CarComplaints.com Notes: I hope I can stop you from buying this vehicle before you find out that it won't be able to stop you.

7.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$410
Average Mileage:
84,750 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
  2. replace battery (4 reports)
  3. add kill switch (2 reports)
  4. problem solved...so far (2 reports)
2010 Dodge Journey electrical problems

electrical problem

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2010 Dodge Journey Owner Comments

problem #16

Nov 112022

Journey SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 137,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Wife brought 2010 Dodge Journey in 2015 with 75, 000 miles. Oil changes are done every 4 months. Spark plugs and wires already changed. She drives to work a short distance. Only been out of state twice to N.C from Delaware. Last year right before Thanksgiving , mind you weather was slightly winter. Car wouldn't start. Jump started it. Also on Friday's when she comes home car doesn't move or get started until next work day. When our mechanic troubleshoot problem we went to chain store auto place to but new battery. Also who designed battery to go under the wheel well? I digress.

You would of thought new battery solved problem. It didn't. Took battery back. Note please please please, Not the Old James Brown song of same title but people check your batteries when you purchase. That" battery pyramid" they have in those auto parts stores have old batteries. When I exchanged 2nd battery for the first one, the date was one month old compared to the 3 month old one as I checked the sticker. Anyway, we thought the problem was solved but a short time later same problem as my wife had to call road side service to get to work from our home.

Our mechanic and I did separate research( thank you for this site very helpful when I purchased my other vehicle and I highly recommend it to others I know). Our mechanic installed a kill switch which I purchased on" those people online who have a " "Gomer Pyle Smile on the side of their trucks I digress. The check engine light is now on and the mechanic told us it might of been stored in the computer after all those completely dead battery times and the jump starts to get car running. My wife took it to " the AA of auto parts stores 3 times and also the code P1606 came up. They did "the Joe Friday" just the facts mam scanner hookup to your OBD and not" Obi Wan. The starter and alternator numbers are fine. It keeps pointing to the battery low how can that be if the battery is only 3 months old. Also it has been determined that there is a draw/ drain on the electrical system .

We thought it might be the driver's side rear door sensor as the light came on for that. As all the symptoms were being researched the worst case one is the one I call the " Pinky & the Brain TIPM box which I priced several 300 -400 dollars. Mind you I'm having this(cough cough) with my wife now about if a vehicle starts" nickel and diming you to death maybe its' time to get rid of it. But with Mother's day just around the corner( just go by any Dollar Store and you see what I'm talking about) I'm going stick to the 2 magic words" Yes Dear" I digress.

Hope my comment today gives others insight to their problem and I will update when we make more progress or " its' time for her vehicle to go to" that great junkyard in the sky"

- Raynard S., Newark, DE, US

problem #15

Mar 052015

Journey SXT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

So I bought a used 2010 Dodge Journey SXT 3.5l V6 in 2014. A few months later I started putting batteries in it. Good ones too. Interstate. After 4 batteries, 2 free he he he. It came to me! I put a negative side battery disconnect switch in it. (kill switch) Every time I turn it off I pop the hood and turn off the power. This stopped it from intermittently draining the battery. I just kill the power every time I turn it off and turn it back on before starting it. Been on the same battery now for at least 4 years and it starts every time.

I have had it looked at by the dealer, the tire shop and a so called electrical wiz. None of them could figure it out. The dealer said there was nothing wrong with it! The problem is it does not do it all the time and for some reason it will drain the battery in 3 min while I take a piss but also will go overnight and start the next day.

The disconnect switch did the trick, haven't had a problem since putting it in. Other than having to remember to pop the hood and turn it off each and every time I want to turn it off.

Hope this helps some of you out there.

Also will never buy a Dodge again. it is a major POS.

- CJ S., Urbandale, IA, US

problem #14

Mar 132020

Journey R/T 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Car has been running without a horn since last year. In mid March 2020 it would not start one morning. It would not take a jump start. I had it towed to a garage. They said it needed a new battery. This solved the problem for about 3 weeks. Then it would not start again. I got a clicking noise, and some of the electrical seemed to work. I had it towed to a different garage. They told me I needed a new battery. I told them the battery was 3 weeks old. They said take it to Dodge, they don't handle the electrical stuff. The garage managed to jump start it and I drove home with almost all of the dash lights blinking on and off. The car would momentarily lose power and then pick up again. I made it about 10 miles to my house. The car was running rough at my house. I scanned the car for codes before turning it off. Many different codes P0573, P0562, B210A, C107C, C121C, C1000, C2101, P2173.

