RickC

So I just couldn't take it anymore. My wife and I traded in our 09 Journey for a brand new 2010 Ford Edge and couldn't be happier. I'll list the problems we had with the Journey and maybe I'll save someone else the disappointment. 1) Power steering grinding noise - Fixed under TSB. 2) Constant wind howling noise (even with the roof rack cross bars placed where recommended) 3) Needed all 4 new brakes and rotors at 18,000 miles. I drive my 2005 Mustang more agressively than my wife drives the Journey and I've still got my original pads at over 95K miles. 4) Rear brake calipers were hanging up. It was causing the rear brakes to smoke, and the rotors got so hot they actually glowed red. Dealer told me it was normal and was caused by the stability control activating each brake independently. I'm a car guy who has restored a number of classic cars. I can smell BS a mile away. 5) On a couple of occasions we couldn't get the key out of the ignition. It was in park, brake set, car off... We had to restart the car, put it in Drive, then back to Park, then turn it off to get the key out. 6) Every once in a while when we go to start the car, all we get is a click. It does it once or twice, then it starts just fine. Can't recreate it, so the dealer can't fix it. 7) When you turn the wheels all the way to the lock, there is an occasional grinding noise. 8) Right rear tire suddenly started going bald on the outside edge, and noticed that the car was now pulling to the right. Took it in for an alignment (had to pay because that isn't warrantied). They said they recommend getting the car aligned every year. Once again I call BS. I've never had a car I had to align every year. 9) Car still pulled to the right after alignment. 10) Needs new tires. I managed to get almost 30K out of them, but the one started going bald. So I got quotes... well Kumo is the only brand that makes the 225/55/19 for the Journey RT. Over $900 for a set of tires, and I can't choose to buy a different manufacturer. Just to top that off, the tires are on "national backorder." 11) The shift lever can easily be knocked into reverse from drive. We had to make an emergency stop. My wife had her purse on the arm rest between the seats. It flew forward and knocked the shift lever into reverse. Fortunately when she let off the brake and started to go there was no one behind us! Add to all of this that Dodge is no longer an American car company... I try to do my part to buy American whenever possible because I don't believe a person should complain about the economy when they buy foreign products when there are good American alternatives. When we bought the Journey, I knew the bad reputation Dodge/Chrysler had, but I figured it couldn't be THAT bad. Well, what good is a lifetime drivetrain warranty when the rest of the car is crap? Oh well, call it a lesson learned, and I guess you'll be seeing me on the Ford Edge Forum... Bye!

The right rear tire on my wifes Journey has a funny wear pattern. The wheel isn't noticably leaning, but the outside of the tire is really worn down. We've got 28K on the car now, and this problem has just started. Taking it in to the dealer tomorrow morning.

I bought a universal one for a few bucks, and it didn't fit. I ended up buying a pretty nice set for $70. The only problem is that now the rear calipers are hanging up to the point that the new pads were smoking and the rotors are warped. It's at the dealer right now, and they've already warned me that since I changed the pads, it is probably not under warranty... get ready for my fury Dodge...

This is pretty amazing to me... but I'm in the same boat as everyone else. 15,000 on my wifes 2009 Journey and it needs new brake pads. I called the dealer, and they said the warranty is 12 months, 12,000 miles... so I guess Dodge has it timed just perfectly. Still, it bothers me because I've got over 80,000 miles on the original pads in my 2005 Mustang GT. The only saving grace is that I'm a car guy and I'll do the brakes myself. So I'm only out the cost of new pads and about 1/2 hour of my day.

So last week my wife and I are driving along (she is driving), and someone pull out in front of us. The ABS saved us from taking out a little Toyota. Anyway, one of the complaints my wife has about her Journey is that there is no place to put her purse. She can't put it on the floor on her side because it gets caught on the hood release, and it's not a good place because it could get lodged behind the brake. Anyway, back to my point. So she keep her purse on the center arm rest. Well, when we slammed on the brakes, it flew forward and knocked the shifter into reverse (because there is no reverse lock-out feature as discussed here in a different thread). We had no idea that happened until she put her foot on the gas and almost took out the car behind us! I just wanted to remind all you Journey owners that the shifter can easily get bumped from drive into reverse. That goes for flying purses, pets, AND kids.

I don't recommend using the automatic car washes. Too many times I've seen people with scratched up paint from the brushes. Also, be careful at those high school fund raiser car washes. The kids don't take their rings and watches off, the have a tendency to scratch paint.

After replacing the intake, the ticking went away. Every once in a while my wife says she still hears it, but I haven't. I would still like to know what could possibly be ticking in the intake? Apparently there is some sort of small motor in the intake... but what does it do? Like I said originally, I'm old school. My understanding is that the intake is what the carb sits on. The intake is nothing but a series of runners where gas and air are mixed and sent to the cylinders... why would you need a motor there? To make the matter even more simple, new cars are fuel injected, so the only thing going through the intake is air... So what could they have possibly put in the intake to make it tick?

Don't want to steel your thunder, but I think there have been a couple other accidents... My wife's R/T was hit on the drivers door all the way to the back bumper. So I know the feeling. less that 5,000 miles on the car and some freak pulls out into traffic, then tries to claim that my wife hit her. Fortunately, her brother was in the car with her. He's a local sheriff, so the lady shut up real quick.

Just recently my wife noticed a ticking noise from her Journey RT. I had a listen, and it sounded like either a lifter, or possibly an exhaust leak (they sound similar). Since we were planning to take our Journey RT in for service because of the left turn grinding noise, we decided it was time. They first tried replacing some rocker arms (not sure why...) but that didn't fix it. They said they eventually talked with a Chrysler tech who suggested it might be the intake... So they put a new intake on it and the noise is gone...? I'm a car guy. My hobby is working on old cars, but I don't much work on the new ones. Does anyone know what might cause a ticking noise in the intake? And by the way, they fixed the left turn noise under the TSB I got from this forum. Thanks for that! Rick

I'll agree that it's pretty useless in cars with a basic auto trans, but the Journey (along with lots of other new cars) have that auto-stick thing. So having the tach helps in driving when shifting manually.

Both my wife and I accidentally popped the hood while releasing the brake the first time. We both have "average" size feet, so it's not just your big feet. Now we know to just be careful when releasing the brake... Rick

I just did the same last week, and it took on the 1st try... I'm not sure why it isn't working for you. Rick

Current rides: 1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible 1998 Harley Davidson STC 2005 Mustang GT Previous rides: mostly a bunch of classic muscle cars and sports cars.

If you contact the Auto Club (AAA) they have deals with a lot of dealerships to get AAA members special prices. Our local dealer's agreement was to sell at $400 above invoice. Then take the $1,000 rebate, and we got ours at $600 below invoice. No hassle, no negotiation, and we ordered exactly what we wanted. Rick

I haven't seen any in the San Fernando Valley or Santa Clarita area of Southern CA. My wife is a school teacher, and she said one of her kids got picked up in one, but that's about all... The area we live in is VERY Stepford-ish. It's all about your flat stomach, big implants, big house, and what you drive. Lots of Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Escalades, etc. The funny thing is that we are seeing more and more people losing their homes (3 on my street, and 4 around the corner), but they've got a Hummer and Lexus in the driveway... Maybe they should have bought something a little more reasonable (Like a Journey!) Rick