2011 Dodge Journey Problems, Recalls & Reliability
253 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Dodge Journey, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 12/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 23,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2011 Dodge Journey has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2011 sits among all Journey years
What owners report
“Break calipers lock up when driving. They have been replaced and continue to do this”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Journey
“Horn honks while driving, electric seat moves, lights flash, and windows roll down all doors lock and will not unlock, will also do while parked and you can't unlock to get into car. Happens daily since 2-1-18”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Journey
“While driving on the highway the car just shut off has done this multiple times with no check engine lights at all.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Journey
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 198 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 67,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 21,203 and 105,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made…
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…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 19, 2010, to May 26, 2015 and equipped with 2.4L engines. In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP WRANGLER, CHRYSLER 200, CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE, DODGE AVENGER, DODGE NITRO, JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE CALIBER, JEEP COMPASS, JEEP PATRIOT, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES.…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR RIVET PRESENCE AND ALIGNMENT AND REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN PIVOT AS REQUIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT…
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
Technical service bulletins
162 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2011 Dodge Journey. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2011 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 2011 Dodge Journey reliable?
The 2011 Dodge Journey drew 253 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 12/100, scored against the model's worst year (2009).
What are the most common 2011 Dodge Journey problems?
The top reported problems for the 2011 Dodge Journey are brakes & stability (55 complaints), electrical (51), and engine (34).
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Journey problems show up?
Owners most often report 2011 Dodge Journey problems around 67,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 21,203 and 105,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Dodge Journey have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 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.