2009 DODGE JOURNEY AWD Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

CAR WON'T START AT RANDOM INTERVALS. WILL NOT MAKE ANY NOISE, JUST A CLICK. STARTED ROUGHLY A YEAR AGO, AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT WOULD START AGAIN. NOW I WAIT MORE THAN A HALF HOUR. NEVER SURE IF IT WILL START. THIS CAR IS STRANDING ME. IT HAS A LIST OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS BAD BRAKES THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

I HAVE AN 09 JOURNEY AWD SXT AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH BRAKES INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS BREAKING OIL LEAKS ENGIN NOT STARTING . BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS ON FRONT REPLACED THREE TIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED TWICE CAN'T BUY REAR WIPER SO HAD TO MAKE ONE. HAVE HAD IT IN SHOP FOR WINDOWS AND DOORLOCKS NOT WORKING RIGHT AND STILL DON'T.TIRES WORN OUT AT AROUND 30,000 MILES AND COST 1,500 TO REPLACE. AM NOW HAVING PROBLEM WITH RADIO . I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN JULY 09 IT NOW HAS 34,487 MILES ON IT SOON MY WARRANTY WILL RUN OUT . THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED IT IS A '' LEMON. '' *TR

Mileage: 14,380

APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15-20K MILES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND TIRES WEAR COMPLETELY, REQUIRING FULL REPLACEMENT. CHRYSLER/DODGE IS AWARE, BUT CHOOSES TO OFFER ONLY MINOR ASSISTANCE, AND PITHY EXCUSES, EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO BLAME IT ON "WOMEN DRIVERS". *TR

Mileage: 17,000

I BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN FEBRUARY 2011 WITH 26000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN, I HAVE PUT 10,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS TWICE. THE BRAKES WEAR PREMATURELY AND MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT YOU CAN FEEL IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO RECALL THE FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES. I CAN'T CONTINUE TO PAY $600+ EVERY 6 MONTHS ON BRAKES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR

Mileage: 20,000

ROTORS WARPED. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS ON 1/26/10 - 21,624 MILES, 8/6/11 - 29,723 MILES, 8/16/11 - 45,561 MILES. REPLACED REAR ROTORS AND PADS 2/23/11 - 38,529 MILES. VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND SHIMMY DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. RESULTED IN PREMATURE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT OF TIRES AT 38,529 MILES. OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS TO ME: $739.13 FOR ROTORS AND PADS, $910.30 FOR TIRES. LAST SET OF REPLACEMENT ROTORS, ORDERED ON INTERNET, CAME WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY AGAINST WARPING AND CRACKING. WHY CAN'T DODGE/CHRYSLER CORP. COME UP WITH RELIABLE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND PROPERLY ENGINEERED BRAKING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS WEIGHT? *TR

Mileage: 21,624

FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR. TOLD BY DEALER THEY WERE REPLACED AT 19000 WITH ORIGINAL TYPE THAT HAD PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD TO. HAD THOSE REPLACED AT 29000 WHEN STEERING BECAME WOBBLY AS BRAKES APPLIED. ASKED IF I WAS GETTING 10000 MILE BRAKES AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY PUT ON WHAT THEY ARE TOLD BY MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 28,500

PURCHASED VEHICLE (DEALER DEMO) IN MARCH 2010 WITH 4,000 MILES ON IT. CAME WITH ALL (FULL) WARRANTIES. HAS KNOWN BRAKE ISSUES WITH PADS PREMATURELY WARPING. FIRST SERVICE WAS 11/5/10 AT 19,600 MILES FRONT BRAKES REDONE PAID $50 UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND SERVICE ONE WEEK LATER 11/12/10 REAR BRAKES REDONE AT 20,107 MILES. ON JULY 2, 2011 AT 35,455 MILES REPLACED FRONT BRAKES/PADS AGAIN PAID $155.00 HAD BRAKES CHECKED AGAIN ON 10/1/11 AND 8MM OF MATERIAL REMAINING ON FRONT AND 7MM OF MATERIAL ON REAR. ON 11/1/11 NOTICED WARPING ON FRONT (POSSIBLE BACK TOO) AND DECIDED TO FILE THIS CLAIM BEFORE HAVING THEM REDONE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THEY CANNOT KEEP THE PADS FROM WARPING SO I WILL BE BACK MULTIPLE TIMES EACH YEAR TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO ROTORS ETC. I WILL NOT KEEP PAYING FOR THIS SERVICE IT NEEDS TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND ZERO DOLLARS TO ME. PLAN TO BRING IT IN ON 11/25 OR 11/26/11. *TR

