2010 Dodge Journey: Notable Recalls
The last Dodge Journey released before the vehicle’s modernized refresh in 2011, the 2010 Dodge Journey feels like a throwback these days. The 2011 Dodge Journey introduced a more modern body design, a new logo, LCD touchscreens, and an infotainment system. Maybe that’s why the 2010 model is so sought-after. This is a Dodge for people who “loved cars when they were cars.” Sometimes you prefer the simplicity of an AM/FM stereo and a comfortable interior to get you where you’re going.
The relative simplicity of the 2010 Dodge Journey’s design may also explain why it has had relatively few recalls. While the 2011 vehicle was an innovative new design, with all the risks and uncharted territories that come with innovation, the 2010 vehicle was simply the cutting-edge version of the original Journey, refined and perfected from the 2009 model. To achieve something new with the 2010 vehicle, they decided to make the 2009 version, but better.
The end result: a mid-size crossover SUV that is still seen on the road ten years later. And with proper maintenance, there’s no reason your 2010 journey shouldn’t last another ten years.
The memory of 2010
K26
The first recall for the 2010 Journey occurred on October 7, 2010. This recall affected approximately 23,237 potential units and involved power steering. Affected units included the 2010 Sebring 300, Charger LX, Challenger LC, Avenger, and Journey, and the 2011 Dodge Ram light-duty pickup truck. The concern was that these vehicles could experience steering pressure hose separation. assisted each other.
Fortunately, when there is a power steering fluid leak, the steering wheel can still be used, but it requires a lot more effort to turn. If your hose becomes disconnected while driving, you may be able to get the SUV home safely, but you won’t want to continue driving it until the hose is repaired. While losing power steering doesn’t sound too scary, the leak also created a fire hazard, which could be considerably more dangerous than simply losing power steering.
Chrysler issued recall number K26 and began performing inspections and repairs at its own expense on December 20, 2010.
Drivers were advised to contact the Chrysler hotline at 1-800-853-1403 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236.
The 2011 Retirement
L02 and L25
These recalls, affecting a potential 195,798 2010 Journeys, Caravans, and Town & Country models produced between August 3, 2009, and June 17, 2010, relate to the relocation of the ignition key. If the key was not in correctly, vehicles tended to shut off the engine without warning due to a faulty module.
In most scenarios, it would be easy enough to drive to the shoulder of the road and restart the engine, but at the very least, it would be a big hassle to deal with and could be potentially dangerous in certain road conditions. Additionally, stopping the engine could cause the airbags and other safety systems to lose power, meaning that if the key were to come off in an accident, the consequences could be quite serious.
Chrysler issued recall numbers L02 and L25 and began inspection and replacement on July 11, 2011.
The memory of 2014
R03
This recall was essentially a follow-up to the L02 and L25 recalls. Once again, the ignition had a tendency to slip out of position when driving his Journey. This recall, first issued on June 26, 2014, affected approximately 722,705 potential units, including 2009-2010 Journeys and 2008-2010 Town & Country and Caravans.
In this case, Chrysler identified that it was specifically the rattle of bumpy roads that would tend to kill the engine, and drivers were advised to remove the key from the chain while driving, as the additional weight of dangling keys or Personalized key fobs makes a malfunction more likely.
Chrysler issued recall number R03 and began performing inspections and repairs on May 26, 2015.
The memory of 2016
S08
Once again, the Dodge Journey had power steering problems. This time, approximately 8,569 possible 2009-2016 Journeys manufactured between July 31, 2007, and November 12, 2016, were at risk of ruptured power steering return hoses. The concern was that if these hoses cooled overnight and suddenly became hot when the engine was restarted, they could burst immediately due to the sudden change in temperature.
Announced on May 6 and effective May 24, 2016, Chrysler issued recall number S08 and began inspection and replacement.
Can 2010 Journey owners expect more recalls?
Recalls tend to become less frequent as the vehicle ages. In some industries, this indicates a lack of support: the old laptop, refrigerator, or TV model isn’t what makes us money, so why continue to support it? But in the case of motor vehicles, it has more to do with the number of cars still on the road.
