Defecting from the RAM forum (very nice truck but more than I needed) and bought a 2011 Journey Crew this week. Very nice vehicle so far (all 250 miles of it). Most of the bells and whistles except leather. Now to begin buying stuff for it......

 

Welcome to the step-kid club, haha! Hope you enjoy your new DJ.

Omar

 

I'm curious to see if they have ironed out mistakes made in the first generation (2009) version of this vehicle. Have had nothing but one headache after another with ours...

 

I have 2 09's and (knock on wood) no issues! Must be them "Friday" models!

 

535 miles on this one so I can't say much yet. No factory glitches that I am aware of currently. They could have updated the 8.4N with the latest software before I picked it up but that's a dealer responsibility. I don't know if it was a TSB or not but it seems like the dealer should run a check on a car to insure all the latest updates, etc are completed before delivery.

Rides nice, interior is very nice, still waiting on MPGs to settle down. V-6 isn't quite as responsive as it could be from SLOW to GO but that seems like a transmission limitation. Once you're moving merging and passing is fine. I have yet to have an urgent need for speed.

Vision could be better. Oddly, I have more trouble on the driver's side than the passenger side seeing vehicles right next to me. Perhaps its because I'm used to driving a Ram and am cautious about the passenger side. I almost smacked into someone that was next to me on the driver side. The side mirrors cold probably be a little larger.

The lift gate handle is oddly placed on the right side and not centered. I know there's a camera in the center but I've had trucks with cameras and a centered latch. Also, if it's raining hard and you have the rear door open for any length of time the depressed area around the license plate fills with water and you get a free bath. A quirk.....

Interior dome lighting.....if there's a place up front to turn it all on/off I haven't found it. It has little reading lights (two up front, and three over the second seat) that you push to turn on and off individually (apparently). Right after I brought it home all three in the back were on (I think I drove it home like that as they're not bright enough to distract the driver) and I guess they went off by a timer as I never found a master switch. The salesman claimed it was on the turn signal lever. If it is, it is well hidden.

The owner's manual (online PDF version) is generic as it addresses options impossible to get on the Journey. I think they use the same one for the 300/300C and others. So, you spend time looking for feature settings on the display that aren't there.

Bluetooth-My Samsung Epic seems to connect effortlessly. I did have a problem once but it was because I had a APP Killer on my phone to conserve battery and bluetooth was one of its victims.

The biggest annoyance to me is that the unit has the capability of displaying text messages via bluetooth and your phone and sending standard replies like "I'm busy" hands free or a single touch. However, if you look at the list of supported phones there are VERY FEW phones that are capable of this feat. This was not made clear to me. Some of the ads hype this feature. Disappointing....

Although I was assured it would not be an issue I am still worried about these 19" tires. There don't seem to be many options available. Online I have found tires at about $230 EACH. Hopefully, I have quite a while to not worry about this.

The second row seats (Flexible Seating Group) do not move forward as easily as I expected (to allow access to the seldom used third row). This won't be an issue for me as there are only three of humans in it most of the time and the border collie gets the back half (third row down and covered with a mat). Larger families might want to try out the functionality of the second row access to third row. Third row isn't bad if you're not an adult. My 14 year old insisted on sitting back there....whatever....I notice she only asked to do that once. Anyway, compared to the Outlander it is sheer luxury in the third row. The Outlander third row looks like jump seats in a helicoptor.

After-market accessories seem to be on the thin side. A lot of your usual online shopping sites didn't get the memo that Dodge built a 2011 Journey apparently.

Er....I said I couldn't say much in line #1. Most of this is the usual stuff you can't know after a 20 minute test drive and whirlwind salesmanship.

I still like it!

Oh yeah! This is NOT A VAN!

 

I just looked at the Dodge Uconnect phone compatibility chart and not a single phone is supported for the text messaging feature on the 8.4N.

https://www.dodge.com/hostb/crossbra...raft_REV_C.pdf

 

I must agree with most on the list. Unfortunately (one time thing) I agree with the salesman on the master dome light switch. It is on the signal lever. There is one spot that rotates for the headlights and an inner section that rotates for the interior lights.

But be slightly fortunate you actually got Bluetooth, from what I've heard, most with 2011 got flat out lied to that it would be there and wasn't because of ignorant saleman who didn't know what they were selling.

I have little ones (3 & 4) in my third row mostly, but the times I've had full grown folks I didn't hear too much groaning. As far as access, have you firgured out how the fold up the second row seat to make entering the thrid row easier? I know cause that was one thing the saleman knew about.

All in all, hope you enjoy yours, I have really enjoyed mine.

 

You know, I read more horror stories about Journey's then about any other vehicle and yeah, I tend to have to believe they have their major issues.

BUT I know about six people locally with a Journey and of them, only two have been to the dealer for a non-recall repair and that was for the rotors in both cases (of course).

Mom's 2010 has been flawless so far. There are a few things she doesn't like about it. The center console lid is a PIA and she can't see past the rear headrests with the rear-view mirror, but she's only 5'1" (thank God I got my pop's height as I'm 6'3", LOL). Her biggest gripe is no power liftgate as her '08 Grand Caravan had one and she got spoiled! She also wanted the next package up which included the NAV system, but our dealer who I know quite well would have had to bring one in with all the things (and color) she wanted that had the NAV and we could get a much bigger discount on one he had on the lot.

I fully expect to have to do rotors at some point, but Mom doesn't use it much. She bought it in October of '09 and last I was in it (about two weeks ago) she just hit 5000 miles.

Over-all I like the vehicle, it's a nice, mid size, has plenty of power with the 3.5 V6, handles very well and gets decent fuel economy. She's seeing about 18 over-all with about 22'ish on the highway...

 

Hmmmm....all I see on the turn signal lever is windshield wiper/washer controls for front and back. The light switch is on the lower left dash. Maybe I'm blind. Here is an image from the owners manual that appears to be exactly what I have:

Also, I am not referring to the "dome" light (i.e. the light that comes on when doors are opened). I am speaking of what I call "reading" lights and there is one for each seating position in the first two rows of seats.

Thanks!

 

I believe those reading lights were turned on individually by the salesman when we picked up the vehicle. They are turned on by pushing the housing around the lamp and must turn off when power to the vehicle is cut off by the timer or someone pushes the housing again. I just never noticed they were on until I got home. I'm beginning to doubt there's a remote switch.