2011 Dodge JOURNEY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Dodge JOURNEY has 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: 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 3. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 10 crash reports 16 injuries

253

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

55 complaints

22%

• 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 3
• 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
• HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. TOLD ROTOR AND PADS ARE GOOD. LOOKING AT PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, REALIZED DEALER IS PLAYING A GAME ( AFTER 12000MILES) ROTORS NOT COVERED. I PRESENTLY HAVE 11000 MILES. GREAT BUSINESS PRACT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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 3”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

43 complaints

17%

• 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
• 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 MIG
• 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 SC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

34 complaints

13%

• 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
• 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 HARN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 TO 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

23 complaints

• 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
• HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. TOLD ROTOR AND PADS ARE GOOD. LOOKING AT PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, REALIZED DEALER IS PLAYING A GAME ( AFTER 12000MILES) ROTORS NOT COVERED. I PRESENTLY HAVE 11000 MILES. GREAT BUSINESS PRACT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH OR LOWER, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER OUT OF LANE WHEN ATETMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCE ONLY WHEN THE ACCELERATION WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAIL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

20 complaints

• 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
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 253 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 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 3
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)