2018 Dodge JOURNEY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Dodge JOURNEY has 332 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: after pcm and ecm recall repair, bluetooth system would not connect, check engine light on, touch screen radio malfunctioning while driving, eco color driveing tracker nolonger worked, the electronic gas miles was incorrect (exp: after puting gas in miles showed 115 until empty, drive 7 miles the ca. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 5 crash reports 3 injuries

332

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

70 complaints

21%

• AFTER PCM AND ECM RECALL REPAIR, BLUETOOTH SYSTEM WOULD NOT CONNECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOUCH SCREEN RADIO MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, ECO COLOR DRIVEING TRACKER NOLONGER WORKED, THE ELECTRONIC GAS MILES WAS INCORRECT (EXP: AFTER PUTING GAS IN MILES SHOWED 115 UNTIL EMPTY, DRIVE 7 MILES THE CA
• WHEN IN REVERSE ON A UPWARD SLANT OR STREET OR A HILL THE CAR WILL GO GO FOWARD AS IF DRIVING IN DRIVE POSITION UNTIL YOU STEP ON BRAKE VERY HEAVILY AND QUICKLY PRESS HARD FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL AND EXCELLIARATOR FAST. WHEN PRESSING BRAKE ON A HILL AND ON FLAT SURFACE IF U DONT KEEP FULL PRESSURE
• THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WANT LOCK, ONE WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT THE DRIVER SIDE. BACK DOOR WILL COME OPEN GOIN DOWN THE ROAD .THE DASH STARTED CRACKING 1 WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT 9 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT WINDSHEILD STARTED CRACKING ON DRIVER SIDE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER PCM AND ECM RECALL REPAIR, BLUETOOTH SYSTEM WOULD NOT CONNECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOUCH SCREEN RADIO MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, ECO COLOR DRIVEING TRACKER NOLONGER WORKED, THE ELECTRONIC GAS MILES WAS INCORRECT (EXP: AFTER PUTING GAS IN MILES SHOWED 115 UNTIL EMPTY, DRIVE 7 MILES THE CA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

43 complaints

13%

• PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 7/13/2018 AND IT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A BACKUP CAMERA. DODGE IS ALSO ADVERTISING THAT THIS IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED. AS FAR AS I KNOW ALL VEHICLES ARE TO BE EQUIPPED BY MAY 1, 2018. THIS WAS PURCHASED
• I THOUGHT THIS VEHICLE CAME WITH A BACK UP CAMERA? I THOUGH IT WAS MANDATORY THAT ALL VEHICLES SOLD AFTER MAY 2018 WILL HAVE A BACK UP CAMERA INSTALLED.
• WHEN IN REVERSE ON A UPWARD SLANT OR STREET OR A HILL THE CAR WILL GO GO FOWARD AS IF DRIVING IN DRIVE POSITION UNTIL YOU STEP ON BRAKE VERY HEAVILY AND QUICKLY PRESS HARD FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL AND EXCELLIARATOR FAST. WHEN PRESSING BRAKE ON A HILL AND ON FLAT SURFACE IF U DONT KEEP FULL PRESSURE

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

“PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 7/13/2018 AND IT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A BACKUP CAMERA. DODGE IS ALSO ADVERTISING THAT THIS IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED. AS FAR AS I KNOW ALL VEHICLES ARE TO BE EQUIPPED BY MAY 1, 2018. THIS WAS PURCHASED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

32 complaints

10%

• ON 6/4/2018 I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BEING ON AND LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY DID AN UPDATE ON THE POWER CONTROL MODEL AND FIXED A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT
• AFTER PCM AND ECM RECALL REPAIR, BLUETOOTH SYSTEM WOULD NOT CONNECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOUCH SCREEN RADIO MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, ECO COLOR DRIVEING TRACKER NOLONGER WORKED, THE ELECTRONIC GAS MILES WAS INCORRECT (EXP: AFTER PUTING GAS IN MILES SHOWED 115 UNTIL EMPTY, DRIVE 7 MILES THE CA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 22 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE MACHENS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1310 VANDIVER DR, COLUMBIA, MO 65202, (573) 474-9500), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON 6/4/2018 I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BEING ON AND LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY DID AN UPDATE ON THE POWER CONTROL MODEL AND FIXED A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

25 complaints

• HEADLIGHTS LEAK CAUSING WATER TO BUILD UP INSIDE LIGHT HOUSING USIT
• 3RD BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTIONS WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED AND REVERSE CAMERA TURNS OFF WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON.
• MY CAR ROLLS BACK OUT OF GEAR. TRANSMISSION DRAGGING. ELECTRIC PROBLEM WI LIGHTS. SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“HEADLIGHTS LEAK CAUSING WATER TO BUILD UP INSIDE LIGHT HOUSING USIT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

23 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SKID BEFORE STOPPING, WHICH EXTENDED THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (TROTTER AUTO EL DORADO, 1910
• SOME DAYS MY BRAKE PEDAL FEELS MORE FIRM AND WILL STOP ON A DIME THAN OTHERS TIMES IT FEELS SPONGY OR SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR IT DOES STOP THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN IT'S SPONGY IT TAKES LONGER ALMOST AS IF I'M DRIVING A FREIGHT TRAIN AT 60 MILES AN HOUR HIGHWAY IN OR IN TOWN DRIVING AS OF TODAY I DON'
• WAS RAINING AND WHEN I WENT TO BREAK IT'S LIKE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT A BREAK FAILURE LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND I ENDED UP SKIDINGBEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP BUT DID NOT HIT ANYTHING SO IT'S LIKE IT IT DID NOT WANT TO GRIP THE PAVEMENT OR STOP UNTIL IT ACTUALLY GRIPPED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SKID BEFORE STOPPING, WHICH EXTENDED THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (TROTTER AUTO EL DORADO, 1910”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 332 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: AFTER PCM AND ECM RECALL REPAIR, BLUETOOTH SYSTEM WOULD NOT CONNECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOUCH SCREEN RADIO MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, ECO COLOR DRIVEING TRACKER NOLONGER WORKED, THE ELECTRONIC GAS MILES WAS INCORRECT (EXP: AFTER PUTING GAS IN MILES SHOWED 115 UNTIL EMPTY, DRIVE 7 MILES THE CA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 7/13/2018 AND IT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A BACKUP CAMERA. DODGE IS ALSO ADVERTISING THAT THIS IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED. AS FAR AS I KNOW ALL VEHICLES ARE TO BE EQUIPPED BY MAY 1, 2018. THIS WAS PURCHASED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ON 6/4/2018 I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BEING ON AND LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY DID AN UPDATE ON THE POWER CONTROL MODEL AND FIXED A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS LEAK CAUSING WATER TO BUILD UP INSIDE LIGHT HOUSING USIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)