One Million Dodge Journey Models Under Investigation by NHTSA
A fire that led to one death has sparked an investigation into almost every Dodge Journey model ever built.
In the midst of crossover/SUV mania, Dodge launched the Journey, a mid-size model, back in the 2009 model year. Other than a facelift, the Dodge Journey proceeded to carry on for a rather long time – through 2020, in fact, after which production ended with a cool 1.1 million units built in total. Today, however, the Dodge Journey is merely a footnote in automotive history, though it seems as if almost all of them may have one large problem.
According to Automotive News, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded its investigation into 992,643 Dodge Journey crossovers after an earlier probe discovered that the model’s door locks and windows can fail, which could leave occupants unable to exit the vehicle in the event of a crash or other emergency.
The NHTSA originally began looking into this particular problem after a person became trapped in a Dodge Journey that was on fire back in late 2022, who sadly died as a result. The agency is still investigating that incident to determine the cause of the fire, as well as if a door lock or window malfunction played any role, but it has also received 19 total reports of incidents where door locks and windows may have failed, including this one.
Out of these incidents, one 2010 Dodge Journey owner reported experiencing “random and erroneous electrical problems which included the doors unlocking,” after which the owner “was also locked inside the vehicle after the locking mechanism malfunctioned.” Additionally, the owner of a 2018 Dodge Journey was locked inside her vehicle after the key fob and door panel buttons failed, though she “was able to crawl out of the vehicle through the window.”
“We extend our sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of the customer whose life was lost, and we are providing NHTSA with our full cooperation,” Stellantis said in a statement.
Photos: Dodge
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