Flash: MIL Illumination P0108 - Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor Circuit High This bulletin involves selectively erasing and reprogramming the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with new software. The customer may indicate that their Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is illuminated. Upon further investigation the Technician may find that P0108 - Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor Circuit High has been set active or stored.Updating the software will correct the condition listed above.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Dodge Journey brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2011 Dodge Journey have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 20,000 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
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Journey | 290 |
| 2010 Journey | 102 |
| 2011 Journey (this page) | 37 |
| 2012 Journey | 53 |
| 2013 Journey | 29 |
| 2014 Journey | 36 |
| 2015 Journey | 38 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 37 brakes complaints filed for the 2011 Dodge Journey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 37 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.
Brakes accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2011 Dodge Journey brake problems start early and repeat relentlessly. Owners describe warped rotors and failed calipers beginning as early as 947 miles and continuing through vehicle ownership. One owner replaced brakes six times in two years; another had service calls ten times over the car's life.
The core issues are rotor warping (rotors turn blue from heat) paired with caliper sticking. Caliper pins wear and indent, causing uneven brake drag—one wheel overheats while the opposite side stays cool, creating severe wear imbalance. One owner's independent brake shop finally diagnosed stuck caliper pins as the root cause after three failed diagnosis attempts at other shops.
Steering wheel shakes violently when braking above 30–50 mph. Brake noise—squealing and grinding—is intermittent and often worse in rain. Dealers routinely claim nothing is wrong despite visible evidence. One owner's mechanic confirmed pads digging into rotors with blue discoloration immediately after a dealer cleared the vehicle.
Brake fade is documented: one owner pushed the pedal to the floor with almost no stopping power; another's brake warning light came on at 41,000 miles. ABS modules fail at moderate mileage (67,000–107,000 miles), and dealers say the part is discontinued and unavailable.
Warranty covers brakes only to 12,000 miles. Owners cite a class-action lawsuit and claim Chrysler installed an undersized brake system on 2009–2013 models, addressing it in 2014. No official recall exists for the 2011.
Same Dodge Journey brakes reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Rotor Warping and Premature Wear
Front and rear rotors warp and wear unevenly well below normal service life, often within 5,000–15,000 miles. Owners report repeated rotor replacement at dealerships and independent shops. One owner documented replacements at 947 miles, 9,487 miles, and again shortly after. Rotors turn blue from excessive heat. The issue recurs even after resurfacing or replacement.
When: Typically within first 5,000–20,000 miles of ownership; some owners report onset as early as 947 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration or pulsation when braking; Rotors turn blue from overheating; Uneven rotor wear visible on inspection; High spots found on rotors at very low mileage
Repairs/costs cited: Rotor resurfacing, rotor replacement, brake pad replacement. Costs cited: $50–$300+ per service. One owner paid $700 for all brakes at 37,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships initially claim nothing is wrong; later admit rotor defect. One mechanic stated Chrysler installed the wrong brake system on 2009–2013 models and corrected it in 2014. No official recall as of complaint dates. Warranty covers brakes only to 12,000 miles or 12 months.
Caliper Sticking and Uneven Pad Wear
Caliper pins warp and develop indentations from excessive wear, causing calipers to stick intermittently. This creates permanent braking drag on one wheel, overheating the rotor and causing severely uneven pad wear. One owner's brake shop discovered this root cause after three failed diagnosis cycles and solved it by replacing the pins. Rear brakes do not release properly, causing one pad to wear completely while the opposite pad on the same axle remains serviceable.
When: Occurs across various mileages; some owners report 4+ service visits within 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheel smoking or steaming from extreme heat; Burning smell detected at home after driving; One brake pad worn completely; opposite pad on same axle still good; Excessive uneven wear of brake pads; Rear brake caliper seized or not releasing
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of caliper pins, calipers, and brake pads. One owner's brake shop in Mexico diagnosed and fixed the pin issue, resolving the problem long-term. U.S. owners report repeated replacements—one owner replaced brakes 4 times in 2 years, another 10+ times over vehicle ownership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted in narratives. One owner mentioned an unconfirmed class-action lawsuit regarding brake system adequacy. Dealers deny responsibility under 12,000-mile warranty.
