On [XXX] around [XXX] I was driving 25mph in Alameda CA, and about two minutes into the ride, the airbag warning light came on. My fiance was in the passenger seat and our dog was in the back. About 15 minutes into the drive, my side airbags deployed without any collision or even bump in the road. I carefully and swiftly turned onto a side street and pulled over. My fiancé and I got out of the car, and as we took our dog out of the back seat, the primary airbags (steering wheel and passenger seat) deployed, and shattered the windshield. The dashboard was cracked as a result of the primary bags deploying. My fiancé's arm was bruised from the side airbag deploying (photo evidence taken). We called the police and they came to document the incident and confirmed that there was no collision (police report included). Vehicle was then towed home and is available for inspection. We've tried calling the dealership that the car was purchased, but it seems to be out of business. 1. Component that malfunctioned: Airbag and Indicator lights; available for inspection 2. Safety: This incident easily could've led us to crash teh vehicle and harm ourselves and others in the process, and much more seriously hurt us if we did not evacuate the car. My fiancé's arm is bruised. 3. No so far, we cannot get a hold of a dealer since ours was closed - but welcome an investigation 4. Yes, by police. The police report #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2009 Dodge Journey airbags problems
269 complaints (19% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 100,000. 24 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 269
- of this car's complaints
- 19%
- typical mileage
- 100,000
- crashes
- 24
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- Side/window3
- Frontal2
- Frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Dodge Journey airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Dodge Journey airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured December 31, 2007, to August 31, 2008, 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured June 18, 2007, to August 31, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
- Risk
- If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S07.
Recall number 16V047000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured June 29, 2007, to June 17, 2010, and 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, to June 17, 2010. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
- Risk
- If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R03. Note: This is an expansion of recall 11V‑139.
Recall number 14V373000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Chrysler is recalling 4,314 my 2009 dodge journey, jeep grand cherokee, commander and wrangler vehicles. Wiring may be reversed on the steering column control module driver airbag squib connector. The driver's airbag may not deploy as intended.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the driver's airbag may not properly inflate and may not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the driver's airbag squib wires and replace the steering column control module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 09V118000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall
In March 2011 Chrysler submitted a defect information report for the federal safety agency Recall No. 11V139 declaring a defect condition that could cause the ignition key to inadvertently move from the RUN to the ACC position on model year (MY) 2010 Dodge Journey, Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town and Country.The report identified engine stalling as the defect consequence and cited customer complaints and warranty claims, as well as two rear-end collisions, as leading to the recall action.Chrysler determined that a defective WIN module, which is effectively the equivalent of the ignition switch, was the cause of the inadvertent key rotation, and that a new design WIN module would be installed as a remedy.In Spring 2014 ODI conducted outreach to major light vehicle manufacturers regarding ignition key position and its effect on air bag system availability.The outreach was conducted in connection with the federal safety agency Recall No. 14V047, a recent recall involving inadvertent ignition key rotation and subsequent air bag disablement in certain GM products.During discussions held in April 2014, Chrysler advised ODI that Chrysler air bag systems of this vintage, including the subject vehicles, revert to energy reserve when the ignition key moves to the ACC or OFF position, and that under energy reserve the air bags would only be available for a short period, approximately two tenths of a second (ODI notes this consequence was not identified in the 11V139 recall report).A review of the ODI consumer database conducted after the April 2014 discussions identified complaints alleging that MY 2008-2009 vehicles may have a similar defect as the MY 2010 vehicles, and that some MY 2010 consumers reported experiencing ignition key position concerns after the 11V139 recall remedy was applied.Accordingly this investigation was opened.In response to ODI?s information request letter, Chrysler reported that MY 2008-2009 subject vehicles used the same design WIN module as the recalled vehicles, and also identified 66 consumer reports and one non-injury crash incident potentially related to inadvertent ignition key rotation.Chrysler?s review of the MY 2010 remedy used in 11V139, which involved installation of a Trim Ring as opposed to replacement of the WIN module, showed the remedy did not adequately address ignition key position concerns, and in some use-cases could cause other systems to operate improperly (radio, instrument panel lighting, HVAC fan motor, etc.).Chrysler subsequently filed multiple defect information reports to 1) add the MY 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, and the MY 2009 Dodge Journey to the original recall scope, and 2) stating that the complete WIN module would be replaced with a new design component in all recalled vehicles (including those that had the Trim Ring installed during 11V139).Chrysler?s report also advises of constrained remedy parts availability, see the federal safety agency Recall No. 14V373 for further details.Accordingly, the investigation is closed based on the recall action Chrysler is undertaking.