Dodge Journey Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Dodge Journey options? We analyzed 10 model years (2014β2023) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Dodge Journey has 1,954 owner complaints and 27 safety recalls across model years 2014β2023. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2015 drew the most complaints; 2020 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Dodge
- Model
- Journey
- Model years analyzed
- 2014β2023 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,954
- Safety recall campaigns
- 27
- Crash-related complaints
- 101
- Fire-related complaints
- 32
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2015 (553 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2020 (65 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Dodge Journey: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe DODGE JOURNEY has 1,954 NHTSA complaints and 27 recalls on record. 101 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,954 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 27 federal recall campaigns
- 101 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
27 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2014β2023. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,954 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,954 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was restarted and then towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 78,598.
My rear view camera shows a black screen when the vehicle is put in reverse. It is not a fuse problem. That has been checked. I have resorted to βthe old fashioned wayβ of looking behind either side when backing up. Itβs just terrifying because you canβt see all that the rear view camera shows and since itβs not working I donβt get the noise alerts when getting close to something
Every day when I backup my 2019 Dodge Journey I can not use my rear view mirror to safely backup ? Why ? Because the rear view camera which is still is in recall status is located within the rear view mirror and blocks out my ability to use the mirror. How much longer will I have to wait for Chrysler to rectify this safety hazard ? Don't tell me soon. I have had this issue for 2 years now. I received the recall notice a year ago.
I went to the dealership for the recall, and they said that they changed the camera. But that did not fix it. They told me it was a wiring issue or something in the radio. They did not fix the recall. They wanted me to pay for a diagnostic.
REARVIEW MIRROR CAMERA NOT WORKING
I recently received a safety recall in the mail from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles stating that the rearview camera in my vehicle, a 2019 Dodge Journey Crossroad, needed to be replaced, as they were found to be defective and in violation of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. I scheduled an appointment at my local Dodge dealer, Dayton Andrews Dodge, on Friday 07/31 for 0745 on 08/03 for this replacement. After dropping off my vehicle at the appointed date and time and being brought back to my house by their "shuttle," a consumer grade minivan which I shared with four other passengers, I received a call at approximately 12:30 pm, where I was told they had "evaluated" my vehicle to determine whether or not I needed to have my backup camera replaced, determined that it needed replacement, and that they would need to order the backup camera and related parts which would arrive in a few days, at which time I could bring my car in again to actually have it installed. This made no sense, since this was a MANDATORY safety recall, and not replacing the backup camera was never an option for them, yet they booked my appointment knowing they did not have the part in stock. I was never once told that this appointment would be anything but getting the backup camera replaced, and if its efficacy was in question, they could have easily asked me on the phone if it was working properly (it has not functioned properly for years), or looked at the blank screen while the vehicle was in reverse upon my arrival at the dealership, then sent me on my way. Instead, I was duped into wasting an entire day of my life for my vehicle to receive an "evaluation," which I was never once informed of nor gave consent to, but through which they had determined that my vehicle required a fluids flushing and spark plug replacement for approximately $1100. This is obviously fraud being perpetrated to get people to purchase unnecessary, overpriced repairs.
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a black screen. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure of the rear-view camera. The contact was informed that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were ordered to repair the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The backup camera will sometimes show inverted colors, the display will be flipped upside down, the display will flash, or it will be entirely black. This is unsafe because it makes it harder to identify hazards behind the vehicle when reversing. This issue happens at least half the time the car is put into reverse. This issue seems the same as recall 25E052 (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25E052-7447.pdf), but my vehicle is not being shown as included in this recall.
This car is a 2019. The transmission was replaced when it was just one year old. The transmission is now needing to be replaced again. The transmission issue has also caused the drive shaft to need replacing as well. The flag shaft in the engine had to be replaced twice in one year costing over $1,000 each time. I believe these vehicles should have more active recalls. In doing research this is an issue that many owners of this car face. I have had this vehicle for only 3 years and I am now faced with not being able to afford the repairs needed (over 6k). They are selling this car and it is a lemon.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera was inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The backup camera does not display correctly. When the car is put in reverse we get a picture of a camera with a line through it. This problem is very similar to what is in recall 59c but does not include our vin number.
Horn and all dasbboard controls quit working on my steering wheel. Rear wiper comes on by itself when the vehicle is put in reverse but the toggle no longer works to activate the rear wiper. The washer fluid will work with the toggle switch, but the wiper still does not come on. Reverse lights quit working.
Rear backup camera is consistently distorted, inverted, or has a black or blue screen.
Passenger seatbelt sensor stopped working then while later the cover broke off of the frame with no cause. Not allowing the seatbelt or airbags to work properly. According to Mopar it was not covered under warranty. I have seen multiple Dodge Journeys with this same issue. Itβs obviously a safety defect that needs addressed. They wonβt address it until someone is seriously hurt or killed because of their manufacturing error. Thatβs wild!
The backup camera has been an issue since I bought this vehicle back around 2020. It first would go in and out to black and now it's fully upside down at all times. I thought a recall had been issued but my vehicle doesn't qualify for some reason which is very frustrating. It's very unsafe, especially when I have a [XXX] old trying to "permit" drive in this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My 2019 Dodge Journey was built in March of 2019. My backup assist camera is having the same issues as the recall for Dodge Journeys that were built in May thru September or 2019. Why is my car not included in the recall when it is suffering the exact same issue as the vehicles included in the recall. Clearly I have the same equipment as the other cars.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The back window shattered/exploded on its own without warning while parked.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse(R), the back over prevention camera displayed the image of the rear of the vehicle up-side-down, and with lines of going through the image. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 121,900.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image failed to display properly, and an βXβ appeared on the screen instead of the camera image. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part was not yet available. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,329.
Showing 20 of 1,954 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Dodge Journey
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Dodge Journey, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Dodge Journey has 1,954 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Dodge Journey has 27 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 101 of the Dodge Journey's 1,954 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Dodge Journey vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Dodge Journey vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Dodge Journey has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Dodge Journey by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Dodge Journey.
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Dodge Journey reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge Journey reliable?
Poor. The Dodge Journey has 1,954 NHTSA owner complaints and 27 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Dodge Journey years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2015 (553 complaints), 2014 (416 complaints), 2016 (388 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Dodge Journey problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (482 complaints); ENGINE (436 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (328 complaints).
Does the Dodge Journey have recalls?
Yes β 27 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Dodge Journey. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.