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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes47
  2. Electrical system43
  3. Engine29
  4. Steering23
  5. Power train20
  6. Air bags14
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  8. Exterior lighting8
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)7
  10. Vehicle speed control7
  11. Engine and engine cooling5
  12. Suspension5
  13. Visibility/wiper3
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20119
201221
201312
201417
201522
201612
201713
201820
201918
202013
20212
20224
20230
20243
20251
20262

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2020Service brakesODI 11340798

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2020Electrical systemODI 11383066

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2019EngineODI 11268317

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2026SteeringODI 11712828

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2022Power trainODI 11460484

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2024Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11585825
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.