As extensive and rigorous as an automaker’s testing process is, there are some things they can’t know until they see how the car performs with thousands of units on the road. It’s the same with any type of test. If you look at a single dog and he is the first dog you have ever seen in your life, you might assume that all dogs are white. But look at twenty dogs and you will see that they are different colors. Look at a thousand and you’ll have enough data to start estimating the average coat color.
As a car model ages, there will be fewer units on the road. Accidents will claim some, and wear and tear will claim others. Many will simply end up in a garage somewhere as the owner spends more time in their new car. Fewer cars on the road mean fewer opportunities to find out if there are any manufacturing defects left to discover.
And, of course, there’s the simple fact that the major defects have already been ironed out in the first four years of the car’s life. The power steering and ignition problems were fixed twice, and if there were other important common faults to consider, they would probably have been discovered by now.
All this to say: there could always be another withdrawal. The 2010 Dodge Journey remains a fairly popular car as far as 2010 models go, and you never know what you or another driver will discover in your vehicle. But you’re more likely to see a new recall with a newer model than with the decade-old version.
What to do if you discover a new defect?
Often, recalls come from complaints from the owners of a particular car. In some cases, the automaker may discover a fault after a car is released and will take appropriate steps to correct it. However, a significant percentage of breakdowns are discovered by the drivers themselves.
The longer a car has been on the road, the less likely you are to be the first to discover a new fault. After ten years, any major problems will tend to have been identified and resolved, and since the 2010 Journey has only had four recalls in a decade of service, future recalls are likely to be rare.
But it’s not entirely unlikely that you’ll be one of the first to discover that there are other problems with your power steering, so the question remains: what do you do when you discover a manufacturing defect that isn’t already listed on the list? vehicle? remember?
When you discover a fault with your car, the first step should be to file a formal complaint with the NHTSA. You don’t need to wait in line anywhere, and you don’t even need to call them on the phone. You can use your online Claim Form to register your complaint. There is a lot of information to fill out, but you can do it at your leisure and it will help make the roads safer.
If enough drivers share their experience, NHTSA will investigate and, if they find the problem is due to a manufacturing defect, they will take appropriate action to issue a recall.
If you pay for repairs before a recall is officially issued, you can still claim a refund from the automaker by contacting the automaker or requesting a refund through NHTSA. In some cases, the automaker will issue a refund right away. In others, you may have to wait for the NHTSA bureaucracy to turn around, and it could be a while before you get your money back. But if you have a valid claim, we’ll give you your money back and it’s better than paying out of pocket.
Please note that you may not be eligible for a refund if you have voided your warranty in any way. If you look at the power steering assembly and a label says “There are no user-serviceable parts inside,” then the best thing to do is not to attempt to repair those parts yourself.
Can I still claim ten-year reminders?
When you remember safety concerns, they apply to the life of the car. Whether you bought the car new off the lot or are the third owner of the vehicle, whether the recall was issued a month, a year or ten years ago, you are still covered.
There are some exceptions to this rule. Tire recalls will only give you a 180-day recall as the tires will eventually become unusable over time anyway. If an automaker goes bankrupt, recalls are no longer valid because there is no one to pay for repairs. Recalls may become invalid if a part needed to make repairs is no longer manufactured. Other cases where a recall can be invalidated could involve heavily customized cars or anything that voids the warranty.
After all, there aren’t many exceptions. If you look up your VIN and discover that you have some outstanding recalls, in most cases you can go ahead and call Chrysler to claim your free repairs at any time without worrying about being denied.
The withdrawal process in the United States is quite complete. When an automaker sells you a vehicle, they know that the vehicle is as safe to drive as it reasonably could be. Not just for yourself, but for the sake of everyone else along the way. An implied promise is made when you sell a car, and failure to keep that promise could result in serious accidents, fines, and costly class-action settlements for the automaker.
It is therefore in everyone’s interest to ensure that all cars on the road are as safe as possible. Therefore, the recalls listed above are valid today, and if Chrysler is still about ten years away, they will be valid then as well.
