10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,271 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Dodge Journey drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Dodge Journey Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #32

Jul 102023

Journey

  • miles

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

The electrical is so messed up the battery drains within hours, I have shorts in all aspects of this car(Bluetooth, navigation, clicking relays nonstop, heat goes out intermittently, power switches on doors. I saw my headlights surging in power in the middle of nowhere, they would get bright, then go dim, then a battery icon illuminated on my dashboard before my car downshifted so hard I almost lost control of the car. The dealer replaced my motor mounts and my alternator, after calling to say my battery is bad and then turned around and said it wasn-??t. Not to mention my brakes locked up in a little rain and I couldn-??t stop crashing through a wall. Replaced my rear light turning bulb and it exploded with fire when I went to change it. The suspension is horrible and I am pretty sure my cv axles are all broken. Everything keeps breaking. Lifter Taps intermittently, rough idling and hard shifting. Key fob doesn-??t start car or is recognized with fresh batteries in it. When I jump start it sometimes the horn goes off for a minute. The reverse camera goes out for days and randomly comes on again. Under the hood feels so extremely hot and for some reason it doesn-??t register as overheating. Even when I check fluids and for the coolant levels are low for some reason. There is an actuator That constantly is going off under the dash. Airbags didn-??t deploy when i hit the wall at all. The limp mode has come on and gone off a few times. Only codes I have is for tps and an outdoor ambient temperature sensor that says it-??s either negative 40 degrees or 122 degrees. Which won-??t let me clear nor allow me to remote start. Warranty is gone and when you take the fuse box cover off under the hood(just the cover) it goes haywire shaking and lights all over the dash and I have to shut the car off. Yes somebody please inspect this vehicle. The absolute worst vehicle I owe 12k on and I can-??t afford to fix all of this that-??s shutting down at the same time

- Sumter , SC, USA

problem #31

Mar 182023

Journey

  • miles
The crankshaft position sensor as well as a oil leak from the motor and has intermittent start delays these failures I found on this sight that affects my vehicle make & model year my engine 3.6 when I accelerate the overdrive doesn't engage and i took it to Nyle Maxwell in San Antonio where it's at now I also have the diagnosis that matches what is posted here on this site & 3 open recalls that suggest other years may be affected.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #30

Nov 012021

Journey

  • miles
Having to jump vehicle every morning something draining battery Ive replaced battery 3 times

- Alma, MI, USA

problem #29

Feb 012022

Journey

  • miles

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

Rear differential viscous coupler. The internal drum to hold the clutch packs together cracked and separated could have caused the rear differential to lock up and is a known issue with these vehicles and there is no parts available to repair other than to replace whole unit from dodge

- Jane Lew, WV, USA

problem #28

Jan 142021

Journey

  • miles
Engine light multiple times- emissions control - found online but did not receive a recall: In affected cars, fca will replace the catalytic converter and update software for the powertrain control module — that is, your car’'s primary drivetrain computer. Fca will recycle the old catalytic converter to remove the precious metals common in such devices, a usual practice. “obviously the catalytic converter, that’'s the biggest part of this, ” chernoby said. The replacement converter has a “different mixture of precious metals … to be less susceptible to sulfur in the fuel, ” he added. Due to the number of replacement catalytic converters needed, the automaker is recalling cars in waves. Model-year 2011 cars: First quarter of 2019 model-year 2012 cars Chrysler's number for this recall is T47 Chrysler's number for this recall is S08 Chrysler's number for this recall is R61 Chrysler's number for this recall is R32

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #27

Dec 152019

Journey

  • 92,000 miles
Car stalled on highway as we were driving and cut out. Very dangerous..wouldn't restart..then started up 20 mins later and drove fine.engine light came on..dealer says it a crankshaft sensor..super dangerous.

- Purcell, OK, USA

problem #26

Dec 022019

Journey

  • 148,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. After the vehicle was parked in the driveway, it surged forward. The contact was almost pinned to a fence in her yard. There were no injuries. The contact had just shifted the vehicle into park and exited while the vehicle was still running. The contact had to circle back around to the driver's side, enter the vehicle, depress the brake pedal, and press the push button ignition. The vehicle finally stopped. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 148,000.

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #25

Sep 012019

Journey

  • 139,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled and shut off without warning. The vehicle would not restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. Afterwards, the vehicle was able to be driven to atlantic Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (555 sunrise hwy, West islip, NY 11795, 631-422-0123) where a diagnostic was performed. The dealer stated that there was an unknown recall regarding the driver's side cylinder head. The recall repair was performed on the driver's side cylinder head; however, the mechanic stated that there was a wire shortage from the PCM to the map sensor. The contact was given a cost estimate to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the wiring was not under warranty and offered no assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

- Deer Park, NY, USA

problem #24

May 282018

Journey

  • 60,000 miles
I was driving on the highway when my husband and I smelt a burning oil like smell which we thought was the car in front of us. Nothing on the dash indicated any issues. We arrived home and noticed it was our car that the smell was coming from. I parked the car and came out the next morning and noticed a small wet spot under my car, thought nothing of it and left for work. After working all day I came out to find another small wet spot and on the drive home the same smell. Mentioned it to my husband who glanced underneath but couldn't see where the moisture was coming from. Drove my car to work the next day and it started making a low growling noise. Arrived at work and had a mobil mechanic stop and inspect the car where it was determined I had a crack in the transfer case. Parked the car for almost a year while I saved the money for the new transmission I was told I needed. Got the new transmission installed only to drive it home and have it start making a clicking sound! had it towed back to the transmission place where they informed me that the driveshaft is broken! dropped off another drive shaft to have installed and it is also now broken. I have a recall on my car for the airbag but I can't even get it to the dealer to be fixed because of the transmission / driveshaft issues.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #23

Feb 072019

Journey

  • 120,000 miles
I had a ABS light and ESC light appear, pulled into gas station. Approached the fuel pumps and pressed the brakes and slid on the icy pavement (snowy Michigan) into the gas pump protectors made of concrete. Couldn't control the vehicle @~8mph slightly turned approaching a gas pump on wet/icy concrete.

