My car would not shift into second or third gear - I had to park car, shut off and restart. Did same thing couple days later and my engine light came on. Had my mechanic check the code and it is something to do with the transmission. The car just hit 90,000 miles. I have already had the water pump replaced, front and back brakes, pads, rotors and calipers replaced. This car is a piece of garbage.
2009 Dodge Journey AWD transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 28 of 28, newest first, as owners wrote them.
For a while now, randomly my journey will get stuck in 2nd or 3rd gear after taking off. I will have to stop, put it in park, shut off the engine and restart it for it to reset itself. The steering wheel shakes when applying the brakes, but I've have a complete new set of brakes put on it, rotors and new calipers in the front. The brakes also make a knocking sound. I also got a complete set of tires and they seem to be wearing quicker than normal. I have had 3 different shops look at the breaks for a diagnoses and all of them say that the right parts on it and they don't see and reason for the noises.
Had the car a little over a month and on the way home from work a very loud noise. We had it towed to dealer who stated transfer case has a leak. I had to fight with the warranty company to cover this replacement. Now the electric system is causing my fan, brake lights, and chargersto go on and off..
I was driving home my wife, daughter and my pregnant wife, when about 1/2 from home a dark black smoke came out of the engine compartment, I pulled over and pulled the hood latch, and after I was able to get my family out of the car, I looked underneath the car,a dark fluid was pouring on top of the exhaust. The car had to be towed to the mechanic. After an inspection, he found that the power transfer case unit cracked. Had to pay out of pocket since dealer said that it wasn't under warranty and that's normal wear for these vehicle. $1350 for transfer case, $85 tow truck and $450 labor.
I noticed over the weekend that the car started making a weird ticking noise. Also when put into reverse it seemed like it wanted to stall sometimes. I was driving to work and it started to buck and sputter. I was able to get it pulled over and there was smoke coming from under the hood. I had it towed to a garage where it was diagnosed with a cracked transfer case which came with a $2400 estimate! After doing a little research it sounds like this is a typical problem with this model and year and found many accounts on dodgejourneyforum.com. Sounds like a recall needs to happen before someone gets hurt if it hasn't happened already!
Bought this car brand new off show room floor in feb of 2009 and only owner....first 6 months of owning it started with serpentine belt, heat shield, gear box, AC coolant, electrical , transmission (4 times) brakes and rotors (5 times), battery issues and not to mention tire replacement all before 50k miles. With this being said you would think I have built a new car by now. Yes l even purchased extended warranty but still pay out of pocket cause guess what "everything is not covered" its a lemon and I am scared for me and my daughter to drive it!!! Every month its something new that I have to fix and replace, can no longer afford it. I was proud to be able to purchase a new car with all the bells and whistles I wanted, but heck I cant afford it. The maintenance cost has wiped out any savings I tried to have. I will have to try and trade it in, however I know I am not going to get what I still owe and its sad I will still be paying for this piece of crap. Really sad when you contact chrysler to make them aware of all the issues and problems they don't even apologize for producing such poor work. Guess it will take many more families to go bankrupt or people getting hurt for them to do something about this car!!
I purchased the 2009 dodge journey sxt used in 2012. In less then a year I had to replace an axle, then replace a drive shaft. Once the drive shaft was replaced, less then a month later I was driving home and heard a clicking noise. It lasted no longer then a minute and then about 1 mile down the road as I was turning on to my road I heard a loud crack. My vehicle then shook violently as I drove, as if one of the tires might be falling off. I cautiously continued on at no more then 15mph to my drive (maybe 2/10 of a mile). When I pulled in my car was smoking. The next day we had the vehicle towed to a local repair shop, thinking maybe it was a transmission problem. And were informed it was a transfer case needing to be replaced. It had cracked and split down the middle and was leaking fluid. When we called to check on the $1200.00 part (after already putting in another $1500 in parts and labor to the other two problems) we were informed that the company was over 300 parts behind on them and it could take a while. Great. After immense online research it appears that this is a common problem in the sxt awd version of this vehicle. Had we purchased this vehicle new, it would have been covered under a lifetime warranty, however because it was used we get screwed. If you ask me, dodge should back its vehicles, no matter what. A recall should be issued and dodge should have to fix what appears to be a common problem.
I bought my journey less than a year ago. Since I am not the original owner I get the shaft with a car w/less than 60,000. Well, I had just gotten new tires when on my way home I apply the brakes to pull into the drive and hear a horrific metallic noise. Upon my husbands inspection there is nothing found wrong with the brakes or the front of the car, after not being able to stand the noise anymore I have him change the front brakes the next day, thinking maybe the tire guy had knocked something loose and we couldn't find it.brakes still looked good, changed anyway. Noise still horrible. Next day took the car to a mechanic who informed me of major transmission problems. I had the car transported to a transmission shop. Diagnoses, transfer case has gone out, bad news over 600!!!!!!! On backorder, let me know it might be up to 2 months before they could get one to fix it. I talked to the local dealership, they informed me they could get one sooner. I had the car transported once again. After being at the dealership for 2 weeks now they are telling me it maybe atleast another month. Really? I am still waiting. Just wondering what the magic number of problems to one part does it take before chrysler/dodge admits that there is a problem with them and they do a recall on these transfercases that are not lasting as long as an american part should? If I had known about this common transfer box problem I would have atleast been the first owner of a new vehicle with a warrenty not the second who gets the shaft. So $2000.00 later I am still waiting.
