE TIP LIKE THAT. *TR

SINCE PURCHASING MY NEW DODGE JOURNEY I HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN GOING BACK TO THE DEALER'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY VEHICLE KEEPS ON VIBRATING AND PULSATING WHEN BRAKING. IT IS OCCURRING BETWEEN 3 TO 4,000+MILES AND EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN IT'S JUST SPIN/CUT ROTORS AND REPLACE PADS. I EVEN WROTE AN ANGRY LETTER TO CHRYSLER AND THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A CUST SERVICE REP TO MEET WITH THE DEALERS TO RESOLVE ISSUE. WHICH DOES HELP, BUT FOR ONLY A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THEY ARE NOT LOOKING INTO THE REASON THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE BEING USED UP SO QUICKLY. REPLACING THE PARTS IS GREAT BUT FOR HOW LONG IS CHRYSLER GOING TO IGNORE THE OVERALL PROBLEM. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NUMEROUS JOB RECORDS TO SHOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERS AND ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IS MORE OF THE SAME CUT ROTORS REPLACE PADS. ONLY ON MY LAST VISIT WAS I MADE AWARE OF A WARRANT EXTENSION FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY NOW I HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY MADE ME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANT BASED ON COMPLAINTS, BUT ISSUED NO RECALLS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE STILL DEEMED SAFE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER'S AT LEAST 6 OR SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT ALL THAT'S BEING DONE IS AN EXTENSION OF WARRANTY. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THE THREE YEARS. I HAVE LOST MY PERSONAL TIME SITTING IN A DEALERSHIP'S AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE MY WALLET WILL BE TAKING A HIT FROM DEDUCTIBLES EVERYTIME THIS ISSUE ARISES. THIS IS SO AGGRAVATING. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY IN AUGUST OF 2008. I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ROTOR AND BRAKE WEAR. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ALL 4 BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH THE FRONT BEING REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE FIRST OF WHICH OCCURRED JUST PAST 12,000 MILES. THIS IS WHEN BRAKE AND ROTOR WEAR WARRANTY ENDS. I HAVE ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING SENSOR MODULE, RESULTING IN STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ONE. I ALSO HAVE POWER PORTS IN THE VEHICLE THAT DO NOT WORK AS WELL AS A LIFT GATE THAT DOES NOT LOCK. I CURRENTLY HAVE 48,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE ISSUES WITH LEAKING. I AM UNSURE HOW WATER IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY THRU THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE WET AS WELL AS THE BUILT IN COOLER BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT BEING COMPLETELY FILLED WITH WATER WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS OF EMPTYING. THIS OCCURS WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING OR WET OUTSIDE. I NOW HAVE MOLD ISSUES IN THE VEHICLE. MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN HAVE SIGNIFICANT ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING IN AIR BAG FAILURE ARE DEFIANTLY SCARY. *TR