Problems · NHTSA complaints
2011 Dodge Journey problems
Owners filed 169 complaints about the 2011 Dodge Journey with NHTSA between Mar 2011 and May 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (47).
Complaints
169
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes47
- Electrical system43
- Engine29
- Steering23
- Power train20
- Air bags14
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Exterior lighting8
- Electronic stability control (esc)7
- Vehicle speed control7
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Suspension5
- Visibility/wiper3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
21
12
17
22
12
13
20
18
13
2
4
0
3
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes
47 reports2 crashes
“I REPLACED MY CALIBER AND BRAKES LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN REPLACING MY BRAKES EVERY 3 MONTHS I HAVE TO REPLACE MY BRAKES AND ROTORS. I KEEP SMELLING METAL BURNING PLUS THE BRAKES LIGHT IS STAYING ON.”
Electrical system
43 reports1 crash
“THERE ARE MANY MANY AS IN HUGE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS JOURNEY VEHICLE NOT STARTING BECAUSE KEEPING A CHARGE. WE HAVE HAD TO BUY AND HAVE DEALER INSTALL THREE BATTERIES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. FOUND ONE PROBLEM, LEAVING A CD IN THE PLAYER CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. CANNOT FIND ANY OTHER. PLEASE HELP.”
Engine
29 reports2 fires
“BOTH CATALYST CONVERTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND FAILED MY GA EMISSIONS TEST. THERE IS A PERMANENT CODE. I ONLY HAD THIS SUV A YEAR AND HAVE ALREADY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH CALIBER ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN DIDN'T MATCH THE U67 CATALYST EMISSION RECALL THAT INCLUDED MY VEHICLE DESCRIPTION, TRIM, MAKE AND MODEL. THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE EXPANDED TO 3.6 LITERS AS WELL, CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM IS AN EXACT MATCH. I EXPECT DODGE WILL RECTIFY THIS EMISSIONS PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THAT GA RESIDENTS WILL FIND THIS SUV USELESS IN SUCH A STRICT EMISSION STATE.”
Steering
23 reports1 crash1 fire2 related recalls
“Stirring wheel fluid hose has burst during cold weather, and will lose control of wheel. My car wasn’t listed in the recall for that said issue for other dodge journey’s. I had it repair ones and now its doing it again.”
Power train
20 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the transmission warning light would illuminate while attempted to change gears. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic and was informed that the torque converter failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.”
Air bags
14 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while his daughter was coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, the vehicle was rear-ended by a distracted driver. The air bags did not deploy, resulting in injury. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. Although examined at the scene by EMS, the contact's daughter later transported herself to an area hospital, where she was treated for a concussion and a nondescript injury to her left knee requiring surgery. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 167,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.