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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Dodge Journey body problems
severe Owners of the 2009 Dodge Journey have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Journey (this page) | 10 |
| 2010 Journey | 3 |
| 2012 Journey | 6 |
| 2013 Journey | 5 |
3injuries
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Dodge Journey we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Water infiltration is the dominant issue across this cluster. Owners consistently describe rear passenger doors filling with several cups to several inches of water during and after rain, with water sloshing audibly inside the door cavity and taking 2–3 days to drain completely. This happens reliably every time it rains, regardless of temperature. Complaint #2 documents water pooling in a floor compartment with 5 inches of standing water between the front and rear driver seats; complaint #3 reports similar staining in bottom compartments that worsened after dealer repair. Owners cite mold and electrical short risk, though no failures are documented.
Secondary issues include a rear hatch strut that dropped unexpectedly, striking an occupant's head and causing neck injury (complaint #7); intermittent door lock failure on passenger and rear doors that traps occupants (complaint #9); oversized A-pillars restricting driver vision and contributing to near-miss pedestrian incidents (complaint #4); and sharp metal edges on rear seat runners that have cut children (complaint #5). Complaint #1 also mentions a rear tire slowly deflating and a low-pressure warning light cycling weekly, though the primary issue reported is the door water leak.
No TSBs, recalls, or manufacturer remediation are documented across any narrative.
Failure modes owners describe
Rear door water infiltration
Passenger and/or rear doors fill with multiple cups to several inches of water during or after rain events, with water audibly sloshing when doors open/close and draining slowly over 2-3 days from the bottom of the doors.
When: Every rain event; complaint #2 noted at 57,400 miles; #3 at roughly 2 months of ownership (early 2009)
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling inside door cavity; Audible water sloshing sound when opening/closing doors; Water draining from bottom of door; Wet smell persisting after drainage; Water on floor near affected doors
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #2: dealer advised of possible seal leak but vehicle was not repaired. Complaint #3: dealer attempted repair but made problem worse.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned. Dealer suggested diagnostic testing in complaint #2 but no follow-up resolution reported.
Water accumulation in interior floor compartments
Water pooling in sealed floor compartments and between front and rear driver-side seating areas, potentially 5 inches or more, creating rust and corrosion risk.
When: Noted at 57,400 miles in complaint #2; early in ownership for complaint #3 (early April 2009)
Symptoms owners cite: Wet floors between front and rear seats; Water-filled compartments below floor level; Water staining on interior compartments; Compartments refilling with water after emptying; Musty/wet smell
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #2: owner emptied water multiple times; compartment continued to refill. Complaint #3: water damage and staining persisted after dealer attempt.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No resolution or TSB mentioned.
Rear hatch strut failure
Rear hatch door dropped unexpectedly while open, striking occupant on the head and causing neck injury requiring medical attention.
When: At 103,028 miles (complaint #7)
Symptoms owners cite: Hatch drops independently while propped open; Loss of strut support
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.
Door lock electrical/mechanical failure
Remote keyless entry and manual door lock buttons intermittently fail to unlock passenger and rear doors, trapping occupants and creating emergency egress hazard.
When: Complaint #9 does not specify mileage or timing
Symptoms owners cite: Remote unlock non-responsive; Manual lock-button non-responsive; More frequent on passenger and fifth (rear) doors; Driver door unaffected
Windshield/pillar visibility obstruction
Left and right A-pillars or roof pillars near vent opening are oversized or irregularly shaped, significantly restricting driver sightline and causing near-miss pedestrian incidents.
When: Noted at 16,000 miles (complaint #4)
Symptoms owners cite: Obstructed view around pillars; Near-miss pedestrian events (three reported); Difficulty seeing to sides and corners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised contact with manufacturer; no resolution reported.
Sharp rear seat frame edges
Rear metal seat runners have sharp, rough edges that cut children's skin; manufacturer deemed the design normal and refused to address.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp edges on rear seat runners; Lacerations to children
Repairs/costs cited: Service dealer applied duct tape as temporary mitigation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler/manufacturer contacted three times; final response stated issue is normal design and declined further action.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2009 Dodge Journey?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2009 Dodge Journey?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 58,504 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Dodge/Journey.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.