juju007

We too had "drained battery" problems. We purchased a 2011 Dodge Journey Lux on May 27,2011. June 2, 2011 leaving work battery was dead. On advice of the salesman we jump started the car. It started immediately on connecting the cables, drove straight to the dealership. Next day they called and said "can't duplicate problem" you must have left the lights on. June 16, 2011 leaving work dead battery. They kept it two days put over 80 miles on it and again, can't duplicte problem. If it happens again don't jump start it bring to us dead so we can read "error codes". July 18, 2011 again dead battery. Had the car loaded on a truck and delivered to them dead. They kept it 12-days. Following week after never hearing from anyone I called they told me they found a bulletin stating the passive entry feature was the problem. Moisture was getting in the button on door handles and causing the system to keep the vehicle communication bus awake, therefore, draining the battery. They replaced both front driver and passenger door handles. August 2, 2011 when I picked up my car the service manager said Chrysler was designing a new handle and I might want to turn the passive entry off. Everything okay until November 19, 2011 dead battery. At this point I knew it was of no avail to call the dealership, we just jump started the car. I did call Monday to report it, their lack of concern was comforting, and did not ask if I wanted it brought in. On January 14, 2012 dead battery. I called dealership and talked with the saleman that sold us the car. He agreed we must have a "lemon" he would talk to management and call me Monday. Their offer was to trade in my "used" car with 3680 miles on it, sell me a car in value of what I owed, not what I paid including my trade in. I considered filing lemon law even though I did not want to. I decided to take it to a different dealership. I dropped it off on Sunday, they called me Monday come pick up your car. Seems there was bulletin that came out August 10, 2011 recommending they "flash reprogram the Body Control Module with new software". Everyone at this dealership were wonderful, a pleasant change from where I bought it. After being told this I searched the internet and found they actually issued a previous bulletin on June 14, 2011 for "drained battery" recommending the same reprogram. After reading the posts here there were several different "solutions" from dealerships for drained battery. We have not had a problem since the module was reprogrammed and I also turned the passive entry back on. Hope this helps those of you having same problem. Mind you, I live in Florida and everytime I had to wait for a tow truck for 30, 45 minutes or longer it was 100 degree weather, I was melting and NOT happy. The service manager and other personnel at the dealership where I bought my car were very abrupt, rude or just plain insolent. I will never buy from them again. That's what they call 5 star service for you!

We purchased a 2011 Dodge Journey Lux on May 27, 2011. On June 2 leaving work the battery was dead, I'm talking DEAD nothing worked. I had to use the emergency key to open the door. I immediately called the dealership & they recommended I call emergency road side assistance. While waiting for the towing company I called the salesman at the dealership. He recommended we use jumper cables. The cables barely touched the post and it started right up. We still took into the dealership. They could not find anything wrong, said I must have left the lights on. I knew that was not true but what the heck I'll give them that one. On June 16 you guessed it dead battery again. They kept it two days drove it over 80-miles, could not find anything wrong. Guess what, July 17 the doors unlocked, interior lights came on but when I tried the start engine button nothing, the second time I tried it all the interior lights went crazy flashing, settings were changing, the windshield wipers started going, I could not turn anything off it was unbelievable. And, then nothing the battery died! Had it towed to the dealership same day. I called every day the first week, answer was "we can't find anything wrong or they were checking it or they were talking to Dodge Chrysler factory reps". This went on until July 28th when the service manager called saying they found two things that possibly could be the problem. Seems they had reports from customers who had bought Chargers & the Chrysler 300 if you have the door handles with the "lock button" on the outside moisture was getting inside and causing it to stay engaged therefore draining the battery. The other was the glove compartment door clasp was not connecting properly and the light was staying on. Service manager at my dealership said my Journey was the only one they had had this problem with & that is why it took so long for them to find it. He also said the vendor supplying the door handles is currently designing a new handle and I should be one of the first to receive one. They replaced my door handle, said if I turned off the passive entry IF moisture got into the handle again it would not drain the battery. I loved this feature it was nice to just walk up to the car touch the handle & it unlocked. But temporarily worth the hassle to avoid a dead battery. I was told there will most likely be a recall sometime in the future. I hope this helps anyone else that is having this problem. I live in Florida and let me tell you standing in 100+ degree heat waiting on a tow truck for a car that is less than 2-months old does not make for a happy customer!