Mileage: 19,600

I REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 10000 MILES FOR THIS CAR. DEALER SAYS "IT'S NORMAL" !!! *TR

Mileage: 30,000

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

I PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY IN FEB OF 09. IT IS NOW MAY 2011 AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE ROTORS RESURFACED AT 8,000 MILES. HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND THE BACK ONE TWICE. AND NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS. I HAVE BEEN THRU 2 SET OF TIRES. CURRENTLY THE CAR IGNITION IS HAVING PROBLEMS. IT JUST DOESNT WANT TO START AT TIMES. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR. AT THE ONE YEAR MARK IT STARTED RUNNING HOT AND CONTINUES TO DO SO PERIODICALLY. IT ALSO KEEPS LOOSING OIL. ALSO THE RADIO WILL BE PLAYING AND IT WILL JUST GO TO A BLACK SCREEN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND IS GETTING EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. IT IS DUE TO GO IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE IGNITION AND THE RECALL ON THE DOOR WIRING ON WED. I WOULD NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN!!! CANT WAIT TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

BRAKE, ROTORS, TIRES AND POWER TRANSFER UNIT REPLACE ONLY AT ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR AND I HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. REPAIR COST OFF THE ROOF AND CONTINUE TO BUILD UP. I DON'T FELL SAFE DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THE FAST RATE THIS VITAL PARTS CONSUME. DEALER CONTINUES TO TELL ME THAT THE REPAIR COST IS NOT INCLUDED IN MY WARRANTY AGREEMENT BUT I BELIEVE MANUFACTURER HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPONENTS USE TO ASSEMBLE THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

2009 DODGE JOURNEY SXT - BRAKES AND ROTORS - HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT 37,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD ROTORS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THEN THEY DID - LAST WEEK 6-11 RECEIVED NOTICE FROM CHRYSLER -DODGE THAT IF OWNER HAD TO REPLACE PRIOR TO 36,000 MILES THEY WOULD REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE LESS $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. WOULDN'T TOUCH MY CLAIM SINCE MY BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT MY COST AT 37,000 MILES. IF THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE NOT RIGHT WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS MADE, I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER-DODGE SHOULD HAVE TO PICK UP THE COST IN FULL OR EXTEND THE MILEAGE ON THIS PROBLEM SO THEIR CUSTOMERS CAN SAY THEY HAVE SAFE VEHICLES. SINCE BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE A VITAL ISSUE OF A AN AUTOMOBILE THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I AM STILL DRIVING WITH BAD ROTORS AND COULDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THE DEALER OR CHRYSLER-DODGE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

Mileage: 37,736

WE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKES AND RESURFACE THE ROTORS AT 18,785 MILES. REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS AT 26,848 MILES AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AT UNDER 36,000 AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS 35,885 ON IT. I MISPLACED THE LETTER SENT HOME ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THESE PROBLEMS. WE JUST DECIDED TO BUY OUR LEASE. WE NEED NEW TIRES ONLY WE AREN'T WAITING FOR THE EXPENSIVE ONES ON BACKORDER WE WILL USE THE ALTERNATE SIZE AND BRAND. YESTERDAY I LOST ALL POWER IN THE CAR. WINDOWS WONT GO UP OR DOWN, NO AIR, NO RADIO, NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS, NO POWER LOCKS.ITS HOT IN NJ I CANT DRIVE THIS CAR WITHOUT THESE THINGS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT THESE THINGS. THERE ARE LESS THAN 36000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HIT MY 36 MONTH MARK ON 5/31 SO AM I OUT OF LUCK. CAN DODGE STAND PROUDLY BEHIND THEIR NAME AND RECALL THESE CARS WILL ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS? I READ THE BLOGS AND MESSAGE BOARDS-IM NOT THE FIRST PERSON AND I WONT BE THE LAST TO HAVE THESE PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY BE PUT ON THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS MY 2ND DODGE AND THIS WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST IF THEY CANT STEP UP AND OWN SOME OF THIS FAULTS. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE EQUIPMENT MAKE AND MODEL SO I AM PUTTING IN ANYTHING TO ALLOW ME TO GET TO THE NEXT PAGE. IF I KNEW THIS INFO. I WOULD BE A MECHANIC AND WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I AM CHOOSING 3M SERIES 963(THIS MEANS NOTHING-THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET ONTO THE NEXT PAGE SO DISREGARD THIS SECTION OF THE COMPLAINT). *TR

