2010 Dodge Journey Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Dodge Journey most often describe electrical faults that appear without warning: the horn sounding on its own, windows and wipers moving by themselves, batteries draining and the engine shutting off or refusing to start. These reports are spread across a wide mileage range and often recur after parts were replaced. Separate, smaller groups of complaints describe power steering hoses losing assist, driver head restraints deploying unprompted, and repeated brake work.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Horn honking and other random electrical faults

   • 283 complaints (29%)
   • median 80,250 mi at 7.3 yrs old (230 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $725 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe the horn sounding by itself while driving, parked or overnight, along with windows rolling down, wipers running, lights flashing and doors locking or unlocking without input. Several owners removed the horn fuse to stop it, and some report batteries draining flat and the engine cutting out at the same time. According to complaints, dealers sometimes replaced the key fob, ignition switch or a control module, while others found no fault. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 200,000 miles, with many between 80,000 and 170,000 miles, and often recurring after repairs.

   Recall 14V3730002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the horn, body control module or ignition switch has been replaced, and test the horn, windows, wipers and locks with the engine off. Check that the battery holds a charge after sitting overnight.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My horn started chriping for no reason while parked and while driving. I took the batteries out of both key fobs and was still going off. Tried locking and unlocking both with and without the fob. I had to remove the horn fuse to get it to stop. I have seen many of these vehicles with the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414383, filed 2021-04, 8,900 miles

   “I have been having problems with the horn sounding off on its own. Windshield wipers running by them selves. Headlights flashing and problems with picking up speed. I have checked all ground wires and fuses and everything is in tack”

   NHTSA complaint #11406971, filed 2021-04, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or will not restart

   • 339 complaints (34%)
   • median 76,719 mi at 5.7 yrs old (277 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at speed or at low speed with no warning light, then restarting after cycling the key or shifting into neutral. Some report intermittent no-start conditions where the car sits dead for hours or days, with batteries, starters and ignition parts replaced without a lasting fix. A few complaints mention rough running or a check engine light after a stall. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 160,000 miles, sometimes at lower mileage.

   Recall 14V3730002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, neutral safety switch or starter has been serviced, and whether the car has a history of stalling or needing a jump start. Try several cold starts, including starting in neutral.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving down the road my car shut off on its own. I had to put the car in neutral to get it started again. This is not the first time it happens frequently. I found out that a recall on the ignition switch module had been repaired but it is still hepening so I feel the recall needs to be reopened. If it goes unfixed I fear it will cause a serious accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11318851, filed 2020-03, 93,000 miles

   “Two times I was driving down the highway and vehicle shut down. I was parked then tried to start an would not start. It has a remote start an starts on its own an windows roll down on their own. When I get near the vehicle with the key fab the lights come on an sometimes without pushing the button on key fab it starts on its own. I have been driving an went to turn in driveway an it shut down. Stopped at stoplight an it shut down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378020, filed 2020-12, 96,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering hose leaks and loss of assist

   • 66 complaints (7%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming hard to turn, often at start-up, with fluid leaking or a hose failing at a fitting and leaving a puddle. Some owners report the same line failing more than once, and a few mention repair bills with the problem returning. Several owners link their experience to the power steering hose recalls for this model. Generally reported above 100,000 miles, with several owners noting failures at start-up in below-freezing weather.

   Recall 16V273000Recall 10V475000

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering return and pressure hoses have been replaced under recall or otherwise, and look for fluid seepage or wet spots around the hoses and reservoir.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is the second time within three months this has happened. First time I was driving at 30 MPH and was able to safely pull over. Second time. Driving and all the sudden lose power steering. A hose under car keeps bursting at the pinch clamp and losing all power steering fluid. This has happened twice this winter. Last night at start up with below freezing temps. Car started heard a noise like I ran over something ( car was in park) and lost all power steering fluid.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311795, filed 2020-02, 160,000 miles

   “This is the second year in a row we have to replace the power steering lines. Last year the return line burst while driving. Now just yesterday ( 02/09/2021) a line burst again while driving.the vehicle only has this issue in the winter. It started to be almost impossible to steer. It felt like the power steering pump was locking up.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395548, filed 2021-02, 120,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Driver head restraint deploys unexpectedly

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the driver or passenger front head restraint popping forward on its own while the car is parked, or when someone reaches into the back seat, striking the occupant in the head. Complaints describe broken plastic clips and a mechanism that cannot be reset. Some owners say the dealer would not cover the repair. Reported from about 70,000 to 150,000 miles, usually while the car was parked.

   What to check: Check both front head restraints by pressing them back and forth to see whether the latch holds, and ask whether either restraint has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Head rests both are popped out. They have something to do with the air bag system. They hit my head on the driver side the last week hit my cousin in the head. It hurt a lot. It's my understanding from research this happens across many years and makes of Dodge Journey.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329704, filed 2020-06, 89,000 miles

   “I walked outside to my Journey and the passenger side front headrest was deployed with no occupancy at the time. The little black clips are broken and I cannot pull it back down to disengage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11310884, filed 2020-02, 150,123 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Repeated brake work and stopping concerns

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the brake pedal feeling soft or the vehicle not stopping smoothly, with pads and rotors replaced more than once in a short period. Some owners report a traction control light appearing after brake work, and pedal travel that feels longer than expected. Repairs described vary widely, from new pads and rotors to diagnostics that found no clear cause. Reported across a wide range, with several complaints in the first 25,000 to 90,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for brake service records and check pedal feel and rotor condition on a test drive. Have a mechanic inspect the brakes and traction control system if a warning light is on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlights stopped working on and off while driving. Had to replace $1000 electrical panel. Airbag light will not go off. Ignition switch, acceleration switch, brake switch, and cruise control switch all needing replaced after this was done. Egr valve problems. My car jumps, acceleration problems while driving, brakes less sensitive and having to stop from a distance, cruise control works then stops working while driving. Window switch,motor and wiring replaced on drivers side and works sometimes but mostly doesn't work.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325368, filed 2020-05, 110,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the vehicle brakes failed. While driving and depressing the brake pedal the brakes failed to operate smoothly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the brake pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic testing. The contact stated that the brake pads and rotors were replaced five times in less than two years. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11306654, filed 2020-02, 25,000 miles

Buying note. A 2010 Journey can be a low-cost used buy, but ask for service records on the electrical system, power steering hoses and brakes, and check whether open recalls for airbags and the power steering hose have been performed. Test the horn, windows, locks and starting behavior carefully, since electrical complaints are the most common in this sample.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.