2020 Dodge JourneyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that after the vehicle was not driven and remained parked in the driveway for two weeks, the police department notified the contact at approximately 1:00 AM that the horn was sounding continuously. The contact attempted to deactivate the horn using the security alarm key fob, but the attempt failed. The contact opened a vehicle door and attempted to start the vehicle with the door open. At that time, the doors locked automatically, and there was a burning plastic odor coming from the vehicle, and the horn continued sounding. The contact immediately exited the vehicle and removed fuses from the fuse box; however, the fuses were extremely hot and caused burn injuries to the contact's hands. After removing the fuses, the horn continued sounding, and the engine failed to turn off. The contact retrieved tools to disconnect the battery located underneath the fuse box, after which the horn stopped and the engine shut off. Medical treatment for the burns was administered at home by the contact's spouse, a certified nurse. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where a 2-hour initial inspection yielded no…”

“My 2020 Dodge Journey is subject to FCA Recall 59C / NHTSA Campaign 25V-552 involving the rearview camera. The camera malfunction affected the rearview image used when backing. While the recall was open, I contacted an authorized Dodge dealer. I was advised that FCA's official recall remedy/parts had not yet been released. The dealer nevertheless offered a customer-paid camera replacement and provided pricing. Because the vehicle was used for rental, the open safety recall also prevented it from being listed on the rental platform. In approximately October 2025, while the official recall remedy remained unavailable, the rearview camera was replaced at my expense. I later submitted a pre-notification reimbursement claim to Dodge/FCA with an invoice, payment/accounting documentation, dealer pricing information, and recall documentation. FCA denied the claim specifically because the repair “was not performed in a certified repair facility.” I requested reconsideration and asked FCA to provide its applicable reimbursement plan and identify the specific provision and regulatory basis permitting denial for that reason. I referenced 49 CFR 573.13. FCA did not provide…”

“I am filing this complaint to report a repeated safety-related defect involving the engine thermostat in my 2020 Dodge Journey and to formally request an investigation by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The thermostat in this vehicle has failed twice, despite being replaced after the initial failure. The recurrence of the same failure in a critical engine temperature control component indicates a potential design or manufacturing defect, not normal wear or improper maintenance. Each thermostat failure resulted in abnormal engine temperature behavior and warning indicators. Thermostat failure directly compromises the engine cooling system and creates a risk of overheating, sudden engine shutdown, loss of propulsion, and engine damage. These conditions present a clear safety hazard, particularly if failure occurs at highway speeds, in traffic, or during extreme temperatures. A thermostat is a non-consumable, safety-critical component that should not require multiple replacements in a vehicle of this age and mileage. The fact that the failure occurred again after repair suggests that the defect may be systemic and potentially affects other 2020…”