2011 Dodge Journey Complaint Log

THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS CAN NOT BE EASILY UNLOCKED BY THE REAR PASSENGERS. THE DRIVER OR THE FRONT PASSENGER HAS TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS. THE DOOR KNOB ( THE LOCK PIN THAT GOES UP AND DOWN INTO THE DOOR) IS LOCATED BEHIND YOU IN THE REAR SEATS BECAUSE OF THE LONG DOORS AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GRASP AND PULL UP TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. IF THERE WAS EVER A CRASH AND THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO HIT THE UNLOCK BUTTON IT WOULD LEAVE THE BACK PASSENGERS TRAPPED. THIS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. HAD I NOTICED THIS PRIOR TO LEASING THE CAR I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN ANOTHER CAR. THE DEALER STATES IT IS DESIGNED THAT WAY SO THAT SMALL CHILDREN CAN NOT OPEN THE DOORS, BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT THE CHILD LOCK FEATURE IS FOR. THIS CAR IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WOULD GIVE IN A RETURN CALL WITHIN A DAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHIFTING IN DIFFERENT GEARS, SHE NOTICED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE NEW MODEL DODGE JOURNEYS ALL DROVE THE SAME WAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,400. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/27/12

THE CAR HAS BEEN SHAKING FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, WORSE WHEN BRAKING. TWICE NOW, WE HAVE HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND THE FRONT BRAKES DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. ONCE IT DID CAUSE A MINOR ACCIDENT. THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM THE FRONT WHEEL AREA AND POOR STOPPING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THEY REPLACED THE REAR ROTORS FOR SOME REASON. NOW THEY ARE REPLACING THE FRONT ROTORS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF BRAKING/STEERING PROBLEMS FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL SO THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 60+. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER ALSO ADVISED US THAT AFTER 12000 MILES, THE ROTORS/BRAKES/ETC WILL NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE ISSUE SINCE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE. *TR

TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON 91ST AVE. LIGHT CHANGED TO YELLOW. I APPLIED BRAKES AND A HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND OCCURED. THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND I WAS ALARMED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTING INSPECTION. WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL ABS ACTION. I DISAGREED. THEY INSISTED ALL IS FINE. SECOND OCCURENCE, HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID COLLISION AND APPLIED BRAKE, AGAIN VIOLENT SHAKING TO STEERING WHEEL. UPON REGULAR MAINTENANCE WITH DEALER THEY AGAIN SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE UNSAFE. THIS STILL OCCURS TODAY 3/2015. HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVLY WORSE OVER TIME. UNKNOWN WHAT COMPONENTS ARE INVOLVED... SELECTED POSSIBLE PARTS REQUIRING FURTHER INVESTIGATION. DEALER INSISTS THERE ARE NO RECALLS IN PLACE FOR ANY PART OF THIS MODEL YEAR. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO CHECK NHTSA WEBSITE. THEY WILL NOT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,127.

CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH REMOTE START FEATURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REMOTE START WAS IN HIS POCKET, WHILE DOING SOME GARDENING. WHEN HE RETURNED HOME, HE FOUND THE VEHICLE LOCKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. *JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES, AND LESS THAN 5 MONTHS OLD, MY 2011 DODGE JOURNEY, BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY (STEERING WHEEL) WHEN I SLOWED DOWN. AT FIRST, IT BEGAN AT APPROX 52 MILES AN HOUR, AND WAS NOTICEABLE GOING DOWN SMALL HILLS. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE; VIOLENTLY SHAKING ANYWHERE FROM 30-60 MILES, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING SO HARD IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. I FIRST NOTICED IT EARLY IN SEPTEMBER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 9/15, WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE ROTORS. WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WOULD BE ORDERED AND I WOULD BE CALLED PROMPTLY. I EMAILED THE SERVICE MANAGER ON 9/19, AND HE ADVISED IT, ALONG WITH A DEFECTIVE DASH BOARD THAT WAS BUBBLING, WOULD BE HANDLED BY HIS CORPORATE CONTACT, AND I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL. I HAVE NOT. ON 10/4, I RECEIVED A GENERAL EMAIL FROM THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD ME THE CAR, CHECKING TO SEE HOW I LIKED THE CAR. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE SITUATION. ON 10/5, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM HIS MANAGER, WHO SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND WOULD BE CONTACTING ME SOON. THAT WAS A WEEK AGO, AND NO CONTACT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CAR. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK AND TO CARE FOR AN ILL HUSBAND AND MOTHER. I AM ON THE ROAD A LOT, AND IT IS SCARY FOR THE CAR TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY. I BELIEVE THE ROTOR ISSUES OBVIOUSLY ARE DAMAGING THE BRAKES, BUT ALSO THE TIRES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW, AND TO HAVE IT FAIL SO EARLY IS VERY UPSETTING, AS WELL AS SCARY. I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE 2009-2010 JOURNEYS AS WELL, BUT WAS ASSURED BY THE SALES TEAM AT DODGE THAT IT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED AND WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2011 MODELS. PLEASE HELP. *KB

