Nearly 1 million Dodge rides investigated after fatal crash with trapped driver

According to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), 19 cases of defective door locks and windows have been reported on Dodge Journeys.

The NHTSA announced that 992,643 Dodge Journey vehicles produced between 2009 and 2020 are under investigation for malfunctioning door locks and windows that could prevent occupants from exiting the vehicle in an emergency.

The agency launched the investigation last year following a fatal crash that occurred in December 2022. In that case, the driver was allegedly trapped in her 2009 Dodge Journey during a fire caused by an electrical system malfunction.

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While the NHTSA is still investigating the cause of the vehicle fire and its “potential effect on the operation of the door locks,” more reports have emerged of cases in which people were trapped in vehicles.

According to official records, 7 incidents were discovered by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and 13 by the automaker, making a total of 19 cases after excluding duplicates. Aside from the single fatality mentioned above, there were no reported injuries in these incidents.

2009 Dodge Journey

The ODI then expanded the investigation from a preliminary assessment to a more detailed technical analysis, which was deemed necessary to “assess the risk to the safety of the motor vehicle” so that the government agency could decide whether to undertake an admittedly massive recall.

As Automotive News reported, Stellantis issued the following statement: “We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the customer who lost his life and offer our full cooperation to the NHTSA.”

Dodge sold only a single generation of the Journey midsize crossover, which was offered between the 2009 and 2020 model years. The model was produced in Mexico and also exported to Europe as a renamed Fiat Freemont between 2011 and 2015. However, the vast majority of the 1.1 million units produced ended up in North America.

Dodge Journey 2020 – petrol in test