When applying brakes, rotors grind and the steering wheel starts to shake. Have only owned the car for about a year and a half and these problems should not be happening yet. Why should I have to replace my pads every 6 months? This does not make any sense at all and I will write to Chrysler to let them know about my problem!
I purchased my vehicle in February 2012 and within 1 month the brakes were grinding. The dealership replaced the front brakes and rotors and I was happy with that solution. HOWEVER, I have now had my vehicle for 11 months and the rear brakes are doing the same thing. After doing some research, I see that this is a problem with the 2009-2010 Journey's braking system design. It needs to be fixed by Chrysler!!
IAM JUST NOW CATCHING UP TO ALL THE COPLAINTS THAT I THOUGHT WERE MY OWN ALONE!
I HAVE BEEN REPLACING AND REPAIRING BRAKES ON TRUCKS CARS AND NOW THIS JOURNEY FOR THE PAST 4 YRS. NO, NEVER SEEN ANYTHING AS POORLY DESIGNED OR IN NEED OF SOOO MUCH ATTENTION! CHEVY AND GMC ARE MY PRIDE. NO, I WANTED A DODGE BECAUSE OF ALL THE HYP AND THAT GROWLY VOICE ON THE COMMERCIALS DREW ME IN. MY INSTINCTS SAID 'NO' BUT MY WIFE WANTED THE VEHICLE AND IT JUST LOOKED SO GOOD I NEVER DREAMED THAT DODGE WOULD STOOP TO SUCH A LOW LEVEL OF QUALITY SO AS TO ENFURIATE LITERALLY EVERY OWNER OF A JOURNEY! THIS IS IGNORANCE ON A MEGA-SCALE!!! WE HAD THE THING IN THE SHOP A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE CAME HOME FROM ALEXANDRIA BAY AREA. WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER UP THERE AND WE LIVE LIKE 100 MILES FROM THERE AND NEVER EXPECTED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITHIN ABOUT TWO MONTHS. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE FRONT ROTOR WAS WARPED AND WANTED SOMETHING LIKE 365.00 TO REPLACE IT AND CHECK THE REST OF THE SYSTEM. A LOT OF HOOPLAA AND SOME PHONE CALLS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR 65.00, AND THEY WOULD SUPPLY THE PARTS. THEY SAID THE REAR BRAKE WAS MAKING NOISE BECAUSE OF 'ROAD DUST'!!THEY WOULD ONLY FIX THE FRONT FOR 65.00. I TOLD THEM TO FIX THE FRONT AND LEAVE THE REST ALONE. I HAD TO DO THE JOB OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GREASE THE GUIDE/GLIDES FOR THE PADS AND THEY HUNG-UP. THE REAR BRAKE WAS SMOKING HOT AND LITERALLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE MONEY AND PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE A FEW DAYS LATER. I REPLACED ONE REAR ROTOR AND ONE CALIPER, BOTH SIDES GOT NEW PADS. ALL THIS WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 17 AND 21ST OF 2011. I DID THE WORK MYSELF. THE JOB WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THE BRAKE PADS WERE TOO TIGHT FOR THE CALIPERS AND HAD TO BE FILED BY HAND, ROUNDED ON THE CORNERS SO THEY WOULD NOT CATCH ON THE GLIDES, AND WORKED A BIT IN THE GLIDES AND GREASED BEFORE I FELT I COULD TRUST THEIR PURFORMANCE. IT WAS A LOOOOOOT OF WORK!!! I AM A PATIENT MAN, AND THAT IS WHY I NEVER LOOKED FOR A COMPLAINT WEB SIGHT, BUT THIS REALLY HAS TO BE MADE PUBLIC. THIS IS AN INSULT TO EVERY OWNER OF A 2010 DODGE JOURNEY. THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO IMPRESS A SMART DECISION FOR FAMILY ORIENTED, SAFETY CONSCIOUS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE GOOD, VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS. THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO MY PARTS PLUS GUY, IS UNDERSIZED FOR THE VEHICLE. HE HAS OTHERS WHO COME IN AT 6 MONTH INTERVALS AND REPLACES ROTORS, PADS, AND IN MY CASE, CALIPERS. IF THIS ISN'T A CRIME, THEN THE DEFINITION OF 'PUBLIC THEFT' NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT THE CORPORATION OF CHRYSLER/DODGE/JEEP UNDERSTANDS. BY THEIR ACTIONS, OR RATHER, LACK OF CORRECTING THEIR VERY DANGEROUS INVENTION, THEY HAVE BECOME GUILTY OF EVERY CRIME FROM COMMON THEFT OF MONEY PROVISIONS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD TO ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF AN ADULT, AS WELL AS HIS OR HER CHILDREN. ANY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS THAT CAN BE BRAKE RELATED WITH THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PLACED AS ACCOUNTABLE AGAINST CHRYS/DODG/JEEP AS IF THEY HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY CAUSED IT TO BE ON THE ROAD IN ITS VERY VULNERABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE DESIGN. IT PROVIDES ALMOST IMMEDIATE DISABLING OF THE DRIVERS CONTROL AND ALWAYS WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE AT A POINT WHERE THE NEED FOR CONTROL IS THE GREATEST. MORE TO COME ABOUT THE MOTOR.
