Chrysler Kills the Dodge Journey
» Posted July 15, 2020 • Resources | Share This Post
The Dodge Journey has hit the end of the road.
Fiat Chrysler recently announced that it is killing the sport utility vehicle model after more than a decade of production and mostly mediocre reviews. The SUV that looks like a caravan and comes with a relatively cheap price tag had not changed much since its inception in 2008, which some observers said was part of the vehicle’s problem.
“What was it like to drive? Completely forgettable,” The Drive’s Peter Holderith writes in something of a eulogy for the Journey. “I would describe the Journey's driving dynamics by saying it doesn't have any. It moves around, sure. But that's its most distinctive quality.”
Jalopnik goes a step further, calling Journey’s “one of Chrysler’s worst-ever car platforms.” That platform - the “GS” - was developed in collaboration and Mitsubishi. It was used for the Journey, as well as the Jeep Patriot, Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger, among other vehicles.
The Journey was part of a massive 2018 recall, in which Fiat Chrysler said some 4.8 million vehicles may have a defect that makes them unable to move out of “cruise control.”
The company is also taking an ax to the Dodge Grand Caravan, according to autoblog. That will leave Dodge next year without a caravan model for the first time since 1983.
Legal Protections for California Car Owners
Whether it is a Dodge Journey or a Mercedes-Benz E Class, new cars often leave the factory loaded with serious and difficult-to-detect defects that jeopardize the safety of everyone on the road.
The good news for car owners in California is that the state’s lemon law offers some important protections. The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires car manufacturers to perform certain repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty.
The manufacturer is also required to buy the car back, if it is unwilling or unable to fix the problem. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, financing fees and other related expenses.
The manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the car owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternate option.
Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you are a California car owner whose vehicle has been recalled or is otherwise defective, you have the right to ensure that the carmaker is held responsible. A California lemon law attorney can help.
The California lemon law lawyers at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases throughout the state. We take the time to understand each individual client’s unique circumstances and we work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.
