What 408 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Dodge Journey

The contact's daughter owned a 2014 Dodge Journey. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign: 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, parts were not available. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, black smoke was seen coming from under the hood, and the engine caught on fire. The driver was able to successfully exit the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. The local fire department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. The source of the fire was deemed recall-related. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. No injuries or medical attention were sought. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

NHTSA ODI 11715239

None of the airbags in the car deployed when I was in a high-impact front-end collision traveling at 45 mph. I was wearing my seatbelt, but the airbags did not deploy. I did not have the added protection of the airbags, so my injuries were much more severe than they would have been if the airbags had deployed. I have 2, possibly 3 fractures in my neck and spine, 2 fractures to the ribs near the sternum, organ damage, necrosis and nerve damage to the right leg, severe whiplash and many more injuries. The insurance company inspected the car after the car accident, Pioneer Insurance Company. There were no warning lights on that would indicate a problem with the airbags. I had been driving that car for years and never had a problem with the airbags. To my knowledge, no one has ever been in an accident in this car that would require the use of the airbags. I expected the airbags to work if I ever needed them and they did not, without warning.

NHTSA ODI 11698788

Under heavy braking conditions the vehicles ABS system did not engage and the vehicle slid losing control. There was a safety recall R61 which was documented as completed 20 May 2016, but inspection of the ABS ground wire shows it in its original position when compared to page 18 of the recall instruction. There has been no work on the ABS module since the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11572112

My drivers side headrest busted open and hit me hard in the back of the head. I was driving around 45 mph when I heard a loud pop and I got hit in the back of the head. This caused me to panic and swerve, thinking I got hit by another driver. My mother, child, and myself were in the car at this time and it was a safety hazard, not only to me, but them as well. Being hit by by the head rest set off a bad migraine and neck pain. I have not had it looked at as I can not afford to do so.

NHTSA ODI 11550464

Headrest deployed while sitting in the driveway. The vehicle was in parked and not running. I was getting ready to go to the store. I got in and fastened my seatbelt then the headrest deployed. The ignition was off.

NHTSA ODI 11546139

THE HEADREST DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT HURT MY NECK REALLY BAD. LUCKILY I WAS AT A RED LIGHT OR IM MIGHT HAVE CRASHED

NHTSA ODI 11545962

Malfunction deployed head rest while driving, hit with force back of head, pushing head forward

NHTSA ODI 11523364

Last year on or about June 17, my transmission gave out completely on me while driving up hill on a 2way road. My vehicle is available for inspection, but the transmission has already been replaced with a used transmission. This event put my life and others at risk because my car completely stopped working on an incline with no indication it was going to give out. My father was actually imjured in his attempt to help me stop the car from rolling backwards. The day it happened I took my car to be assessed at our local Dodge dealership, and had it repaired by an independent contractor. As mentioned before there were no warning signs that it was going to fail. No signs of overheating and/or weird noises.

NHTSA ODI 11451965

Unknown car just stopped working and turned off

NHTSA ODI 11434443

fire risk of wiring breaking at upper right corner at liftgate (rear hatch door) wiring is breaking within rubber boot. this cause a fire risk. Other issues is rear lights failure. This hazard has high risk of Rear end collisions. This wire breakage has very dangerous outcome but easy to recall and save lives. I will be fix my wife car before this car gets my family killed. I will also be send the bill for it to maker of the car. This is a noted problem by many dodge owners nation wide. please look into it. SFC[XXX], US ARMY the car number is vin number [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11419611

Front driver side door wiring caught on fire while driving, which now none of the windows work.

NHTSA ODI 11419283

WE WERE HIT ON OUR ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE BY AN OUT OF CONTROL DRIVER, THE SIDE OR FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, MY WIFES HAND WAS BROKE AND MY SONS HEAD BOUNCED OFF THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI 11415466

WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AIRBAG AT FOOT CONTROL PANEL (GAS/BRAKE) DEPLOYS MOVING FEET OFF OF BRAKE PEDAL. THIS REMOVES EMERGENCY CONTROL BY OPERATOR TO STOP VEHICLE. OPERATOR TRIED TO STOP AT INTERSECTION AFTER ANOTHER CAR FAILED TO YIELD/ SLOW DOWN AT INTERSECTION. AFTER INITIAL CONTACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND VEHICLE TRAVELED ANOTHER 50YARDS UNTIL COMING TO STOP IN DITCH. THE LOWER OPERATOR AIRBAG IMPEDED THE USE OF BRAKES BY THE OPERATOR. HAD THERE BEEN MORE TRAFFIC IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED MORE ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11406488

I WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT UP A TWO LANE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY AIRBAGS DEPLOY. I NOTICED MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON A FEW DAYS AGO BUT IT TURNED BACK OFF YESTERDAY. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED MY CAR SHIFTED CAUSING IT TO HIT THE CURB A LITTLE. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR TO THE RIGHT AND PARK IT BUT THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF. I NEED MY CAR FIXED AND DONT KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11306439

