2010 Dodge Journey: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Aug 18, 2026 · Electrical, Lights · MO

On two separate occasions my doors have locked on there own while I was inside the car and I was not able to open the doors or manually unlock the door. My front lock levers are long enough that you can get a decent grip to pull them up and in normal cases they unlock pretty easy. But when they lock on your own I don't think you get pul) them up with a pair of vice grips. Both levers on the back doors drop almost all the way into the door panel. Most people probably can't open them even without them being glitched.. The only way I was able to unlock them was by the key fob. The unlock switches are useless as well. The changes of it happening are slim but if it happened during a flood or fire and I didn't know to use the key fob. There was no threat to me either time it happened and I still somewhat panicked. Lucky or I guess unlucky for me I knew it was probably a electrical problem since I also have some electric problems that happen as long as the main battery is connected. Key fob and key could be in another universe and my wipers will move, my horn will randomly go off. I've not had a horn since my mother bought me the vehicle. There is more and these seem to come and go. My doors random lock after I shut the doors. I have left my keys on the dash shut the door and got locked out. Once my dog's where in the car and it was hot inside. Luckily the locksmith was 2 minutes away and I didn't have to break a window. Another time the same thing happened with my dogs in the car and it instantly unlocked it self. The only other time it's happened when my keys were in the car I got my dog to step on the switch and unlock it. Now I just don't leave my keys in the car. Also every now and then my dash lights cannot go up to the brightest level because it turns on my interior lights before I can get to that level. So I have to keep them on dim or ride around with my dome lights on. Dodge wont calibrate a new computer. Ends up being a lot of $ to stay safe.

Filed Jan 31, 2026 · CA

The ignition fob messed up on me and won’t start the key fobs not reading it shuts off

Filed Oct 22, 2025 · Electrical · IL · crash

vehicle repeatedly fails to start because of ignition system defect I have to wiggle or finesse the key fob in the ignition slot to get the car to start. The problem has happened many times. The first time I crashed into my shed I was so scared. and now the vehicle will not start at all leaving me in my family straight on the roadside I am aware of existing recall RO3 for the ignition switch wind module on this model year my vehicle either was not repaired or still exhibiting the same defect after prior service. This is a safety issue because it leaves driver stranded unexpectedly and may also cause the ignition to shut off while driving I request an HSTSA investigate further or ensure the manufacturer repair repairs this issue under recall.

Filed May 5, 2023 · Electrical · 67,199 miles · MI

The contact called on behalf of his mother-in-law who owns a 2010 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the vehicle was displaying erroneous electrical functions. The contact stated that the windows would roll up and down, the windshield wipers would suddenly activate, the exterior lights would illuminate, the doors would lock and unlock, and the horn would sound. The vehicle also suddenly stalled while driving at various speeds and while also while idling. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the key fob however, the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted and offered to change the fuse box; however, the repair was not performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,199.

Filed May 17, 2022 · Electrical · NC

Too many electrical problems, the key fob, the ignition won't start until several tries I've had a new starter put in but constantly told it's the electrical component, the car shift gears on its own, told again it's the tcm module electrical problems, the batter dies within a year of getting a new one. Abs system problems, crank shaft system problems, the horn beeps on its own, it's so bad I have to remove chip at night so my neighbors don't complain..once again told by everyone that it's an electrical programing problem that I have to go to Dodge dealer to fix..I don't understand he how come I have to spend so much money for them to keep fixing electric problems. It's worse after a big down pour of rain..it seems everything shorts out... Have to wash it 2 days after it rain to drive my car.

Filed Apr 29, 2021 · 8,900 miles · NY

My horn started chriping for no reason while parked and while driving. I took the batteries out of both key fobs and was still going off. Tried locking and unlocking both with and without the fob. I had to remove the horn fuse to get it to stop. I have seen many of these vehicles with the same issue.

Filed Jan 14, 2021 · 108,253 miles · WA

Last evening while sitting in house the horn starts going off. Then we realized it was our car. Husband went out and saw that it was our grabbed key fob and finally pushed the panic button several times and it stopped. Then today mid-morning it started honking again. After researching it we've figured it wasn't only us and seems to be an issue. Both times it was parked in our driveway with no one around it cause we have several cameras and looked and saw no one around it

Filed Dec 23, 2020 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · CA

Car intermittently does not start. It happens on a daily basis. Replaced starter, battery, alternator, fuses, cleaned all connectors, solenoid , neutral safety switch.. Still has issues. You have to put the car in neutral to get it started. Key fob won't start car, it just clicks. Putting the key in the ignition wont start the car. I've had the car for 3 months and it spent 1 month with the mechanic. Nothing seems to fix this problem and dodge won't help us.

Filed Nov 19, 2020 · FL

The starter was replaced. It will start several times. Then I try to start it and it just clicks over & over. I have to keep turning the key fob sometimes 20 times before it cranks on. It's when car is off & parked and I go to start it.

Filed Feb 18, 2020 · Electrical, Steering · 152,000 miles · IN

When turning one day my horn honked by itself. I thought my hand slipped and accidentally honked the horn then a few days later while driving straight I heard it again. It honked twice by itself, causing the person in front of me to slam on their brakes and almost caused a crash. That same day I heard it while the vehicle was off. I was I side and my horn honked at least 15 times by itself. I knew it wasn't my keys because my key fob had been disconnected from my car.

Filed Dec 20, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · NY

First major problem is car starts when it feels like it, had to replace starter ($520) in the first week that I owned the vehicle after getting a jump several times I purchased I jump kit ($125)in case it wouldnt start and there were no other cars around then the jump kit wouldnt even work. So I had to have the car towed ($130) and the starter replaced. If I shut the car off and try to start it again 10 mins later it wont start but if you wait about an hour, it will start. This still happens after having the starter replaced so I have to keep the car running or risk being stranded for an hour or so. Second problem, about a month after buying the vehicle I was on the highway and was using the cruise control, was going down a hill and the rpms went all the way up into the red and high as it could then went down to zero and the engine completly stalled while on the highway. Since then I haven't used the cruise control. Thirdly, the passanger side has zero heat. The defroster, the heat vents on the dash and the heat vents at the feet all blow out cold air. Fourth problem, the horn would honk randomly, while driving or parked. 5th problem the key fob does what it wants when it wants. Came out of the mall and my alarm was going off (just the lights I had to remove the horn fuses because of the honking issue) and could not turn the alarm off or unlock the doors with the fob, had to use the actual key from inside the fob to get in the car and then start it, shut if off then I was able to shut off the alarm. 6th problem the car will randomly unlock when I'm not even holding the key fob and the front windows will roll down half way. This car has been nothing but issues since I bought it dodge needs to have a recall for this vehicle there are so many safety issues! Bought this car because I wanted a safe vehicle for my family and this car had been anything but!

Filed Dec 10, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · IA

Car randomly will not crank wait a while then finally starts seems to happen more if the car has been off for a short period vs a longer period. I have replaced neutral safety switch, ground cable, tipm, ECM, key fob still no crank randomly