Dodge as a brand has been known to be a brand that focuses on performance and numbers a lot and this ideology came into existence due to its past and performance history. However, the brand also offers family-oriented vehicles and the Dodge Journey is their midsize family SUV which has been practical and tough-looking just like the way it should be. The 2017 Dodge Journey does have some tough times as this particular market is crowded but the fact that it’s priced at $21,195 makes it much more affordable than its rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Chevrolet Equinox, and the Kia Sorento. Even though the base engine on the Journey isn’t the most powerful, Dodge offers the option of a bigger V6 for the speed junkies. The Dodge Journey has only 1 recall and a total of 117 complaints on NHTSA suggesting that this is a rather reliable car.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Warning light – The users stated that the warning lights flashed for no reason and immediately cut the engine power down and entered the limp mode. It was also noticed that the airbag lights come on when driving and fail to go away for a few days.
- USB – The USB and charging ports in the car stopped giving out power failing to connect or charge devices.
- Battery – Users claimed the battery died in short intervals and needed replacement way before the estimated time.
- Horn – It was stated that the horn was way too weak and not audible which may lead to an unsafe situation when driving.
- Door lock – The car fails to lock at times even though the key fob isn’t present in the cabin.
- Bluetooth – The Bluetooth on the car was claimed to be unreliable and disconnected abruptly.
- Cruise control – The car automatically gets into cruise control and it doesn’t disengage even after multiple clicks on the button.
Mechanical Problems
- Steering – The steering wheel was reported to lock at times leaving the driver to lose control.
- Engine – Users reported the car to stall at times and also accelerate and decelerate on its own. There were also cases where the car was on fire that began from the engine area and the users received no explanation regarding the cause. The engine also failed to respond to the accelerator and stalled without any warning
- Fuel system – The gas tank leaked and left stains underneath the car wherever it was parked.
- Powertrain – the car started jerking while driving without any warning. The car also displayed the transmission temperature to be too high which didn’t let the car start until it cooled down.
- Transmission – The gearbox was noticed to slip and jerk, making a clunky noise. It was hard for the gears to shift smoothly and switching to ‘Reverse’ was a task as it doesn’t engage at times.
- Brakes – The brakes failed to work which led to the owner crashing into another car.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – Users stated that the seatbelt failed to buckle and at times they weren’t able to pull the latch across as the belt was locked.
- Airbags – The airbag warning kept coming on while driving and there were cases where the airbags failed to deploy during a crash.
Exterior Problems
- Lights – Both the headlights and taillights were reported to not work at times when driving.
- Tires – Users reported the tires wear off sooner than they are supposed to.
Interior Problems
- Seats – The passenger seat headrest deployed and separated when driving and this hurts the occupant.
- AC – The air starts blowing no matter how many times the AC is turned off.
Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
17th May 2018 |
18V332000 |
Cruise control cannot be canceled. |
If the car accelerates or maintains the same speed despite trying to turn the cruise control off, it could lead to a crash. |
The software will be inspected and a software flash will be conducted on the engine or the powertrain control module. |
Should you buy the 2017 Dodge Journey?
To be honest, the 2017 Dodge Journey isn’t all that great when compared to the other cars available on the market. The only advantage the Dodge holds is its lower starting price and that’s it, while a car like the Kia offers tons of features, refinement, efficiency, and a better value for money even though it’s priced higher than the Dodge Journey. Similar is the case with the Santa Fe as it packs in much better build and cabin equipment that makes the Dodge feel dated. The only reason why we see people buying the Dodge is that their budget doesn’t let them opt for the better cars but it is worth bumping the budget up and we would recommend going for the Kia Sorento which is the better package.
