2013 Dodge Journey Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Journey years
- More complaints than other years 7th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 353 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Journey. That ranks 7th out of 14 Journey model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (73 complaints, 21%), typically at around 57,000 miles. Complaints mention 19 crashes, 9 fires, 32 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 353owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 19complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Dodge Journey problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 73 | 21% | 57,000 | “dead battery” (7%) | — |
| Engine problems | 72 | 20% | 82,000 | “engine cooling” (21%) | — |
| Service Brakes problems | 61 | 17% | 60,000 | “electronic stability” (44%) | — |
| Seats problems | 58 | 16% | 94,271 | “side headrest” (29%) | — |
| Air Bags | 44 | 12% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 44 | 12% | 61,627 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 31 | 9% | 65,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 29 | 8% | 68,793 | — | — |
| Steering | 20 | 6% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 3% | 85,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 3% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 3% | 63,254 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 2% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 2% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 1% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 1% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 1% | 81,600 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 1% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 36,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Dodge Journey recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
Risk: Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T47.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return hoses, steel tubes, and power steering oil cooler, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S08.
Electronic stability control (esc); service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Risk: If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 19, 2010, to May 26, 2015 and equipped with 2.4L engines. In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold.
Risk: If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R32.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Vehicle entrapment (EA24003) — opened Aug 1, 2024, still open.
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment (PE19014) — opened Sep 9, 2019, closed Feb 25, 2026.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving, the ABS, brake, and traction control warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module had failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not…
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the air bag and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the cruise control feature became inoperable. The contact received notifications for Manufacturer Recalls: R61 and T47; and the…
Incident occurred onJune 29, 2026 approximately around 6 pm. The system in question is the electrical. I was pulling out of the parking space at the Safeway parking lot, my arm was rested on the driver side door, window was down, and I heard the automatic door locks engaged. At that exact moment I…
ABS Module failure. Replaced ABS module with brand new Mopar replacement. ABS module still will not communicate with system. No traction control, cruise control, multiple lights in dash.
The contact owned a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V432000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that previously, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The…
Other Dodge Journey years
← 2012 Journey · 2014 Journey →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Journey | 65 | 1 |
| 2019 Journey | 102 | 1 |
| 2018 Journey | 236 | 6 |
| 2017 Journey | 199 | 2 |
| 2016 Journey | 388 | 4 |
| 2015 Journey | 553 | 6 |
| 2014 Journey | 416 | 7 |
| 2013 | 353 | 4 |
| 2012 Journey | 376 | 6 |
| 2011 Journey | 169 | 4 |
| 2010 Journey | 988 | 3 |
| 2009 Journey | 1,433 | 8 |
| 2008 Journey | 8 | 0 |
| 2007 Journey | 4 | 0 |
See all Dodge Journey problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Journey?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, service brakes problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 73 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Dodge Journey?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Dodge Journey a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Journey model years, the 2013 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.