Most common 2011 Dodge Journey problems
Share of the 169 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Journey complaints by model year
Best Journey years: 2008, 2020, 2019. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2015. Compare all years →
2011 Dodge Journey recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: 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 free of charge.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
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 power steering assist.
Remedy: 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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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 manifold.
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Column
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.
Remedy: 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 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 Dodge Journey:
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
Vehicle entrapment
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 parties to confirm or refute the defect allegation.
What 2011 Dodge Journey owners say
Brakes all 55 →
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard with the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS brake module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the ABS brake module part had been discontinued. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
My husband and myself purchased our 2011 Dodge Journey rt 2 yrs ago and was sold on how great this truck was. Since then we have changed the rotors and brakes 6 times. We had our tires changed due to shaking while braking but the problem still existed. So the tires were not the problem. Recently 2 days ago my husband was driiving with my children in the truck and could not stop the truck due to the brakes. He pushed the brakes literally all the way to the floor and hardly stopped. My truck is now in a tow yard and luckily my husband and kids are safe. There is definite problem with these trucks and something need to be done before someone is seriously hurt. We r now without a vehicle due to this problem which I have called Dodge and complained about and was told it's a basic problem with the brakes and there is no official recall on them. Someone should be responsible for this problem!
Electrical system all 43 →
Today 8-24-15 my 2011 Dodge Journey shut off as I was driving down a road. There was no prior indication the car all of the sudden would not steer , brake or do anything . The electric was still on but the car completely shut off . I had to use all my strength to maneuver it off the road and wait for it to slow down . My child was in the car . This is the second incident this has happened - 1st being in March 2015. Both have been reported to Chrysler . Both times I have brought to my local mechanic and it was set up for computerized diagnostic testing and both time threw no error codes. My mechanic believes it is an issue with the win module or something that is making the car ignition faulty and turning to accessory mode . It is unsafe to drive and I have contacted Chrysler because they need to stand behind their product . …
I was driving on the freeway to work and the engine shut off. I lost power steering, power braking, ability to accelerate or really drive the car at all. All I could do was try to safely navigate an uncontrollable vehicle to the shoulder and hope I wasn't hit in the process. The check engine light came on, in addition to other warning lights (I think they were the tire pressure light, the vehicle traction control light and another indicator that looks like a lightning bolt). The car eventually restarted, but had problems driving and would start to cut out when it idled. We took it back to Dodge, they ran diagnostics but couldn't find any issues. After a lot of pressure, they replaced the main computer chip in the system. This was after replacing another minor part that didn't change the issue. This seemed to work for a few months, but then the problem began happening again. …
Engine & cooling all 34 →
The contact owned a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was repaired, however, the failure recurred while the vehicle was stopped at a stop sign, and the contact saw flames coming from the hood. The contact exited the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. A fire report was filed. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The contact was informed that the fire started in the manifold. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving about 35 MPH, the contact saw smoke emitting from the hood without warning. The contact pulled to the side and added some coolant but the failure recurred after driving 5 more minutes. The vehicle lost power and the contact saw flames from the engine. The fire momentarily extinguished itself. The steering wheel then could not turn and the vehicle shut down. The contact mentioned that the alternator and wiring were damaged sue to the failure. There was no report filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the contact's resident. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the failure was known but the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
2011 Dodge Journey engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Journey a good car?
Based on 169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Journey rates better than average: 58% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Journey at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Dodge Journey?
The brakes — 55 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › rotor. Next are the electrical system (43) and engine & cooling (34).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Journey have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2011 Dodge Journey, the most recent from July 7, 2017 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Journey?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2020 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010 and 2015. See the full Dodge Journey years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Journey problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.