I PURCHASED AT NEW 2011 DODGE JOURNEY CREW IN FEBRUARY 2011, WITH 5 MILES. DURING THE COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE WAS A LITTLE BUMPY. I ASSUMED THAT THE UNEVEN RIDE WAS DUE TO LOW PRESSURE IN THE TIRES OR BALANCING ISSUES. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER IN JULY 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED WITH THE FOLLOWING OUTCOME: ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO REPLACED, BALANCE TIRES AND RE-ALIGNED TIRE PRESSURE. THE DEALER ORDERED NEW ROTORS/PADS AND I RETURNED 2 WEEKS LATER FOR INSTALLATION. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME UNEVEN RIDE AND COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER. THIS COMPLAINT RESULTED IN MY TIRES BEING REPLACED (MECHANIC STATED I HAD 2 BAD TIRES). THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE OLD TIRES HAD SOME WEARING ON THEM (MOST LIKELY DUE TO UNBALANCE TIRES). MY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP STARTED TO INCREASE AND RESULTED IN A VISIT EVERY OTHER MONTH TO HAVE MY TIRES BALANCED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2012 (24K MILES). I WORKED THROUGH CHRYSLER CASE MANAGEMENT ON THIS REPLACEMENT AND I HAD TO PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE REPAIR (NOT SURE WHY, BUT NEEDED MY CAR TO MAKE A LIVING). MY VEHICLE WAS BACK IN THE SHOP IN APRIL 2012 FOR BALANCING ISSUES. THE DEALER FORCED BALANCED MY VEHICLE (THIS WAS THE SECOND FORCED BALANCING ON MY VEHICLE). ON APRIL 20, 2012, I HAD ANOTHER VISIT TO THE DEALER JUST TO BE TOLD THAT THEY REPLACED MY FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT AXLES, IN AN EFFORT TO FIX MY BALANCING ISSUES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS HAS NOT RESOLVED MY UNEVEN DRIVING ISSUES AND I AM BACK AT THE CASE MANAGEMENT STAGE. THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE YEAR AND A HALF WITH THIS VEHICLE, SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME THE DODGE JOURNEY HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF ISSUES. *TR

1. TWO AND HALF YEAR OLD TODDLER FELL INSIDE THE CAR IN THE 2ND ROW ISLE. 2. INSIDE SEAT RAILS ARE NOT COVERED AS THE OUTSIDE ONES THAT ARE CLOSER TO THE PASSENGER DOORS. THE POTENTIAL OF HAPPENING AGAIN IS VERY HIGH. IT'S CONSEQUENCES SUFFERED FOR THIS NEGLIGENCE IS THE TODDLER NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, TO BE X-RAYED AND STITCHED UP FOR A LACERATION ON THE KNEE. TEST ARE STILL PENDING IF LACERATION HAD ANY HARM ON MUSCLES OR TENDONS OF THE KNEE OR LEG. 3. I VISITED A DODGE DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT TODAY TUESDAY AUGUST 2ND, 2011 AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE VERIFIED THAT THERE IS NO COVER THAT COMES WITH THE CAR NOR THAT IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE INSIDE RAILS OF THE 2ND ROW SEAT. *KB