Brake Fade and Reduced Stopping Power
Brake pedal sinks to the floor or nearly to the floor with little to no braking effect, creating a dangerous loss of stopping power. One owner experienced brake failure on the highway at 65 mph with children in the vehicle. Another reported brake pedal at 0% (completely worn) immediately after a fuel pump service. A third reported the brake pedal sinking to the floor with extended stopping distance and illuminated brake and traction control lights at 41,000 miles.
When: Variable mileage; one reported at 18,500 miles (under warranty), others much later
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to or near floor with minimal braking effect; Extended stopping distance; Brake warning light illuminated; Traction control light illuminated; Vehicle cannot stop under normal braking
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed in some cases; dealer advised brakes at 0% and needed replacement. One independent mechanic found nothing wrong upon inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed failure but did not repair in some cases. No manufacturer assistance provided despite contact.
Brake Noise (Squealing, Grinding, Popping)
Persistent squealing, grinding, and popping noises emanate from brakes, particularly at low speeds. Noise is intermittent in some cases and occurs almost exclusively when it rains. Dealers inspect and find no physical problems or blame rocks or debris. Noise recurs within months of repair or continues despite new parts. One owner's independent brake mechanic confirmed pads were digging into rotors despite dealer finding nothing.
When: Starts around 5,000–6,700 miles and persists through vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squealing from front brakes; Metal grinding noise from brakes; Loud popping sound from brakes; Noise intermittent, usually at slower speeds; Noise worse when raining
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers claim no parts are wrong or attribute to external debris (rocks). One independent mechanic confirmed pads digging into rotors with blue discoloration despite dealer clearing it.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership inspection found nothing wrong. No manufacturer response to address recurring noise.
ABS Module Failure and Unavailable Parts
ABS module fails, triggering ABS warning light along with brake and traction control lights. Dealers inform owners the ABS module part is discontinued and cannot be replaced. Two separate complaints mention the part being unavailable despite failures at moderate mileage (67,000 and 107,000 miles).
When: Documented at 67,000 miles and 107,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated; Brake warning light illuminated; Traction control light illuminated; Brake pedal to floor (one case)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; manufacturer part discontinued and unavailable from dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed owners part was discontinued. Manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance in either case.
Spontaneous Brake Lock-Up and Skidding
Brakes lock up without driver input or warning while driving at highway speeds. Vehicle comes to abrupt stop, wheels skid, and loud thud is heard. No warning lights or engine check lights illuminate beforehand. Occurred twice within one month with no prior indication.
When: Unspecified mileage; incident occurred twice within one month
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected brake lock-up at highway speeds; Abrupt stop without pedal input; Wheels skid audibly; Loud thud from underneath vehicle; No warning lights or engine indicators
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I have had problems with my brakes, they were replaced 3 times now and I only have 17,200 miles on the car. I have all serves records please help me thank you *tr
My husband and myself purchased our 2011 Dodge journey rt 2 yrs ago and was sold on how great this truck was. Since then we have changed the rotors and brakes 6 times. We had our tires changed due to shaking while braking but the problem still existed. So the tires were not the problem. Recently 2 days ago my husband was driiving with my children in the truck and could not stop the truck due to…
Break calipers lock up when driving. They have been replaced and continue to do this
My car has 132k miles and I'm replacing the brakes on the front for 8th time and the back for the 3rd time. Can't seem to get more than 15-20k miles out of a set of pads and rotors. Last two times I needed service the brake calipers had seized shredding the fairly new rotors which were so hot that I feared the car would catch on fire.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge journey. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, he began to engage the brakes and the steering wheel began to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and stated that the calipers were too small and it would heat up the rotors. As a result, the calipers and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Dodge Journey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 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 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 5,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. 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/2011/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.