Dodge Journey Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 1,070 of the 5,488 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2020 Dodge Journey (19.5%) name the engine, near the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2010, 2009 and 2015.
Engine complaints
1,070
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2020 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
19.5%
of 5,488 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Dodge Journey engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 7 |
| 2009WORST | 196 | 12.3% | 19 | — | 8 |
| 2010WORST | 204 | 18.8% | 10 | — | 6 |
| 2011 | 34 | 20.1% | 3 | 15V431000 | 19 |
| 2012 | 105 | 28% | 9 | 15V43100011V487000 | 26 |
| 2013 | 77 | 21.9% | 7 | 15V431000 | 51 |
| 2014 | 102 | 25% | 8 | 15V431000 | 47 |
| 2015WORST | 137 | 25% | 4 | 15V431000 | 37 |
| 2016 | 121 | 31.6% | 2 | 16V907000 | 26 |
| 2017 | 45 | 23% | 3 | — | 21 |
| 2018 | 31 | 14.2% | 0 | — | 19 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9.8% | 0 | — | 26 |
| 2020 | 9 | 14.8% | 0 | — | 16 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Dodge Journey engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 1,070 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Dodge Journey years to avoid for the engine
2010 Dodge Journey
204 engine complaints (18.8% of the year's 1,084). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.
2009 Dodge Journey
196 engine complaints (12.3% of the year's 1,594). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.
2015 Dodge Journey
137 engine complaints (25% of the year's 548). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recall 15V431000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Dodge Journey years to avoid.
Dodge Journey engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Dodge Journey model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 16V907000 · 2016-12-16 · 2016 models
The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
- 15V431000 · 2015-07-07 · 2011–2015 models
In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold.
- 11V487000 · 2011-09-29 · 2012 models
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHRYSLER VEHICLES, INCLUDING 200 AND TOWN AND COUNTRY MODELS, DODGE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CHARGER, DURANGO, GRAND CARAVAN AND JOURNEY MODELS AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2011,…
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Frequently asked questions
Does the 2010 Dodge Journey have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 204 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2010 Dodge Journey, 18.8% of all 1,084 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (90 complaints). 10 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2009 Dodge Journey have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 196 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2009 Dodge Journey, 12.3% of all 1,594 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (64 complaints). 19 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2015 Dodge Journey have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 137 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Dodge Journey, 25% of all 548 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (38 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 15V431000. 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Dodge Journey years have the most engine complaints?
2010 (204), 2009 (196) and 2015 (137), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Dodge Journey engine problems?
In the 1,070 engine complaints, owners most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving (32.4%), misfire or check-engine light (17.5%) and smoke, burning smell or fire (7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Dodge Journey model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration