When braking at speeds above 50 MPH, there is a violent shake in the vehicle. Vehicle is only 5 years old, and now needs a third set of brake pads and rotors. This is a clear and well known problem with the 2009 and 2010 journeys, yet the dealer (and Chrysler) refuses to acknowledge or fix it. When called Chrysler, I was told "they stand behind their dealership & the dealership says it's…
2010 Dodge Journey brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Dodge Journey have filed 102 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 24,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
102
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Journey | 290 |
| 2010 Journey (this page) | 102 |
| 2011 Journey | 37 |
| 2012 Journey | 53 |
| 2013 Journey | 29 |
| 2014 Journey | 36 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 102 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 10 model years of Dodge Journey in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report severe, recurring brake problems starting well below 20,000 miles. The dominant complaint is vibration or pulsation in the steering wheel when braking, often accompanied by shaking in the brake pedal itself. Most owners experience warped front rotors first, typically between 6,000 and 20,000 miles; rear rotor warping follows shortly after. Several owners report the problem recurring within 7,000–10,000 miles of fresh brake work, requiring repeated replacements throughout ownership.
Metal-to-metal grinding, squeaking, and burning smells are commonly noted. A few owners describe sudden, dangerous brake events: one vehicle experienced unintended brake application at highway speed, another had a rear caliper seize causing wheel lockup and heavy smoke, and one owner's brake pedal went to the floor with no stopping power.
Owners identify undersized or inadequate braking components as the root cause—specifically that brakes and rotors designed for smaller vehicles (like the Avenger) were installed on the heavier seven-passenger Journey. Chrysler issued an extended warranty to 36,000 miles for front brakes only, but imposed $50–$100 deductibles and excluded rear brakes despite owner arguments that rear failures stem from front brake inadequacy. Many report having to replace brakes and rotors five to eight times over 56,000–100,000 miles, with total out-of-pocket costs running $300–$500 per repair. Class-action lawsuits are mentioned in multiple narratives. Owners express concern this represents a design flaw that poses safety risks to their families.
Same Dodge Journey brakes reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Warped rotors and premature brake pad wear
Front and rear rotors warp and brake pads wear out at extremely low mileage (6,000–20,000 miles), causing vibration and pulsation in the steering wheel and brake pedal. The problem repeats frequently, with fresh brake work lasting only 7,000–10,000 miles before failure recurs.
When: Typically first occurrence between 6,000–20,000 miles; recurrence every 7,000–10,000 miles thereafter
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration/pulsation when braking; Brake pedal vibration; Shaking in the front end or steering wheel at highway speeds; Visible warping of rotors; Accelerated pad wear
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors replaced or turned, pads replaced; repairs cost $200–$500 per incident. Chrysler extended warranty covers front brakes only to 36,000 miles with $50–$100 deductible; rear brakes not covered despite recurring failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended brake warranty to 36,000 miles for front components only (2011); $50–$100 deductible applied; warranty does not cover rear brakes. Class-action lawsuits filed by owners; Chrysler acknowledged problem in some warranty letters but did not issue full recall.
Metal-to-metal grinding and squeaking
Brake pads wear completely away, leaving metal rotor surface exposed and creating audible grinding or squeaking noises. Occurs at low mileage and sometimes very shortly after brake replacement.
When: As early as 10,000 miles; sometimes within weeks or months of pad replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Loud metal-to-metal grinding noise from brakes; High-pitched squeaking when braking; Pads worn to nothing (metal-on-metal contact)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of brake pads and, often, rotors (which are damaged by metal contact). Costs $200–$500.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage inconsistent; extended warranty front-only program; owners often charged full replacement cost out of pocket.
Seized rear caliper
Rear brake caliper fails to release properly, locking the wheel at highway speed and causing heavy smoke and tire damage. Event occurred at 39,000 miles; caliper had been checked under warranty with no faults found previously.
When: 31,000–39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheel locked up or extremely difficult to rotate; Heavy smoke from rear tire; Inability to release brake pressure; Burning smell from brakes
Repairs/costs cited: Rear caliper replacement, rear pads and rotors replacement; dealership covered caliper cost, owner paid $416 for pads and rotors.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership covered caliper replacement; Chrysler refused to address owner concerns regarding prior warranty complaints and lack of preventive action.
