CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Journey got a major overhaul in 2011. Let's hope it's better than the first generation (2009-2010) -- it couldn't be much worse.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,085 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.

2011 Dodge Journey electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Dodge Journey Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #21

Mar 022018

Journey

  • 105,000 miles

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

Horn honks while driving, electric seat moves, lights flash, and windows roll down all doors lock and will not unlock, will also do while parked and you can't unlock to get into car. Happens daily since 2-1-18

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #20

Jan 162018

Journey

  • 75,000 miles
While driving down the interstate at approximetely 65mph my Dodge Journey shut off and then restarted again. Luckily I was on a straight away at the time. While researching I found out that other Journey's from 2009-2010 have had the same issue.

- St. Johnsbury, VT, USA

problem #19

Mar 142017

Journey

  • 55 miles
Electric:my lights keep going out since purchase under 1yr..,replace fuses 4times in 6mths..my truck locked up with ignition start key remote in car an almost locked my son 6yr. Old in car...had to call aaa for lockout service safety concern and Dodge did safety check an stated no concerns...,also stockton Nissan purchased all 4new tires an did brakes an drums under warranty of safety from purchase an both went bad under 5mths of work order history an they refuse to do any checks on this vehicle, ..my passenger tire split, and right now when I drive there's a loud, squeaky noise with vibration when hitting brakes while driving...stockton Dodge wanted to charge me 480$ just to diagnose recommend I take back to purchase dealer(stockton Nissan) and they should send it to Dodge but lisa, and amanda mathews would not take the vehicle at Nissan...stated gary bishop says do not take this vehicle for any reason...I don't understand why if I pay for extended warranty coverage over $3000 to stockton Nissan and they were the ones who supposedly did the work that's unsatisfactory an cause defects an safety issues an concerns...I also called Nissan Corp/lithia and was told about lithia/Nissan&first extended warranty coverage policies in middle of a big change so it limited my vehicle being repaired over 130"?"miles of home range an I'm a partial paraplegic..also stockton sold me this vehicle an extended warranty knowing my disability an safety concerns for myself an 5young kids.. this is unacceptable an unsafe for any dealership with purchase of a vehicle and in complaint of safety concerns repeatedly an for the customer to be prolonged stating they can trade it back but wanna do it as another purchase with more $$ down, credit check again, an same process as new purchase..stockton Nissan with held information viable from the extended warranty purchase contract due to changes..

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #18

May 022017

Journey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,600 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle began to lose power and various indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic who charged the battery and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The manufacturer was called and advised the contact to take the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,600. Updated 06/21/17

- Orange, VA, USA

problem #17

Jan 222016

Journey

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. While driving 65 mph, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the check engine light illuminated due to a low battery. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. In addition, while driving 25 mph, there where a squeaking noise coming from the brakes. When the vehicle was in reverse, it made a knocking/kicking noise and failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer a second time where it was diagnosed that the transmission and a faulty cylinder head failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #16

Mar 292016

Journey

  • 75,800 miles
Recurring safety issue with no concrete resolution. While driving at 55mph on a parkway vehicle engine stalled. I could not accelerate and the brakes and steering wheel locked. Radio, power windows, etc. All worked and I couldn't shut off the vehicle via the push button start/stop. When I pressed it to try and turn it off it made a noise like it was trying to start but couldn't. while waiting for the tow truck all of the check engine lights started flashing. Had it towed to the dealership, they replaced the alternator ($$) though diagnostics revealed no problems and they were able to start the car fine once it got there. One week later I was on the highway and the exact same thing happened. It was so scary. I could barely get to the shoulder of the road because the steering had locked. My speed was declining rapidly with cars rushing past at 65+ mph. Once on the shoulder, even though my speed had declined to 0, I was on a slight hill so I just kept rolling bc I had no ability to break. Journey was towed to dealership again and, as before, nothing comes up as the source of the problem via the diagnostics test. The one thing that diagnostics did reveal was that it was detecting a key fob in the car with a low battery- both of the keys are at home with me with no car to drive. Additional problems and repair costs incurred have included malfunction of all steering wheel control buttons and horn, tire sensors needing to be replaced (they all showed 0 pressure when the tires were fine), and key fob detection. I have seen many complaints of this scary engine stall experience with no clear resolution as to why it is happening. It seems the mechanics and star techs are stumped.my car only has 75K miles on it and I am terrified to drive it especially with my child in the car. Please investigate this issue before someone gets injured.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #15

Jan 172016

Journey 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the rear locking mechanism failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the technician could not find the failure to unlock the mechanism. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 04/07/16

- North Augusta, SC, USA

problem #14

Nov 022015

Journey 4-cyl

  • miles
2011 Dodge Journey. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle wiring harness and cruise control switch problems. The consumer stated the wiring harness shorted out internally and caused the cruise control switch to short out, as well.

