NHTSA Complaint #10467705 — 2011 DODGE JOURNEY

I PURCHASED AT NEW 2011 DODGE JOURNEY CREW IN FEBRUARY 2011, WITH 5 MILES. DURING THE COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE WAS A LITTLE BUMPY. I ASSUMED THAT THE UNEVEN RIDE WAS DUE TO LOW PRESSURE IN THE TIRES OR BALANCING ISSUES. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER IN JULY 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED WITH THE FOLLOWING OUTCOME: ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO REPLACED, BALANCE TIRES AND RE-ALIGNED TIRE PRESSURE. THE DEALER ORDERED NEW ROTORS/PADS AND I RETURNED 2 WEEKS LATER FOR INSTALLATION. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME UNEVEN RIDE AND COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER. THIS COMPLAINT RESULTED IN MY TIRES BEING REPLACED (MECHANIC STATED I HAD 2 BAD TIRES). THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE OLD TIRES HAD SOME WEARING ON THEM (MOST LIKELY DUE TO UNBALANCE TIRES). MY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP STARTED TO INCREASE AND RESULTED IN A VISIT EVERY OTHER MONTH TO HAVE MY TIRES BALANCED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2012 (24K MILES). I WORKED THROUGH CHRYSLER CASE MANAGEMENT ON THIS REPLACEMENT AND I HAD TO PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE REPAIR (NOT SURE WHY, BUT NEEDED MY CAR TO MAKE A LIVING). MY VEHICLE WAS BACK IN THE SHOP IN APRIL 2012 FOR BALANCING ISSUES. THE DEALER FORCED BALANCED MY VEHICLE (THIS WAS THE SECOND FORCED BALANCING ON MY VEHICLE). ON APRIL 20, 2012, I HAD ANOTHER VISIT TO THE DEALER JUST TO BE TOLD THAT THEY REPLACED MY FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT AXLES, IN AN EFFORT TO FIX MY BALANCING ISSUES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS HAS NOT RESOLVED MY UNEVEN DRIVING ISSUES AND I AM BACK AT THE CASE MANAGEMENT STAGE. THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE YEAR AND A HALF WITH THIS VEHICLE, SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME THE DODGE JOURNEY HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF ISSUES. *TR