AI Damage2018 Dodge Journey: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Journey filed 237 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 119 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 237
- involving a crash
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 119
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 30% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 13% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 4 Backover prevention 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 72 complaints (30% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 29.
- Engine: 31 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Exterior lighting: 27 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Backover prevention: 25 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 25 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 237 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 72 | 0 | 29 |
| Engine | 31 | 0 | 8 |
| Exterior lighting | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 25 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 2 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 0 | 17 |
| Seats | 14 | 0 | 13 |
| Air bags | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 7 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During the crash the front end of the vehicle sustained severe damage but the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a injured neck. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined.
2018 dodge journey. Consumer writes in regards to defective cruise control function. The consumer stated upon returning home, the cruise control failed causing the vehicle to crash into the garage door and wall frame. There was also damage to a riding lawn mower.
The first time she hit me none of my airbags deployed and my head hit the wheel really hard, 2nd time my seatbelt locked (first time it didn't) and I had a bruise across my chest from it.
I was in a wreck on oct 2 2019 where the fount end of my car was ripped off and and severely damaged my airbags never deployed causing me to hit my door and window as well as slamming me into my dash causing injuries this wreck happened as I was crossing a intersection on a city street going about 15mph when another…
The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning indicator illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a tow yard. The contact called john l.
My brakes did not work and the vehicle in front on me ended up stopping my car. I pulled over to the left shoulder of the highway as much as I could and put my car in park and called highway patrol.
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.
Another significant safety concern is the factory backup camera. The camera intermittently glitches and the image can suddenly appear upside down. This makes the rear-view display unreliable and potentially prevents the driver from accurately seeing people, vehicles, or objects behind the vehicle while backing up.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 267 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Journey has 142 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 237, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- CAMERA – REAR VIEW
- Engine Oil Leak
- 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.
- LAMP - DOME
- "Washer Light On And Will Not Turn Off After Adding Washer Solvent."
- ACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER
- STARTER - ENGINE
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)…
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning…
- Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair…
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service…
- Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges…
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. NOTE: **Verify current…
- CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminates, Recent PCM Replace or Flash Update Performed, Diagnostic Trouble…
CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminates, Recent PCM Replace or Flash Update Performed, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P057B Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit Performance, P1572 Brake Pedal Stuck, C0042-54 Brake Pedal…
- ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals…
NHTSA lists 119 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Dodge Journey?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 237. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), rear-view camera (14%), infotainment or screen glitches (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA lists 119 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Dodge Journey from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.