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UPDATE: A federal judge dismissed the Dodge Journey Brake Class Action Lawsuit December 4, 2012.
The brakes on 2009 and 2010 Dodge Journeys are inadequate, causing premature failure and repeated, unexpected repair costs, according to a class action lawsuit filed in New Jersey.
The class action lawsuit claims the braking system in these vehicles is too small for the size and weight of the 2-ton Journey, which was Dodge’s first attempt at building and selling a cross-over vehicle (i.e., a combination of a mini-van and SUV).
“It has been widely reported that the brake pads and rotors are too small and too thin to handle the braking duties required by the size and weight of the Journey. The result is a significant increase in brake wear commencing from the date of purchase. It is not uncommon for the brakes on the Journey to fail at barely 12,000 miles requiring replacement of the pads and often shaving or resurfacing of the rotors, which can cause class members as much as $400,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit goes on to allege that Dodge was aware of this defect from “countless owner complaints and dealer records,” yet did nothing to remedy the defect or to provide notification to owners or lessees about the defect. “Instead, Dodge has selectively provided some class members with company ‘goodwill’ in the form of free or reduced cost repairs.”
The class action also takes issue with Dodge’s advertising statements, which claim the Journey is “safe, reliable and durable,” and their denial of warranty coverage of the brake system.
The Dodge Journey Class Action Lawsuit is brought on behalf of all current owners or lessees of a 2009 or 2010 Dodge Journey in New Jersey or California, and former owners or lessees of a 2009 or 2010 Journey in New Jersey or California who paid for a repair related to the braking system. It is alleging consumer fraud; unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices; and breach of warranty, among other allegations.
The lawsuit estimates 100,000 class vehicles are currently on American roads, meaning class members have collectively paid millions of dollars in repairs to their defective Dodge Journeys. A copy of the Dodge Journey Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
Updated December 12th, 2012
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41 thoughts onDodge Journey Brake Class Action Lawsuit
I have had numerous problems with my 2009 dodge Journey mainly with brakes and rotors. My Journey is at 116k miles and I have had to replaces at least a pair of brakes or rotors every 6k miles I even dished out the money for ceramics pad which seemed to last about another 1k miles before they needed to be replaced as well. I also had to replace the radiator at 30k miles and replaced a pair of keys for about $350.00 and now there messed up again (yes I tried replacing the batteries) the car some times wont unlock pressing about 15 times then wait 10 min and it works but it unlocks a random door most of the time just the driver side door and sometimes just the passenger or one of the back seat doors. Sometimes you cant open the trunk at all because it is tied in with the door locks there no separate circuit or manual release. I came out one morning and found both front seat windows rolled down as if someone had pressed the unlock button 2 times which is what its supposed to do but the keys had been put up and no1 had access to them. Overall the most irritating thing is sometimes the car wont start. You turn the key and it clicks do that for 15 min at the end of a workday and then wait 5 min try again. Sometimes it only takes 1 round when it does this sometimes 5 or more and then it just mysteriously starts working for a week or month just long enough for you to think maybe it worked itself out or maybe it was a glitch and then it dies it again. I was planing on saving up and buying a dodge challenge which I have been eyeing since I saw the concept car. Now dodge can take its “Goodwill” fix it did for me one time and shove it along with the possibility of me buying that car from them all the money I was saving had to go to maintenance of this one. I think Auto Zone should send a card to Dodge thanking them for being cheap.
I purchased my dodge journey and it has huge brake problems and also has over heating issues this car needs to be recalled and these problems need to be addresses. I dont have the money to fix all these problems.
I purchased my 2010 journey sxt on December of 2010, after 3 months of driving it, I notice when I press the brake above 45 mph the steering wheel will shake, so I brought to the dealer and they replaced the front/rear rotors and pads because the rotors are getting warp, after replacing it solved the problem. After 14 months (May 2012) it did the same thing and they replaced it again. And now (October 2013) it will shake again if I press the brake above 40 mph. What a piece of crap. I’m tired of it and it’s scary especially downhill. My plan is to buy a aftermarket rotor.
2010 Journey, 86,000 miles, bought new in Georgia. 7 sets of front rotors, 3 sets of back rotors, all purchased from Dodge dealership, and not one word about defective brakes. Brakes are bad again. Current expenses in repairing brakes on this vehicle in excess of $3,000.00 I am ready to burn the car.