So....my wife buys this 2010 dodge journey 2 months ago. To start off with, it seemed like a really nice ride.....from the outside. But hey, you can wrap dog poop up in shiny Christmas paper and make it look nice right? So after 1 month of driving, with a total of about 30,000 km on it, 1200 of which were put on by us....at highway speeds there's this awful shudder in the steering wheel, and in the seats. Very very unsafe feeling, especially having the kids in the vehicle too. We phone the dealership who sold us the Journey, but because that dealership was a GM dealership, they said take it to Dodge. But it's ok right cuz the dealership sold us this "full wrap" extended warranty, so Dodge would take care of it....apparently.
So here is our wonderful Dodge dealership experience. To start with, it was "VARSITY DODGE" in Calgary. I put that all in capitals so that anyone who reads this steers clear of that money grubbing pervert hiring garbage sespool of bull sh*t excuse for a dealership. My wife arrived first, I was meeting her there as she was dropping the Journey off overnight. When she arrived, a salesman came out to see her right away. Obviously, good lookin lady pulls up by herself right? Well, he talked to her for a good ten minutes, the whole time staring at her crotch and her butt. THE WHOLE TIME. To the point where she felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave. Thank god I showed up, and of course he vanished like Houdini. So she told me about this and I marched right into the manager's office and flat out told him about the pervert salesman and that I would leave it in his hands from there. Otherwise I am the type of guy to put my fingers through his eye sockets and grab hold of the inside of his skull while I rip it off his shoulders. Anyways, enough about "Hungry Eyes" the salesman, who still works there.....disgusting. Their technicians have a look at the Journey, and come back with "all 4 of your rotors are warped, they need to be replaced, or machined and your warranty doesn't cover that. Oh, and that inspection we just did was $50." I'm sorry, what? So we paid the $50, took our ride and brought it to our own mechanic, who we have used for years. He pulls it apart, inspects it properly, and tells us they are slightly warped, unevenly worn, but most of all, rusted halfway through. They can't even be machined. He told us if they machined it until the rust was gone, there would be nothing left. So again, all 4 rotors DO NEED to be replaced. At 30,000 KM? WTF kind of garbage engineering is that of a FAMILY vehicle. Completely disgusted. Tomorrow is the big battle between me and the dealerships and let me tell you I am in no mood for any more bull sh*t. Somebody better pay to fix this and fix it RIGHT, or you'll see a burning Journey on the news at some dealership in Calgary. After reading about this same rotor issue being a massive problem on the Journeys, I am absolutely appalled that Chrysler has not recalled and fixed them for free. This is a FAMILY vehicle you greedy pricks! I will never ever ever buy a DODGE product EVER again!!!
This is actually the 2nd time....I had to replace the front rotors in Nov. 2012 when mileage was 39681 at a cost to me of 276.06. Now 6 mos. later I had to replace the back brake rotors and pads current mileage is 44438 at a cost of 372.36. This car is 3 yrs old and still under the 50k warranty....This is untolerable that these needed to be replaced and I had to pay....I want to be reimbursed!!!!!
