Dodge Journey: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Dodge Journey problems by model year, from 3,937 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (57%, 198 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (46%, 73 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (42%, 201 drivetrain complaints). 6 of the 11 Dodge Journey years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2020 (18%), 2019 (19%) and 2018 (26%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (46%) to 2018 (26%), down 20 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (246 of 1,218 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Dodge Journey year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Journey | no elevated signal | 26% | 246 | 1,085 | 8/11 | 3 |
| 2011 Journey | elevated | 34% | 50 | 169 | 6/11 | 4 |
| 2012 Journey | high | 41% | 138 | 376 | 4/11 | 6 |
| 2013 Journey | no elevated signal | 32% | 99 | 353 | 7/11 | 4 |
| 2014 Journey | elevated | 38% | 137 | 416 | 5/11 | 7 |
| 2015 Journey | high | 42% | 201 | 553 | 3/11 | 6 |
| 2016 Journey | high | 57% | 198 | 388 | 1/11 | 4 |
| 2017 Journey | high | 46% | 73 | 197 | 2/11 | 2 |
| 2018 Journey | no elevated signal | 26% | 50 | 234 | 9/11 | 6 |
| 2019 Journey | no elevated signal | 19% | 16 | 101 | 10/11 | 1 |
| 2020 Journey | no elevated signal | 18% | 10 | 65 | 11/11 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Dodge Journey years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Dodge Journey engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Dodge Journey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 20 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2011 | 11V487000 | engine and engine cooling | 2012 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V431000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2011–2015 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V461000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2016 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V907000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2016 |
16 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2010 | 10V475000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2010 |
| Jun 2011 | 11V315000 | steering: column | 2011 |
| Nov 2011 | 11V550000 | service brakes, hydraulic: fluid | 2012 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V373000 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2010 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V711000 | equipment: other: labels | 2014–2015 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V675000 | electronic stability control (esc) | 2012–2015 |
| May 2016 | 16V273000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2010–2016 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V432000 | air bags: frontal | 2011–2015 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V824000 | equipment | 2014 |
| May 2018 | 18V332000 | electrical system: wiring | 2014–2018 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V396000 | visibility: rearview mirrors/devices | 2018 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V398000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V523000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2018 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V723000 | exterior lighting | 2017–2018 |
| Aug 2025 | 25V552000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019–2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Dodge Journey
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Dodge Journey
What are the worst years for the Dodge Journey?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Dodge Journey years are the 2016 (57% of relevant complaints, high), the 2017 (46% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2015 (42% of relevant complaints, high). 6 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Dodge Journey?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Dodge Journey years are the 2020 (18%), the 2019 (19%) and the 2018 (26%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Dodge Journey have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 1,218 of 3,435 relevant NHTSA complaints (35%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is the Dodge Journey reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 6 of 11 Dodge Journey years we score have an elevated complaint share and 5 do not. Pooled across those years, 35% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Dodge Journey?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Dodge Journey years we track, out of 20 in total: 15V431000 (Jul 2015, 2011–2015), 16V461000 (Jun 2016, 2016), 16V907000 (Dec 2016, 2016), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.