I purchased a new 2010 dodge journey from Big 4 Motors on my first trip through the mountains having to apply the brakes to slow the vehicle down I thought my front end was going to fall off. When I approached the dealership they said they checked and could find nothing wrong. The rear brakes would lockup and when checked the same reply, knowing all along this was a serious problem. So much for service dept’s
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Bought a used 2011 Journey. Only 19000 km on it. Had to have the front rotors replaced immediately. Then once I reached 28000, had to do a complete brake job done for the rear(600$). Very worried about the future of the vehicle. Too bad since the rest of the car is great. Seems to me though, that Dodge knows exactly what they’re doing…making a killing on brake sales.
Hi
I’m a Canadian who purchased a 2012 Dodge Journey and I am having the same problems! I’ve had to replace the front pads and rotors 3 times (calipers once)and the rear pads, rotors and calipers once; furthermore Chrysler Canada placed new adapters on the brakes in hopes of fixing the problem after the first brake job….didn’t work. This is unacceptable! I have put 31,814 miles on this vehicle in one year, high mileage but 90% of those miles are highway! I travel 70m miles(round trip) per day of HIGHWAY (I stress this again) driving in an area 2 hours north of Toronto, ON; not a heavily congested area during the work week so not a lot of braking. I’ve contacted our equivalent to your NHTSA and now just have to wait for further action. I feel for you folks and hope you win. It will set a precedent for us too I believe. All the best
Hi,
I’m having the same problem with my 2012 Journey only 32,000 KM, mainly driven on highways 3 times to Florida, not a lot of braking too. Need to replace the rear rotor and pads both sides probably the front too, at the dealership service dept. they tell me brakes are not a warranty issue. Did you have any results yet and what further action can we take on this matter?
Thank you for your further comments.
I purchased a 2012 dodge journey brand new now at 64000 km I am replacing pads rotors calipers plus when i change gears it gets stuck in between neutral and drive. I left chrysler today unhappy with pricing and hsving a smaller mechanic who is honest looking into it. He did tell me that these cars need to have a recsll on brake systems.
I purchased a used 2009 Dodge Journey in January 2013. Mid-February I had to replace the left front caliper, brake pads and rotors because the caliper locked up. March 30, 2013 the right caliper locked up. This is ridiculous and absolutely UNSAFE!!! I concur with Jenni’s commments and also believe the 2009 Dodge Journey is a death trap on wheels. Why are the Dodge manufacturers not issuing a recall on this vehicle?????? I don’t have money to waste and no other vehicle I have ever owned ever had these type of problems.
I, too, have a 2010 Dodge Journey with many brake problems. I bought my car on 9/4/2010 and have, as of yesterday, had the front pads and rotors replaced TWICE (once on 11/3/2011 and again on 11/28/2012). I have had the service performed at a certified Dodge dealership and each time I have had to pay the $100 deductible! Upon speaking with a service representative regarding the repairs yesterday, I demanded to know that there was going to be DIFFERENT pads/rotors put on this time. My “extended warranty” from Dodge expires in 10 months and I do NOT want to have to go back a THIRD time a year from now (with no warranty protection from Dodge) to have to replace the brakes again. She informed me that she was certain that different brakes were being put on this time, but last time, the same type of pads/rotors that were having the problem were put on (WHY would they have used the same pads/rotors that were known to be having a problem in the first place?!). I’m extremely frustrated with this situation. I have NEVER had to have my brakes replaced at less than 3-4 years of wear & tear. This is ridiculous and Dodge needs to correct this problem and make it right! We should NOT have to pay $100 deductible, there should be a proper recall!
WHY is this lawsuit only applicable for California and New Jersey owners? Why are we not all included?
2009 Dodge Journey. I have had it for around 20k miles. All brakes and rotors were replaced.
Over the past weekend I got a shimmy on a short road trip. Pulled over to check the tires and the front passenger rotor was glowing red. It eventually cooled down and we were able to get home, has been fine since. It is going to the dealership this week to check the caliper, pads and rotor damage.
Has this lawsuit really had nothing happen in 2 years?