Addicted to Dodge

Congrats on the Journey. The 2010 was only the 2nd year for the Journey and there were still some bugs to work out after its 2nd year. But Chrysler made huge improvements to their whole lineup in 2011. The Journey was one that they really improved on the most in my opinion, because they are totally different inside and out compared to the 2009-10 year models. I have almost 12,000 miles on mine now and have had 0 issues. The brakes have plenty of stopping power now and my brake pads have hardly started to wear. I am sure you will have good luck with your Journey, as many other people have. Good Luck!!

Sweet!! Man the 3.6 sounds like a V8!! The Pentastar is an awesome little power plant. Great video...

Nice choice of color. Hope you enjoy it. This is a great place to learn everything about your Journey.

I bought a Town and Country 6 months ago with the same problem. They turned the front rotors the day after we bought it and its been perfect since then. Come to find out the van sat on the lot for about 6 months before we bought it and from what I have heard the rotors will warp if not in use for long periods of time. Plus the back lot where they keep vehicles that aren't on the main lot was basically dirt with a little gravel mixed in. I remember the pictures of our van on the dealers website and it was parked on dirt and there was dirt in the floorboard on my test drive.

Sounds like a lot of riding. But at least it was in in style. I am from Atl. also and we just made a trip to Florida and the Journey really shines when you can let them loose. Smooth, quite, tons of storage and plenty of horsepower. I felt like I was driving slow at anything under 75mph, "lol". I do have the 3.6 but the four bangers have their place to.

My 2012 has been wonderful. No problems at all. 2011 is the 3rd year of the Journey, not the 4th by the way.

I too enjoy keeping our Journey clean. But after a few months the new wore off and now its in need of a cleaning again. The pearl white is so hard to keep clean.

Pentastar 3.6 is the way to go!! No disrespect to the 4 bangers, they have their place to, but the 3.6 is pretty awesome for a V6. Chrysler is expecting big things for the Pentastar and from others I have heard they are already seeing earlier Pentastars with 100,000 miles on them. My only dislike I have with the Pentastar is the drone and growl when you crank it up first thing in the morning. My wife drives a 2013 Town and Country and it is just as fast as the Journey. It surprises people when they get in expecting a sluggish, non-enjoyable minivan. Although it doesn't handle as well as the Journey, it still is fun to drive for a minivan.

Did you drive the Journey a little too hard? I haven't seen a Pentastar smoke at all. I am not assuming you drove to hard but just curious as to what went wrong.

It does look like a Journey a little bit! Maybe they were just looking at the pics and not reading the words. My kids do the same thing.

I also read your last post about brake issues. Honestly I am having a hard time believing that you put 10 sets of brakes and rotors on your Journey in that short of a time. You say your mechanic has been great, but maybe he's the problem. I would have searched a different solution after a couple sets. I am afraid this forum is not going to be a great place to find support for your little lawsuit...

To bad about the dealer. Dealers really are suppose to have the best technology to work on cars but unfortunately common sense goes further than all the technology in the world. I really hope they start to use some to get your Journey back on the road without future problems. Good luck...

That's good the dealer is going to fix your Journey without any hassle. Hope it gets you back on the road without any future problems. And I really hate to hear about your friends, as I know all to well of motorcycles and the danger of other people not looking out for them. Me, my wife, and kids witnessed a motorcycle crash last year and the motorcycle rider died later that night in the hospital. I didn't know him but it was a horrific sight and it took awhile to stop thinking about it. Once you think about things like this it kinda makes a problem with a car seem really not much of a big deal.

I had a Ford Explorer that had the same problem. It had a loud thumping noise for 10 seconds after cranking and then again if you tried to adjust the temperature control. I haven't had this problem on a Journey but I am sure it is the same principle. The gears in the actuator was completely stripped and I would bet this is the same problem you have, just with the recirculate door instead of the temperature control actuator. Dealer wanted $700 to replace it, as it was behind the radio and had to remove the middle console to access the broken part. I bought the part through Autozone for $70 and it took me around 4 hours to install. These are parts that rarely break and with the Journey being only 4 yrs old, it might be tough to find a lot of info on your problem. I doubt this helps you out, but if you find a fix or even the problem, you should let us know in case anyone else has the same problem. Good luck to ya!!!

Sounds like a new Dodge Ram is what you need. Love the Journey but not really a car made for towing and hauling. The Ram however will pull all you need and then some. I pull a 6000lb camper with my 08 Ram "no problem".

Welcome to the forum! Glad to see another Journey member from the south. What kind of issues are you having with your Journey?

Congrats on the new Journey. I sure give you Canadians a lot of praise for enduring the cold weather as well as you do. Here in Georgia spring is underway and already temps are in the 70's. Which is good because anything below 50's is cold for me, Lol. Hope your Journey is as good to you as it has been for me so far.

Yup... Still loving it!!

Loving the pearl white!!!

The brakes is something that can be fixed. But the payment is very high, and honestly their is no car in the world that is worth $640 a month in my opinion. Dealers can make a fun car buying experience into a "nightmare". I think the problem is the dealer and payment more than the DJ. Sorry for your experience and hope you have better luck with your next purchase.

I love Chrysler vehicles but honestly some of the local dealers here in North Ga. are some of the most crooked, heartless people you could meet. I live only a few miles from our local dealer and they are the worse. But I have had great luck with the Dodge products so I will have to hold back any choice words I might be enticed to say towards them. Keep us posted on the outcome with your Journey....

My 2012 has started ticking for just a quick second after start up. Your lucky they are willing to give you a loaner vehicle, my local dealer told me they would rent me one so we could leave it over night to let them hear the problem. I hope this is not the case with my DJ. Might have to bite the bullet and let them look at it asap just to make sure.

I hate to hear all the problems. But 09 was the 1st year of the Journey and as I have experienced before, a new model always has bugs to work out. I for one love our Journey and have had lots of luck with Dodge products. I hope you are able to get past your issues as I feel your pain when having lots of issues with a car.

We went with the white exterior and the black interior. Our first choice was the red but with the deal we got, we decided on the white. First white car we have had and honestly I love the contrast of the red LED taillights and the white exterior. She's a beauty indeed!! BTW I also love the copper colored Journey's but the dealer we bought from didn't have any on sight. I have only seen a few in person and usually that's going down the highway.

Purchased our new 2012 Journey in January 2013. Great little family car. I have mostly had Dodge products the last 6 six years and I recently traded my wife's Ram for a new Journey. Yes I know, it was hard getting rid of the Ram but family comes first and we are loving the gas mileage compared to the Ram. So far the little Journey is awesome. I literally found one of the last 2012's and because of that we got a smoking deal on it. The 3.6 is wonderful and the ride couldn't be any smoother. Kudos to Dodge for making a 7 seat CUV that is fun to drive.