2013 Dodge Journey: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2013 Dodge Journey: CAUTION — 353 owner complaints, 1.2× the Journey median year by raw count; top issue: service brakes (74 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2013 is 1.33, where 1.00 is a typical Journey year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 59% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2011–2022 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
353
NHTSA complaints
1.2×
vs. median Journey year
247
Service bulletins
4
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2013 Dodge Journey problems
Service brakes leads a spread-out record, named in 21% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2013 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 74 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 73 | 21% |
| Engine | 72 | 20% |
| Seats | 58 | 16% |
| Electronic stability control | 44 | 12% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2013 Dodge Journey recalls
4 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2013, reported between Jul 7, 2015 and Jul 7, 2017.
2013 Dodge Journey service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 247 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2013 — more than the 159 of the median Journey year from 2011 to 2022. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (83), powertrain / transmission (45), engine & cooling (35). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2013 vs. the year before and after
From the 2012 to the 2013, owner complaints held roughly level (377 → 353). The 2014 that followed rose 18% (353 → 416), so the 2013 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Journey | CAUTION | 377 | 223 | 6 | — |
| 2013 (this page) | CAUTION | 353 | 247 | 4 | — |
| 2014 Journey | AVOID | 416 | 213 | 7 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Dodge Journey years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2013 Dodge Journey
Service brakes (74 complaints on the 2013): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Electrical system (73 complaints on the 2013): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (72 complaints on the 2013): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Seats (58 complaints on the 2013): try every power and manual seat adjustment and the seat heaters if fitted.
Electronic stability control (44 complaints on the 2013): make sure the stability-control and ABS lights go out after start-up.
Recalls: confirm all 4 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Nearby Journey years with a better rating: 2011.
Know what to pay for the right 2013 Dodge Journey — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2013 Dodge Journey reliable?
2013 Dodge Journey: CAUTION — 353 owner complaints, 1.2× the Journey median year by raw count; top issue: service brakes (74 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2013 is 1.33, where 1.00 is a typical Journey year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2013 Dodge Journey problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2013 Dodge Journey are service brakes (74, 21%), electrical system (73, 21%), engine (72, 20%). The manufacturer has 247 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2013 Dodge Journey have?
4 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2013 Dodge Journey, most recently 17V432000 (Jul 7, 2017, air bags); 16V273000 (May 6, 2016, steering); 15V675000 (Oct 19, 2015, electronic stability control). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2013 Dodge Journey before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2013 Dodge Journey come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.