Texann

I think the "whining" noise may be a different type of noise than the low "growl" or exhaust "drone" that my Journey has been having. I have sometimes heard a little bit of a whine during gear changes but it isn't significant. Today, I briefly drove my Journey and didn't notice any "growl" at all, even with the radio turned off. It's definitely a weird deal.

After the dealer replaced the exhaust system I did not at first notice the "low growl" that I had been experiencing for the first couple of months after I got my Journey. However, I have noticed that the noise has returned although much, much less intense than it had been before the exhaust system was replaced. It is usually noticeable when the car is accelerating and lasts sometimes until around 2000-2500 RPM's. It sounds like it is coming from right under the accelerator pedal under the floorboard. I have had my Journey since May 12 and I test drove a couple of Journeys before buying mine through my local Dodge dealer, who found the Journey I wanted at another dealership and had it delivered, and neither one of them had this noise. The noise in my Journey didn't start right away but seemed to begin after the first couple of hundred miles or so. It is interesting to me that many Journey owners say they do not have this "low growl" at all and at least one poster said his dealer told him this noise was normal for vehicles with dual exhausts. I am wondering why only some of the Journeys have this extra exhaust "drone" and others do not? If this is "normal" then ALL Journeys should have this noise. I have not taken my Journey back to the dealer because the noise isn't overly annoying (I don't even notice it when I have the radio on). I am going to wait and see if it gets much worse and then I will take it back to see what can be done. BTW, my dealer said the noise was NOT normal and they took some time trying to find the source of the noise before finally determining that it was a defective part in the exhaust (I don't know exactly what part) and they replaced the entire system. They told me that the replacement came as a complete "kit" so I guess that's why the entire system was replaced. I don't know how competent my dealer's service department is, but I do think they have tried their best to diagnose and fix the problem. BTW, this noise is NOT related to the left turn noise that many Journey owners are describing. I have never heard any extra noise when making a left turn in my Journey, so I am certain this is something entirely different. If anyone has any further information on this exhaust drone problem, please keep us updated on any new information you may have. Thanks, Texann

UPDATE: The dealer ordered a new muffler for my Journey after they pinpointed the noise problem. The part came in today and I am going to get it installed on July 15 after I get back from vacation. They could have done it next week but I will be out of town so I scheduled an appointment for the following week. I hope this finally solves the unusual noise problem. I will let everyone know how this turns out just as soon as the work is completed.

I had my Journey back to the dealer's service dept. today to have a part installed to fix the airbag warning light issue that has recently started. They had ordered the part and it took about a week for it to come in. So far the light hasn't come back on so hopefully this problem has been fixed. The noise problem has finally been detected after several days in and out of the service dept. and a "kit" of some kind has been ordered which is supposed to fix the unusual noise which is originating in the exhaust system. Hopefully, the part will be here in a week or so and once installed will fix this problem. When I get the paperwork pertaining to the warranty work done on my Journey after the work is done on the exhaust system I will post info pertaining to the parts which were ordered to fix both of the problems that I have had with my Journey. Maybe that will help someone else who may experience the same problems as I have.

My Journey had the same problem with the airbag warning light staying on and I got it fixed today. I'm not sure what part was replaced but one had to be ordered. My car was built in February but is not on the recall list according to the dealer. I will have all of the paperwork on the warranty work when I take the car back once again to the dealer to have some kind of "kit" replaced to correct an unusual noise in the car's exhaust system. The part is being ordered and hopefully will be in within a week or so. At least I can drive the Journey now without worrying about my airbag not working since that problem has apparently been corrected. The noise issue is just a small annoyance and not a safety issue. It should be resolved soon. As soon as I get the paperwork on what was done to my Journey by the service dept. at the dealer I will post here to let others know how my car's problems were fixed in case someone else has the same problems in their Journey. These are the only problems I have had so far and I have had my Journey since May 12.

Hit-By-Thunder, Thanks for the welcome. I have read the posts pertaining to the problem with the power steering pump noise on left turns but that isn't the problem with my Journey. My husband says it's a kind of a vibration. We don't hear it all of the time but it seems to become more noticeable when the car gets heated up rather than when it is cold. Hopefully the problem will be diagnosed soon and can be fixed easily once we know what is causing it. It sure seems like my Journey is the only one having this problem. It would be much easier to solve if there were a lot of vehicles experiencing this same problem.

I live in Palestine, Texas (pronounced Pal-uh-steen). My husband and I have had our 7 passenger Journey SXT FWD in light sandstone metallic since May 12. It replaces a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport which was totaled in an accident caused by another driver who ran a red light. We loved that car and were going to drive it for a lot more years but fate stepped in and changed our plans. So far we really love our new Journey! We also own a 1991 Dodge Conversion Van which still runs great. We love Dodges!

I'm pretty sure I'm the first and possibly only Journey owner so far in my town....at least I know I'm the first and only one so far to have bought one from our local Dodge dealer.

Count me in as one of the Journey owners who have experienced this firsthand. Actually, my husband and son were riding in the car a few weeks ago when they heard a very loud "explosion" and thought someone had shot a gun at them, lol. I had accidentally left a can of cola in the chill zone box and it had gotten hot and exploded. The top blew right off of the can. It wasn't too bad of a mess to clean up but it was definitely a surprise. I'm glad I wasn't sitting in the front passenger seat as my son was when it happened. He's a lot younger than me and I might have had a heart attack!

I also have a concern that there are no body side molding strips to protect the doors from scratches and dings. I've always had these on all of my previous vehicles but I understand that there are none available for the Journey at this time. Maybe they will become available sometime in the near future. It's very surprising to me that this is not an option for the Journey.

Hi everybody, New Journey owner here in East Texas as of May 12. I really LOVE my new Journey so far except for an annoying and as yet undiagnosed noise that appears upon acceleration. I can best describe it as a kind of low, throaty "growling" noise. My husband and I did not notice it when we first began driving our Journey and it did not appear in the Journey that we test drove at the dealer. We actually ordered this Journey because we wanted the Light Sandstone Metallic color and our local dealer was able to find one at a dealer in Louisiana, which we took delivery of the day after they found it for us. The noise has actually gotten more pronounced since we have had the vehicle and we have put over 2400 miles on it with several fairly long trips so far. We had the dealer service dept. keep the car for several days recently and they heard the noise but have not been able to pinpoint it so far. They do not think it is a mechanical problem and the car is performing just fine except for this annoying extra noise. They think it is some kind of vibration possibly caused by a heat shield or something. I am taking the car back to the service dept. tomorrow to have a part replaced to fix a different problem that has recently come up.....the airbag warning light has been staying on for long periods of time and they are going to fix that as well as make another attempt to find the source of the unusual noise. If anyone has had a similar problem with an unusual noise (not a squeaking or creaking noise, but an unusual "growling" noise that is separate from the regular engine noise), please let me know. My dealer has sent out inquiries to try to find out if any other new Journey owners have experienced this same problem but so far they have not found any. My Journey is the SXT FWD model with 7 passenger seating group option and 17" aluminum wheels. I am so glad that I found this site....I hope to be an active contributor and learner!