2009 Dodge Journey Problems, Recalls & Reliability
2,338 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Dodge Journey, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 80,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2009 Dodge Journey sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2011, 2017–2020.
Avoid
Where 2009 sits among all Journey years
What owners report
“Takata recall - this recall has been out since june 2015, it is now december 2015 and i still cannot get the repairs made as i am continuously told the parts are on "back order". My car does not start half of the time and is not being fixed!!!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Journey
“Brake rotors warped. Trouble stopping. Steering wheel shaking when brakes applied.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Journey
“Airbag light on dashboard came on, dodge dealership diagnosed the issue as a bad driver side airbag. The cost to repair $730.00!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Journey
“The engine stalls when driving down the street and / or highway. There have been several complaints online but no one seems to know how to fix it. Also, intermittent no start when trying to start the car. No crank. 2009 dodge journey”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Journey
“Car will intermittently start and then won't start. Battery is fine. Checked neutral safety switch. Still nothing. Have been stranded several time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Journey
“I have a 2009 dodge journey sxt and im having a intimate fuel pump problem. I read that the tipm may be a recall and wondering about it”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Journey
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,564 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 66,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return hoses, steel tubes, and power steering oil cooler, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2016. Owners may…
FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured December 31, 2007, to August 31, 2008, 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured June 18, 2007, to August 31, 2008. In the…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 DODGE JOURNEY VEHICLES MANUFACTURER FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2007, THROUGH NOVEMBER 7, 2008. THE WIRES WITHIN THE FRONT DOOR WIRE HARNESSES MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK, WHICH CAN INTERRUPT THE CIRCUITS FOR THE SIDE IMPACT…
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT DOOR WIRING HARNESSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 4,314 MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, COMMANDER AND WRANGLER VEHICLES. WIRING MAY BE REVERSED ON THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE DRIVER AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTOR. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG SQUIB WIRES AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 16,852 MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITHOUT OPTIONAL 115 VOLT AUXILIARY POWER OUTLET. AN UNUSED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE OPTIONAL 115 VOLT AUXILIARY POWER OUTLET OPTION MAY BECOME CORRODED AND COULD SHORT CIRCUIT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE AND STOW THE 115 VOLT AUXILIARY POWER OUTLET CONNECTOR AND PULL THE 25 AMP FUSE TO REMOVE POWER FROM THIS UNUSED CIRCUIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2009.…
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 6,692 MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.5L ENGINE. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MAY CONTACT THE LEFT TRANSAXLE MOUNT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FOR DAMAGE. IF THE HARNESS IS DAMAGED, THE WIRING WILL BE REPAIRED AND A TIE WRAP INSTALLED TO SECURE THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE LEFT TRANSAXLE MOUNT.…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-008 on May 1, 2023 to investigate an incident involving a 2009 Dodge Journey alleging occupant entrapment during a vehicle fire that resulted in a fatality. During the investigation, ODI collected information from the manufacturer and involved…
Model years named: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Led to recall campaign 14V373000.
Technical service bulletins
52 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2009 Dodge Journey. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2009 Journey TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Dodge Journey reliable?
The 2009 Dodge Journey drew 2,338 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2009).
What are the most common 2009 Dodge Journey problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Dodge Journey are electrical (836 complaints), brakes & stability (369), and airbags (288).
At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Journey problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Dodge Journey problems around 66,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Dodge Journey have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Dodge Journey. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.