Is the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY reliable?

The 2018 Dodge JOURNEY has 332 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (70 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (43 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (32 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY?

Yes, there are 6 recall(s): VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Contact any Dodge dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2018 Dodge JOURNEY?

The 2018 Dodge JOURNEY has an EPA rating of 20 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $3842. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2018 Dodge JOURNEY?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY is approximately $1,936/year (ev-mainstream class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2018 Dodge JOURNEY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Dodge JOURNEY has 332 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 503. 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. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 5 crash reports 3 injuries

332

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

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

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Dodge JOURNEY

Based on 144 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 25K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 22K mi · 25 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 34K mi · 16 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 26K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 23K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 7K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (6)

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES14/06/2018

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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: If the full camera view is delayed and the driver does not check their surroundings before backing up, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U58.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2018 Dodge JOURNEY

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$3,807

Per month

$317

Per mile

31.7¢

kWh/mi

1.69

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Dodge JOURNEY

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,936

Full coverage / month

$161

Liability only / year

$665

vs US avg

+16%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1936

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Dodge New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Dodge. If you're buying a used 2018 JOURNEY, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Dodge dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2018 Dodge JOURNEY

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

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
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Dodge dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)