After turning off I tried to restart - nothing. No power at all. I am waiting to hear back from a local Dodge dealer about service.

- Drummo2a .., Macon, GA, US

problem #13

Mar 272018

Journey RT 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,958 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just love my Journey, which I could drive it with out having to jump start every time. From day one of purchase warning lights came up driving form the dealer to home, oil light sounded then goes off, ASP, ESP- Thought it would clear

15th May 2018 she wouldn't start - Advise the dealer said we would need a new battery due to the cold weather Got the battery and replace. 20th Wouldn't start - Told the dealer to whom sent a auto electrician around to fix it. Cleared but could not clear ABS 23rd went in to clear ABS and found the break light were stay on, Got her back all was good ... then the oil sensor would go off now and then. 21st June - Dead again - questioning the alternator, Changed alternator 26th June replace alternator and found the break light were stay on. Fixed issues 27th June oil light now on - 1st July Dead again 2nd July replace battery with Higher CC 14th July Dead again, wouldn't start - spoke with dealer and finance company 16th July back the the service center again, checking 20th July - Stuck in idling in the morning, battery dead again 21st July - Flat battery - had everything off, radio and air con 28th July - Back to the service center

Now after research the TIPM is the issue, as every time there's a different failure and every time the battery is flat, Dodge does not recognize the issue as a recall, and now no longer reproduces the part

Go figure - Feeling guttered that this car is a lemon and Dodge doesn't care

- Dalton G., brisbane, Australia

problem #12

Apr 142018

Journey FWD SXT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 186,000 miles

I tried to return this lemon but without knowledge and money I'm stuck. I just spend any extra money I have. Heart broken and broke I wish they cared. Now waiting for AAA to tow me and tapped out, please God help me.

- Sherdina L., Forest Park, GA, US

problem #11

Jan 092018

Journey SXT 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,000 miles

TIPM FCA well aware. 2008 Dodge Journey. FCA discontinues the part! Presumably because there are multiple complaints with multiple vehicles using this same part. Class action in California. How can a company discontinue a part integral to the operation of the vehicle on an 8 year old vehicle?

Update from Feb 9, 2018: Problem traced to the TIPM module. An 8 year old vehicle and FCA obsoleted the part with no replacement! How is this possible?! If you can find one, which I did, the cost is around $700.00 for the part alone!

Had the vehicle back for two days, Won't start. Check Engine light on. Traced to the WIN module; Ignition switch. Another $600.00 repair. At least this time they had the part.

FCA has multiple recalls on TIPMs and WIN modules. Yet mine isn't one of them! Really?!!

- Anthony L., Bluffton, US

problem #10

Jun 302017

Journey RT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bought this vehicle used, everything was fine for about 2 weeks. One day I unplugged my phone charger and the radio/gps froze on. Turned the car off and radio/ gps/ uconnect still on. Finally had to pull the fuse, put the fuse back in and everything was fine. The car alarm would go off intermittently, then the battery would die. Replaced battery with a brand new one. Couple days later battery dead. Took it to the dodge dealer and paid for a computer update, which stopped the alarm from going off all the time. They also pulled up a code of B1A79 that has to do with antenna wireless remote ignition module. But there were no recommendation for fixing it apparently. Unfortunately about once a week I have to jump it due to dead battery. This morning had to jump it, started right up but the radio/gps/ uconnect wouldn't turn on . Drove it to work and after couple of hours started it up and radio/gps/ uconnect worked. Called the dealership and now they want $100 per hour to hook it to a voltage meter and battery tester and it could take 3 or more hours.

