2010 Dodge Journey: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Jun 24, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI

It all started with no starts and had starter replaced and then charging problem had new battery and alternator replaced . Then driving to work all the dashboard lights lit up like a Christmas tree and died a couple of times once in the middle of the road . Even when the car was in park and key out of the ignition the lights on dashboard would light up , like the car never totally shut off?Replaced ecm afterwards thinking that was the problem but wasn’t the case (I still have the original ecm unit ) and still there was a battery drain , driving it and the lights lit up the dashboard and stalled out . You can here a buzzing sound after the car if off and key is removed ?

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the horn would engage independently while the vehicle was turned off and parked in the garage. The contact stated that she would disconnect the horn fuse per the Owner’s Manual. However, the failure would reoccur whenever the fuse was reconnected. The contact stated that the failure was draining the battery and the battery was replaced several times. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and shut off while driving on three different occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and jumpstarted the vehicle with assistance. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred increasingly and the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) module was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2021 · Electrical · NY

For many years (at least 8) this SUV has experienced odd, electrical issues (1) on at least 4 occasions I have found all windows lowered halfway when coming out to the car in the morning. (2) on 2 occasions I could not get the interior lights to turn off. It took multiple restarts and stops to stop effect. (3) about 18 months ago, while parked frequently at night, the horn would start honking. It appeared the alarm system was responding. The remote would not turn it off. Car needed key inserted and to be started. Finally it started randomly blowing while I was driving. I removed fuses to stop issue. (4) recently, overnight, the relatively new (less than a year) battery would be dead in morning. No lights left on. Alternator working. On the 2nd occasion I noticed when jumped the turn indicator was blinking despite not being turned on. This was the first time I decided to seek service help as a dead battery every morning is not just a minor problem. Vehicle current at garage.

Filed Apr 30, 2020 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · GA

Started with random horn blowing. I had to take fuses out of tipm to stop this. About 1 year later the battery died. Rwould not take a jump. Had car towed to a garage and eplaced the battery, it was dead again 3 weeks later. It would not take a jump. Had car towed to a different garage, they said I needed a new battery. The garage managed to jump start the car and I drove it home with many dash lights blinking and the power/engine limping along. This is apparently a widespread problem with the tipm. This should be a recall.

Filed Apr 21, 2020 · Electrical · 165,000 miles · IN

I bought my 2010 dodge journey used. Shortly after buying it I noticed the horn and alarm system would randomly go off on its own while driving down the road, stationary at a stop or while the car was parked and turned off. I, unfortunately, had to eliminate this problem by taking out the fuses for my horm and alarm system. This has caused some safety issues. I have also had another electrical issue that has cost me over a thousand dollars to try to figure out. My car battery would drain overnight. At first I thought it was a bad battery because it was about 2 years after I got my car. I replaced the battery and that helped for about 2 weeks. Then the battery started draining again and had to be jump started every day. I had it hooked up to a diagnostic machine where it was found that my alternator needed changed. Went ahead and did that and still had to jump my car every day. I did this for about 2 months straight not being able to figure out what was wrong. Finally did a little more research and found it could be the fuse box module. Bought one of those and put it in. Also had to buy a new battery due to having to jump start it over and over for 2 months. Costing around $900 for the both. This fixed the problem for a few months but then the battery started draining again. This time I took it to a mechanic. They ran tests and had my car for 4 days. They couldn't figure out for sure what was wrong but thought maybe it was in my instrument cluster. Would cost $600 for the part and $200 for installation. I decided to just pull my main electrical fuse everyday instead and continue on with my crap car. Come to find out 5 months later my friend did some research and found some other people having the exact same problem and it was the radio draining the battery. Sure enough we unhooked my radio completely and I haven't had an issue since!!

Filed Aug 1, 2019 · Electrical · 117,000 miles · PA

While driving the horn started honking on it's own. Stopped for a few hours then started blaring on it's own while car was parked and off for a solid hour. Had to disconnect the battery to get it to stop until I can find the fuses. Remove the fuses for a while and it stops. Replace fuses and it starts doing it again. Battery went dead because of not being able to hear the alarm going off when the door handle was pulled while car was locked.