I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN 2017. BEFORE A YEAR OF OWNING IT I GOT INTO A WRECK BECAUSE MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULDNT TURN OFF AND INSTEAD STARTED ACCELERATING MORE. THEN I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY. SHORTLY AFTER THE REST OF MY SYSTEMS STARTED TO GO ALONG WITH IT NOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT CAN NO LONGER MOVE OR SO ANYTHING. ONCE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT IT STARTED CLOGGING THE REST OF MY SYSTEM. AS OF SEPTEMBER 2019 MY ENGINE IS NOW COMPLETELY GONE BECAUSE OF ALL THE BACK UP NOT BEING PROCESSED BY MY CATCON

NHTSA ODI 11255683

WHILE DRIVING 20MPH AND A FLAT STRAIGHT ROAD, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND HIT MY WIFE IN THE HEAD.

NHTSA ODI 11241371

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR 2014 DODGE JOURNEY I TESTED MY CRUISE CONTROL AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND TWO LANE ROAD HEADING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND IT INCREASE SPEED FROM 30 MILES PER HOUR ON ITS OWN I'LL PRAISE TO ABOUT 50 TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK AND WIFE COULDN'T STOP CAR WITH BRAKES ALL I WOULD DO IS JERK IT AND WE CAN ACCELERATE ENDED UP CLIPPING AN MBTA BUS WITH NON-INJURY THERE'S NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME THOUGHT OF NEUTRAL POPPED INTO MIND AND SNACKING IN THE NEUTRAL STOPPED AFTER HITTING BRAKES SOLD THIS CAR FROM BOCH NEW TO YOU CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT MAY 17TH RECALL WAS OUT FOR THIS DRIVETRAIN CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE AND I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST BOTH OF 2018 CAR DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A RECALLED CAR PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED GOT ME IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 18 MONTH OLD 3 MONTH OLD + WIFE WHAT TO DO? THIS WAS ON TULANE BOTH WAY STREETS IN THE CITY WHEN TESTING CONTROL HAT EASILY A HUNDRED TO TWO HUNDRED YARDS LENGTH BETWEEN CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT QUICKLY KEPT UP WITH THEM AND HAD TO MANEUVER BETWEEN A BOSS AND LARGE SUV JUST MADE IT THROUGH THE HOLE ON THE CAR IN FRONT OF US INSTEAD OF REAR-ENDING IT CLIPPING MIRROR IN REAR END OF CAR THAT'S WHEN THE OPENING WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME PANIC STOPS AND SMACKED INTO NEUTRAL

NHTSA ODI 11228276

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING BEHIND ME. WHICH I WAS THE DRIVER AND SHE WAS BEHIND ME ON THE LEFT REAR. MY DAUGHTER HAD THE SEAT BELT ON AND SO DID I. MY CONCERN IS WHY DID MY DAUGHTER ENDED UP GOING ALL THE WAY FORWARD HITTING ME FROM BEHIND WITH HER KNEES THAT THE NEXT DAY MY BEHIND WAS HURTING G. WILL MY DAUGHTER ON THE MEAN TIME DURING THE ACCIDENT HER HEAD HURTLED, NOSE, AND UPPER AND LOWER BACK. IT SEEMS THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AS SOON AS THE IMPACT BECAUSE IF IT HAD. MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAD GOTTEN A BUMP ON HER NOSE THAT HURTLED WHICH IT MEANS SHE ENDED HITTING MY SEAT WHERE YOU REST YOUR HEAD. TWO HER KNEES HURTED WHEN SHE WENT FORWARD TO MY SEAT AND HIT ME. THREE, IT MADE HER HEAD TOO MUCH FORWARD AND BACKWARD THAT SHE GOT A HUGE BUMP ON THE HEAD AND THE ENTIRE BACK HURTED. FOR ME MY HEAD HURTED, SHOULDERS AND BUT. BUT FOR ME THE SEAT BELT I FELT IT LOCK INSTANTLY. THIS IMPACT WAS FROM BEHIND WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. THE ACCIDENT WAS HURTFUL BUT NOT TO SERVER OF A TOTAL LOST ON MY END. MY DAUGHTER DID GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THIS IS WHY IT CONCERNS ME.

NHTSA ODI 11163737

MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH STREET, WHEN SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST POPPED FORWARD. IT STRUCK MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD QUITE HARD CAUSING HER TO HAVE A SORE NECK, AND POSSIBLY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION IF IT IS NOT BETTER IN A DAY OR SO. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. IN THE LONG LINE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NUMEROUS RECALLS, THERE IS NOW AN INJURY. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY DRIVER SIDE HEADREST DOING THE SAME WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS CAR IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. AS A LIFE LONG DODGE OWNER, I DON'T THINK I COULD EVER BUY ANOTHER.

