2008 Dodge Journey problems

General information about Dodge-Journey
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Dodge brand for model years 2009 to 2020 over a single generation, with a facelift for the 2011 model year. The Journey was styled by Ryan Nagode, and was marketed globally in both left- and right-hand drive, including as the Fiat Freemont.

Internally identified as the JC49, the Journey shares FCA's global D-segment platform with the Dodge Avenger and a nearly identical wheelbase to the outgoing short-wheelbase (SWB) Dodge Caravan.

Having debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Journey subsequently appeared at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. All models were manufactured in Mexico at FCA's Toluca Assembly facility, with just over 1.1 million manufactured before production ended in 2020.

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Common 2008 Dodge Journey problems

The Dodge Journey, introduced in 2008 for the 2009 model year, has been a popular mid-size crossover SUV. Here are some common problems with the Dodge Journey, based on complaints from owners of the 2008 model year:

Premature Brake and Rotor Wear: This issue is the most reported problem for the 2008 Dodge Journey, with an average cost to fix of $300 and typically occurring around 31,000 miles.

Electrical System Failures: The Dodge Journey's electrical system has been a source of frustration for many owners, with multiple electrical failures reported. These issues can lead to the engine not starting or the car not turning over, with an average repair cost of $620 and typically starting at around 60,000 miles.

Engine Issues: Engine problems with the Dodge Journey generally start after the car has at least 44,000 miles on it. When this happens, the car may simply cut off while in use, the power steering may disconnect, brakes may stop working, RPMs may skyrocket suddenly, and a clunking sound may come from the engine.

Transmission Issues: Transmission problems are another common issue with the Dodge Journey, with some owners reporting issues such as slipping, jerking, and hesitation.

Interior Water Leaks: Some Dodge Journey owners have reported water leaks in the interior of their vehicles, which can be caused by a variety of factors, such as a faulty sunroof or clogged drainage tubes.

Remote Keyless Entry System: The remote keyless entry system on the Dodge Journey has been reported to malfunction, with some owners experiencing issues such as the remote not working or the car not responding to the remote.

It is important to note that while these issues have been reported by some Dodge Journey owners, not all owners will experience these problems. Additionally, some of these issues may be covered under warranty or recall campaigns, so it is always a good idea to consult with a Dodge dealership or authorized service center for any concerns or issues with your vehicle.

What is the most common problem with Dodge Journeys?

While the Dodge Journey may be reliable, some model years can run into issues like interior water leaks, a malfunctioning remote keyless entry system, an overheating engine, head gasket damage, and premature wear on brakes.

Do Dodge Journeys have transmission issues?

Dodge has announced that 26299 vehicles have been affected by a Transmission recall.

How many miles does a Dodge Journey engine last?

According to motorandwheels.com, a typical Dodge Journey will last 130,000-180,000 miles. Those who take excellent care of the car report them making it to 200,000 miles or more. Many factors will influence longevity, and one of the most influential is you.

Is there a recall on Dodge Journey transmission?

If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. What You Should Do: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission pump, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2016.

What is the common problem of Dodge Journey?

How long does a Dodge Journey engine last?

Is The Journey a good car?

Many problems come with some models, such as engine failures and transmission breakages. If you can find a version of the car that won't leave you with expensive repairs, you should purchase it as your next vehicle. The Dodge Journey is an excellent car, but some years have faults.

Does the Dodge Journey have transmission problems?

Dodge has announced that 26299 vehicles have been affected by a Transmission recall.

2008 Dodge Journey car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Dodge Journey problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Electrical system problems
Exterior lighting problems
Wheels problems
Visibility/wiper problems
Service brakes problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2008 Dodge Journey vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2008 Dodge Journey complaints

The NHTSA has received 8 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2008 Dodge Journey.

2021-04-03

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2021-04-02
VIN: 2D8HN54P98R
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Summary: WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY THE ELECTRICAL WENT CRAZY. THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF REPEATEDLY, THE WIPERS TURNED ON AND WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, THE WIPER FLUID KEPT SPRAYING, THE BLINKER LIGHTS KEPT BLINKING, AND IT CONTINUED EVEN AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD FLUID'S CONSTANT SPRAYING AND COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN INTO A WRECK IF THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. IT WAS MOST LIKELY A FAULTY TIPM AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHERS VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL, WHICH I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT IS THE CASE, SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE JUST AS DANGEROUS IN OUR MODEL AS THE ONES THEY RECALLED.

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2018-08-08

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2018-06-07
VIN: 3D4GG57V79T
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES
Summary: A SHORT IN THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO FLASH, TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL TO OPERATE, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, AND WARNING LIGHTS TO FLASH. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE ABS IS DISABLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AND THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY TECHNICIANS. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS OVER $900 AND THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH NUMEROUS MODEL YEARS OF THE DODGE JOURNEY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY BOTH WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHILE OPERATING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO PULL OVER AND REPEATEDLY TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AS WELL AS OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS BECOMES EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ON THE HIGHWAY AS THERE IS NO WAY TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SIGNALS AND OPENING AND CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR CREATE A HAZARD TO OT HER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED A COPY OF THE

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2016-01-04

WHEELS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2015-12-20
Components: WHEELS
Summary: GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, 225 70R16, SET OF FOUR, APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. AT 70 MPH ON EXPRESSWAY, ENTIRE OUTER SIDEWALL BLEW OUT, LEAVING TREAD AND INNER SIDEWALL INTACT. THIS IS ON MY 87 YEAR OLD MOTHER'S VEHICLE, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING AND THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. THIS WAS ON A DRY HIGHWAY, NORMAL DRIVING AND CONDITIONS.

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2015-07-16

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2015-07-11
VIN: 3D4GG47B49T
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS REMOVED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

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2015-05-14

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2014-06-02
VIN: 3D4DD57VX9T
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V139000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2014. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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2015-01-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2015-01-26
VIN: 3D4GG57V49T
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V139000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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2013-04-15

WHEELS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2013-03-31
Components: WHEELS
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOUCHED THE VALVE AND THE TIRE DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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2012-06-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2012-06-15
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRELESS IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2008 Dodge Journey problems:

Top 5 Problems Dodge Journey SUV 1st Generation 2009-20 ...

Okay. Humor me. The Dodge Journey. What's so wrong with it? : r ...

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/comments/se3ow3/okay_humor_me_the_dodge_journey_whats_so_wrong/

Jan 27, 2022 ... I don't know much about it reliability wise, but Dodge makes me nervous on that front.

Dodge Journey - History, Major Flaws, & Why It Got Cancelled ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShziP84UW74

Jun 24, 2021 ... Dodge Journey Review From A Mechanic's Point of View | Common Dodge Journey Problems #dodgejourney. Alex, The Car Doctor•85K views · 14:52.

Any happy Journey owners out there??? - Dodge Journey Forum

https://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/623-any-happy-journey-owners-out-there/

Mar 26, 2009 ... ... issues, or problems with their Journey while you are POed due to yours. ... Have you contacted Chrysler ... I've had my Journey since May 2008 and ...