2013 Dodge JOURNEY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Dodge JOURNEY has 503 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: i could not set the cruise control without hitting the steering wheel. once i got the cruise control set to 75 mph i could not get it to turn off. i hit the brakes 5 times before it would decelerate. once the cruise control turned off there was a sudden hard shift on the engine and a loud knocking. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 27 crash reports 34 injuries

503

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

77 complaints

15%

• I COULD NOT SET THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE I GOT THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. I HIT THE BRAKES 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD DECELERATE. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF THERE WAS A SUDDEN HARD SHIFT ON THE ENGINE AND A LOUD KNOCKING
• TURNED CAR ON AND FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS STUTTERING NEED TO MAKE TRIP TO DEALER. SUSPENSION NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE SUSPENSION ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY LUBED THE BUSHINGS AND EVERY OTHER TIME THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRED. THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports

“I COULD NOT SET THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE I GOT THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. I HIT THE BRAKES 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD DECELERATE. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF THERE WAS A SUDDEN HARD SHIFT ON THE ENGINE AND A LOUD KNOCKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

72 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED
• A GLAZE IS FORMING ON THE BRAKES.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPINNING UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

71 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
• I COULD NOT SET THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE I GOT THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. I HIT THE BRAKES 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD DECELERATE. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF THERE WAS A SUDDEN HARD SHIFT ON THE ENGINE AND A LOUD KNOCKING
• EXISTING PROBLEM ~DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK.SOMETIMES I CANNOT GET IN MY VEHICLE, THEN SOMETIMES THE PERSONS IN BACK SEAT CANNOT GET OUT. THERE IS NO PATTERN IT MAY WORK FOR A WEEK DAY OR MONTH THEN START MESSING UP AGAIN. THIS TO ME COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CARRY MY GRANDMOTHER,MOTHER AND GRAN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

63 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEAD REST DEPLOYED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND NECK SPASMS FROM THE HEAD REST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T
• ON SEPTEMBER 28 2016 2:30 PM RIDING NORTH ON HWY 59 FROM KINGWOOD WE HAD JUST PASSED THRU SHEPPARD TX. WE HAD BEEN ON CRUISE AT 70 MPH SINCE CLEVELAND TX WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION MY HEAD REST HAD EXPLODED AND PUSHED MY HEAD FORWARD FAST. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT BY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND TURNING LEFT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, FACE, NEC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEAD REST DEPLOYED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND NECK SPASMS FROM THE HEAD REST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

43 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND SHOULDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF
• OUR AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAGS. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WE TOOK IT AGAIN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OUR HARNESS. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN OUR CAR
• AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS TO TURN ON AND ALARM WHEN MAKING TURNS. GOING TO DEALER TOMORROW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND SHOULDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 503 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I COULD NOT SET THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE I GOT THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. I HIT THE BRAKES 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD DECELERATE. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF THERE WAS A SUDDEN HARD SHIFT ON THE ENGINE AND A LOUD KNOCKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEAD REST DEPLOYED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND NECK SPASMS FROM THE HEAD REST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)