2018 Dodge Journey Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Journey years
- Fewer complaints than other years 8th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Journey. That ranks 8th out of 14 Journey model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (72 complaints, 31%), typically at around 22,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 236owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 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 | 72 | 31% | 22,000 | “backup camera” (13%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 45 | 19% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 30 | 13% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 27 | 11% | 35,784 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 25 | 11% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 9% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 20 | 8% | 15,695 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 8% | 22,735 | — | — |
| Seats | 14 | 6% | 10,536 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 5% | 31,322 | — | — |
| Steering | 11 | 5% | 25,050 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 3% | 34,060 | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 3% | 51,880 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 3% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 2% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% | 27,363 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 2% | 63,100 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 1% | 92,500 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 4,323 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 5 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | 140,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Dodge Journey recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting
Problem: 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
Problem: 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
Problem: 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 or a no start condition.
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
Problem: 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
Problem: 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; vehicle speed control:cruise control; electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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 cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
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 transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
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.
- Back up camera failure (PE24006) — opened Feb 27, 2024, closed Sep 26, 2025, led to recall 25E052.
- 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.
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…
My rear view back up camera flipped upside down.. then it would have lines in it like an old tv.. now itâs just black and doesnât work at all. There is a recall for my model just 1 year newer than mine. Can you help me!
Technician notes exterior headlight assembly is defective and not reflecting bright.
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.
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…
Other Dodge Journey years
← 2017 Journey · 2019 Journey →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Journey | 65 | 1 |
| 2019 Journey | 102 | 1 |
| 2018 | 236 | 6 |
| 2017 Journey | 199 | 2 |
| 2016 Journey | 388 | 4 |
| 2015 Journey | 553 | 6 |
| 2014 Journey | 416 | 7 |
| 2013 Journey | 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 2018 Dodge Journey?
Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 72 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Dodge Journey?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 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 2018 has fewer 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.