NHTSA probes nearly 1 million Dodge Journeys over reports of faulty door locks, windows

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday upgraded its investigation into nearly 1 million of Stellantis' Dodge brand vehicles to an engineering analysis from a preliminary evaluation over faulty door locks and windows.

The safety regulator said it was probing into inoperative door locks and windows in about 992,643 Dodge Journey crossovers built between 2009 and 2020, which might prevent occupants from exiting in the event of an emergency.

An engineering analysis is a mandatory requirement before the NHTSA can potentially demand a recall.

NHTSA said it first opened the investigation after a report of a person allegedly entrapped and killed during a vehicle fire that resulted in a death in Middleton, Wis., in December, 2022.

NHTSA said it is still exploring the cause of the fire and any potential link door-lock malfunction.

The regulator said there were 19 potential incidents of door and window malfunction incidents including the fatality in Wisconsin.

An engineering analysis is a required step before the NHTSA could demand a recall.

"We extend our sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of the customer whose life was lost, and we are providing NHTSA with our full cooperation," Stellantis said in a statement.

Other complaints filed with NHTSA say the owners had issues with the crossovers including doors failing to unlock.

The owner of a 2010 Dodge Journey in Oklahoma said the vehicle experienced "random and erroneous electrical problems which included the doors unlocking" and later the owner "was also locked inside the vehicle after the locking mechanism malfunctioned."

The owner of a 2018 Dodge Journey in Nashville told NHTSA she was locked inside her vehicle after the key fob and door panel failed but "was able to crawl out of the vehicle through the window."