Problems · by component

2009 Dodge Journey power train problems

132 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge Journey cite power train, 8% of all 1,594 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
132
8% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. Additionally, the transmission failed to properly shift into the intended gear, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and shut off the vehicle and the vehicle failed to operate normally. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the ECM/ECU needed to be rewired. The ECM/ECU wiring harness was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 165,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2023Power trainODI 11532123
“The viscous coupler located at the carrier rear malfunctions and causes the front transfer case to crack open. Do to this causing a catastrophic malfunction and possibly causing a severe accident I feel this should be recalled. These vehicles are well known for the front transfer case issue after many months of scouring the internet I finally found out the cause of this issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2023Power trainODI 11514118
“The rear end is going out fuel system is causing a misfire number six and the airbag light is on we have had more problems with it with the power steering starting it when it's cold and it rupturing the hose plus the wiring and the door front door there's wires broke supposedly fixed in 2011 but are broke again every recall if you type in 09 Dodge journey is what's going wrong with mine right now but there's supposedly no recall on it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2022Power train, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11461710
“replacement transmission, the car jumps when driving with a foul burning odor and it sounds like a lawnmower when taking my feet off the gas to slow the vehicle down the car speeds up, the transmission light is still on, the problem has gotten worst, the component has not been inspected, the first time the transmission light appears was on 10/7/2021, and then it was checked by a mechanic and his devise read CODE P0760 "Shift Solenoid" on my 2009 dodge journey”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2021Power trainODI 11437280
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE INTAKE AND TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR OR TO THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2020Power train, Service brakesODI 11342067
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION AND THE STARTER WAS TAPPED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAXTER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM BELLEVUE (7713 S 19 TH ST, BELLEVUE, NE 68147, (402) 800-1256) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2020Power train, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11322746

Showing 6 of 132 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Power train: control module (tcm

Free remedy

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.

Power trainReported Oct 9, 2008NHTSA 08V528000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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