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10584873, 10583399, 10573295, 10566365, 10546805, 10513060, 10509284, 10503121, 10496599, 10475027, 10456099, 10450629, 10443680, 10422766, 10410447, 10409269, 10402947, 10402751, 10402660, 10396943, 10394957, 10356632, 10315972
RQ14002
What 2009 Dodge Journey owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The vehicle keep locking and unlocking by itself even when I am driving. Also when I was driving the airbags deployed on its own but no accident
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start-up. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V373000 (Electrical System, Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The rear end is going out fuel system is causing a misfire number six and the airbag light is on we have had more problems with it with the power steering starting it when it's cold and it rupturing the hose plus the wiring and the door front door there's wires broke supposedly fixed in 2011 but are broke again every recall if you type in 09 Dodge journey is what's going wrong with mine right now but there's supposedly no recall on it
I have power door locks not working except manually or driver door by key. Key fob and door module for locks will not function. I cannot open the hatch due to power lock function. The Airbag light comes on when vehicle is started and the door is open and only disappears after the door is closed, engine shut off then restarted. Also the engine light came on for awhile then off and is now back on. This is what code scan report says. Engine and Transmission are P0420 Catalyst Efficiency (Bank1), OBDll Codes ($03) is Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1. The Airbag is U0172 Lost Commuication w/Left Side Satellite Accelerator Sensor 1- Stored. The Door Module- Front Right (DMFR) is B16A5 Passenger Window Switch Backlighting Circuit High-Stored. Not sure exactly what these all mean but I think the Power Locks are a safety issue along with the Airbags. The power locks don't lock after driving it like they used to after driving so many feet.
The gear will not shift unless I press the release button. After I took it for a recall in Route 18 Dodge dealer East Brunswick NJ, it came back without been able to shift. I asked the mechanic why my car is no moving, they said you have to press the release button and shift gears at the same. I told them I didn’t bring my car in like this. After I spoke to “Mike” the manager, he said it was a matter of time. I’m scare for my life when driving because now is making all these sounds on the transmission.
Reporting common problems of 2009 dodge journey 2.0crd 103kw 1.a car started shutting off whenever it drives, running in parking lot, stopped at red light. 2.battery fails suddenly, without any warning, jumping cables can't help, because a car just making a cranking noise under a hood. 3. Wheel airbag is having short circuits, so due to it sometimes lights a warning in dashboard. 4. Steering wheel relay shows misunderstood degrees of wheel angle, so it comes to esp bas error.
Recall with the airbag for other van's. My airbag light is constantly on and returns after being cleared. Car's airbags have never been deployed.
While driving the vehicle on a highway at 55 MPH, all functions of the vehicle dash stopped working ( speedometer, RPM, all lights etc.) and the windshield wiper blades started going as if they were on even though they were not.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 dodge journey. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. The impact caused the vehicle to become airborne and was thrown to the opposite side of the freeway. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy causing her head to snap back and forth. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained leg, broken ribs, neck and head injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Questions about the 2009 Dodge Journey airbags
Does the 2009 Dodge Journey have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 269 complaints about the airbags of the 2009 Dodge Journey, 19% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Journey airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 100,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Dodge Journey airbags?
Yes, 3 recalls: 16V047000, 14V373000, 09V118000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Dodge Journey have bad airbags?
The Dodge Journey model years with the most airbags complaints are 2009 (269 complaints), 2010 (89 complaints) and 2015 (69 complaints).
Other 2009 Dodge Journey problems
Electrical 767Brakes 318Engine 172Transmission 104Steering 72Tires 52Acceleration 34Visibility 32Wheels 31Driver assistance 25Body 21Suspension 20Lights 15Fuel system 11Locks 9Seat belts 9Seats 6
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