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2018 Dodge Journey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
26%
50 of 195 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Dodge Journey. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 26% of relevant complaints.

Better than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 39 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 21%).

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 2018 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 50 of 195 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (26%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 46% and the 2019 scores 19%. 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
50
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
234
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
7 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM72 · 31%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER45 · 19%
ENGINE30 · 13%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING27 · 12%
SERVICE BRAKES25 · 11%
BACK OVER PREVENTION23 · 10%

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 2018 Dodge Journey

What one owner reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE09/01/2026FIRE
Sitting at red light and with out warning car turns off I place it in park and try to start car again as soon as I push the ignition to crank the car a huge explosion from under the hood blew the hood backwards striking the a-piler to the driver's door trapping me inside the car as flames were observed coming through t…

One of 50 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 2018 Dodge Journey?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2018 Dodge Journey, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.

6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
exterior lighting22V723000 · Sep 2022
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles…
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V523000 · Aug 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may…
electrical system: wiring: front underhood18V524000 · Aug 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x…
visibility: rearview mirrors/devices18V396000 · Jun 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. When reverse gear has been selected, the rear camera view may not be fully visible within two seconds. As such, these…
back over prevention: sensing system: camera18V398000 · Jun 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. As such, these…
electrical system: wiring18V332000 · May 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee…

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

Checking one particular 2018 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.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2018 Dodge Journey

Does the 2018 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 50 of 195 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (26%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Dodge Journey?

No. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2018 Dodge Journey, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Dodge Journey years are better?

Among the Dodge Journey years we track, the 2020 (18%) and the 2019 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (26%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2018 Dodge Journey?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2018 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.