Unintended brake application at highway speed
Brakes applied on their own for 1–2 seconds while vehicle traveling at 70 mph, steering wheel pulling violently to one side, nearly causing loss of control. Happened twice within 5 miles on the same trip.
When: Mileage unknown; event occurred on a Saturday morning
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous brake application without driver input; Steering wheel pulling to one side; Vehicle nearly spinning out of control; Strong, violent braking force
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealership; dealer drove it hard for 3 weeks and could not replicate issue. Advised rear rotors needed replacement but extended warranty covered only front brakes.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty covers front brakes only; rear brake repairs owner's responsibility. Issue unresolved; owner refused to drive vehicle after dealership was unable to diagnose the cause.
Brake pedal travel to floor with no stopping power
Brake pedal depressed but vehicle does not stop; pedal goes all the way to the floor. Owner forced to roll through stop sign and make hard right turn to avoid collision. Occurred twice; first event attributed to master cylinder failure.
When: Second event after master cylinder had been replaced; mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor; No braking response or severely reduced braking; Loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement; brake lines inspected and one replaced. Owner also suspects anti-lock brake pump assembly failure; repairs ongoing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response documented.
Brake hose failure
Brake hose failed after replacement work, causing caliper to compress continuously against rotor and resulting in abnormally rapid wear of pads and rotor damage. Diagnosed as hose not suitable for the vehicle's weight and size.
When: 13,000 miles after prior brake and rotor replacement at 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Screeching noise from brakes; Caliper compressing against rotor; Abnormally fast brake pad wear; Brake hose failure
Repairs/costs cited: Brake hose replaced; entire brake system (brakes, rotors, calipers, hose) required replacement. Owner replacing whole brake system annually.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Burning smell and extreme heat from brakes
Intense heat and burning smell from rear brakes after a short drive and highway stop. Rear brake disc glowing red. Brake caliper diagnosed as locked up.
When: Specific mileage unknown; vehicle relatively new at time of incident
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell from brakes; Extreme heat from wheel; Red-glowing brake disc; Locked-up caliper
Repairs/costs cited: All brake components replaced at dealership; parts cost and labor not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership performed repair; no recall or extended warranty mentioned for this specific failure.
Brake shaking and rotor resurfacing ineffective
Steering wheel and brake pedal shake when braking on hills or at highway speeds. Rotors turned and resurfaced multiple times under warranty, but problem recurs within months.
When: First occurrence after a few days of ownership; recurrent over ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration when braking; Brake pedal vibration; Shaking in brake pedal and steering wheel; Vehicle shaking violently when applying brakes
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors turned and resurfaced; later, rotors and pads replaced. Temporary relief (a few months) followed by recurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty issued for front components only to 36,000 miles with $100 deductible; rear brakes required full owner payment ($199 and up). Chrysler acknowledged problem in warranty letter.
Traction control light and brake failure during emergency stop
After brake and rotor replacement, traction control warning light illuminated. During an emergency stop with the light on, vehicle failed to respond to brake pedal depression; vehicle coasted to stop and brakes functioned normally after restart.
When: At 86,000 miles, shortly after brake replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control warning light; Brake pedal depression with no stopping response; Light clears after vehicle restart; Brakes function normally after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet repaired at time of complaint; several independent mechanics unable to determine cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer notification; no diagnostic testing at dealer.
Brake and ESP/BAS light cycling and repeated braking system replacement
Master cylinder and brake boot replaced under warranty before 40,000 miles. Later, ESP/BAS (brake/traction control) light came on during cross-country trip; dealership replaced entire braking system out of state. Light returned within days and has recurred multiple times since June 2015.
When: June 2015 (master cylinder/boot at <40,000 miles); ESP/BAS lights recur through April 2017; vehicle serviced 14 times by Dodge since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: ESP/BAS warning light; Brake warning light; Traction control light; Repeated light activation despite repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder and brake boot replaced; entire braking system replaced out of state; repeated repairs with no permanent resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty covered initial replacements; repeated failures suggest design or parts defect; no definitive fix offered.
Synthesized from 102 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2010 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 brakes problem on the 2010 Dodge Journey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 102 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 86 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 14,000 and 35,500 miles, with the median around 24,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 35,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2010/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.