Bought this vehicle used in september of 2009. Assumed that the unlimited powertrain warranty applied to this vehicle. Noticed a foul, pungent odor 2-3 days prior to following incident. On the day of the incident, I made a slow left hand turn when I heard a loud metallic sound from underneath the engine compartment. I exited the vehicle, looked underneath and found thick, dark fluid pouring from underneath the vehicle, as well as a small fire. Fire self extinguished. Was able to drive vehicle slowly home (approximately 1/2 mile) and park it. 2 days later, I had the vehicle towed to a mechanic, who diagnosed a failed transfer case. After the vehicle was removed from my driveway, I found a piece of metal approximately the size of a silver dollar where the vehicle had been. Dodge is now denying responsibility in this instance every though there appears to be (and my mechanic verified) a parts/manufacturing issue with this vehicle. Preparing legal action at this time.
I have a 2009 journey sxt, and the transfer case blew at 12,000 miles due to bad oil at factory, I thought "odd but okay". At that time I was informed I needed brakes and rotors. Again I thought odd and questioned why I needed both, it was explained to me that the rotors are so thin that they have to be replaced when replacing brakes. Under warranty but not for brakes about 2 months katerina got the recall after they put the same [xxx] brakes and rotors on there that was recalled so imagine my surprise when I had to get them done again at 35/40k to which I had my dad do them and picked out the brake shoes myself. So I drive it for a while another 20k and again I need new tires and brakes and an alignment. So 2000 later cus having "size 225/55/r19" there is only one manufacture and tires are 250 each. Now I am used to having new tires and you rotate them every other oil change and that's it untilyou get up there in mileage again. Not so - 3 weeks later I was back in there because I kept loosing tire pressure well on tire had a nail in it - which they didn't tell me they just said the tires look great they checked them for leaks and found none. One week later I was back in there as tires are loosing air once again. To which they tell me they will reveal them just this once free of charge and I need a new tire as the patch (that I didn't know about) on sidewall blew out. Okay now I am thinking good should be all set but then the dealership told me I had a cracked valve stem and for them to fix it will be another 200. Now when I pay 250 per tire I expect that the valve stem would be replaced and a new one put on. Again nope!!!,!,!!! So very other day we have to put air in my tires. Except one day the valve stem cover came right off and now my car sits. When buying vehicle I was told full sir spare nope again just a donut so if anyone knows why a valve stem would not be replaced when tires are I would sure appreciate some answers.... Thanks journey running me over information redacted pursuant to the freedom
My wife was driving it and all of a sudden some smoke and there is a bad smell. But then she heard a clicking sound. So I when over and drove it around and the clicking/grinding sound coming from the vehicle.
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.
I have a 2009 dodge journey sxt awd. I have had several issues since I purchased this vehicle in oct 2008. The issues were brake/caliper failure, water leak, wiring harness, ignition failure etc(the list goes on). Recently on july 10-13 2011 my vehicle would automatically stall when coming to a complete stop or ideal brakin. I brought my vehicle in to my local dealership to find out reason for stalling. The stated it was due to the transmission wire being fried and it was going to cost me $227 to replace wire. I immediately contacted chrysler and placed a case in regards to my concern as I felt this was a warranty/safety issue. I also, inquired about the buy back program as every 3k to 6k miles something goes wrong with my vehicle that is never minor. I was without a vehicle for 3 days due to the negligence and follow-up between chrysler case manager and dealership's service manager. I had no transportation leaving myself and child stranded. Therefore, due to no response I contacted the dealership to have it fixed & paid for it as I needed my vehicle back. That same day I get a call from the case manager stating they are unable to compensate me due to vehicle already being repaired/picked up. I was so disgusted and upset at the fact the disregarded my concern and could care less.
Have had ongoing issues with 2009 dodge journey. Vehicle loses power while driving, this has happened approximately 10 times in the last year. The tires sold on the vehicle (225-55-r19) are not replaceable. I got a flat and was told to ride on the donut until they could locate a new tire, 12 days later still no tire, I demanded the dealer sell me a tire off of a car in the lot, they finally agreed. However, I was called after I left the car and told that because it is awd all 4 tires must be replaced or it will damage my transmission and that possibly, I already have damaged due to driving on donut. Had no choice but to buy 4 new tires, while at dealer having 4 new , larger tires (235 55 r19) put on the dealer broke valve sensor on 2nd tire, 1st time they broke one was in march 2011. Vehicle has 31,000 miles on it and the sensors should last a minimum of 5 years. Dealer will not cover under warranty. After paying $827 to replace 4 tires, when I only needed 1 new tire and 2 missing valve sensors, I drove off the lot and the vehicle again lost power, dealer has had vehicle in at least 4 times to fix problem in the past, they still have not resolved or located the problem. I restarted vehicle and it died again, restarted a 3rd time and I lost all dash lighting. This was within an 8th of mile of the dealer location. I turned the car around and returned it to the dealer, which is where it remains until they can fix it!! Nys attorney general states this does not qualify as a "lemon" because the dealer attempted to repair, I disagree! I am filing a 2nd lemon law case with them at this time. Buyer beware!!
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.
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
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.
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 them away from the possibility of the engine being on fire. We got the kids out and I went back to shut off the car once I saw it wasn't fuel leaking. Once it cooled down and stopped smoking I raised the hood and saw what looked to be burnt transmission fluid and small metal flakes all over my engine and undersideof the hood. So it was just towed to the local dealership to find the cause. So now I have a car with a faulty security system and possibly needs a new transmission and we only have 6,000 miles on the car. Still waiting for the dealership to do the work. On a side note, with all of these issues on a brand new car we may be exploring legal options if chrysler doesn't make this right.
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