- Vickie S.,
Yorkville, OH, US
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I bought this as a demo with more mileage than there should have been on it to sell it as a demo, but that is my mistake. When I bought it, the rotors were warped. The dealer said it was just "the nature of the beast." Now I find my self of having to replace the rotors, and pads. Doesn't this suck the big one? Why doesn't Dodge just step up and replace them?
I replace my pads twice in a year times, I also replace rotor & wheel bearing. Still had problem took it to dealer and was told that they would fix it , but I would have to pay another $100.00 deductible.
I was very upset that I bought the vehicle and 1 month after having the vehicle i had to get the breaks fixed. there is no way it should have passed inspection.
Started noticing front end shimmy when braking long before taking POS to dealer. Finally made appointment and with TSB in hand, along with other info from fellow Dodge dupes who made the mistake of buying this POS, marched into the local dealership. Yep, the front rotors are warped it will cost $$$. NO, I have less than 24k and problem started long before that! I will only pay the $50 deductible from the factory extended warranty! They go to the "warranty" person... as I get hotter... Oh, your right... it's only $50 deductible and we'll replace the front brakes (never even looked at the rears). Ok, now I take the POS into a service center for a oil change and tire rotation. Oh look, these rear rotors are really scored, scorched, and the inboard pads are wearing faster than the outboard pads. Looks like you need a rear brake job and we can do it for $600 :) Now it seems that the rear brakes are not covered under the extended factory warranty... going to the dealer this AM to fight it out. Will update...
My 2010 Journey only has 38000 km on it and the rear rotors and pads need to be changed along with only front rotors....this is B/S!! Going to cost me $1000+.
twice in six months for a grand total of $477.42 give me a "BRAKE" Called chrysler got four free oil changes. WTF. what happens six months from now when i will NEED all new rotors and brakes
Dodge paid to replace the front brake pads at rotors at 30,000 km's. They refused to replace the rear pads and rotors at 54,000 even though i still had manufacturers warranty and an extended SAL warranty.
1. The brakes in the back were entirely gone and the emergency brake caused damage when we applied it because apparently the rear brakes were entirely worn.
2. We had no idea that the rear brakes were worn, there was no sound, no indication of such, and at < 30k I would not have suspected a need to even replace the brakes.
3. Being that they were so worn, this endangered me and my family. Being that the brakes are subpar for this vehicle, Chrysler should have made an effort to fix this problem instead of charging us almost $600 to fix it.
9,400 miles and had this problem. Now at 20,605 miles, forced to let car sit while awaiting parts which are on backorder. Also advised us they have no idea when the parts will be in.
Crazy as it is, I have had this Journey in 13x and they have replaced the brakes, rotors every time and the calipers 4x. All of this in under 38K miles. It started at 4000 miles. (2 months owning the car) I have changed these brakes as often as I have changed the oil. (more so actually) I have contacted the "district manager" - whom says there is nothing wrong. It's my driving. I have contacted Chrysler Corp Resolution Team - with NO RESOLUTION!!! Chrysler and the District Manager feel that this vehicle is safe and they refuse to help with the problem. Just yesterday I was driving my car, and smoke was rolling out from under the wheel wells. I called to get this car looked at with "oh, we will see you next tuesday". (week later) (also note, I did not even need to give the girl my last name its been in there so many times) So I guess the fact that my car could potentially be on fire, a complete road hazard and is unsafe to even be on the road means absolutely nothing. It's aggravating that you spend so much money on a vehicle with no help whatsoever. I have been a loyal dodge/chrysler customer for over 22 years. I have purchased 13 new vehicles, and currently still own a 2004 dodge ram with over 100K miles, and have only replaced the breaks once - so there goes their theory of its my driving. I WILL NEVER own another dodge/chrysler product for their simple lack of standing behind their product. Is this what "American Made" gets me?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
When applying brakes, rotors grind and the steering wheel starts to shake. Have only owned the car for about a year and a half and these problems should not be happening yet. Why should I have to replace my pads every 6 months? This does not make any sense at all and I will write to Chrysler to let them know about my problem!
Pierre, Gatineau, QC
- pgrenier, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada