CarComplaints.com Notes: A prime example of why you should never buy the first model year of a new vehicle.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 14
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 1
Average Mileage:
47,313 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Dodge Journey electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Dodge Journey Owner Comments (Page 31 of 37)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #137

Aug 132014

Journey 4-cyl

  • 81,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving along the highway, with cruise control on, the vehicle lost power and decelerated. The etc and traction control lights came on the dash. After pulling to the side of the road the vehicle was restarted. After being restarted the vehicle drove normally. This scenario has happened three times at highway speeds and once during acceleration. Around the same time of onset with the power loss issue the vehicle will not start intermittently. Sometimes it starts after several minutes, sometimes it does not start for several hours.

- Boone, IA, USA

problem #136

Jul 302014

Journey 6-cyl

  • 84,000 miles
I took the vehicle in to my normal mechainc because the taillight keeps going out & I have a bas light that keeps coming on which when on means I can't ue the cruise control. I'm also having issues with the ignition where it sometimes won't start, just clicks & when that occurs you have to put it in gear take it out & then it'll start up. My mechanic told me the tailight & all the other issues can be attributed to a bad PCM & I had to take it to the dealer. As I investigated these issues I noticed that most of these electrical issues are being posted as recalled items, but when I contacted the local dealership & Dodge directly they tell me no. How can all of the same things that are being recalled be happening with my vehicle & none of that be recalled work that needs to be done?

- Lynn Haven, FL, USA

problem #135

Aug 012014

Journey 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
Vehicle would not start. Had the battery changed but 3 days later vehicle would not start. Had the starter changed but 2 days later vehicle would not turn over. Ignition just make S a clicking sound. Mechanic claims '09 Journey are notorious for electrical problems and will replace the starter again although he doubts that will help. Unfortunately my wife drives this vehicle with 4 children. I'm very concerned about her getting in a bad situation on the road. Vehicle gas already had multiple recalls over the past few years. What can I do" any recourse to have Dodge fix the problem thru a recall" I have read that this is an ongoing problem with many customers.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #134

Jun 032014

Journey 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have been having the problem for a while where my car acts if it doesn't want to start and after waiting a while it starts up. I had the battery replaced twice thinking its the battery or that I am buying bad batteries. My car acts if nothing is wrong I put the key in the ignition turn it to on everything brightly comes on but my car will not start it doesn't click it doesn't do anything well after having this problem for a while now it wont start at all even when adding a new battery... I get online and see alot of other Journey owners have the same problem. The difference between them and owners is now there is a recall for this exact same issue but mine cant get recalled due to the VIN number not being listed which is unfair due to its the exact same car and the exact same issue I called the Chrysler recall number L25 and they said there is nothing they can do since my VIN isn't listed im so upset is there someone I can talk to about this.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #133

Aug 212013

Journey 6-cyl

  • 109,000 miles
Car all of a sudden shuts off while driving down the street at various speeds.35-70 steering wheel locks, you have very little control. Very very dangerous has been hooked up to certified auto shop diagnostic computer all codes come back fine and they can not tell me why this happens. I already replaced crankshaft sensor to test if that was what was wrong with it. I am not going to go thru all these fixes for testing. Dodge needs to do a recall on this problem. I called Dodge direct to start a recall process. Something needs to be done before a fatality happens!

- Raymond, NH, USA

problem #132

Aug 132014

Journey 6-cyl

  • 60,227 miles
I was driving along a 4 lane highway, hit a bump and the ignition turn off. I was in the inside lane and had to maneuver my vehicle across two lanes to the side of the road so I could put the vehicle in park so I could restart the car.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #131

Aug 082013

Journey

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact mentioned a clicking chime activated and all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The failure occurred several times. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Antoich, CA, USA

problem #130

Sep 042012

Journey 6-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
Dash goes dark, car dies with no warning. Loss of steering. 1st time happened leaving parking lot onto busy roadway. Cars directly behind able to swerve around me. Able to start up immediately. Occurs randomly without warning. Dealer replaced sparkplugs 5/2013. Still occurs. Again randomly and very dangerous. Car died while driving 8/5/2014 on dirt road at approx. 30 mph. Took back to dealer they were unable to diagnose. Called Dodge to report problem and inquire any recall. I was told does not apply to my VIN#. extremely dangerous to die without notice while driving. Occurrence sometimes can be days apart or months apart. Continues to happen randomly without any notice, car died while driving on highways 6/10/14 and 7/22/14. Once again contacted Dodge. I was told there is potential recall for ignition on Dodge Journey manufactured at same time as mine, but they have not expanded recall yet. Took back to dealer 7/24/14-7/26/14 unable to diagnose(no time). Suggested I bring back. Brought back to dealer 8/11/14-8/14/14. Still unable to diagnose. Dodge customer service tells me if happens more often to bring back. Every occurrence is potential hazard.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #129

Apr 242014

Journey 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. The contact was able to start the vehicle after numerous attempts. On two separate occasions, the battery had to be jumpstarted in order for the vehicle to start. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on numerous occasions, but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000. Updated 09/22/2014 updated 2/23/2015

- Randolph, MA, USA

problem #128

Jul 012014

Journey

  • 100,000 miles
While driving on the freeway @ about 70 mph suddenly the steering locked up and there was no power. While I was trying to merge over to the side of the freeway( I had to cross 3 lane, I was almost hit by multiple cars. I had no control of the car. I managed to get off to the side off the freeway and happened to look down to see the ignition key turned to the off position. I dont have any other keys attached to it because I had just had the starter replaced maybe 1 week before & was advised not to. I started the car thinking maybe it was a freak thing and it wouldnt happen again. It did 2 days later. This time I was approaching an intersection turning left on a green arrow. Just as I started to turn the car turned off making it very difficult to turn and barely missed a group of people on the sidewalk where my car ended up before stopping. I had the car towed to the service center the dealership I bought the car from. This was not a Dodge, Chrysler, or Jeep dealership either. I was told that rwi module had to be replaced and it was not covered under my warranty and Dodge would not cover it either. While the car was being repaired I came across recall L25. But was told my VIN number was not included in the recall. The car was in the repair shop for 5 days. It cost me over $600. The day I picked the car up I came across documentation of the expansion to the L25. I was then again told the VIN was not part of the recall & an investigation was being done and eventually the VIN would be in the recall but I could not be given a date as to when this would happen. I called Dodge corporate offices and was told the same thing. I feel like I own a coffin on wheels.. all in all I have had this car in for repair for the key turning to the off position 3 times now. Something needs to be done now before someone is seriously hurt or killed in a crash because of this defective part.

- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

problem #127

Jul 102014

Journey

  • 69,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. When the contact started the vehicle, the windshield wipers activated independently. In addition, both front power windows failed to operate when engaged. The failures were sporadic. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 14V373000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.

- Kenosha, WI, USA

problem #126

Jun 082011

Journey 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
My vehicle has less than 90000 miles and I've put 4 sets of brakes and rotors on it. I've also had numerous problems with it not wanting to start while the battery test out perfect. I have put 3 sets of tires on it, and the transmission is shifting hard a lot of the time also.it's a shame people have to die before Y'all recall vehicles.

- Blytheville, AR, USA

problem #125

Apr 112013

Journey 4-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
My 09 Dodge Journey would fail to start on multiple occasions since owning the vehicle. It would make a clicking noise and take several tries to get it to start. The dash lights would also fail to come on while trying to start it. I would also have to wait 1 or more hours til I could get it to start. I have put in a new alternator and starter in it. Finally on July 3rd 2014 it quit starting altogether, stranding me at work. I have also had a few incidents when the air bag light would come on, after a few minutes it would go back off. I have called a few Dodge dealers in my area and they claim to be aware of the issue and said it was either my key or a win module. If they are aware of this issue why is there no recalls on it. I have done research on my vehicle only to find out I am among thousands of people with the same issue.

- Hammond, IN, USA

problem #124

Apr 222014

Journey

  • 68,265 miles
Bad ignition switch to the point that the car would not start immediately.

- Neptune, NJ, USA

problem #123

Mar 042011

Journey 6-cyl

  • miles
On March 4,2011 my wife, kids, and myself went out to dinner and when we got back to our 2009 Dodge Journey it would not start. I had to call a tow truck and inconvenience a family member because my family needed a ride home. I have taken this vehicle to several Chrysler dealerships and no one can figure out why this vehicle starts when it wants to. We travel a lot and have to rent a vehicle to do so. It is now 2014 and Chrysler still doesn't have a solution for my troubled car. We are terribly disappointed in this vehicle and can't trust it. With this being an issue you would think Chrysler would recall and do right by their customers.

- Carolstream, IL, USA

problem #122

Mar 292013

Journey 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
My 2009 Dodge Journey has not regularly started for over a year off and on. When turning it to the starting position it will just click. It will never start in park and after much research I have found that putting it into neutral would start it which worked for a little over a year. Now over a year later of putting it into neutral to start I am finding that its not working any longer. I have had this vehicle since 2012 so only a year after I bought this I started having the problems. In 2013 I replaced the starter and it didn't start 2 hours after replacing it. I have researched and have seen I am not the only one with this problem. I am a mother of 3 kids and can not be stranded someplace because Chrysler doesn't want to take the responsibility to recall the problem and fix it!! this problem needs to be fixed for all of us experiencing it!! why hasn't it?

- Edon, OH, USA

problem #121

Nov 212013

Journey 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
I bought the car in October 2013 and within 2 months of having the car it started reading bad key. Then it went to not starting so I went and had a new key made because all of the dealerships said it was the chip in the key was bad. The problem kept getting worse and sometimes it takes 25 minutes to start my car. So I finally took it to the dealer and had it put on the computer and they said it came back that the wireless control module was going bad. As I was reading on the internet multiple people has had or is having the exact same issue with the same part. The warranty does not cover this part. Please help it is going to cost over $500 and if the other Journeys R having this problem their is obviously an issue with this part.

- Appalachia, VA, USA

problem #120

Oct 312013

Journey 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
I just recently purchased my 2009 Dodge Journey in 2013 and immediately noticed that sometimes when I crank my car moments later it will just cut off. In order to get the car to crank up again you have to place the gear back in park and place your foot on the brake or it will not do anything. I contacted the dealership and was told that electrical and ignition problems are often difficult to diagnose. I'm still dealing with this problem and with two kids as passengers I'm starting to become very nervous about our safety.

- Duncan, SC, USA

problem #119

Apr 102014

Journey

  • 162,000 miles
First incident was sometime in April 2014. While driving the engine stalled (turned off) three time daring that same day. I submitted an incident report to this office. Called Dodge corporate office and spoke to a representative named [xxx]. she help us get the local dealership fix the PCM flash throttle body, which the dealership stated was causing the problem. Dodge has a recall on for this PCM problem on the 2010 and some 2009 Journey models. My VIN number was not covered according to Dodge, but not VIN numbers are stated on the recall notes. The second incident happen around a week an half after the first one and after the dealership say it was fixed and safe to drive. My wife was driving with the kid on board and while exiting the freeway, the engine stalled (turned off) and had to use the emergency brake to avoid hit other cars. Called [xxx] at corporate and took car back to dealership. Dealership now is saying the problem is the win module, which again is on the recall for the 2010 Journey, but not on the 2009. Asked dealership manager ([xxx]) if this would fix the problem. He stated he is not sure, but that is the next diagnostic step to take. I also asked how much it would cost to fix he stated $700 and they would not cover it, because my VIN number is not covered under the recall. [xxx] at corporate was trying to reduce price, but dealership is not willing to work with Dodge corporate. Misty authorized a rental car, I'm having to pay for the insurance incase I have an accident. This needs to be investigated and all 2008, 2009, and 2010 need to be covered under the recall. All models are having the same problems. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #118

Apr 172014

Journey

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the co sensor, the battery, and the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 39,000 and the current mileage was 63,500.

- Carbondale, CO, USA

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