10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,582 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Dodge Journey Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #91

Dec 012020

Journey

  • 100,000 miles

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

I have had trouble with heat every winter for the past four years. I have paid thousands of dollars on this every winter and will work for that season only.

- Kokomo, IN, USA

problem #90

Oct 102020

Journey

  • miles
NHTSA id number:11258769 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: Second quarter of 2019 model-year 2013-14 cars: Third quarter of 2019 model-year 2015-16 cars: Fourth quarter of 2019

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #89

Sep 252020

Journey

  • 120,000 miles
The 2012 Dodge Journey SUV wiring harness in the rear hatch if used regularly the wires will brake and cause numerous electrical issues. Ranging from no rear lights, windshield wiper, the rear lock button will also malfunction. Sometimes as in my case it has cause alternator issues. I am now broke down due to what will now be my 3rd alternator in the last 6 months. I feel this vehicle needs to recalled.

- Tucker, GA, USA

problem #88

Sep 012014

Journey

  • 50,000 miles

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

The thermal stat housing has been replaced 2 times. The oil pan gasket does lot last. The alternator has been replaced 2 times. The was an electrical shortage in the sb port but only seemed to worked when it was taken to dealer. The head rest deployed when no one was in the car.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #87

Jun 132020

Journey

  • 163,000 miles
I was driving down the highway with my two kids when I had turned my bright lights on then off again as cars were coming when the windshield wipers turned on. They will not turn off, the high beams won't turn on and my blinkers do not work as well. Everytime I start the vehicle the windshield wipers turn on and cannot be turned off again. Everything in the switch that controls all of these features is useless and a huge safety issue. Luckily we were not hit turning off the highway headed home.

- Thayne, WY, USA

problem #86

Feb 022020

Journey

  • 149,000 miles
I have been reading about my issue all too often online and have yet to see any resolution at all. I have a 2012 Dodge Journey and honestly it is scary driving it! the car actually shuts off in the middle of the road without warning. The issue it keeps showing is a crank sensor code. The sensor has been replaced 3 times now! it is also not an easy job since on an all wheel drive model, there are many hours involved to replace it. But if you're on the highway and driving normally the car will die at any moments notice and give no warning. Seems like there are many many others having the same issue. If you do a quick search and type Dodge Journey dies while driving you will easily find many people with same issue. Many people spending their hard earned money on repairs that get them nowhere! this really is sad and Dodge has done nothing to help except continue to put peoples lives at risk and taking their money for repairs! please help! I have been having this issue over 30 times in the past few months! the car is not safe to drive

- North Wales, PA, USA

problem #85

Jan 282020

Journey

  • 105,441 miles

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

My truck first started with my drivers side taillight going out. It don't work when my lights are off, but when my light out on it works prefect fine. When I first notice this was when I went to get in my car during the day and my neighbors who was parked behind me told me my taillight was out and was the led taillight. I believe there is as electrical issues there. And secondly, my airbag light come on. The vehicle was on a city street and all I did was turning a corner and it came on and still on. Thirdly, when it raining outside driving and stop at a red light, when it turns green and I proceed to go and my tires slide my radio would restart like I just cut my truck on. Everything happened at different times, but the most recent is the airbag light coming on.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #84

Jan 172020

Journey

  • 110,000 miles
I have had my speed censor and wheel bearing repaired twice very closely together and it now needs done again. My ABS, traction, and AWD lights are all on. When they are all on, I have no traction at all and slide all over the place. It is very unsafe and I feel like my car is a death trap. I have put over $10,000 into my car in less than 3 years for unnecessary maintenance.

- Gibsonburg, OH, USA

problem #83

Dec 122019

Journey

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact attempted to remove her child from the vehicle, but neither of the rear doors would open on either side. The doors also failed to open from inside the vehicle. The contact called Suburban Ford of sterling heights (40333 van dyke ave, sterling heights, mi 48313, (586) 268-7500), but no assistance was offered. The contact then called ray laethem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (18001 mack ave, detroit, mi 48224, (313) 884-7210) and was instructed on how to remove her child out of vehicle. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #82

Jun 202019

Journey

  • 174,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the battery would suddenly fail intermittently and the vehicle would have to be jumpstarted. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The contact called dishman Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep (located at 7700 E sprague ave, spokane, wa 99212, 509-724-0024) and was informed that the battery failed. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued intermittently. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that it was a common failure with the vehicle; however, there was no permanent remedy. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.

- Okanogan, WA, USA

problem #81

Oct 152019

Journey

  • 60,000 miles

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

My dash message says key fob battery low. Sometimes it says key not detected and I can not start the car. At other times the fob won't unlock the car.I have changed key fob batteries and that does not solve the problem. This problem happens when I try to start the car after it has been parked and I return.

- Clio, MI, USA

problem #80

Oct 122018

Journey

  • 110,015 miles
Water leaks from the hood by the driver's side headlight on to the battery causing the terminals to corrode over time. Poor design flaw that left me having to cancel a trip.

- Montesano, WA, USA

problem #79

Apr 012019

Journey

  • 203,000 miles
This vehicle has electrical issues. The doors lock automatically when the tailgate is opened. The radio and climate control come on by themselves even after turning it off multiple times. The steering makes a whining noise especially when you are turning to the left. The AWD and traction control is off and the service AWD light comes on. The cruise control stopped working when there was a loud "thump" in the rear end and all the traction and AWD dashboard lights came on. All these problems are evident and occur while driving.