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW IN APRIL 2011. SINCE I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR A METAL GRINDING NOISE I'VE BEEN HAVING AT LOW SPEED BRAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS USUALLY ABOVE 45 MPH OR HIGHER. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD A DAY TO TEST MY VEHICLE, THEY RELATED THEY DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM. SINCE THAT VISIT I'VE HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE AND IM STILL EXPERINCING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING PROBLEM WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE METAL GRINDING NOISE WITH THE BRAKES IS SPERADIC BUT ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE IS LACKING AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT DODGE NEEDS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. I HOPE NHTSA CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH DODGE TO HAVE THE BRAKING ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE REVIEWED AND CORRECTED TO ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE OWNERS. DODGE ONLY COVERS THEIR BRAKES SYSTEM PARTS FOR THE FIRST 12,000 MILES OF THEIR VEHICLES, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THEY REPLACE AND DEFECTIVE PARTS IMMEDIATLEY AND TRIPLE THE MILEAGE IN WARRANTY FOR THEIR BRAKING SYSTEMS. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM STOPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A WIRING HARNESS SHAFT NEAR THE HEAD CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,383.

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

THE CLOCK KEEPS LOOSING TIME AND GETTING BEHIND. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALSO I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE BECAUSE THE CENTER CONSOLE TOUCH SCREEN GOES BLANK, WHICH CAUSES THE RADIO AND AC NOT TO WORK BECAUSE THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE TOUCH SCREEN THAT SHORTS OUT. NOT TO MENTION THAT THE DISPLAY ON MY DASH KEEPS SWITCHING OVER TO SOME UNKNOWN LANGUAGE. *TR

THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS BRAND NEW TRUCK. THE CAR HAD NO POWER AT ALL. IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR THE HEAD OR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FOR THE FOURTH TIME AND IT IS HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE CENTER ABOUT A MONTH AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS. I HAVE HAVE CALLED DODGE NUMEROUS TIMES AND CAN'T GET ANY HELP FROM ANYONE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NO LIGHTS AND STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ROLL BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,159.

FOR THE SIXTH TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED IN FOR REPAIR TO NO AVAIL ...THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE EVERYTHING WILL GO OFF [LIGHTS HORN, RADIO. AND THERE IS NO WAY TO SHUT IT DOWN. I'M SO SCARED TO PUT MY GRAND DAUGHTERS IN IT BECAUSE IT MIGHT SHUT DOWN WHILE WERE DRIVING AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF IT .I DON'T FIND THIS DODGE RELIABLE OR DEPENDABLE ...IT SCARES THE [XXX] OUT OF US.THE DEALERS WILL ONLY CHARGE THE BATTERY AND SEND IT BACK TO ME AND THERE HAS BEEN A FEW WHERE THEY DID NOTHING AT ALL TO IT. WHEN I HAVE THE ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON IT HALFWAY THRU THE OIL CHANGE THE LIGHT COMES ON AND INFORMS US TO CHANGE THE OIL. WE'VE ASKED FOR THEM TO PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT TO DATE THEY HAVEN'T. WHAT WE DID IS TRUST A DEALERSHIP FOR A RELIABLE VEHICLE AND ALL WE GOT WAS A MASSIVE BILL TO PAY THAT WONT PERFORM. *TR

WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 11 MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE BACK SEATS DOWN BECAUSE THE REAR VISIBILITY IS SO RESTRICTED BY THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS. WE FIRST NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH THE BLIND SPOTS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT ROUGHLY AT 45 DEGREES NOT WHERE YOU USUALLY HAVE ONCOMING TRAFFIC,IN A MALL IT CAN BE A REAL PROBLEM. WE FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE DO NOT PLAN ON KEEPING IT MUCH LONGER. THANK YOU. *TR