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clunking noise in front end on bumpy roads


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They aren't even sure WHAT the issue is. They've had it up in the air with chassis ears and two techs trying to diagnose it with no luck. Lots of guesses, but no definite ones. Seems odd that four out of four journeys have this issue, and as of yet, dodge doesn't know about it

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As stated. There is a known issue with front end clunk. A TSB was issued. As with my case, I had a service adviser ride with me and was able to replicate the sound consistently. Taking it to the dealer and complaining of a sound does nothing in and of itself. Getting it up on a lift and looking at things won't fix it. The vehicle must be driven and the issue replicated in the same manner in which you are experiencing it with a service adviser aboard. Otherwise you are wasting your time and theirs.

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As I commented in my first post, this noise IS known and verified by service techs, and on a few different journeys 2015-2016's, two of which were pulled from their lot and driven by the service advisor and the tech. The tsb for the struts HAS been addressed, replaced both sides and the isolators, greased the bejeezus out of them, all to no avail. It was put up on the hoist AFTER the tsb, AFTER driving with tech, and AFTER checking tightness of all suspension components. The service advisor requested I try to gain some info from this forum to see if anyone has found a solution to this OTHER than the tsb, seeing as how there are a few ppl who have had this same issue, addressed the tsb, and STILL have the problem unsolved.

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These guys HAVE been pretty accommodating, other than one tech who said he can "get every car on the lot to make that noise", I'm pretty sure he's deaf...I'm bringing it back in again today, so hopefully dodge has given them a little more input to figure it out. Fingers crossed.

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  • Official Dodge Support

Keep us posted, Ksweds. It seems like the TSB has been a successful repair for some, but unfortunately not all. It sounds like your dealership is already working with Dodge engineers/technical specialists, correct?

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Yes they are, which I'm grateful for! Just got both lower control arms replaced, picked up half an hour ago, and so far so good. I'm going to be putting about 50 miles on it tonight, so I'll know for sure if it's cured or not.

Dodgecares, if this does cure it, is there a way to let Chrysler Corp know of this cure from your side?

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Your dealership already opened a case with the FCA engineering team. That means they expect an update, regardless of the outcome of their troubleshooting steps. I manage an IT help desk, and help desk work is help desk work, regardless of what it is you support. When you escalate an issue to the point of corporate engineers throwing parts at the problem, they want to know what fixed it and why, specifically so that they can adjust any TSB that already exists on that issue.

NO ONE likes wasting time or money. Sure, we all rag on dealerships for this stuff (and those that do it repeatedly should not get your business), but a good dealership will try to get the problem fixed correctly the first time. If they can't, the next repair is on their dime, and no business likes that.

Getting it right the first time = satisfied customers = repeat customers = more money/business for the dealership.

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  • Official Dodge Support

Hopefully this fix permanently takes care of it for you, Ksweds! As bfurth pointed out, your dealership opening a case with our engineers has ensured that this will be documented within the company, but I would be happy to document this from a customer care standpoint as well. You would just need to PM me your VIN and further details through here.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I am having the same issue with my 2014 DJ. I have had it in Three times. First they replaced sway bar bushings, no help. Then they replaced struts, no help. The last time, they greased the bushings really well and said they were having trouble figuring out the cause. The service manager claimed he couldn't get it to make the noise so I made him ride with me and duplicated it within just a couple of minutes. He said they couldn't figure out what was causing it because they couldn't get the noise to replicate when on the lift. I am going in this week for one more try, but I am nearing my warranty limit, within about 400 miles. Most often I hear it when going over any type of bump or turning a corner to the right and having just released the brakes. Any ideas for this last try under warranty? I have been a few months between each visit just because I have to drive my car for work and the dealership says they can't keep letting me borrow a car while they work to figure out what is wrong with mine. I'm starting to get the impression they don't know what is going on and really don't care because I'm almost out of warranty anyway.

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Tell em not to waste their time replacing the lower control arms.....that's a waste as well. It did seem a lot better for about a week, now it's about the same as before. And seems to worsen when the roads are wet. Itd be awesome if dodge put a little more effort in to solving this, because it's kinda freaking me out to spend thirty grand to listen to a clunk for the next five years, wondering when something's gonna snap and leave my wife stranded. I love my 14 Ram, but this journey? Ugh.

