Are you familiar with Dodge Journey problems?
Dodge is a known name in the automotive industry. The popularity of their cars only increases as new takes on staple models roll out of the shop.
Some will come with certain common problems, Dodge Journey being no different.
The Dodge Journey is a midsize crossover SUV that was introduced in 2008 by American automaker Dodge. The car has received quite a few commendations on all of its specifications.
The Dodge Journey is available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations and has a roomy cabin with a third-row seat, providing seating for up to seven passengers.
Under the hood, the Dodge Journey offers a choice of two engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 173 horsepower and a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 283 horsepower. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
In terms of safety, the Dodge Journey comes equipped with a range of standard and available safety features, including multiple airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, and a backup camera.
Additionally, it also offers a host of technology features, such as a touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
Though Dodge Journey can be considered a rather reliable car, ranking 6th among midsize SUVs, it’s not without problems. That’s also guaranteed considering how much time the model has spent in circulation. With so many years of production, some have to bear a couple of problems.
Most Common Dodge Journey problems
Problems with a car can be plentiful but some will always end up being the most common. In the case of Dodge Journey, we have multiple considerable drawbacks.
Including ones that could compromise the safety of your car in the long term. Lastly, the issues can result in considerable costs due to their frequency. We will go through all of them.
- Brakes
The braking system can often find itself as part of issues on vehicles. These are complex and can malfunction in a multitude of ways. So it’s no wonder when the problem crops up. Malfunctioning brakes have problems beyond pure technical ones. If a dangerous situation comes up, unfortunate problems with brakes could end in harm.
With the Dodge Journey, we can experience the brakes wearing out prematurely. Certain models are especially susceptible to this problem. Being both a safety concern and an extra source of costs, problems with brake pads are troublesome.
Even though the brake pads are the initial concern, their wear, and tear can easily spread to other components of the brakes.
Some people have noted that brake pad replacement can become exceptionally frequent. With a report noting they had to replace the brake pads during the same month. The wear can kick in as early as 3000 miles, though more common occurrences of this problem happen later.The issue was so bad that a class action lawsuit was raised against Dodge. [1]
- Engine cooling problems
Engine fuels the entire car. Therefore, the engine can easily overheat which can cause a ton of problems. The overheating is solved with the cooling systems present in the car. However, when these problems happen, it’s easy for them to adversely affect a lot of our cars.
With the cooling present in Dodge Journey, the car generally provides ample capacity to keep the car cooled. However, the problem with cooling can still happen. In fact, it’s among the most common ones for Dodge Journey. [2]
The frequently reported engine cooling problems also include cooling leaks. The cooling leak is frequently associated with bad connections, a broken radiator, or even a malfunctioning water pump.
- Inaccurate speed settings
Speed settings are an important component of any vehicle, as they provide drivers with information about how fast they are traveling. Inaccurate speed settings can be a serious problem, as they can lead to issues with safety, performance, and fuel efficiency.
One of the most common Dodge Journey problems related to speed settings is inaccurate speedometer readings. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including a faulty speed sensor or a malfunctioning instrument cluster.
In some cases, the problem may be related to the vehicle’s transmission or engine, which can cause the speedometer to provide incorrect readings. [3]
Another common issue is with the cruise control system. The Dodge Journey’s cruise control system is designed to maintain a constant speed, but if the speed sensor is malfunctioning, the system may be unable to maintain the correct speed. This can lead to fluctuations in speed or even unexpected acceleration or deceleration, which can be dangerous.
Inaccurate speed settings can also cause problems with fuel efficiency. If the speedometer is providing incorrect readings, the driver may unknowingly drive faster or slower than the optimal speed for fuel efficiency. This can result in wasted fuel and higher costs at the pump.
- Rough idle
Every car has an idle speed which is dictated by the rotational speed the engine has when it is not getting extra speed from the throttle pedal is pressed. Rather than being something measured in miles or kilometers per hour, it is measured in revolutions of the crankshaft per minute. Its use is to make for an easier shift from any gear to the idling of our car.
The most unpredictable of problems is a rough idle. Though this issue by itself isn’t that bad of a problem, there are a ton of things it could be a symptom of. Some of these are rather insignificant, while others can be damaging to the car. [4]
When running the car, we will experience some rather uncomfortable side effects. These include the car being rough and bouncy. The discomfort is the least of our problems, because consistent exposure to this more considerable issue could be rooted in something within the car giving up.
Solutions to Dodge Journey problems
A couple of these issues can be resolved and sometimes don’t even require a visit to the mechanic’s shop. However, a check-up is still welcome solely to clear up any less visible problems that could be brewing in our car.
As a start, you can attempt to solve the cooling issues by inspecting the components for any debris. The interposing of materials in this area can be dangerous for the health of the car. It’s also among one of the simplest causes that could make our car act up.
Resolving inaccurate speed readings in our car can be done with software. That means we can resolve the problem quickly. A simple check for software updates for your powertrain control module, PCM, may resolve any problems.
Another problem tied to PCM is one of rough idling. Now this is a problem that will generally require more diagnostics. If you use a diagnostic tool, the error code of PO50D will confirm the problem is with PCM. We will then be able to resolve the problem with proper updates.
The brakes in this car can easily break but the solution to its wear and tear hasn’t been found. Thankfully, the brakes do have an extended warranty which can aid us greatly. However, the brakes will still harm the car’s consistency by breaking shortly after crossing 10,000 miles.
If all else fails, getting the car fully checked out is important. With extra maintenance, we will have far more consistency.
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Conclusion
The quality of a car like the Dodge Journey is apparent by its high ratings. Though consistency is hard to keep up after so many releases of the model. Considering it is a car from 2008, the general simplicity of its issues is good.
The problems such as engine cooling, inaccurate speed readings, and rough idle can impact how well the car performs but the solutions to these problems are present. Even if direct action fails to help it, the warranty can be used to resolve them.
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