2012 Dodge Journey Suspension Problems

We've owned this vehiclenot even 4 years. It had an engine recall that it was part of. It says it was repaired, however it never recieved a new engine. Now I just spent $9,000+ to replace the entire engine because of the exact issue of the recall: metal fragments in the engine. Why did I pay for this recall problem? Did dodge replace the engine during the recall? Paperwork says no, but shows it was "repaired". If it was replaced, why did I replace it again for the exact same issue? Dodge has financially ruined our family. Besides this $9k we've spent $6k on engine work before the new engine, $4,500 on transmission work (with more to come as we're currently experiencing transmission issues) and $6k + on all kinds of issues that has never occurred on any vehicles I have owned in the last 30 years. And we've spent all this in under 4 years. This is unacceptable! For an american auto maker to produce and sell vehicles like this. This is why we people buy foreign. This dodge IS NOT a well built, trustworthy and dependable car. You won't believe how many times we've had to miss school and work because the car was broken down or being repaired. Our Honda civic was 20 years old, ran better and was 100% dependable. I never had to replace the engine, do ANY transmission work or have had half the problems with my civic than I have had and currently have with this "american" car that is only 11 years old. As a 1 income family with 2 kids in college and one still in high school, this is completely devastating to us. Trying to save money and get ahead and ALL OF IT has been spent fixing this vehicle. Dodge has completely devastated our family. How can an American auto maker be allowed to get away with producing vehicles like this? Why should I have to go bankrupt owning a dodge? Why won't they accept responsibility for their defective product? I've spent $25,000 fixing this dodge in 4 years. I can't afford to fix it or buy a new car. We're ruined

NHTSA ID

11605949

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

The electrical is so messed up the battery drains within hours, I have shorts in all aspects of this car(Bluetooth, navigation, clicking relays nonstop, heat goes out intermittently, power switches on doors. I saw my headlights surging in power in the middle of nowhere, they would get bright, then go dim, then a battery icon illuminated on my dashboard before my car downshifted so hard I almost lost control of the car. The dealer replaced my motor mounts and my alternator, after calling to say my battery is bad and then turned around and said it wasn’t. Not to mention my brakes locked up in a little rain and I couldn’t stop crashing through a wall. Replaced my rear light turning bulb and it exploded with fire when I went to change it. The suspension is horrible and I am pretty sure my cv axles are all broken. Everything keeps breaking. Lifter Taps intermittently, rough idling and hard shifting. Key fob doesn’t start car or is recognized with fresh batteries in it. When I jump start it sometimes the horn goes off for a minute. The reverse camera goes out for days and randomly comes on again. Under the hood feels so extremely hot and for some reason it doesn’t register as overheating. Even when I check fluids and for the coolant levels are low for some reason. There is an actuator That constantly is going off under the dash. Airbags didn’t deploy when i hit the wall at all. The limp mode has come on and gone off a few times. Only codes I have is for tps and an outdoor ambient temperature sensor that says it’s either negative 40 degrees or 122 degrees. Which won’t let me clear nor allow me to remote start. Warranty is gone and when you take the fuse box cover off under the hood(just the cover) it goes haywire shaking and lights all over the dash and I have to shut the car off. Yes somebody please inspect this vehicle. The absolute worst vehicle I owe 12k on and I can’t afford to fix all of this that’s shutting down at the same time

NHTSA ID

11553890

Incident

Jul 10, 2023

MY AWD LIGHT IS ON AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY SUV REAR WHEELS SPIN MY SUV AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON HIGHWAY 84 GOING TOWARD MISSISSIPPI.

NHTSA ID

11383991

Incident

Sep 11, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

ON AUGUST 3RD 2017 I PURCHASED A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY WITH 32000 MILES. ON AUGUST 4 2017 I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP. I NOTICED THAT EVENING THAT THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. ON AUGUST 13, 2017 THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO FILL THE TIRE BUT IT SEEMED FINE. I FIGURED IT WAS JUST A SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. AUGUST 15, 2017 THE CHANGE OIL LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE SERVICED. AUGUST 17, 2017 AS I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE CAR SEEMED TO BE PULLING AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE ABS LIGHT AND THE MAINTENANCE AWD LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE OTHERS. THE CAR WILL HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AND MAKES A KIND OF GRINDING NOISE OFF AND ON. THE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS STAY ON AND WILL COME OFF THE SCREENS BUT EVENTUALLY THEY DO COME BACK ON AND GRINDING UNDERNEATH THE CAR STARTS AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11016426

Incident

Aug 18, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LINK ON THE FRONT AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID

10783579

Incident

Oct 3, 2015

Mileage

34,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW ON JULY 23,2012, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS A LOUD GROANING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, ALSO STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. MY FIRST DEALER CONTACT WAS ON SEPT 4, 2012 AND WORKED ON THE BRAKES, AND THIS SOMEWHAT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE STEERING AND BRAKES A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES, REPLACING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO DEGLAZEING AND LUBRICATING AND WHATEVER, EACH TIME IT WORKED FOR A WEEK OR SO. THE LAST TIME , APRIL 29, 2014, A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB WAS DONE ON THE REAR BRAKES, A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, AND REPAIR THE FRONT BRAKES. THIS COST ME $499.00. MILEAGE IS 46700. THEY ALSO REBUILT THE ENGINE DUE TO HEAD AND VALVE FAILURE. AS OF MAY 25, 2015 IT IS AGAIN MAKING THE NOISE AND PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. I THINK CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE THIS CAR BACK. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10722785

