2009 Dodge JOURNEY AWD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
161 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 122 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 161 complaints (29.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 65 | 40.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 23.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 7.5% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 5.0% |
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 | 47 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 33 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 19 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Tires | 12 |
Electrical System: 47; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 33; Power Train: 23; Service Brakes: 19; Air Bags: 17; Engine: 17; Unknown Or Other: 13; Tires: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 36 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 39 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
2009: 3; 2010: 24; 2011: 22; 2012: 16; 2013: 16; 2014: 16; 2015: 23; 2016: 17; 2017: 11; 2018: 7; 2019: 6
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10275272 · 2009-06-29 (June 29, 2009)
I HAVE A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY R/T WHICH HAS LED COURTESY LAMPS OVER HEAD AND UNDER THE DASH ON BOTH SIDES AS WELL AS A REAR DOME. THE OVERHEAD DOME AND FRONT LED'S ARE CONTROLLED BY OPENING THE DOORS AS MOST COURTESY LAMPS ARE. HOWEVER THE UNDER THE DASH COURTESY LAMPS ARE CONTROLLED WITH THE DASH INSTRUMENTATION LAMPS, THEREFORE WHEN YOU DRIVE WITH THE HEADLAMPS ON, THEY ARE ALSO ON. THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT VERY DIFFICULT AS THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS ILLUMINATED, CAUSING GLARE AND POOR VISIBILITY OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE RETURNED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10287357 · 2009-10-14 (October 14, 2009)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10287357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289751 · 2009-10-25 (October 25, 2009)
HAVE HAD A 2009 JOURNEY SINCE AUGUST 2008. AT ABOUT THE ONE-YEAR MARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN AN ODD NOISE WHEN TURNING HARD LEFT. THE DEALER REPLACED A PS RESERVOIR, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL OFTEN EVIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10289751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308981 · 2010-02-12 (February 12, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 21,153 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321272 · 2010-03-21 (March 21, 2010)
WE BOUGHT A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY SXT BACK IN MAY 09. IN THE LAST MONTH FEB 2010 ON, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING/SECURITY MECHANISM FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FAILED (SCHEDULED TO BE LOOKED IN TWO DAYS) AND TODAY OUR TRANSMISSION/GEARBOX LITERALLY EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD AT 6,000 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD ON THE WAY TO STORE WHEN A STRING SMELL OF BURNING CAME INTO THE CABIN AND THEN WE HEARD A SEVERE POP AND THEN NOTHING BUT BILLOWING SMOKE. WE HAD OUR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO TRY AND GET TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,052 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326926 · 2010-04-21 (April 21, 2010)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329214 · 2010-05-06 (May 6, 2010)
WHILE MAKING A TURN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE UNDER THE ENGINE AREA. AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED PTO UNIT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A REAR END COLLISION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330159 · 2010-05-12 (May 12, 2010)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,234 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330159 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.