Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Journey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the part was on back order. The contact stated that after severe weather, the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated. While the vehicle was in a parking lot, the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty ABS module and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and linked the failure to the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that numerous warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle stalled and the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that she had experienced the failure with unknown warning lights illuminated prior to the failure however, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the failure and found that water had entered the ABS module and caused the failure. The mechanic had advised that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the driver's side wheel sensor, the passenger's side wheel sensor, and the crank position sensor were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Darcars Orange Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (7233 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244) for recall repair; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that after it rained, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the speedometer gauge dropped to "0 MPH". The contact stated that the warning lights illuminated after it rained; additionally, the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that water was entering the ABS module and the ABS module needed to be replaced. The mechanic notified the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was soft, and the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure might be related to the ABS module. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and that additional repairs would be at the owners expense. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module was failing and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,784.
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.
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. …
.... Takata inflators.... I wrote a complain today I wrote a wrong dates it was last Thursday April 5th that I took my car for recall appt April 5th and they did steering wiring and cover for engine and umm I started to have problems after recall on late Friday on the 6th of April which is Friday my car wont start all week I dont know what to do because no one was home and it was late beccause everybody my family dont get off at 5 so I am waiting for dennis dillion to call me Monday I had no problems bofore the recall none its not working it wont start at all ccomputer seems so screwed up the steerng is locked and brake is locked lights blinking and everything else is coming on for no reason and goes off and on and I dont know what they did... Bofore I did not have any leak either as well I could not start at all.. I been stuck home all week... …
I was driving my car at approximately 50 miles per hour, when it seems like my steering or the wheels seemed "off.' I checked to make sure all of my tires were correctly pressured and they were, so I kept driving. Approximately 20 miles down the road, well going approximately 60 miles per hour the electronic stability control light came on post flashing and with an off symbol underneath it in two separate locations. Also the red lightning bolt symbol came on as well. At the same time that the lights came on my car decelerated at a rapid pace, which was not at all safe on the highway. I immediately turned on my flashers and pulled to the side of the road. After getting on my phone to see what it could be, I decided that I would limp home with the car so I could research a little further what was going on at home. …
Related recalls
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC)…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary.
Traction Control complaints in other Journey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2012 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2012 Dodge Journey, 13% of the model year's 376 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Journey traction control problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-675 (electronic stability control (esc), Oct 19, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Journey traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.