Initial Investigation
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) began looking into the problem in May 2023 after receiving a report of a crash involving the Dodge Journey. During the investigation, six additional incidents of occupants being trapped due to malfunctioning door locks and windows were discovered. Fortunately, those incidents did not result in any injuries.
Upgraded Investigation
More than a year later, on August 1, ODI announced that they are conducting an engineering analysis to further assess the issue with the Dodge Journey’s door locks and windows. This analysis will specifically focus on what may happen to the locks and windows during a thermal event like a fire. If a systemic problem is found, a significant number of Dodge Journeys could be affected, amounting to 992,643 vehicles produced between 2009 and 2020.
Backup Camera Investigation
In addition to the door locks and windows issue, NHTSA is also looking into potential failures in models of the Dodge Journey equipped with backup cameras. There have been 26 reported incidents of camera failures in vehicles from the 2018 to 2020 model years. If a widespread problem is identified, a total of 226,249 Dodge Journeys could be at risk.
End of Production
Dodge decided to discontinue production of the Journey in 2020 as part of their shift towards focusing on performance models. The mid-size crossover was available with either two-row or three-row seating configurations and offered a choice of four-cylinder or V-6 engines. In its final year, the Journey was only offered with a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.