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2013 Dodge Journey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
32%
99 of 305 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Dodge Journey. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 32% of relevant complaints.

Better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 48 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2013 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 99 of 305 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 41% and the 2014 scores 38%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
99
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
353
this model year
Fires reported
9
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
19 crashes · 32 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES74 · 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM73 · 21%
ENGINE72 · 20%
SEATS58 · 16%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)44 · 12%
AIR BAGS44 · 12%

The years either side

2010
26%
246 of 1,085
2011
34%
50 of 169
2012
41%
138 of 376
2013
32%
99 of 353
2014
38%
137 of 416
2015
42%
201 of 553
2016
57%
198 of 388
2017
46%
73 of 197
2018
26%
50 of 234
2019
19%
16 of 101
2020
18%
10 of 65
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2013 Dodge Journey

What one owner reported

AIR BAGS,ENGINE03/02/2026FIRE1 INJURED
The contact owned a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V432000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that previously, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine oil pres…

One of 99 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Dodge Journey?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Dodge Journey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: engine15V431000 · Jul 2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 19, 2010, to May 26, 2015 and equipped with 2.4L engines. In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold.

Risk: If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: frontal17V432000 · Jul 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed…
steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections16V273000 · May 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering…
electronic stability control (esc)15V675000 · Oct 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2013 Dodge Journey? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2013 Dodge Journey

Does the 2013 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 99 of 305 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Dodge Journey?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Dodge Journey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 15V431000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Dodge Journey years are better?

Among the Dodge Journey years we track, the 2020 (18%), the 2019 (19%) and the 2010 (26%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (32%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2013 Dodge Journey?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Dodge Journey shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.