Mileage: 35,858

I OWN A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY, I HAVE HAD 6 (YES 6) BRAKE REPLACEMENTS IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. MY FIRST ONE WAS AT 10,000 MILES. I CURRENTLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HOW CAN YOU NOT THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE DESIGN OF THE JOURNEY'S BRAKE SYSTEM ? WHY DON'T YOU INVESTIGATE ? *TR

Mileage: 10,000

2009 DODGE JOURNEY BRAKE, AND TIRE ISSUE. TOOK A TRIP FROM DES MOINES, IA. TO SHREVEPORT, LA. - HALFWAY THRU MY TRIP HOME MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT OF NOWHERE. WITH ONLY 18,000 MILES ON THE CAR I FOUND THAT SURPRISING ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, AND HAD THREE KIDS IN THE CAR!!!! TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST TIRE STORE WHO CALLED A DODGE DEALER. THE DODGE DEALER SAID THAT MY TIRE WAS BACKORDERED BY OVER 3,000 TIRES AND RECOMMENDED A DIFFERENT SIZE. SPENT THE NIGHT IN THAT TOWN, NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, DROVE BACK TO DES MOINES TO MY DODGE DEALER HERE AND I INFORMED THEM OF THE TERRIBLE SHAKING MY STEERING WHEEL HAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TRIP. THEY SAID IT WAS MY BREAKS AND ROTORS AND CHARGED ME FOR THE SERVICE - AFTER ONLY 18,000 MILES!!! I PICKED UP MY CAR TODAY FROM THIS DEALER AND THERE IS STILL SHAKING, AND NOW A SCENT OF EXHAUST IN THE CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY FAMILY IN IT, AND WANT TO KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AT ALL... *TR

Mileage: 18,000

I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS AT 10,000 MILES. NO WARNING OR GRINDING NOISES. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW BAD THEY WERE IF A FRIEND HAD NOT POINTED OUT THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST ON MY WHEELS. VERY DISTURBING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I REGULARLY DRIVE MY OWN CHILDREN AND OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

ROTOR/BRAKE PROBLEM. SERIOUS VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE OR AFTER BEING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 40,551

I BROUGHT IN MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY FOR A WINDOW PROBLEM THAT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO CLOSE DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE BUT WHILE IN THE DEALERSHIP GETTING ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES WERE IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO BE PUT BACK OUT ON THE ROAD SO AFTER TALKING WITH THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT MANAGER I WAS TOLD DODGE WOULD NOT REPLACE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO SAY THE LEAST I WAS QUITE PISSED ,I USED TO BE A DODGE FANATIC BUT ONCE I SELL THIS LEMON NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY USELESS DODGE CAR I WOULD RATHER BUY JAPANESE CAR AT LEAST THEY BACK UP THEIR PRODUCTS SINCE THIS FIASCO I TELL MY FRIENDS DON'T WASTE THEIR MONEY ON JUNK. *TR

Mileage: 13,878

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE FROM 5 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL PULSATION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES AND THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPAIRED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,300. UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ UPDATED 02/03/11

Mileage: 9,300

I PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY IN OCT 2008 JUST AFTER 12000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS(11-20-2009). AT 21,100 THE BRAKES STARTING PULSATING AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO MACHINE THE FRONT ROTORS SINCE IT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED (08-21-2010). AT 23,700 MILES I NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTORS AND PADS NEED TO REPLACES AS WELL AS THE FRONT ROTORS(11-06-2010). *TR

