According what I see in the other complaints, guess we should be lucky to get 28000 miles before needing brake pads and rotors replaced. My wife starting hearing noise from the front brakes about a month ago, but it wasn't too severe in noise and her busy schedule kept her from taking it in right away. Te vehicle was taken into our normal repair shop that we use and they found the front brake pads had completely worn down and working into the rotors. We contacted the dealership (we have owned the vehicle for a little or a year and half) and they gave the run around that the warrenty doesn't replace normal wear and tear. Brake pads should last longer than 28000 miles and her previous vehicle brake pads with similiar driving lasted for over 60000 miles.

This is a beautiful vehicle, but have had several problems with it and the worse is, we brought it in as brakes were squeaking several weeks ago and they never even checked them, just did the oil change. The brakes just went out this week and had to replace them on a 18,000 mile vehicle. This is very disappointing and a black eye for Chrysler. The dealership actually said to me "Do you ride the brakes?" This is not my first automobile you know! Have been driving 43 years since age 15 and never had the brakes go out at 18,000 miles before!

I am very disappointed in my experience with the Journey, and very disappointed in the service department here. And no, it was not covered by warranty, but am joining the class action suit tomorrow filed Sept 2010 about this braking problem.

I am extremely upset to think that I spent what I did to get a trouble free car for at least five years or more . At or about 15,000 miles we thought the car was stopping with a jerky motion,. As time and miles went forward the roughness intensified. At 22,000 the front end, when trying to go forward, shook violently and with a high pitch noise unbearable to the human ear. Upon asking for our dealer to help we were told that the problem was not covered by any warranty and the cost was all on us. Needed to fix so we could work to make the payment.LOL. The auto industry as a whole don't give a damn once they sell you a car. They know chances are you cant afford a new vehicle for years. It is a shame and a scam but what the Hell do you do. The Chrysler Co. has allowed the dealers to pass the buck. I am very very mad that I had to take my retirement check and pay over 865.00 to have a lemon brake job done right. I worked for a delivery service for over three years and we replaced the brakes every four to six months and every time we were told that the dodge suv's and mini vans had a very bad problem with their brake systems, imagine that. The workmanship and quality of parts are at a all time low I cannot believe I was crazy enough to even consider one dodge but to buy two and spend 41,000.00 in less then six months to be screwed on the second most important parts the Brakes. I am very disappointed and have and will continue to find places to tell my story to all. Don't buy a dodge no matter how they portray them, they are junk'.

Update from Aug 14, 2011: we got a small refund for an expensive fix. we had to get rid of for peace of mind and fear of safety for us and all others. the dealers dont care about you once they have your money. LOL!

My car went from a slight squeak at 18,000 miles to full blow grinding without warning. I had recently been on a dusty road didn't think the squeak could be brakes at such a low mileage. I was driving and BAM without even putting the breaks on I heard metal to metal grinding, when breaks applied it was a awful loud noise. Took it to the dealership for inspection and let it overnight. I then trouble shoot the issue online and came across the Class Action Lawsuit against Dodge for the breaks. I asked the dealer about it they denied any Lawsuit and any issues with the Journey brakes. I informed them of all the complaints and asked for courtesy discount for the pre-mature were and was denied. I told them I will be taking for second opinion for cost. They charged me $40 for the inspections which Dodge did not tell me upfront there would be a fee for the inspection alone. My breaks were metal to metal without any pad left and my rotors were trashed.

This is my second complaint on the same 2009 Dodge Journey. I had to replace the front brakes at 22K for a cost of $325. A couple of months later, I took the car on a long road trip and noticed a shimmy when under hard braking or braking on a steep grade. I was a little worried so I took the car in for an inspection. The dealer told me that the rear rotors need to be placed. The pads were OK but the rotors were shot. First the fronts at 22K now the rear brakes at 27K. Come on, this has to be a design problem. I'm out over $500 for brakes and I haven't turned 30K. There's no way I can keep this car for several years.

When we bought our Journey at the beginning of 2010 the car had 10k miles on it and the dealer had to "fix" the brakes. They were sticking after sitting in the garage for a period of time. The Journey has been a great car, but on the last oil change the dealership told us we would need new brakes atleast on the front within 3k miles. We now have 22000 miles and I am going to do the repair myself. I am going to keep a set of rotors on hand and I'm already in the mindset of having to replace pads and rotors every 20 - 25k miles That's when I started doing some research and found all these people with the same problem. Of course Dodge is not willing to help and with these bad financial times we cannot afford to let go of the Journey.

Replaced front brakes and rotors at 13k, resurfaced rear rotors at 17k. Called Dodge and 6 weeks later, after sending in documentation of what cost was to repair they issued a refund, less $100 for wear. Send the documentation and request a goodwill reimbursement for cost. It takes them 6 weeks to scan all infomation into system. One customer service rep admitted to having the wrong brakes put on the Journey and caravan. All subsequent reps deny it totally. I did get my money but if you can handle the weasel reps only quoting policy and company protocal then it is better than a sharp stick in the eye.