- St Johns, MI, USA

problem #22

Sep 082018

Journey

  • 211,200 miles

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

Crankshaft position sensor (ckp) yesterday I was driving down traffic filled pleasant hill rd. In duluth, ga and the check engine light came on. Within seconds I lost power, I could not use my brakes and steering. I almost rear-ended someone. I pushed the start button and the car hesitated. I tried once more and it began to start. I made it to advanced auto and they coded it ( P0335) home and have not driven the vehicle since.

- Adrian, GA, USA

problem #21

Jul 252018

Journey

  • 93,887 miles
While in motion on 7/25/18 the vehicle stopped running, battery light came on, radio turned off, wipers started going on, and lights dimmed. Tried to restart and wouldn't showing battery light, ABS light, symbol with lightning bolt, and said it could not detect key. Vehicle was towed and diagnosed with code P0622, and was told I needed an alternator. Replaced the alternator on 7/28/18. On 7/29/18, the car was running good, after about a half hour the battery light came on and the car slowly started to shut down while in motion with my wife and children in the car. I then replaced the battery. After driving 2 miles the battery light came on, the engine started to rev high and go low, other dash lights came on, the A/C turned hot and the car started to come to a crawl.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #20

Apr 112018

Journey

  • 85,060 miles
Takata recall I was driving home while at a stop light I smelt a burn odor. I was just a 1/4 of a mile from home so I drove it home. Upon parking I noticed there was a small spot under my car forming. About the size of a quarter. Check all my fluids and and nothing was low. The next day it started and ran ok until it was ran for about 15 then once again the smell and now a low growling. I pulled off the road and parked at a gas station. I had a local shop look at my car and they determined my transfer case is broken. I have been having issues with my car when accelerating it would pull sharply to the right when it shifted gears. Was told there was nothing wrong with my car. It shouldn't try and change lanes when you accelerate. I have almost hit the car next to me just by accelerating. I have also been driving along and have my car turn off. I had to coast to the side of the road, put it in park and start it again. This has happened on four different occasions. The stalling happened on the highway while the transfer case was on city street.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #19

May 212017

Journey

  • 86,000 miles
The brake warning light, ABS warning light and traction control warning lights come on randomly. Sometimes the brakes fail to engage when the ABS light is lit and the vehicle makes a weird noise (sounds like grinding sound). Yesterday my wife was unable to stop at a traffic signal and went through a red light when the brakes would not work. This model and year are under a recall R61 (hhtsa 15V675000) but Chrysler support says our VIN is not covered. Turns out that the manufacture date of our car is about 6 months prior to the reported recall manufacturing dates. This is a dangerous situation that they refuse to even look at or diagnose without charging us to do so. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that our vehicle is exhibiting the exact same problems and symptoms as detailed in the above recall. I guess they want someone to die before taking action. It is my understanding that safety items like ABS are covered for 5 yrs or 100000 miles and our vehicle is under that description as it has 86,000 miles and was built 10/2011

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #18

Mar 242017

Journey

  • 136,516 miles
Driving at low speed, during left hand turn vehicle engine stalled out and power steering ceased functioning. Power to radio, lights, etc. Remained functioning. Upon coming to stop in snowbank, placed vehicle in park, pressed ignition button and vehicle restarted.

- Derry, NH, USA

problem #17

Mar 232017

Journey

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. While driving 50 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The contact stated the brake pedal was released and reapplied until the vehicle finally stopped. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the fact that the vehicle was operating normally. Several days later, while driving 40 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as having a fuse box failure. The independent mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer because there was a recall; however, the dealer stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.

- Riverdale, GA, USA

problem #16

Jan 262017

Journey 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
Transmission went out while driving. Warranty had expired one month prior. Car did not even have 100K miles yet. Dodge tried to say I had never been to a Dodge dealership with the car before so they refused to offer any support.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #15

Sep 102016

Journey

  • 74,000 miles
We had issues with the differential, updates needed and Dodge has no clue. But now this...we have a 2012 Dodge Journey that is acting very strange. It started with the headlights being on, even when they were off (we do not have automatic lights)...then after the car was off, the headlights would flash on and off every 10-30 seconds, we would have to undo the battery to keep it from dieing. We replaced the headlights switch and it still does and added a symptom. When my husband would manually lock the doors, it would unlock by itself. We were told it was the tipm which has to be done by Dodge. Not sure what it will do next!

- Pawtucket, RI, USA

problem #14

Jul 122013

Journey

  • 65,000 miles
My vehicle started knocking after my second oil change. I asked the dealership to look at it and they told me everything was fine. I asked them more than once over the next few years when I got regular oil changes. They said everything was fine. Then in 2016 my vehicle started with a knocking and random misfires. I took it to the dealership and was told that my cams were blown, my pistons were not working and my lifters were bad. My car is four years old. All of these problems culminate in no power to my engine and a possible seizure of my engine. I am requesting this be looked into.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #13

Jan 142016

Journey

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. While the key was in the vehicle, the sensor illuminated and indicated that the key had left the vehicle. The vehicle would shut off without warning. The vehicle would not shift up or down from fourth gear. Even when turning the vehicle off and restarting, the vehicle remained in fourth gear. The manufacturer was notified. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

- Avondale, AZ, USA

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