Mileage: 23,702

2009 SXT AWD DODGE JOURNEY IS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE INITIAL JOURNEY WE PURCHASED WHICH WAS A LEMON. WE PICKED UP THIS CAR 5/2009. IT HAD A STRANGE SMELL, MUCH LIKE PROPANE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY AFTER SEVERAL VISITS. WE GAVE UP. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR THE LAST YEAR - PROGRESSIVELY THE SMELL WORSENED. ON THURSDAY, 10-28-10 WHILE ON INTERSTATE 270 I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY ENGINE, AND THE PROPANE SMELL WAS ALMOST OVER POWERING. I PHONED THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY SAID TO BRING IN ON MONDAY, 11-1-10. ON THE EVENING OF 10-31-10 I NOTICED DRIPPING COMING FROM THE CAR ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO PUT A PAN UNDERNEATH AND TAKE TO DEALER MONDAY MORNING. AT THE DEALER 11-1-10, I WAS TOLD THIS FLUID WS "GEAR FLUID." SEVEN HOURS LATER I PHONED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ORDER A PTU SEAL. PLEASE, PLEASE GOOGLE OR SEARCH YOUR SITE FOR PTU ISSUES ON THIS CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN FIRES CAUSED, ENGINE FAILURES, ETC. EVEN AFTER THE PTU SEAL HAS BEEN REPLACED IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THIS INITIAL SEAL IS BREACHED, IT DAMAGES THE OTHER SEALS, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO, NOTEWORTHY, I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 18,000 DUE TO THE "TURNING BLUE." AND NOW, AFTER THAT WORK MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY, WHICH THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY. I AM ALSO FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE (MARYLAND) AND MOST LIKELY WILL BE GETTING A LAWYER. THE DODGE JOURNEY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM FOR OUR ROADS. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED ON MY DODGE JOURNEY 2009 AND THE ROTORS AT 22,000 MILES. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE FIRST JOURNEY I PURCHASED HAD THESE SAME PROBLEMS AND WAS REPLACED BY DODGE/CHRYSLER AS A LEMON MAY 2009. NOW THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHY THE BRAKES ARE GOING BAD OR THE ROTORS SO FAST OR WHY THE STEERING WONT STOP SHAKING. I FEAR NOW THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE CAR IS BAD. DEALER STATED THE JOURNEYS WERE KNOWN FOR POOR / FAULTY BRAKES BUT CHRYSLER WON'T RECALL THEM. *TR

Mileage: 22,340

I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES PADS AT ONLY 12,000 MILES. THIS SEEMED WRONG ALREADY. THEN, I TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR THE REGULAR SERVICE AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. JUST AFTER 1000 MILES I STARTED TO SMELL BURNED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, BY THE REAR TIRES. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO GET THERE THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING IN THE BACK. I HAD TO CHANGE THE PADS AND DISKS. THE REASON WAS THAT THEY WERE ALL RUSTED AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT!! A NEW CAR WITH ONLY 20,000, NOT EVEN 2 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT RUST LIKE THAT. AND WHAT ABOUT TELLING ME THAT IT WAS RUSTING WHEN I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE? *TR

Mileage: 20,000

MY DODGE JOURNEY HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2009. THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE PULSING, AND NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE MY LOCAL MECHANIC URGED MY TO HAVE MY BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED FOR SAFETIES SAKE, AND NOTED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THEY WERE IN SUCH POOR CONDITION THAT MY MECHANIC WOULD NOT RESURFACE THE ROTORS, AND ONLY REPLACE THEM. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM(REEDMAN TOLL, LANGHORNE PA). THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE NO COMPENSATION, AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHRYSLER HAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR BRAKES/ROTORS. UPON THE DEALERS INSPECTION, HE CONFORMED THE BRAKE AND ROTOR WEAR, AS EXPECTED. THE DEAL TOLD ME THAT I COULD GO "ANOTHER 1,000 OR SO MILES" ON THESE BRAKES AND ROTORS BEFORE I NEEDED TO DO ANYTHING. I QUESTIONED THE NEED FOR ROTORS AT LESS THAN 30,00 MILES AND I WAS TOLD THAT 30,000 MILES IS AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT FOR REPLACEMENT. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, AND NONE OF THEM HAVE HAD ROTORS REPLACED BEFORE 50,000. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THEIR ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST CHRYSLER IN REGARDS TO BRAKES AND ROTORS, AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. BRAKES ARE THE MOST CRITICAL ITEM ON YOUR CAR AND THEY ARE WILLING TO ROLL THE DICE WITH MY FAMILY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I SHOULD HAVE NO SAFETY CONCERNS OR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WITH A NEW CAR. BUT, NOW I'M FACED WITH $900 IN REPAIRS IN AN ECONOMY THAT I SHOULD BE SAVING IN. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE STEPPING UP AND TAKING CURE OF ITS CUSTOMERS RATHER THAN RISKING POSSIBLE INJURY. *TR

