2009 DODGE JOURNEY AWD Complaints

MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY R/T AWD HAS JUST OVER 21,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY, THE BRAKES WERE ACTING WORSE THAN NORMAL, SO I TOOK IT IN TO A SERVICE CENTER. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY SHOT, MAKING METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT. ALL WILL NEED REPLACED - AT 21,000 MILES! CHECKING THE INTERNET, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE JOURNEY. NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE HAD TO HAVE COMPLETELY NEW BRAKES INSTALLED WITH LESS THAN 23,000 MILES ON THEIR CARS. THE FACTORY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR 12 MONTHS / 12,000 MILES. THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE LINE. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY SXT BACK IN MAY 09. IN THE LAST MONTH FEB 2010 ON, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING/SECURITY MECHANISM FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FAILED (SCHEDULED TO BE LOOKED IN TWO DAYS) AND TODAY OUR TRANSMISSION/GEARBOX LITERALLY EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD AT 6,000 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD ON THE WAY TO STORE WHEN A STRING SMELL OF BURNING CAME INTO THE CABIN AND THEN WE HEARD A SEVERE POP AND THEN NOTHING BUT BILLOWING SMOKE. WE HAD OUR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO TRY AND GET THEM AWAY FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ENGINE BEING ON FIRE. WE GOT THE KIDS OUT AND I WENT BACK TO SHUT OFF THE CAR ONCE I SAW IT WASN'T FUEL LEAKING. ONCE IT COOLED DOWN AND STOPPED SMOKING I RAISED THE HOOD AND SAW WHAT LOOKED TO BE BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SMALL METAL FLAKES ALL OVER MY ENGINE AND UNDERSIDEOF THE HOOD. SO IT WAS JUST TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO FIND THE CAUSE. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH A FAULTY SECURITY SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND WE ONLY HAVE 6,000 MILES ON THE CAR. STILL WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO DO THE WORK. ON A SIDE NOTE, WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES ON A BRAND NEW CAR WE MAY BE EXPLORING LEGAL OPTIONS IF CHRYSLER DOESN'T MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR

ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, AND CALIPERS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY TIRES/BRAKES VIBRATE AND MAKE A LOUD HUMMING SOUND ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH AND WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN OCTOBER, I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT BACK IN JANUARY AND HAVE BEEN BACK 3 TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR

HAVE HAD A 2009 JOURNEY SINCE AUGUST 2008. AT ABOUT THE ONE-YEAR MARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN AN ODD NOISE WHEN TURNING HARD LEFT. THE DEALER REPLACED A PS RESERVOIR, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL OFTEN EVIDENT. *TR

REDUCED BRAKING CAUSED BY WORN FRONT ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS FROM PREMATURELY WEARING OUT IN 13 MONTHS OF USE. ROTORS WORN BEYOND REPAIR (CANNOT BE RESURFACED) AND PADS WORN COMPLETELY. APPEARS TO BE DESIGN AND PRODUCT FAILURE. BRAKING SYSTEM MAYBE INADEQUATE FOR THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR. REQUIRES UPGRADED BRAKING SYSTEM TO OFFSET SIZE AND WEIGHT OF VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, CANNOT PURCHASE ANY UPGRADE ROTORS FROM THIRD PARTY SUPPLIERS DUE TO NEWNESS OF MODEL. NOTHING IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE EXCEPT THE SAME OEM PARTS FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER. VEHICLE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF BRAKING EFFICIENCY UNTIL ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM. LOUD GRINDING AND HIGH PITCH NOISE FROM ROTORS. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING SYSTEM THAT BRAKING SYSTEM REQUIRED REPAIR OR SERVICE. VEHICLE LOST FRONT BRAKES SOONER THAN A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED AND NO WARNING TO CAUSE INSPECTION TO OCCUR. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY R/T WHICH HAS LED COURTESY LAMPS OVER HEAD AND UNDER THE DASH ON BOTH SIDES AS WELL AS A REAR DOME. THE OVERHEAD DOME AND FRONT LED'S ARE CONTROLLED BY OPENING THE DOORS AS MOST COURTESY LAMPS ARE. HOWEVER THE UNDER THE DASH COURTESY LAMPS ARE CONTROLLED WITH THE DASH INSTRUMENTATION LAMPS, THEREFORE WHEN YOU DRIVE WITH THE HEADLAMPS ON, THEY ARE ALSO ON. THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT VERY DIFFICULT AS THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS ILLUMINATED, CAUSING GLARE AND POOR VISIBILITY OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AS OF FRIDAY 6/26/09 THEY NOW INFORM ME THAT IS THE WAY IT IS MADE AND CAN'T BE CHANGED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. *TR