2018 Dodge Journey problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (26) · Vehicle Speed Control (17) · Exterior Lighting (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Journey model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
95 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Exterior Lighting 2022-09-29 · campaign 22V723000 · 83,453 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z99.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper 2018-08-09 · campaign 18V523000 · 154,335 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood 2018-08-09 · campaign 18V524000 · 12,779 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall o
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices 2018-06-14 · campaign 18V396000 · 1,741 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2018-06-14 · campaign 18V398000 · 1,837 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the 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 U56.
Electrical System:software 2018-05-17 · campaign 18V332000 · 4,815,661 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the c
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmissi
Service bulletins (139)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2025-12-03 · 108465 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
camera – rear view
Engine 2025-10-21 · S2509000009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
engine oil leak
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-15 · 9100653 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
verify reman part number availability. order the "r" part number for all orders: warranty, mopar, customer pay and service contract. order "68" part number for new unsold units only.
Electrical System 2025-07-28 · 106241 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lamp - dome
Electrical System 2025-06-12 · 104974 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lamp - dome
Electrical System 2025-05-16 · S2323000002 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"washer light on and will not turn off after adding washer solvent."
Showing the 6 most recent of 139 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-16 · Engine · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 dodge journey. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine shut off without warning, causing an immediate loss of power steering and power brake functionality. the contact maintained control and guided the vehicle to a stop safely. after several attempts, the vehicle restarted. the manufacturer …”
2026-10-05 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“i own a 2018 dodge journey crossroad v6. i am submitting this complaint because i have experienced multiple serious and recurring problems with the vehicle. the vehicle has had multiple transmission repairs/replacements. i have spent a significant amount of money addressing transmission problems, yet i continue to have major mechanical issues with…”
2026-10-03 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“my rear view back up camera flipped upside down.. then it would have lines in it like an old tv.. now it’s just black and doesn’t work at all. there is a recall for my model just 1 year newer than mine. can you help me! …”
2026-09-18 · Exterior Lighting“technician notes exterior headlight assembly is defective and not reflecting bright. …”
2026-09-16 · Air Bags“air bag in the steering wheel. we took it back to the dealership for them to fix or do something about it and they refused to. no warning at all. …”
2026-09-01 · Engine · 🔥 fire“sitting at red light and with out warning car turns off i place it in park and try to start car again as soon as i push the ignition to crank the car a huge explosion from under the hood blew the hood backwards striking the a-piler to the driver's door trapping me inside the car as flames were observed coming through the dashboard had to forcefully…”
2026-08-25 · Exterior Lighting“first complain is that i was driving my 2018 dodge journey se 2.4l across the interstate in [xxx]. my friend was sitting in the passenger's seat when all of a sudden a loud popping noise happened and the airbag in the headrest popped out and almost hit my friend in the head. the second issue is that the headlight assemblies that was replaced unde…”
2026-08-19 · Back Over Prevention · 80,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 dodge journey. the contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank image. the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected. the contact was informed that an unknown recall was not associated with the vin. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechan…”
2026-08-16 · Unknown Or Other“the factory-installed parkview rear backup camera on my 2018 dodge journey is suffering from an intermittent, severe component failure. the video display randomly flips completely upside down while reversing. frequently, the system fails entirely, leaving a completely blank or black screen on the center infotainment console. …”
2026-08-12 · Back Over Prevention · 68,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 dodge journey. the contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera image was inverted. the contact later received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25e052000 (back over prevention), and the vehicle was taken to a dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vin was not includ…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.