Mileage: 28,000

FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE GONE OUT FOUR TIMES. I HAD THE ROTORS RESURFACED TWO TIMES AND HAD TO PURCHASE NEW ROTORS TWO OTHER TIMES BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO FAR OUT OF SPEC. THE VEHICLE HAS 49,000 MILES. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE GONE OUT EVERY 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AND PULSATING STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CONSTANTLY. *TR

Mileage: 12,000

PRE-MATURE BRAKE ROTOR WARPING AND SUBSEQUENT PAD WEAR. 2009 DODGE JOURNEY HAD ALL 4 ROTORS AND ALL PADS REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE. NOW AT 28,500 MILES, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. DODGE/CHRYSLER WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 14,000

I PURCHASED MY JOURNEY IN MARCH 08. I HAVE 17,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. I HAD BEEN NOTICING A HOT SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT UNTIL I WALKED BY MAY REAR TIRE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM. WHEN I BET DOWN TO INVESTIGATE THE SMELL MY REAR WHEELS WERE SO HOT I COULD NOT TOUCH THE WHEELS. THE SMELL WAS NOT A HOT BREAK SMELL BUT A DIFFERENT ONE. I CONTACT MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD ME BRING IT RIGHT IN. AFTER EVALUATING THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME IT IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE JOURNEY AND A COUPLE OTHER MODELS. WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS THE BREAKS WERE OXIDIZING AND THE CALIPERS WOULD RELEASE, BUT THE BRAKE PADS WOULD NOT. SO THE BRAKE PADS WERE CONSTANTLY RUBBING THE ROTORS. THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES BEFORE BUT CHRYSLER WAS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. MY DEALERSHIP TREATED ME WELL, BUT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REMEDY. I CALLED THE RECALL DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS MATTER, BUT ADVISED ME TO GO TO NHTSA.GOV AND STATE MY COMPLAINT. THEY WILL NOT START AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER UNTIL THEY RECEIVE A LARGER CONSENSUS OF COMPLAINTS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WOULD BE AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

2009 DODGE JOURNEY SXT AWD. FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. HAD VIBRATION IN FRONT END, DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS RUST FROM BEING PARKED OUTSIDE AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN HAD SANDED IT OFF. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT I FELT WERE WARPED ROTORS. I TOOK A TRIP TO MECHANICSBURG, ABOUT 350 MILES FROM HOME, AND UPON RETURN MY BRAKES ARE "TOAST". PADS, ROTORS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A SIGNIFICANT COST TO ME; MORE THAN $400.00 (US) IN THIS ECONOMY. I BOUGHT AN AMERICAN CAR TO DO MY PART FOR THE ECONOMY. I THINK I AM GOING TO REGRET THIS PURCHASE. I TRADED MY 2001 LAND ROVER IN FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 11,090

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 3 MPH IN HIS GARAGE, HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. A FEW WEEKS LATER AFTER DRIVING FIFTEEN MILES AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, HE SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT BEHIND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE FAILURE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 5,300. THE POWER TRANSFER SEAL UNIT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/12/10

Mileage: 5,300

AT 8234 MILES I TOOK MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY AWD TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH SLIGHT PULSATION WHILE BRAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. AT 11156 THE CAR WENT IN FOR BRAKE ISSUES AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. AT 11574 THE CAR WENT IN ONCE AGAIN FOR BRAKE VIBRATION AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS. AT 16049 THE REPLACED ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. AT 17669 AGAIN FOR BRAKE VIBRATION BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. AT 20554 THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. AT 23669 THE 2ND SET OF ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. AT 24944 THE ROTORS AGAIN WERE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME. NOW IT SEEMS TO ME THIS MIGHT BE A DEFECT ON THE BRAKES, BUT ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER AT CHRYSLER IT IS MY DRIVING THAT IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO GET BAD. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT DODGE HAS NOT CHARGED ME UP UNTIL THIS WEEK. DODGE WILL NO LONGER REPAIR THE BRAKES BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER "IT IS NOT THE CAR, BUT MY DRIVING". I CURRENTLY HAVE 25K MILES AND HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF ROTORS (AND STILL VIBRATES) AND BELIEVE ME I DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES AS THEY CLAIM. *TR

Mileage: 8,234

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

Mileage: 21,000

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

Mileage: 21,153

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

Mileage: 29,000