2009 Dodge Journey — Known Issues & Recalls

Your car is having trouble starting even after you've replaced the starter and battery, and it's died completely while parked. This is a serious safety concern because if it dies while you're driving with your children, you could lose control of the vehicle and crash. You need professional diagnostic service to find what's causing the electrical failure.

Your 2009 Dodge Journey experienced an engine compartment fire that started shortly after you added power steering fluid at a gas station. You noticed black smoke and an odd odor coming from under the hood within a few blocks of leaving the station, and when you checked the engine, you found fire on the power steering reservoir, plastic engine cover, and cooling fan. The fire department determined the fire was unintentional and likely related to a power steering system issue. Investigation and repair will require a complete engine compartment inspection and replacement of damaged electrical components, hoses, and the power steering system.

Your engine seized while driving, but restarted and you made it to your destination. The next day, your car wouldn't start at all. A mechanic diagnosed a failed TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module), which is the vehicle's main electrical control unit that needs to be replaced. This is a critical electrical component that controls engine starting and other vital functions.

Your car caught on fire without any warning due to an electrical problem in the rear cigarette lighter port. The fire started in the back of the vehicle and was caused by a malfunction in the lighter socket's electrical system. This is a serious safety hazard that requires immediate inspection and repair of the electrical wiring and lighter socket assembly.

Your 2009 Dodge Journey has experienced multiple electrical issues: the horn sounds off intermittently without being pressed, the radio and hands-free phone speaker have stopped working, and the power window switches for the driver and front passenger doors are no longer functioning. While you haven't experienced a fire, you're concerned about these electrical problems in light of reports of fires in this model. These issues may require diagnosis and repair of the vehicle's electrical wiring, fuses, switches, and radio/infotainment system.

Your car's engine didn't start on your first attempt to turn the key, but it started normally when you turned the key back to the off position and tried again. No warning lights or other symptoms appeared before this happened, and you haven't had the vehicle serviced yet. A mechanic should check your battery, starter, and electrical connections to prevent this from happening again.

Your power steering hose ruptured after several days of snow and ice, leaving you unable to steer the vehicle when you tried to leave your driveway. You discovered there's a recall for this same issue, but your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in it despite similar complaints from other owners. The repair will likely involve replacing the damaged power steering hose.

While backing up in cold weather, your power steering stopped working without any warning lights. When you had it inspected, you discovered the power steering hose was leaking fluid and had come loose from its connection. Your dealer checked and found your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in the related recall, so the problem wasn't repaired.

Your power steering return hose ruptured when you started your vehicle after it had been parked in sub-zero temperatures for about a week. You found a recall for this exact problem, but your 2009 Dodge Journey wasn't included in it, even though you believe it should have been. The fix would likely involve replacing the power steering return hose with a more cold-resistant version.

While driving at 60 mph, your vehicle suddenly lost power and wouldn't accelerate properly, and the transmission refused to shift into the correct gear. Your check engine light came on, and when you pulled over and shut off the engine, the car wouldn't start or run normally afterward. A mechanic found that the engine computer (PCM) had a wiring problem; they replaced the wiring harness, but the issue continued, and the dealer said the computer itself needed to be replaced.

Your car's viscous coupler—a component in the all-wheel drive system—can malfunction and cause the front transfer case to crack open. This could lead to a loss of power to your wheels and potentially cause a serious accident. The repair will likely involve replacing the viscous coupler and inspecting or replacing the cracked transfer case.

Your car's doors are locking and unlocking by themselves while you're driving, which is distracting and concerning. Additionally, your airbags deployed on their own without any accident occurring. These electrical malfunctions need immediate attention from a technician who can diagnose the door lock and airbag control module issues.

Your 2009 Dodge Journey wouldn't start while parked, and you believe it's related to a known electrical system and airbag issue (NHTSA Campaign 14V373000). The problem occurred at around 130,000 miles. The vehicle hasn't been diagnosed or repaired yet. This may require inspection of the electrical system and airbag components to identify and fix the starting issue.

Your steering suddenly locked up and wouldn't turn, forcing you to brake hard on the freeway to avoid a crash at 70+ mph. At the same time, multiple electrical systems malfunctioned — your lights, air conditioning, and fuel gauge stopped working properly — and your transmission began slipping out of gear unexpectedly. These issues suggest problems with the steering system, transmission, and electrical components that need professional diagnosis and repair.

Your airbag warning light came on while driving at 25 mph, and about 15 minutes later, your side airbags deployed without any accident or impact. When you pulled over and got out of the car, the steering wheel and passenger airbags also deployed unexpectedly, breaking the windshield and cracking the dashboard, and your passenger was bruised by the side airbag. Police confirmed there was no collision. The airbag system likely needs complete inspection and replacement of deployed airbag modules and possibly the airbag control unit.

Your car needs a new battery every few months and requires jump-starting each time you drive it. While driving on the highway, your car sometimes acts like the brakes are being slammed on, and you're also experiencing electrical gremlins—your lights, windows, door locks, and dashboard gauges turn on and off unpredictably. You've already replaced the battery, TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module), and ECM (engine computer), but the problem persists. The root cause is likely a parasitic electrical drain or a faulty charging system that's preventing the battery from staying charged.

While driving, your car's warning lights suddenly began flashing, the wipers and horn turned on by themselves, and the windows and doors stopped responding. Fire then started in the engine compartment and spread throughout the entire vehicle. This appears to be a severe electrical system malfunction that caused a vehicle fire.

Your engine is having trouble accelerating, which is concerning since you have children in the car. Your engine has also started smoking. The dealer refused to take the car back after you reported these problems on your first day of ownership.

Your car won't start consistently, and when it does start, it shuts off unexpectedly. The engine also cuts in and out while you're driving, which creates a safety concern. This could indicate a problem with the ignition system, fuel delivery, or electrical connections that needs professional diagnosis.

Your car is having trouble starting and requires multiple attempts to turn on. You're also seeing warning lights for ABS, Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control on your dashboard. When you press the gas pedal, your car hesitates and doesn't respond smoothly like it should. You've already replaced the battery twice, but the problem keeps happening.