NHTSA ODI 11139395

WIFE GOT INTO CAR TO GO TO STORE TOLD ME DONE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. I TRIED EVERY SWITCH IN THE CAR BUT NOTHING WOULD TURN THEM OFF. I SENT HER TO STORE ANYWAY KNOWING THAT BATTERY WOULD NOT DIE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME. WIFE RETURNED FROM GROCERY STORE STATING SOMETHING SMELLS HOT. I LOOKED IN CAR AGAIN AND I ALSO SMELLED BURNT WIRING. I LOOKED AT THE MIDDLE SEAT LIGHT AND SAW SMOKE. I QUICKLY POPPED THE LENS OFF THE DOME LIGHT AND SAW DRIPPING MELTING PLASTIC. I DISCONNECTED THE LIGHT AND TOSSED IT OUT IN THE LAWN. DODGE SENT AN INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT THE EVENT AND I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT ANY DONE LIGHT WILL BECOME HOT IF LEFT ON. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SMOKE, MELT AND ALMOST DRIP ON A 3 YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD. EVEN THE HARNESS MELTED. THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL BUT I BELIEVE (AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT IT ) BELIEVE IT IS. VERY DANGEROUS! I'VE LEFT A DOME LIGHT ON IN MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND NONE STARTED MELTING. I'VE TRIED TO RELAY THIS TO DODGE BUT CAN'T GET ANYONE BUT A LEVEL 1 PERSON TO TALK TO. I'M REALLY BESIDE MYSELF ON THIS. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL. I'M HOPING BY CONTACTING THIS AGENCY I CAN GET A RESOLUTION AND POSSIBLY PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA ODI 11118149

ON MAY 15, 2018, APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER I CRANKED MY VEHICLE AND LEFT FOR WORK MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS APPROACHING A 4WAY STOP IN GAYLESVILLE AL 35973 AT INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 35 AND HIGHWAY 68. LUCKILY THERE WAS A TRUCK STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND THE DRIVER JUMPED OUT TELLING ME VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. BEFORE I EVER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE COVER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND TOTALED OUT THE VEHICLE IT BURNT THE ENGINE ALL THE WIRING THE HOOD AND FRONT AXLES

NHTSA ODI 11098380

IN AUGUST 2017 I CAME OUT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST HAD PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY WE WERE SITTING IN THE CAR WAITING FOR FOOD TO BE DELIVERED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED STRIKING MY DAUGHTER IN THE FACE HARD ENOUGH TO LEAVE A BRUISE. HEADREST WILL NOT RESET AND DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. VEHICLE WAS AT 80000 MILES AT THE TIME SO NO LONGER UNDER FULL WARRANTY, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT REGARDLESS.

NHTSA ODI 11071713

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND BECAME STIFF AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO CONCRETE DIVIDERS. THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,385.

NHTSA ODI 11064862

WHILE IN DRIVE FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OR AUTO-SHIFT OPTION, WHETHER IN MOTION OR NOT, THE GEARSHIFT DOES NOT LOCK MOVING THE SHIFT KNOB FROM DRIVE TO ANY GEAR ABOVE NEUTRAL. MOST GEARSHAFTS IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES LOCK AT NEUTRAL AND THE BRAKE MUST DEPRESS BEFORE GOING INTO REVERSE OR PARK. THIS VEHICLE HAS NO SUCH PREVENTATIVE METHOD AGAINST PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION/ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11058281

IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE FRONT AND BACK END OF THE CAR WERE HIT. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MANUAL SAYS THAT KNEE AIRBAG IS JUST BELOW STEERING COLUMN. ACTUAL AIRBAG DEPLOYED DOWN BY FEET - DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL. SINCE DRIVERS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, THE AIRBAG CRUSHED THE DRIVERS FOOT AGAINST THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING PERMANENT DAMAGE TO FOOT. DRIVER WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING WHEN HIT IN THE REAR CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE CAR AHEAD. IT WAS ON A 4 LANE CITY STREET. 4 CARS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT- ALL GOING STRAIGHT AT A LIGHT. 2 OLDER CARS WITH NO AIRBAGS WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. THEY WERE THE FRONT CARS. DODGE JOURNEY WAS 3RD. DRIVER OF DODGE JOURNEY WAS THE ONLY INJURY. GETTING READY FOR 3RD SURGERY. THIS ACCIDENT HAS CAUSED A PERMANENT DISABILITY. DRIVER WILL NEVER WALK NORMALLY AGAIN...UPDATED 09/26/17 *BF ...UPDATED 10/03/17 *BF UPDATED 7/19/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11025120