NHTSA upgrades 2009–2020 Dodge Journey and Journey AWD probe to engineering analysis: Vehicle entrapment
On August 1, 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA24003) into 2009–2020 Dodge Journey and Journey AWD, concerning the latches/locks/linkages. An Engineering Analysis is the second, deeper stage of an NHTSA defect investigation, opened when ODI wants a closer technical look; it can end with NHTSA asking the manufacturer for a recall. It follows Preliminary Evaluation PE23008. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- EA24003 (Engineering Analysis)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Latches/Locks/Linkages
- Listed
- 14 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Dodge |
|---|---|
| Models | Journey, Journey AWD |
| Model years | 2009–2020 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-008 on May 1, 2023 to investigate an incident involving a 2009 Dodge Journey alleging occupant entrapment during a vehicle fire that resulted in a fatality. During the investigation, ODI collected information from the manufacturer and involved parties to confirm or refute the defect allegation. ODI has determined that additional reports of vehicle entrapment exist for other model year Dodge Journey vehicles. ODI continues to explore the cause of the thermal event and its potential effect on the actuation of the door locks. ODI also continues to explore other potential causes for door lock malfunction. ODI has determined that an upgrade to an Engineering Analysis (EA) is necessary to continue the review of the investigative material and to assess the risk to motor vehicle safety . To review the ODI report cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for EA24003, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 3,942 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 167 crashes, 75 fires, 210 injuries. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Journey | 988 | 18 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 Journey | 169 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 Journey | 376 | 21 | 24 | 0 |
| 2013 Journey | 353 | 19 | 32 | 0 |
| 2014 Journey | 416 | 26 | 38 | 0 |
| 2015 Journey | 553 | 30 | 47 | 0 |
| 2016 Journey | 388 | 19 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 Journey | 199 | 12 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018 Journey | 236 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 Journey | 102 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 Journey | 65 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 Journey AWD | 97 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens engineering analysis EA24003
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search EA24003 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.