Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2008 Dodge Journey with NHTSA between 2012 and 2021.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 13 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 1
Against the median year of the Dodge Journey. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2008 Dodge Journey
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
650.0%
Median failure at 91,000 miles
Wheels
216.7%
Median failure at 80,500 miles
Lights
216.7%
Median failure at 105,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
18.3%
Median failure at 105,000 miles
Brakes
18.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
228.6%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
114.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
457.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2012peak 3Apr 2021
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 Dodge Journey
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
RQ14002Opened 16 Jun 2014Closed 2 Mar 2015AIR BAGS
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall
In March 2011 Chrysler submitted a defect information report for NHTSA 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 most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 105,000 milesVineyard, UT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY THE ELECTRICAL WENT CRAZY. THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF REPEATEDLY, THE WIPERS TURNED ON AND WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, THE WIPER FLUID KEPT SPRAYING, THE BLINKER LIGHTS KEPT BLINKING, AND IT CONTINUED EVEN AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD FLUID'S CONSTANT SPRAYING AND COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN INTO A WRECK IF THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. IT WAS MOST LIKELY A FAULTY TIPM AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHERS VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL, WHICH I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT IS THE CASE, SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE JUST AS DANGEROUS IN OUR MODEL AS THE ONES THEY RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11406167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesVineyard, UT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY THE ELECTRICAL WENT CRAZY. THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF REPEATEDLY, THE WIPERS TURNED ON AND WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, THE WIPER FLUID KEPT SPRAYING, THE BLINKER LIGHTS KEPT BLINKING, AND IT CONTINUED EVEN AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD FLUID'S CONSTANT SPRAYING AND COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN INTO A WRECK IF THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. IT WAS MOST LIKELY A FAULTY TIPM AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHERS VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL, WHICH I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT IS THE CASE, SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE JUST AS DANGEROUS IN OUR MODEL AS THE ONES THEY RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11406167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesVineyard, UT
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY THE ELECTRICAL WENT CRAZY. THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF REPEATEDLY, THE WIPERS TURNED ON AND WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, THE WIPER FLUID KEPT SPRAYING, THE BLINKER LIGHTS KEPT BLINKING, AND IT CONTINUED EVEN AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD FLUID'S CONSTANT SPRAYING AND COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN INTO A WRECK IF THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. IT WAS MOST LIKELY A FAULTY TIPM AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHERS VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL, WHICH I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT IS THE CASE, SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE JUST AS DANGEROUS IN OUR MODEL AS THE ONES THEY RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11406167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
A SHORT IN THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO FLASH, TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL TO OPERATE, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, AND WARNING LIGHTS TO FLASH. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE ABS IS DISABLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AND THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY TECHNICIANS. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS OVER $900 AND THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH NUMEROUS MODEL YEARS OF THE DODGE JOURNEY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY BOTH WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHILE OPERATING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO PULL OVER AND REPEATEDLY TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AS WELL AS OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS BECOMES EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ON THE HIGHWAY AS THERE IS NO WAY TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SIGNALS AND OPENING AND CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR CREATE A HAZARD TO OT HER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED A COPY OF THE
NHTSA complaint #11118616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A SHORT IN THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO FLASH, TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL TO OPERATE, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, AND WARNING LIGHTS TO FLASH. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE ABS IS DISABLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AND THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY TECHNICIANS. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS OVER $900 AND THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH NUMEROUS MODEL YEARS OF THE DODGE JOURNEY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY BOTH WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHILE OPERATING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO PULL OVER AND REPEATEDLY TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AS WELL AS OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS BECOMES EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ON THE HIGHWAY AS THERE IS NO WAY TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SIGNALS AND OPENING AND CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR CREATE A HAZARD TO OT HER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED A COPY OF THE
NHTSA complaint #11118616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
SERVICE BRAKES
A SHORT IN THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO FLASH, TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL TO OPERATE, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, AND WARNING LIGHTS TO FLASH. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE ABS IS DISABLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AND THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY TECHNICIANS. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS OVER $900 AND THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH NUMEROUS MODEL YEARS OF THE DODGE JOURNEY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY BOTH WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHILE OPERATING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO PULL OVER AND REPEATEDLY TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AS WELL AS OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS BECOMES EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ON THE HIGHWAY AS THERE IS NO WAY TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SIGNALS AND OPENING AND CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR CREATE A HAZARD TO OT HER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED A COPY OF THE
NHTSA complaint #11118616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesKalkaska, MI
WHEELS
GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, 225 70R16, SET OF FOUR, APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. AT 70 MPH ON EXPRESSWAY, ENTIRE OUTER SIDEWALL BLEW OUT, LEAVING TREAD AND INNER SIDEWALL INTACT. THIS IS ON MY 87 YEAR OLD MOTHER'S VEHICLE, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING AND THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. THIS WAS ON A DRY HIGHWAY, NORMAL DRIVING AND CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10817507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,000 milesChicago, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS REMOVED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
NHTSA complaint #10734604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayes, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V139000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2014. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10716457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mountain Grove, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V139000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10679018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesNEW Boston, MI
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOUCHED THE VALVE AND THE TIRE DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10508266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 milesOlathe, KS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRELESS IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #10463147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.