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

900 mi

STARTED GETTING A LOT OF GRUNTING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND RETIGHTENED FRONT END PARTS AND SO FAR SEEMS TO BE OK. ALSO THE DUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL ONLY BLEW HOT AIR ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER A NEW SERVO UNIT FOR THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT IT.HAVE A LOT OF SAME CONCERNS AS OTHER PEOPLES COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10572639

Incident

Aug 15, 2013

Mileage

20,000 mi

LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB NUT LOOSENED, CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. WAS RE-TIGHTENED TO SPEC TO ELIMINATE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565010

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

10,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2012 JOURNEY IN MARCH 2012 FROM ARE LOCAL DODGE DEALER...BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO BE SHELLING OUT MONEY FOR REPAIRS....HAVE BEEN A DODGE CUSTOMER FOR SOME 20 YRS... ALL IN ALL..I LOVE MY JOURNEY...CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR THE DEALER OR CHRYSLER.. IN MARCH OF 2013 AT ABOUT 12,500 MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I MIGHT WANT TO GET ALIGNMENT CHECKED OUT BECAUSE THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING ABNORMALLY...I TRIED TO CALL THE DEALER ABOUT THE WARRANTY TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED...THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK....ON 6/15/13 AT ABOUT 13,000...I WENT BACK TO MY GUY...HE INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE INDEED BALD ALREADY, AND SUGGESTED I GO TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO....I WAS GREETING BY A VERY SMUG, COCKY AND RUDE SERVICE MANAGER NAMED JOHN.....HE TOLD ME CHRYSLER DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THE TIRES OR THE ALIGNMENT.....REALLY JOHN???? EVEN AT 13000 YOU DON'T SEE A POSSIBLE PROBLEM ?? WHAT DID I PAY 26,000 $ FOR ?? AT THIS POINT JOHN AND I EXCHANGED SOME WORDS AND HE SAID YOU TOO.....ENDED UP HAVING MY GUY TAKE CARE OF THIS...600 $ LATER, AND FEELING MUCH SAFER, I NOW HAVE TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT, FIXED THE ALIGNMENT AND ALSO PUT IN TWO FRONT CAMBERTS. WHICH HE THOUGHT WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY KNOWING THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN HIT.. ALSO HAVE NOTICED THE WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS (10-30) THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THE ACCELERATION SEEMS TO STRUGGLE OR WANTS TO SKIP AT TIMES....I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE MENTIONED BEFORE. WHILE MY ISSUES DO NOT COMPARE TO SOME OF THESE OTHERS ON HERE....AN ISSUE STILL THE SAME THAT COST ME 600 $ AND AN ISSUE THAT WILL LEAD ME TO ANOTHER DEALER WHEN THE TIME COMES !!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10519604

Incident

Jun 6, 2013

Mileage

13,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 15,2012. UNEXPECTEDLY, ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 MY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AT THE LOCATION I 287NB EXIT 41A PARSIPPANY RAMP ONTO 80 E TRAFFIC THEN MY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND SLAMMED ONTO THE GUARD RAIL REPEATEDLY. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED JOHN JOHNSON OF THE INCIDENT AND I PLEADED FOR THEM TO SEND ME A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE OF MY 100,000 MI WARRANTY. FURTHER, I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURERS CHRYSLER GROUP AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT CAUSE AND EFFECT THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE AND SEND FOR A CONTRACTOR INSPECTOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO INSPECT THE CAR. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE CONTRACTOR CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME HE IS SENDING IN THE REPORT TO CHRYSLER AND WAIT A WEEK BEFORE CONTACTING THEM FOR A COPY OF THE REPORT. MOREOVER, I FOLLOWED UP, AND CHRYSLER COULD NOT TELL ME WHO WAS HANDLING MY CASE. FINALLY, AFTER PURSUING MY CASE SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE CASE FILE WAS CLOSED AND SENT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT. FURTHER, I WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH ME SHORTLY. NO ONE CONTACTED ME AND SEVERAL WEEKS PASSED AND I STILL DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE CHRYSLER GROUP. I TRIED AGAIN UNTIL I GOT AN ANSWER AND I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT A LETTER AND NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED. EVENTUALLY, AFTER A LONG WAIT, I RECEIVED A LETTER THAT STATED THAT MY CLAIM IS DENIED AND THAT THE INSPECTOR DID NOT FIND ANY MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE REPORT AND CHRYSLER REFUSE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE INSPECTION REPORT THAT GATHERED INFORMATION FROM THE VEHICLE IMAGING ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, I AM STILL WITHOUT MY CAR OR A CAR. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE HAD PAIN AND SUFFERING AND HARDSHIP OVER THIS ORDEAL. AND I AM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR A CAR I DON'T HAVE OR DRIVE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? *TR

NHTSA ID

10490833

Incident

Sep 22, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi