Problems · by component

2009 Dodge Journey engine problems

166 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge Journey cite engine, 10% of all 1,594 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
166
10% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I have issues starting it. New starter, new battery and it just dies. Luckily I was parked when it died. I have children, if it dies while driving I could be in a serious car crash with my children in the car. I do not want to die, I love my car but I do not want to be put in danger because of this type of issue. I also do not want to be stranded somewhere. PLEASE HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11682538
“The Carbondale Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle fire In the parking lot behind the above-listed address. Fire personnel arrived and found a 2009 Dodge Journey with an engine compartment fire. Fire personnel used tank water and a pre-connected 1 3/4 In. hose line to extinguish the fire. There were no exposures or damage to other property. Upon completing the extinguishment, an origin and cause investigation was conducted, which Included, but was not limited to, scene examination, documentation, and interviews. The owner of the vehicle stated the following: He purchased the vehicle new. He has liability Insurance only through Allstate. This Is not his primary vehicle. He does his own service. No known electrical Issues, and there were no warning lights on the vehicle before the fire. The vehicle has approximately 160,000 miles on It The only known issue with the vehicle was a power steering issue. Before the discovery of the fire, the owner had pulled into a gas station across town to add power steering fluid. Upon leaving the gas station, the owner reported that within a few blocks, he began seeing black smoke coming from under the hood, and there was…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2025Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11666519
“The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the destination. The contact stated that the following day while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with TIPM failure. The contact was informed that the totally integrated power module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 194,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2024Electrical system, EngineODI 11608504
“I've gone through 6 batteries in 1 year and I still have to keep jumping my vehicle Everytime I start it. I am currently stranded in Walmart parking lot with no jumper cables and I am being forced to walk now. Also there are times when I am driving down the highway and at any given moment it acts as if I stomped on the brakes. The lights go off and on, the windows roll up and down, the door locks are out of control and the gauges on the dashboard go out of control as well. I recently bought a new TIPM and ECM because when I replaced the battery it would no longer start. This vehicle is very dangerous and I'm sorry I ever bought it. It seems as if dodge cares more about their money than a human life”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2023Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11542211
“Vehicle owner was driving and pulled over when all warning lights began flashing, wipers came on, horn started honking, windows would not go down, doors would not unlock, and vehicle started on fire. Fire appeared to begin in the engine compartment, with fire eventually consuming entire vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2023Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 11508217
“Hi I bought this Dodge Journey on May 24 2021 since the First day I bought it the car started giving me problems the dealer wouldn't take the car back and in stuck with it the engine from the car is Giving me problems it won't accelerate is very scary I'm very concerned because I got kids and also the car started smoking .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2022Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11496231

Showing 6 of 166 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.