- Constance S., Manistee, US

problem #9

Nov 012017

Journey R/T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

Have hand fuses pulled from my horn for several years..local Dodge dealer could not keep my horn from honking....whenever. Have had three new batteries in a month but if the car sits overnight it won't start and the battery is drained. Have had diagnostics run twice and nothing can be found faulty. Have not wanted to take it to the dealer but may be forced to as a highly recommended electrical shop cannot find the issue. Car was bought new, 54K miles, have never been notified of any recalls. Have missed work, used all my yearly AAA calls/tows. and am truly frustrated. Called customer complaint, 800-992-1997, for assistance, but got nothing. A Supervisor is supposed to call to tell me if I could get a 3-day rental.

Update from Jan 8, 2018: Mechanic at local Dodge dealer installed a new horn assembly. I now have a horn & the battery is not draining. Cost was under $300. Woo hoo!!

Update from Jan 28, 2019: Have had no further problems with my Journey.

- Peggy C., Gainesville, US

problem #8

Jun 012016

Journey SXT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I had problem with my Dodge Journey from the first couple of months I got it. First problem was with the radio. I was not sure what the problem was but when I got to the U.S. I had it change out. One day on a drive my window just open on they our. I thought nothing of it until few month later it happen again. This time I had to turn the car off and back on the close the window. After dealing with a possible electrical problem, 4 years later I had to replace the radiator. Who replaces a radiator after 4 years of owning a new car? I'm still having problem with this car and I don't know who to turn to with the problem. Now there is something draining my battery. I've changed the battery 4 time already ever other day If I don't start the car the battery is dead. I'm done with dodge, it was a beautiful car when I brought it, but if I thought I was going to have this much problem with this car I would have went with the Volvo XC90.

- Sierra D., Junction City, US

problem #7

Oct 122016

Journey XLT 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

Replaced battery. Three months later the new battery continually would die overnight. Have recharged the battery many times. Nothing wrong with the battery. NAPA Gold battery. Along with the other things happening electrically I believe it to be caused by a faulty 'Totally Integrated Power Module' (TIPM).

- shealeyfam, Honea Path, SC, US

problem #6

Dec 312013

Journey V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,321 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The battery is in the wrong place. It is over the driver side wheel well. it needs to be changed at a garage.

- sharonon, Keewatin, ON, Canada

problem #5

May 072015

Journey SXT 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,150 miles

Car battery dies over night. Sometimes hear a ticking sound in the TIPM. Must charge the battery to get going again.

- Robert L., Panama City, FL, US

problem #4

Jun 082015

Journey 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,061 miles

Background: Bought car used in Jan 2015 with 185000 Km mileage. At purchase dealer put on new battery.

Now: After a number of minor electrical problems we hit a bigger one. While traveling at 110 Kph on the highway the battery low light came on. Aware there was a possible issue we still tried to make the city. On the outskirts the acceleration stopped and we were forced to pull over at a coast. A family member came and tried to boost us. Car started but when unhooked it sputtered and died. We jimmy rigged a new battery and jumper cables to enable us to get the 10 minutes further to get home.

We replaced the really hard to get at dead battery with the new battery....New battery was dead today (next morning)....

After looking on line we see there is a current problem with the TIPM and think this may be our issue.

- Rhonda D., Winnip, MB, Canada

problem #3

Aug 032014

Journey UT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

its bad when you cant find the stupid battery then you find out that its in the wheel well you have to take the front driver side tire off just to put in a new battery. how stupid can anyone be by putting the battery in such a place & even though autozone & advance says if you buy our battery we will install them free they would not with this Dodge journey cause of where it is & all the bull you have to do to get to it.

- revondajohnson, Nebo, NC, US

problem #2

Apr 152011

Journey 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles

I have had three batteries in less than two years and complete new brakes after only 18000 miles!

- dalesparkles, Sterling Heights, MI, US

problem #1

Sep 222011

Journey SXT 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,970 miles

I was looking at a new Dodge Caravan. Saw left over 2010 Dodge Journey, got it cheap. No problems until 1,970 miles. Vehicle sat for two day. Went to use it battery was low, lights were good, engine didn't start. Waited for the weekend (two more days) to go to the dealer. That morning battery was completely dead and the doors unlocked. Long story short- dealer found no codes or anything. They charged my battery and said there was nothing wrong just a low battery. I hope my Journey isn't going to be like the other ones I read about with all those electrical problems.If it is ,I'll go back to Ford.

- Joseph J., Perth Amboy, NJ, US

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