- Lyndhurst, OH, USA

problem #13

Sep 212015

Journey

  • 51,000 miles
My vehicle has been in the shop twice in 2 weeks. It started with a transmission issue. I was driving to work last Monday when the car would not shift into gear. The engine continued to idle, but it would not go into the next gear. After having it towed to carmax where it was purchased. They sent it to the transmission shop who later confirmed my torque convertor was faulty. So it was replaced. My truck was in the shop from 9/21-9/25. I was finally able to pick it up on Monday 9/28. Well, I picked it up and it was driving fine. Then all of a sudden yesterday 9/30, I go outside on my lunch break and it will not start at all. The lights, clock, radio, seats...etc all work fine. But, the vehicle will not start. No clicking noises or anything. It is not trying to turn over at all. I took it back to the transmission shop who last worked on it and they can not figure out what is wrong. They say the diagnostic machine is not picking up on anything! I have to wait until the morning to call the Dodge dealership to see if they can now take a look at it. This is very frustrating!!!! I will update again once I know what the problem is.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #12

Aug 242015

Journey

  • 119,174 miles
Today 8-24-15 my 2011 Dodge Journey shut off as I was driving down a road. There was no prior indication the car all of the sudden would not steer, brake or do anything. The electric was still on but the car completely shut off. I had to use all my strength to maneuver it off the road and wait for it to slow down. My child was in the car. This is the second incident this has happened - 1st being in March 2015. Both have been reported to Chrysler. Both times I have brought to my local mechanic and it was set up for computerized diagnostic testing and both time threw no error codes. My mechanic believes it is an issue with the win module or something that is making the car ignition faulty and turning to accessory mode. It is unsafe to drive and I have contacted Chrysler because they need to stand behind their product. They are unwilling to make it a priority and have not offered a resolution. Just a note, the 2009 and 2010 version of this vehicle have been recalled for same issue. I have set up appt to have it diagnosed by Chrysler service center as they have indicated -however, the only time they could fit me in was a full week away. So now I wait because they feel that my car is safe " and haven't even offered a rental "!

- Cornish , ME, USA

problem #11

Jun 222015

Journey

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V373000 (air bags, electrical system); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

problem #10

Aug 122015

Journey

  • 60,000 miles
My husband was driving the car when all of a sudden the radio, all the lights inside, the dashboard, and everything just stopped but the car was still running. He had to pull over, turn off the engine and then restart it for things to turn back on. A few days later I was driving and all the lights inside the car turned on simultaneously for no reason. This happened a few times during the short drive. Hasn't happened since but mechanic asked me to call Dodge to check on recall. No recall when I called Dodge but others have noticed similar incidents with their Dodge Journeys.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 012015

Journey

  • 58,000 miles
It has been about a month since my 2011 Dodge Journey had begun to shut off without warning while I was driving, and with nyc traffic in the city it became dangerous for me to drive. I took it to my own mechanic who said it could only be resolved by the dealership since it may be an electrical issue with the car's computer that only the service shop at the dealership has the tools to fix. I am not driving faster than 30 mph when it happens, I'm unable to brake and the car shuts off automatically. I have begun to use the emergency brake, but if there is a car that is too close, in front or behind me, I can get into an accident. Thankfully, I have always been by the shoulder on the highway and am able to pull over.

- Flushing, NY, USA

problem #8

Sep 082014

Journey

  • 75,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway to work and the engine shut off. I lost power steering, power braking, ability to accelerate or really drive the car at all. All I could do was try to safely navigate an uncontrollable vehicle to the shoulder and hope I wasn't hit in the process. The check engine light came on, in addition to other warning lights (I think they were the tire pressure light, the vehicle traction control light and another indicator that looks like a lightning bolt). The car eventually restarted, but had problems driving and would start to cut out when it idled. We took it back to Dodge, they ran diagnostics but couldn't find any issues. After a lot of pressure, they replaced the main computer chip in the system. This was after replacing another minor part that didn't change the issue. This seemed to work for a few months, but then the problem began happening again. This time the engine was even more sluggish and the whole car would shake when you tried to accelerate. There was no power, even though the engine was running. Then, it would cut out again and the same warning lights came on. We are taking it back to Dodge again today to see what they can do.

- Santaquin, UT, USA

problem #7

Dec 012014

Journey

  • miles
2011 Dodge Journey when the weather is cool the fobs will no unlock the doors. Cw the consumer also stated he had difficulty starting the vehicle.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #6

Oct 192014

Journey

  • 24,000 miles
I was driving on the road during midnight, my battery sensor turned on 5 minutes later, I had multiple sensors turn on simultaneously. The ABS sensor, airbag, anti -traction as soon as I realized what was going on. I was merging to the emergency lane. I tried to push on the gas pedal and was not even able to accelerate due to the lack of power. I was worried but I was able to make it safely to the emergency lane. I tried to start the vehicle but couldn't the car wouldn't crank. So I had to tow the car to my mechanics and my mechanic told me it was due to the alternator. Lack of power = system will not allow you to run the vehicle. I would like something done about this ifit was not for the emergency lane me and my family could have been killed on the highway.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #5

Aug 012012

Journey

  • miles
Several times over the past 2 years the touch screen computer system has shut down and rebooted while driving, twice while driving on residential streets at 25 mph and at least once on the highway. Additionally the cruise control has only intermittently worked. I have taken it to two different dealers more than five times to have it checked, every time they update the software, and change either the cruise control module or the clock spring. Nothing has fixed this problem. Dealer has stated they will contact Chrysler but no information is passed back to me - if they even called, probably said it to get me to leave.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #4

Oct 012012

Journey 6-cyl

  • miles
I was involved in a vehicular accident on Monday, 10/01/2012 in a 2011 Dodge Journey. I have had several minor issues with the vehicle starting with the drivers seat failing to operate withthe electric controls, the glove box defect, the covers on the floor bolts especially on the drivers side slip off.

- Birmingham , AL, USA

problem #3

May 022011

Journey

  • 4,000 miles
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.

- Lakeland , FL, USA

problem #2

Mar 122011

Journey 6-cyl

  • 3,774 miles
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.

- Townsend, MT, USA

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