2012 Dodge Journey: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Engine · 175,589 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 175,589.

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Engine · IL · fire

The contact owned a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that upon her daughter starting the vehicle, an abnormal popping noise was emitted from the vehicle without warning. The vehicle caught fire as the contact's daughter exited the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene of the incident, where they extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported, and a police report was not filed. A corner of the contact's home caught fire, melting the home's siding. Two other vehicles also caught fire, which melted the front ends of those vehicles. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard, where the vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had yet been notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a recall on the vehicle for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V431000(Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 2, 2024 · Electrical · MI · fire

March 10th 2023 . Driver side door panel Caught on fire. The panel has was replaced by National Auto Sales 3 times. It renders me (the owner) of 2012 dodge journey not to able to open the driver side door & all the windows. I think this is very dangerous & a safety issue.

Filed Oct 29, 2022 · Electrical · FL

The battery and traction control lights went on. A smell like nail polish remover followed by white smoke came from under the hood. After pulling over, the hood was opened and white smoke came from the passenger side, not the drivers side where the batter is located. After cooling down for about 45 minutes, the car had now power. The fob, power locks, lights, everything was dead. Unknown cause, need to have the car towed for an estimate and cause.

Filed Aug 12, 2021 · Brakes · CA

While parking car and engaging "the parking brake,} the brake popped and a round silver looking item popped out from under the brake pedal and landed on the floor board. Trying to engage the parking brake became useless as the petal just stated engaged and when toughed it came up to the parking brake release place, if the petal was touched it would fall back to the engaged looking. When driving I did not notice any burning smell which told me that the emergency was not engaged even tough the brake light was on. At home I checked under the car and found that back and forth. The brake cable was loose and moveable. Looking at the round piece that fell off it appears to be where the cable was tethered to and this would be placed in the brake petal. The cable appears to have severed at the round piece(connector) making the emergency brake inoperable. There does not appear to be any rust but just severed

Filed Oct 22, 2020 · Brakes · 92,000 miles · OH

Every 15k miles or so the right rear caliper sticks and destroys the pads and associated rotor. I have replaced that specific caliper and both rotors three twice already. After around 25k to 30k miles I can no longer get the caliper to unfreeze. The vehicle now has 93k miles on it and I am about to replace it again. Once the outside pad gets to less than 30% the wheel tries to lock up. Once while driving in the country my wife nearly caught the car on fire because of overheating brakes. This form only allows for one entry, but as stated this has happened a multitude of times. The worst being when the rotor was glowing red before it was noticed by another person at a gas station. That happened in 2015.

Filed Jul 24, 2019 · 1 miles · GA

Coolant leak under intake.. Repair shop said he had same identical vehicle come in less than a month ago same concern.. Vehicle overheated and could smell something burning after hours of labor service manager sealed and replaced the hose. But says to check see if there was a recall since he had another vehicle come in.

Filed Sep 20, 2017 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge journey. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the windshield wipers activated, the vehicle lighting suddenly illuminated, and a burning odor was present. The vehicle shut off and was towed to the dealer (simi valley dodge located in simi valley, ca) where it was diagnosed that a wire harness caught on fire and melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000. ...updated 11/15/17 *bf updated 9/7/18

Filed Oct 13, 2016 · Engine · 80,000 miles · NC · fire

Engine cover chatches fire, I have taken this 2012 dodge journey to the dealership 23 times, the dealership replaced the cover , now the new cover has been on fire, I was told that ,they -the dealer sevice dept don't know why the cover keeps trying to burn,this is a 2.4 liter 4cyl eng, I need help, before this journey totally burns..........

Filed Jun 28, 2016 · Engine · 11,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge journey. While the vehicle was at a complete stop, smoke emitted from underneath the hood. There were no flames visible. The engine was turned off. After restarting, the vehicle was driven with caution. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v431000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jul 24, 2015 · 23,900 miles · IL

I drove my vehicle for about 30 miles, upon arriving home and removing my children from the car I smelt something burning. I couldn't locate where the smell was coming from and just decided to keep an eye on it. On the 21st of july again after driving a decent amount, maybe 25 miles, and removing my children from the car I smelt burning. When going to the passanger side of my vehicle the smell was stronger, at that time I noticed smoke coming from my rear passanger tire area. I have taken my vehicle to two seperate mechanics, including the dealership where I purchased my car and have been told different things as to what exactly is wrong. I also happen to be 4 days away from my warranty expiring and have a feeling that may be causing the difference in diagnosis. I have spoken with chrysler directly and also have been told that my warranty will not cover anything if the dealership does not figure out the issue by tuesday (the 28th and last valid day of my warranty) even though the complaint and diagnosis had been made today. I have been aware of a recall on other 2012 dodge journey's but according to various recall information sites my vehicle does not fall in the manufacturing date range which I do not believe should be excluded since it is having the same issues as what the recall was put out for. Between both mechanics I have been told brake pads need replaced, rotors need resurfaced and/or replaced, and one of the mechanics expressed that there was either a caliper issue or brake line issue which would be causing the burning and smoking (my vehicle is only 3 years old and only has 24k miles on it.) dodge has refused to acknowledge this issue which is covered by my warranty and the warranty will not pay for the replacement unless dodge says the caliper/brake line has an issue.

Filed Nov 18, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 60,000 miles · NC · fire

The 2012 journey was being used to jumpstart a 1997 f 350 ford truck. The f 350 was not running while the journey was. Jumper cables were attached correctly. The women jumping the car went into the house for a moment when she heard an explosion and the roar of the fire. The entire front of the car was engulfed in flames. The windshield was blow out and flames reached 12 feet into the air. After the fire truck put out the blaze, the hood had vaporized . The car was reported as a total loss by the insurance company. The heat from the fire was so intense it ignited the f 350. It too was declared a total loss. I do not know the cause of the explosion in the journey. The fire captains report states the origin of the fire was the 2012 dodge journey. I believe that this has happened before. I also believe that serious injury or death would occur if a person is nearby or sitting in the vehicle.