Filed Mar 3, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 170,000 miles · AL

The vehicles battery drains overnight with nothing left on. The horn goes off on its own weather the vehicles is in motion or parked. The vehicles cut off in the middle of the freeway and mechanic guy can not find anything wrong. I have seen many complaints from customers with same problem on other platforms online.

Filed Jan 16, 2019 · Electrical · 79,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 dodge journey. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, a clicking noise was heard, but it failed to start and all of the instrument panel indicators illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to suburban chrysler dodge jeep ram of farmington hills (248‑476‑7900, located at 38123 w 10 mile rd, farmington hills, mi 48335) where the technician stated that an unknown part was draining the battery. The contact was advised to purchase a battery maintainer. The dealer kept the vehicle overnight for observation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and promised to follow-up with the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2018 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · OH

It started with car alarm going off at random times, then windows not working correctly and eventually landed on relays firing all night long and dead battery every day. The car has been to the dealership multiple times with no fix, so I replaced the battery, ECM, keys, tipm to no avail. There are so many people on the internet with this same issue, but no clear fixes out there. It has rendered the car completely unuseable and unsafe.

Filed Jul 31, 2018 · Electrical · 63,000 miles · NY

My 2010 dodge journey sxt is experiencing major electrical problems due to the horn honking on it's own as if it were possessed! It occurs while driving as well as when parked overnight. I had it serviced several months ago when problem started and dealer changed clock spring stating it was fixed. Well the problem reoccured and now it has drained the battery completely dead several time to the point of needing a new battery. After jump starting car and leaving it idle for 30 min. To charge system I tried to drive it in for service but the car wouldn't shift correctly, making it impossible to drive to service station. This is a dangerous problem that I have never experienced with any other vehicle I've owned. This is also a common occurrence among thousands of dodge journey owners found on internet tech assist sights. The dodge manufacturer service rep. Advised me to file a complaint due to extended coverage being out of date. Please advise on what my legal options are here in new york.

Filed Jun 14, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 100,000 miles · KS

Horn randomly honks (while in motion and while parked turned off), doors lock/unlock randomly (while parked) and the headlights and flashers go on and off (while parked). I pulled the fuse from the horn so that it doesn't honk while driving down the road or being parked in my garage overnight. Recently I have replaced the alternator and battery and the vehicle will not start in the morning after sitting all night long. I drive the vehicle to work park it and when I get ready to leave the office for the day the vehicle is dead once again. Something is draining the battery...we have nothing plugged into any outlets or cigarette lighters inside the vehicle. Even double checked that all interior lights are off.

Filed Apr 13, 2018 · Electrical, Fuel system · 81,000 miles · SC

I have a 2010 dodge journey 81,000 miles & had it about 1 year. Over the past 6 months I have bought 6 batteries because my car would fail to start. My front wipers would randomly move when the care was parked and no one in it then my back wipers would do the same. The dodge ram light on my dashboard would come on randomly when the care was parked and key was not in the ignition. Finally took it to the dodge dealership in feb, they replaced the battery, kept the care for over a week, called me and stated that the car had a battery drainage problem but when on the diagnostic test, the problem wouldn't show its face long enough for the mechanic to track down the problem. They also stated the reason my horn didn't work was because someone took out the fuse. When they put the fuse back in, my horn would randomly go off no matter if it was parked or if I was driving it. I took the car back home and sure enough, less than a week later, same issue. They kept the car for another 2 weeks, same outcome! Could not track down the issue. A week after I got the car back, I was driving and as I pressed the gas, my car wouldn't accelerate!! I was in 5pm traffic with 2 kids, almost caused a wreck trying to get over to a parking lot. My steering wheel would hardly move! Had to have the car towed again to the dodge dealership. I have asked again and again if it was the tipm but I get nowhere!!!! This car is possessed and dodge seems to not care enough to fix the problem or find it for that matter. I dont feel safe driving it (I cant at the moment because they have to fix the fuel pump which is ran by what....you guessed it the tipm)! I never know if the car is going to start from moment to moment nor do I know if im going to be stranded on the side of the road with my children.again! A car should not have this may issues and the dealership not knowing or acknowledging the problem!