Dodge Journey Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Dodge Journey model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2007 drew the fewest (4) and the 2009 the most (1,594).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 0 | Engine | — | — |
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
8 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
65 | 1 | Electrical system | 4★ | 21 |
| 2019 | 102 | 1 | Unknown or other | 4★ | 19–21 |
| 2011 | 169 | 4 | Service brakes | — | 19–22 |
| 2017 | 198 | 2 | Electrical system | 4★ | 19–21 |
| 2018 | 235 | 6 | Electrical system | 4★ | 19–21 |
| 2013 | 353 | 4 | Service brakes | 4★ | 19–21 |
| 2012 | 376 | 6 | Electrical system | 4★ | 19–22 |
| 2016 | 388 | 4 | Engine | 4★ | 19–21 |
| 2014 | 416 | 7 | Electrical system | 4★ | 19–21 |
| 2015 Among the most complaints |
553 | 6 | Engine | — | 19–21 |
| 2010 Among the most complaints |
1,085 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 18–21 |
| 2009 Among the most complaints |
1,594 | 8 | Electrical system | — | 17–21 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Dodge Journey years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2009 Dodge Journey: 1,594 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 814 (51%); Service brakes 374 (23%); Air bags 286 (18%).
Reports mention 42 crashes, 37 fires, 35 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 63,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Dodge Journey: 1,085 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 653 (60%); Engine 178 (16%); Service brakes 159 (15%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 17 fires, 19 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 72,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2015 Dodge Journey: 553 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 135 (24%); Electrical system 118 (21%); Service brakes 105 (19%).
Reports mention 30 crashes, 9 fires, 47 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 57,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
The Dodge Journey years with the fewest complaints
2007 Dodge Journey: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 2 (50%); Electrical system 1 (25%); Electronic stability control 1 (25%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Dodge Journey: 8 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 6 (75%); Exterior lighting 2 (25%); Wheels 2 (25%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Dodge Journey: 65 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 19 (29%); Back over prevention 14 (22%); Engine 8 (12%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 40,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Dodge Journey owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 65 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40,000 |
| 2019 | 102 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55,000 |
| 2018 | 235 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 26,000 |
| 2017 | 198 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 35,000 |
| 2016 | 388 | 19 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 56,000 |
| 2015 | 553 | 30 | 9 | 47 | 0 | 57,000 |
| 2014 | 416 | 26 | 9 | 38 | 0 | 54,717 |
| 2013 | 353 | 19 | 9 | 32 | 0 | 72,000 |
| 2012 | 376 | 21 | 13 | 24 | 0 | 78,000 |
| 2011 | 169 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 65,000 |
| 2010 | 1,085 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 0 | 72,000 |
| 2009 | 1,594 | 42 | 37 | 35 | 1 | 63,000 |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Dodge Journey recalls
- Cruise Control cannot be Cancelled (2014–2018 model years; 4,815,661 vehicles across all models; filed May 2018; 18V332000)
- Ignition Switch may Turn Off (2009–2010 model years; 722,705 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2014; 14V373000)
- Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment due to Chafed Wire (2011–2015 model years; 363,480 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2017; 17V432000)
- Water May Enter the ABS Module (2012–2015 model years; 275,187 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2015; 15V675000)
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2019–2020 model years; 219,577 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2025; 25V552000)
All 27 Dodge Journey recall campaigns · Dodge Journey problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Dodge Journey years FAQ
Which Dodge Journey year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2007 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (4). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Dodge Journey years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2009, 2010 and 2015 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Dodge Journey problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (2,188 of 5,546 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Dodge Journey have?
NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns covering the Dodge Journey. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Dodge Journey recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.