2009 Dodge JOURNEY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,433 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 993 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 743 of 1,433 complaints (51.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 573 | 40.0% |
| Braking behavior | 356 | 24.8% |
| Engine operation | 158 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 106 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 67 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 743 |
| Air Bags | 265 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 187 |
| Engine | 149 |
| Service Brakes | 106 |
| Power Train | 87 |
| Unknown Or Other | 84 |
| Steering | 71 |
Electrical System: 743; Air Bags: 265; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 187; Engine: 149; Service Brakes: 106; Power Train: 87; Unknown Or Other: 84; Steering: 71
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 220 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 172 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 176 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 172 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 182 |
| 150,000 and above | 71 |
Under 25,000: 220; 25,000 to 49,999: 172; 50,000 to 74,999: 176; 75,000 to 99,999: 172; 100,000 to 149,999: 182; 150,000 and above: 71
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (220). 440 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 143 |
| 2011 | 126 |
| 2012 | 94 |
| 2013 | 73 |
| 2014 | 160 |
| 2015 | 390 |
| 2016 | 156 |
| 2017 | 64 |
| 2018 | 76 |
| 2019 | 56 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2008: 7; 2009: 18; 2010: 143; 2011: 126; 2012: 94; 2013: 73; 2014: 160; 2015: 390; 2016: 156; 2017: 64; 2018: 76; 2019: 56; 2020: 28; 2021: 14; 2022: 10; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 573 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 356 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 158 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10304100 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
BOUGHT A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY SXT W/14,075 MILES-USED. OWNED LITTLE OVER MONTH-WE HAVE HAD 4 TIMES WHERE DRIVING AT NIGHT-SUDDENLY ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS COMES ON-HEADLIGHTS GO OFF-ENGINE KEEPS RUNNING. TO 'RESET' HAD TO TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART-ONE NIGHT THIS HAPPEN 2 TIMES IN APPR.10 MILES ON I-20. FIRST TIME IN SHOP-'COULD NOT DUPLICATE" FOR 2 DAYS-ALSO "NO BUS" LIGHT COMES ON. WIFE PICKED UP DROVE 15 MILES TO GROC. PARKING LOT-DURING DRIVE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON-SHE GOT TO PARKING LOT. KILLED ENGINE-TRIED TO RESTART-NOTHING-NO CLICK-NADA!…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346072 · 2010-07-29 (July 29, 2010)
BRAKES, TIRES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE TO GET NEW TIRES ALREADY AND I ONLY HAVE 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKES FRONT AND BACK 3 TIMES ALREADY. I AM ABOUT TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE ROTOR ON ALL 4 WHEELS. WHEN I TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OFF THE HEAD LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND BACK ON. THEN WHILE DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF AND ON AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 36,666 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228553 · 2008-05-21 (May 21, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFTER WILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE OUT OF POSITION WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE CONTACT SLIGHTLY TAPPED THE GEAR SHIFTER, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR OR NEUTRAL WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT CONSIDERS THIS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265500 · 2009-04-15 (April 15, 2009)
HAVE A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY AND NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AT 11,000 MILES AND NOW AT 13,000 MILES I NEEDED BRAKE PADS. STILL HAVE WHINING NOISE THAT NO DEALER CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RADIO REPLACED, A RECALL COMPLETED AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS FIXED. IN LESS THAN A YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO TRADE IT IN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347138 · 2010-08-03 (August 3, 2010)
I HAVE A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY THAT HAS STALLED ON ME WHILE DRIVING TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH. I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF STEERING AND INTERIOR CONTROLS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360497 · 2010-10-14 (October 14, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FOR 30 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 28,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231205 · 2008-06-16 (June 16, 2008)
2009 JOURNEY SXT WITH 860 MILES WAS DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. TAKEN TO DEALER AND PCM WAS REPLACED. ALSO COMPLAINED OF GRINDING/WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES BEFORE REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED. POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION REPLACED. STILL HAVE WHINING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TURNING LEFT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260817 · 2009-03-05 (March 5, 2009)
I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE STEERING MAKES NOISE, INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK, HAZARD LIGHTS DON'T WORK, LOCKS MALFUNCTION, ALARM MALFUNCTIONS AND WON'T TURN OFF...I BROUGHT IT IN TO HAVE THE STEERING ISSUE LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THEY NEED TO KEEP IT FOR AT LEAST A DAY TO FIX IT. THEY REFUSE, HOWEVER TO GIVE ME A RENTAL UNTIL THEY FIND A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH THEY NOW TELL ME WILL TAKE AT LEAST 2 DAYS. SO, I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH A CAR THAT HAS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER BREAKING ON IT BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO 2 DAYS WITHOUT A CAR. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352841 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE OF THE SEAMS ON THE GAS TANK WAS SPLITTING IN HALF AND LEAKING FUEL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE GASOLINE TANK. WHEN THE DEALER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE SYSTEM THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE FUMES COMING FROM THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467887 · 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)
I PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY (VIN: [XXX]) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 FROM THE STETLER DODGE CAR DEALERSHIP IN YORK, PA. IT WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR. SINCE THAT DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN BACK THERE OVER 4 TIMES FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR (10/3/11), BUT THIS LAST TIME WAS IT FOR ME. THE CAR MAKES A HISSING NOISE WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES, NOT ALL OF THE TIMES BUT A LOT. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, I HADN'T NOTICED ANYTHING ELSE OCCURRING ALONG WITH THE NOISE, BUT I HAD STILL TAKEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,936 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467887 at NHTSA ↗