Hands On Steering Wheel Message In EVIC
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Dodge Journey steering problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
4crashes
1fire
9injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 steering 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.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
RE9 Radio Software Enhancements This bulletin involves updating the radio and navigation software, if required. A customer may experience, one or more of the following conditions: ? Navigation screen locks up or display will be blank. ? Incorrect symbols displayed when entering destination using QWERTY keyboard. ? Navigation feature lockout disable. ? Navigation system resets intermittently. ? Translation improvements/corrections. ? System consistency and operational improvements for menu selections, month/date formatting, and Garmin translation functions. ? Radio system improvements during remote start operation. ? Unable to adjust radio volume using steering wheel switch intermittently. ?
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Dodge Journey steering system is plagued by multiple failure modes that endanger drivers and passengers. Owners describe the steering wheel locking up without warning—most often at low speeds or while backing—making the car impossible to turn. Some incidents escalated to highway rollovers at 65–85 mph when steering locked and power steering was lost simultaneously.
Engine stalling is a separate but equally dangerous problem: the car shuts off mid-drive with no warning, instantly killing power steering and brakes. One owner experienced three stalls in one month; another had eight instances over three years. In several crashes, owners lost control while accelerating from stopped positions or going over bumps. Dealership diagnostics repeatedly find nothing wrong, even after ECM updates, and owners spent hundreds on failed diagnostics.
The serpentine belt and idler pulley have failed catastrophically—the pulley crumbled, the belt snapped, and the engine died on an interstate. Power steering fluid lines have ruptured in cold weather. The brake system locks up suddenly, trapping drivers at traffic lights until they restart the engine. Steering wheel wiring recall work (NHTSA 15V675000 and 16V273000) has not resolved warning light activation and intermittent electrical issues.
Multiple owners reported feeling unsafe driving the vehicle with children aboard. Several traded in or abandoned the car after incidents; one owner faced a $16,000 loss after only two months of ownership.
Same Dodge Journey steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling without warning
Engine shuts off completely during normal driving—at low speeds pulling into driveways, over bumps, accelerating from traffic lights, or while driving straight on highways. Restarts immediately after placing in Park and cycling ignition. Owners lost power steering and brakes during stalls, creating hazardous conditions.
When: Varied conditions: low speeds, over bumps, during acceleration; one owner at 297,000 miles, another at ~35–40 mph, another over bumps at 25–55 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off without warning during driving; Power steering lost during stall; Brakes lost during stall; Engine restarts immediately when ignition cycled; Occurs multiple times over weeks or months
Codes mentioned: P0016
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft position sensor replacement did not resolve issue. ECM (engine control module) update applied by dealer but stalling continued. Dealership diagnostic at 3 hours of labor found nothing ($500 charged). One owner had camshaft replaced in 2019 for engine ticking; ticking returned after a failed diagnostic attempt.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service attempts documented; ECM update applied without success. No recall or TSB cited by owners.
Power steering lockup
Steering wheel becomes extremely difficult to turn or locks up completely, especially on right turns and at low speeds or while backing up. Occurs without warning during normal driving. Multiple occurrences reported per day in some cases. One owner nearly hit another vehicle when steering locked mid-turn.
When: Most frequent at speeds 20 mph or less and during backing; one incident during 85 mph highway driving resulted in rollover; another at 65 mph on highway during inclement weather
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn; Steering wheel locks up completely; Locks most often during low-speed or backing maneuvers; Can occur during turns or while parked; Happens several times per day in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspection found nothing wrong on multiple visits. One owner reported hearing knocking noise before steering failure; another reported hissing sound after failure. No repairs completed despite multiple dealer visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 15V675000 (steering) addressed in some narratives; one owner reported recall repair failed to resolve loss of vehicle stability and traction. Steering wheel wiring recall (9/7/2017) reportedly reinstalled but warning light returned. Two owners reported parts unavailable for recalls 15V675000 and 16V273000, causing delays.
Power steering pump failure
Power steering pump fails, eliminating power assist. One owner reported confirmed pump failure at dealer requiring replacement (not completed). Another owner heard noise from pump during turns.
When: Early mileage: one instance at approximately 19,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist lost; Noise from power steering pump when turning; Steering becomes difficult or impossible
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic and dealer confirmed power steering pump failure requiring replacement; vehicle was not repaired. Another owner reported persistent noise from pump during turns after dealer refilled air and replaced tires for unrelated TPMS issue.
Serpentine belt and idler pulley failure
Idler pulley crumbles, causing serpentine belt to break or come off. Results in complete engine shutdown and power loss (no power steering, no brakes). One incident occurred on interstate highway at highway speed.
When: One documented incident June 4, 2017; another owner reported bolts broke off pulley
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks up during driving; Engine dies completely; Car will not start after failure; Serpentine belt breaks or comes off; Idler pulley crumbles
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership confirmed idler pulley crumbling and serpentine belt breakage as root cause on June 5, 2017. One owner reported bolts broke off pulley, serpentine belt came off while driving on busy street.
Power steering fluid loss—cold weather
Power steering lines rupture or fail during cold weather, causing complete loss of power steering fluid and steering assist while driving.
When: Cold weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid lost; Power steering lines rupture; Power steering return line failed; Loss of power steering while driving
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs cited by owners; problem identified by consumer report only.
Traction control malfunction
Traction control turns off randomly during driving, separate from or following other electrical issues. One owner reported traction control dropout approximately 2 months after power steering fluid loss began.
When: Approximately 2 months after initial power steering fluid loss in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control disables randomly while driving; Occurs independently or in sequence with other failures
Brake system lockup
Brakes lock up or become completely unresponsive during normal driving, requiring engine shutdown and restart to regain brake function. Occurs without warning.
When: One incident at stop light; incidents correlate with engine stalls and serpentine belt failure in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up completely; No brake response during driving; Brakes regain function after engine restart; Occurs during stop-and-go driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service after ECM update did not resolve. One documented case required car to be placed in Park and ignition cycled to regain brake function.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 15V675000 mentioned as related to electronic stability control and hydraulic service brakes; owner reported recall remedy failed.
Steering wheel wiring harness defect (recall-related failure)
Steering wheel wiring harness warning light activates after dealer-completed recall repair (steering wheel wiring and protection sleeve installed 9/7/2017). Light continues to illuminate and sound off intermittently despite recall work.
When: Recurring after recall completion on 9/7/2017
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel wiring warning light illuminates; Warning sound activates; Light and sound do not stay off after recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Steering wheel wiring and protection sleeve installed per recall 9/7/2017 but warning recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA steering wheel wiring repair completed but issue recurred.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Loss of power steering fluid began in the fall. Then the check engine light began to come on when I would drive around a bend. Now about 2 months later the traction control randomly turns off while driving.
Had steering trouble with your 2014 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 steering problem on the 2014 Dodge Journey?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 44,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 55,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2014/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.