- Doniphan, MO, USA

problem #78

Oct 032019

Journey

  • 92,000 miles
I was driving my car yesterday when the battery light came on and in the process of trying to get it back home everything in the car started shutting off and then the car started stalling while I was on the road I barely made it into a gas station before the car died and had it towed to triple a repair shop to have a diagnostics done on the car which has now been stated to me that its the alternator and ive only had the car 3 months bought it used but the battery went bad and now the alternator in less then 2 months of each other along with the actuator also clicking when the alternator went out. All of this happening in a short amount of time. When the car started dying all the electrical lights went off the brakes the ABS the air bags everything and this was on a busy road during rush hour traffic. I barely got my car to a safe location and that was only because my husband was following behind me in his car. This problem made it extremely difficult to break at red lights and get my car moving thru the intersection to the gas station. And the car light was on about 15 minutes maybe before it finally stalled out the car.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #77

Sep 032019

Journey

  • 130,000 miles
Got my 2012 Dodge Journey a year ago live the rig but has always had electrical problems stemming from fuse box. Reads -15 on dash board at all times, sometimes won't start and can wiggle fuse box around, you can hear the sounds of electrical pops and then will start and do fine. Trying to save up for new one but over three hundred dollars for new one. And one more issue my Journey clearly says SXT on the vehicle but the VIN comes up on your site as an SE how does that work.

- Shelton, WA, USA

problem #76

Jul 082019

Journey

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the ABS and brake warning indicators illuminated when the vehicle was started. On one occasion, the entire instrument panel illuminated and then reset; however, the two initial warning indicators remained lit. The contact took the vehicle to arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram West palm beach (6500 okeechobee blvd, West palm beach, fl 33411, (561) 282-1545) where it was repaired per two unknown recalls; however, the ABS defect was not included in any recalls. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #75

Aug 022019

Journey

  • 89,000 miles
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module. There's was a recall for our 2012 Dodge Journey which the previous owners took care of in Oct 2015 (the month and year of recall). We purchased in 2017. A few time the ABS light has come on but only for a minute or 2 since we bought it. Today 8/2/2019 it came on along with the brake light and (no traction light (the swiveling car image light). We have had a lot of heavy rain. We where told by servicing station by diagnostic test it was the ABS control module system malfunction. And if we did not get fixed our brakes could lock up and system freeze up. This is definitely a safety issue that was corrected in past but is now happening again. These lights came on just as we stared to drive. When the car was resting for 30 minutes and I was leaving to drive to service station the break pedal was extremely hard to push down ( break needs to be pressed with touch button start). I almost couldn't start car. The break finally softened and I was able to press down to start car. At that point the light did not come back on for 5 minutes while driving but sadly it did come back. I feel we should not have to pay to fix a problem that has come up again from a previous recall. This is a big safety concern. It was in the past and should be again.

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #74

Jul 202019

Journey 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
Wiring harness exiting rear of vehicle entering into rear hatch supplying power to overhead brake light, license plate lights and hatch dome light is severed inside rubber sleeve. I currently have no lights to the rear hatch. Rubber sleeve shows no sign of fatigue or failure but wires inside are severed. Link is to another Journey owners video of his similar issue only I have several broken wires not just one. Https://www.bing.com/videos/search"Q=2012+rear+hatch+light+repair&view=detail&mid=396ee57beae941266444396ee57beae941266444&form=vire. Dodge dealer said no open recalls. Per video, problem reported to Dodge 2016. I had no idea of issue until oil change /inspection today 7/20/2019. For some reason did not appear to have blown any fuses which means there is a potential for arching/fire. Design/safety flaw? the overhead rear brake light was installed for a reason and should work. I would have tried to insert pictures but I do not own a camera. Video link accurately depicts issue except in my case I have several severed wires. Currently only the rear hatch lock works. Question: Attempt repair or have a mechanic replace wiring harness"

- Fairview Park, OH, USA

problem #73

Jun 132019

Journey

  • 113,000 miles
Yesterday, while waiting at a stop sign my 2012 Journey shut off. I had no idea it had even shut off! I pressed the gas to go and the car wouldn't move. I was a little baffled because the radio was still playing. I put the car in park and pressed the ignition and the car started again. This is latest and most unsafe issue that I have experienced with this car. The radio randomly changes stations and it doesn't shut off when the car is shut off. I have to turn the radio off before I turn the car off because it will continue to play. This started about 8 months ago. The car was turned off and the drivers door was opened, but the radio kept playing. If I forget to turn it off before the ignition, I have to restart the car and let the radio play for a min or so before I can turn it off. Also, the rear air suddenly comes on. When I turn it off it comes back on. If it's synced with the front air, it will randomly go to the high setting. The Journey also does a jerking motion while driving. This happens on the highway or neighborhood roads too. We thought that maybe it was the transmission, but we had it checked and it's fine! after yesterday's sudden shutoff, I'm wondering if all that jerking was a sign of what was to come. The brake light has been coming on for a few weeks as well. I could be driving on a city street or highway and the break light comes on. It usually happens while driving straight, acceleration or driving at a constant speed. It happens so frequently that my kids are like, here we go again because we, our bodies, start jerking with the car. We bought this car brand new at the end of 2011. I loved it at first, but now I'm afraid to put my kids in it something needs to be done. There are issues with diff. Model years, so if the problems are being fixed on some, it should be fixed on all. After all, the company made $ on all of them & our lives are valuable

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #72

May 092019

Journey

  • 103,620 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently. Napleton's northwestern Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (5950 N western ave, Chicago, il 60659, (773) 334-3400) stated that there was an electrical failure and the battery was not successfully supplying a current to start the vehicle. The contact watched a youtube video and temporarily repaired the vehicle before going to the dealer. When the dealer saw the remedy that was performed, they did not service the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 103,620.

- Eveanstone, IL, USA

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