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An inquiry by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is underway regarding the 2009 Dodge Journey crossover after a driver was trapped due to an electrical fire. It’s a unique case of the NHTSA investigating issues in a vehicle that has been out of production for several years.
According to Automotive News, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has initiated a preliminary assessment of the 2009 Dodge Journey. This action comes after an incident on December 9, 2022, where a Journey driver stopped when facing various electrical malfunctions, such as electronic door locks that failed to unlock. The vehicle then ignited and was completely burnt, resulting in the driver’s demise.
Remains of 2009 Dodge Journey destroyed in suspected electrical fire. Dane County Sheriff’s Office via Newsweek
It is believed that the incident reported in January by Newsweek is the same. In an emergency call to her fiancé, 73-year-old Mary Frahm from Wisconsin complained of the vehicle’s electronics malfunctioning; the speedometer was erratic, the windshield wipers activated on their own, the horn sounded, and the dashboard indicator lights were flashing. Frahm pulled over and made another emergency call, but when responders arrived, the car was destroyed, and Frahm had succumbed.
As per Automotive News, the 2009 Dodge Journey utilized a mix of manual and electronic locks, with complaints about the locks documented in the NHTSA’s online database. The incident implies that the electronic locks may have malfunctioned and locked the driver inside the vehicle; it’s unclear if the electronic system jammed the locks or if the driver’s distress caused them to overlook the manual controls.
Stellantis has reportedly assured Automotive News of its cooperation with the NHTSA’s investigation.
Initial evaluations by the ODI are the first step in investigations and will progress to an engineering analysis if an issue is identified. Subsequently, the ODI will ascertain if a recall is warranted. While uncommon for a discontinued model like the Journey, older vehicles are occasionally subject to recalls if widespread issues are attributable to design flaws rather than normal wear and tear.
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