This is the second Journey I have owned within 2 years. First was a lemon and replaced by Dodge. Should have known better. Regardless, breaks began making terrible noise around 10th of September. Took car in - told front breaks needed to be replaced. Dealer replaced and charged me. Then steering wheel began to shake for no reason at breaking of 55 MPH. Back to the dealer. Told I was "standing on the breaks" - now my rotors had hot spots. They turned them. Two days later the shaking was really bad. Back to the dealer. Rotors were blue (?). Rotors replaced on 15th of September...more money out the window. Dealer said they were "sorry" had no idea the Journey had such bad breaks. Really???? Steering wheel still shakes - not as bad though - more of a shimmy at 55 - 60. Dealer said they'd look at car again but they have "no idea what could be causing the problem." Starting to really, really dislike Dodge. Considering getting a lawyer - can't believe I fell for this twice.

Last year my wife and I decided to purchase a new car because we are getting annoyed of the problems and expenses costing us with our 2001 Chevy Venture. We decide to buy an American Car to support our own and also we liked the Journey's Profile and it can seat 7 passenger but we have our doubts because of the experience we had with our Venture. Sure enough after 1 year and 30,000KM millage both front Rotor and Breaks need to be replace. What makes it worst is Dodge don't want to cover it under warranty becasue its over a year now. Chrysler is very pathetic with their quality I wont be suprise if they will end up declaring another bankruptcy. I'm sorry to say that this will probably be our last American brand name car.

Bought the 2009 Dodge Journey brand new. To date, it has 25K miles. The front brakes went at 12K miles and I was told it was covered under warranty but the service tech "found it strange to have to replace brakes on such a new vehicle". I left there feeling like I didn't deserve a license. At approximately 18K miles, the back brakes were worn out and the rotors needed to be replaced. I was told I would have to pay for this as the warranty no longer covered "wear and tear". The job cost me $300. I wrote to Chysler along with printing about 25 consumer complaints I found on line and asked for someone to justify "normal wear and tear" on a brand new vehicle such as mine. Obviously not EVERYONE could be a careless driver as myself?? Never a response, no phone call, nothing but a refund check weeks later for the $300. I guess that's their subtle way of saying we screwed up but it doesn't make it right.

First i'd like to thank you all for confirming my sanity. I took my 2009 SE in for an oil change and asked about possible glazing of the brakes due to noise. The service writer came to me and told me i had to have all brakes and rotors replaced. I was dumbfounded-brakes at 16000 miles- i asked to see for myself-all 4 wheels had nothing left and the rotors were scored. The very first thing i noticed was that the rotors seemed very small for a 3800 lb vehicle. (I'm not an engineer but i know which end of the wrench to hold.) The service writer told me that i was lucky (or gullible) that the factory rep was there and they would fix them for $50 per axle.

Presently i'm waiting for parts and a call as to when but smelling a rat i looked online and found this site. In addition to this site, I found a class action lawsuit for owners from California and New Jersey. Their contention is that there is a defect caused by insufficient friction area on the rotors.

I have called Chrysler and got the same BS as everyone else.

In the event the lawsuit is successful, we should all be entitled to reimbursement AND a permanent solution to the problem. But as suggested before, complain 'til they hate you - The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

after reading all the complaints regarding premature wear, i, once again, have confidence in my sanity. I have owned and worked on cars for over 40 years- i'm a certified motorcycle mechanic and today i was seriously questioning my own sanity when i was told that i needed new brakes and rotors at 15000 miles. i have never had to replace brakes more than once on any vehicle (except bikes) i have ever owned.

I was told that the factory rep just happened to be there and agreed to do all 4 brakes and rotors for $50 per axle. i must be the luckiest (or most gullible) man on earth.

I thank you all for blowing these

I had 13300 miles on my 2009 dodge journey when i was informed by the dealer i needed brakes, i have not had it repaired yet as its only been 1 day but i did call customer service about this problem and of course they thanked me for informing them of the problem. after reading all the complaints i think they knew about this from the beginning because the only thing major excluded from the 36000 mile warranty are the brakes at 12000, i think dodge knew about the problem and sold it to the public anyway and now they want to weasel their way out of it.

At about 23,000 miles, front pads had gone down to metal and ruined rotors, so replaced pads and rotors, ordered parts from NAPA. At about 30,000 miles, severe vibration when braking, especially at higher speeds (50 mph and over). Took into local reputable shop and they said front rotors were warped. NAPA replaced rotors for free. At 33,000 miles REAR pads were down to about 10%, so replaced rear pads.

Now, at 35,000 miles, we are beginning to feel some vibration when braking, and brakes are making a grinding noise, but pads seem OK. I fear the rotors may be warping again.

I have never had to replace pads with a vehicle just over 20,000 miles, and most vehicles have gotten 80 - 100K miles before rear brakes needed any attention. In fact, my 2006 Hyundai Sonata reached 80K miles before I replaced the front brakes, and they still had over 25% of their use left.

Dodge needs to admit that something is seriously wrong here. I thought perhaps I had a lemon or we just got bad parts from NAPA, but after visiting this site it is apparent that there is a flaw in the design of the Journey braking system. I wanted to buy "American" but I have lost confidence in Mopar.