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).
While I exited off a highway ramp to proceed on another highway, I put my indicator on to break into highway traffic, my vehicle then lost control by itself and slammed repeatedly onto the guard rails. The vehicle did not come to an immediate stop so I struggled to gain control and the vehicle stopped approximately .45 mi from the accident. It is a new car with a 100,000 miles warranty so I called the manufacturer and made a complaint. They had an investigator come out and investigate the crash and car and I don't know what the end result is because up to this day I have not received a copy of the report or any information on what happened to my car the day of the crash. I am devastated because I have been without my car ever since. It is still in the manufacturers possession. They do not answer any of my calls or respond to any of my massages. …
I purchased this car new on July 23,2012, and almost immediately there was a loud groaning noise from the front end, also started to pull to the right. My first dealer contact was on sept 4, 2012 and worked on the brakes, and this somewhat corrected the problem for about a week. The dealer has worked on the steering and brakes a total of 8 times, replacing the brakes several times, also deglazeing and lubricating and whatever, each time it worked for a week or so. The last time , April 29, 2014, a complete brake job was done on the rear brakes, a front end alignment, and repair the front brakes. This cost me $499.00. Mileage is 46700. They also rebuilt the engine due to head and valve failure. As of May 25, 2015 it is again making the noise and pulling hard to the right. I think Chrysler should take this car back. VIN [redacted]
On multiple occasions over the past two or three months, my vehicle loses all power, and at same time the power steering goes out and brakes have to pushed extra hard to get them to work. This has happened when driving under 40 MPH in town. It has happened most often within the first 5 minutes of starting the car, but today it happened after I had been driving 30 minutes on the highway and then in town for several minutes. It has happened when slowing down, when accelerating, or when going stable speed, as well as before a turn, after a turn, or while going straight. I have been able to pull over to side of road and stop, put car in park, and restart it. We took the car to a local car repair shop twice, and they could find nothing wrong after hooking it to their computer. The car has 87,756 miles on it. …
On multiple occasions my vehicle will loose all power. If I'm going over 45 it usually restarts itself. If under 40 the steering locks up, all electrical shuts down and I cannot get hazard lights or pull over. I can throw it into neutral and hit the push-to-start and it restarts. Sometimes, like at stoplights, I have had to throw it into park then restart it. There have been a few instances of it not restarting no matter what we try. Through trial and error we got it to start again after serious rocking. I have noticed it happens more if the USB port or aux port are being used, although it has happened a couple of times without those being touched. Has only been happening since the majority of the functions with my on-board entertainment unit went out. Dealership can not diagnose, say they cannot get the problem to duplicate. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the throttle and traction control warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle shook violently. On a separate occasion, while driving at low speeds, the engine stalled without warning. The failures recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the BCM needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at approximately 15 MPH, the check engine, throttle, and traction control warning indicators illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the BCM needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. Updated 05/03/16
On August 3rd 2017 I purchased a 2012 Dodge Journey with 32000 miles. On August 4 2017 I picked the vehicle up. I noticed that evening that the front right headlight was not working. I brought the car back to the dealer and they fixed it. On August 13, 2017 the tire pressure light came on. I went to fill the tire but it seemed fine. I figured it was just a sensor that needed to be fixed. August 15, 2017 the change oil light came on even though it didn't need to be serviced. August 17, 2017 as I went to put the car in drive the car seemed to be pulling and the traction control light came on. Then the ABS light and the maintenance AWD light came on along with the others. The car will hesitate to accelerate and makes a kind of grinding noise off and on. …
It's been a few weeks now that my steering wheel started turning hard.. When it got really hard to turn was when I took it serious that something May be wrong.. About three week ago , being at the end of June I checked my power steering oil I noticed I had major oil loss.. I had it serviced as a local garage thinking it May have been the rack and pinions. When they serviced it was serviced with a new power steering cooler and pump..costing me over $1000 in repairs.the problem wasn't fixed because the wheel was still hard to turn. The next day I took it to good year, they clean the rack and pinion with degreaser from all the oil leaking.. The told me to drive it for a couple day and see what happens.. It drove normal for a week, July 4 2020 while out in about, it started smoking and squeaking.. I pulled over and has it told to a garage.. I'm thinking it May be the serpentine belt.
Myself and my 3 young children were driving down a pretty dark highway at about 10 pm. 3 hours from home. In a storm and very heavy rain. Vehicle suddenly lost power. When I gave it gas the engine just revved. Lost all power including windshield wipers and power steering I quickly dropped from 75 to 40 with semis barreling up behind me as I was trying to get to a shoulder to pull off on. Car died and would not restart. We were stuck on the side of the road for 5 hours with no heat and no power to the car. Even callled roadside and they tried to jump it. It would start but then go haywire again. Battery light and etc as well as all others lights come on. It has left me and my kids in the cold more than once. No one seems to know the problem as the battery and alternator are testing fine. Vehicle is now sitting in my drive way and won't do anything. At all.
I took my car for recall few days ago for steering and cover for the engine now my car wont start the computer and everything is not working everything is locked I have no issues boforee the recall.its sitting there not able to start wheel is locked and brakes I everything is going off wipers and other stuff going crazy ....... I drove one time after the recall I dont know whats going on... I never had any issues with the car until I took the car for recall.. Its not the same the car was in the shop for recall appt on Thursday April 12 2018 soon as I left the car would not start on fri the following day and its going crazy what do I need to do they did something to it making the car not start it wont let me choose what is wrong with the car on the form is unknoown or other and elec stabilty control and electrical
Power steering return line burst on a cold start 01/17/18 in moorhead mn at about 0 degrees f. He is a new driver as of 09/13/17 and was scared at an intersection when turning left with oncoming traffic that the vehicle was very hard to steer. He avoided an accident narrowly. Despite many many models of the Dodge Journey vehicle being covered under NHTSA campaign #16V273000, his vehicle isn't. This type of mfr defect should not be presented live in traffic to an inexperienced driver. His exact vehicle model and engine are covered under the campaign if it had a block heater? The lack of block heater had nothing to do with this failure and owners of this vehicle should have been notified.
Related recalls
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.
Steering complaints in other Journey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2012 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the steering of the 2012 Dodge Journey, 6% of the model year's 376 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Journey steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-273 (hose, piping, and connections, May 6, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Journey steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to steering 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.