It seems that this is such a common problem in Dodge Journey, specifically. Here we are, 4 1/2yrs later from the last post and the problem we have with our 2012 Dodge Journey (base model) is pretty similar to everyone else's problem.
*Key fob activates system, and putting it on the counter 20-25ft away still kills the battery (doesn't seem to be too bad when the key fob is upstairs vs downstairs overnight)
*Had the battery replaced 3-4yrs ago when the problems started (as in, I need to charge the battery before i go out of the house, even just a couple hrs after returning home), of course less than 6mths later, the exact same problems occurred.
*Dealership did a diagnostics, battery is dead (no kidding?) ... $600+ later to pay for diagostics, new battery, and labour
*In the hatch is the wire housing. Repeated opening/closing of the hatch pulls the wires apart, literally. My dad had to re-attach 9 wires last summer as a temporary fix (which affected rear defrost, rear wipers, radio, and i forget what else). Once the wires were fixed, the car didn't drain power. Once one wire loosens, however, the problem returns. Dad suggested a new wire harness, but that would cost in the 1000+ range to fix, mostly labour costs (you can buy the housing for $150 or so at thelocal parts store) as you have to take apart the door panels along the whole side of the car.
*Over the weekend, we disconnected both wires connected to the battery at the top (where you connect to the +/- posts when you jump it) and power still drained by 40% in an hour of sitting.
*The car acted possessed when the key fob battery died--the same issue I saw mentioned somewhere else on the forum.
*Headlights flicker, and dim when you simultaneously use the window up/down function, seems to be a wiring issue as it hasn't been bad since the wiring was fixed (the 2nd time we had to fix the wires was about 3wks ago).
*Rear doors hold water (pretty sad when the door swishes from all the water inside it)-- which on the West Coast is 6mths a year. My dad fixed that -- took the plugs out of the door holes along the bottom. ((Not related to electrical, but still a silly design flaw))
*We will be looking at some of the other suggestions on the forum before we look at another battery. Seems finding the power drain source is the key...and we haven't found the source yet (other than the wire housing issue).
After being stranded in the middle of nowhere with all of my boys after a day of fishing....I invested in a portable battery starter. Best investment I ever made. The charger has saved me so many times I've lost count over the past 8mths.
With so many issues, one would think the vehicle would have undergone more extensive testing prior to being shoved onto market (and it's not just Journey, it's most of the new cars these days). Huge Jeep fan (though not impressed they pansied up the body for the sake of mileage in 2015--you don't buy a Jeep for the gas mileage, it needs a rugged, sturdy body for off-roading); l do like the Fiats (other than the wicked blind spot on the driver side of the 500), but not a huge fan of Journey....I've never had so many issues with a vehicle after only 2-3yrs of owning it (water problem was evident from the start). It's rather unfortunate, and hopefully the electrical/water issues were resolved on subsequent models. Sometimes simpler is, indeed, better. =)