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Yeah I dropped mine off again this morning, had service tech ride with me to hear it. His response was "it has to move up and down" to which I pointed out that no other car I have ever had made that noise moving up and down. I used to sell for this dealer and have really started to understand why they have a reputation that is starting to become questionable. People are willing to drive an hour or more to buy the same car and get service done. I hope they can solve it this time, otherwise I'll be stuck with the noise. And while they are at it they are going to order a new seat frame since they discovered mine squeaks because they forgot to put some of the springs in when it was built

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Yeah I dropped mine off again this morning, had service tech ride with me to hear it. His response was "it has to move up and down" to which I pointed out that no other car I have ever had made that noise moving up and down. I used to sell for this dealer and have really started to understand why they have a reputation that is starting to become questionable. People are willing to drive an hour or more to buy the same car and get service done. I hope they can solve it this time, otherwise I'll be stuck with the noise. And while they are at it they are going to order a new seat frame since they discovered mine squeaks because they forgot to put some of the springs in when it was built

What dealer are you going to?

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Menoch, I know how u feel about the ride along with a tech. Mine said "I can get every car on our lot to do that". Either he was deaf, or just didn't get it, because this is the first and only vehicle I've known to do this. I've owned over thirty, from low mileage price cars, to 480,000 mile beaters. Plus, I've been a manager at three dealerships over the last twenty years.... I asked for a different tech, and that one at least put effort in to it.

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Hopefully DODGECARES and chrysler's engineering takes more notice as it doesn't seem to be isolated.

Sales have been pretty strong and this vehicle seems to be on the right track. So hopefully there is a solution soon. Besides a few things it's a great car for the price. From experience it can be a bit frustrating dealing with problems of a brand new "purchased" car so soon.

Sure we all may be over analyzing the situation but it's something each of us has noticed. Keep on posting and hopefully something will be noted and solved.

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My Journey had a clunking noise in the front when I bought it used at 23,000 miles. I thought it may have been struts or ball joints or something. I had to do a front brake job (pads and rotors) due to horrible brake vibration. After that the clunk in the front has stopped. It seems that the brake pad backing plates were worn out and sliding around in the calipers when the brakes were not applied. The noise was greatly reduced while braking.

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  • 1 year later...

So, I'm aware this is an old thread... But hopefully someone still sees this. I have an 09, well out of warranty obviously, but I have the same problem you all are describing. I've replaced my struts, control arms, tie rod ends, ball joints, hub assembly's and I'm waiting on a new stabilizer bar. I have gone over every nut and bolt, put them to factory torque, replaced almost everything I can think of and I still have this problem. Seems to be getting worse but then goes away completely for a day at a time, but yet again, always comes back. I've greased, regreased, and tightened everything I can find and even added ball joints with a greasert so I can make sure they stay greased... What else can I do? Anyone? Bueller?

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Stevesxt.....they never figured anything out. Dodge claims its normal with this vehicle, and refused to do anything else because everything was tight and SAFE. We ended up trading. Sorry I can't help more, but good luck my man

Edited by jkeaton
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On 3/29/2016 at 9:35 AM, Two2014journeys said:

My Journey had a clunking noise in the front when I bought it used at 23,000 miles. I thought it may have been struts or ball joints or something. I had to do a front brake job (pads and rotors) due to horrible brake vibration. After that the clunk in the front has stopped. It seems that the brake pad backing plates were worn out and sliding around in the calipers when the brakes were not applied. The noise was greatly reduced while braking.

I think this post has a clue as to what the problem may well be.  I've had several vehicles (none were Journeys, but all with disk brakes in the front) that had this clunking noise when going over some irregularity in the road surface.  Raise the vehicle under the lower control arm.  Have some one hold the brakes, then see if you can get the clunk by rocking the wheel back & forth.  What I have encountered on these other vehicles (Some Chrysler products, others not) is that the sliding half of the calipers is banging back & forth against the stops.  So when you are on the brakes a bit it won't do it, because the extra drag will hold it against the one side.  It may be the slides or pins that are worn out, but in my case I needed to replace the calipers for other reasons anyway, and it stopped the noise.  (I do live in the "Rust Belt".)

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  • 1 year later...
On 7/5/2015 at 2:31 PM, luckydaddy85 said:

I just bought my 2013 journey. We love it. It has 20000 miles onit the only think I have noticed is alot of clunking noise in front end when you hit bumps.if any one has any ideas I would love to hear them thank yal

 

 

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