2017 Dodge Journey: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2017 Dodge Journey: SOLID — 202 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~9 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (59 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 0.77, where 1.00 is a typical Journey year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). 56% 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
202
NHTSA complaints
0.77
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Journey year)
157
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2017 Dodge Journey problems
Electrical system leads a spread-out record, named in 29% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2017 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 59 | 29% |
| Engine | 44 | 22% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 32 | 16% |
| Air bags | 30 | 15% |
| Unknown or other | 25 | 12% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2017 Dodge Journey recalls
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2017, reported between May 17, 2018 and Sep 29, 2022.
2017 Dodge Journey service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 157 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2017 — close to the 159 of the median Journey year from 2011 to 2022. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (36), structure (30), engine & cooling (21). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2017 vs. the year before and after
From the 2016 to the 2017, owner complaints fell 48% (389 → 202) — an improvement. The 2018 that followed rose 17% (202 → 237), so the 2017 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Journey | AVOID | 389 | 179 | 4 | — |
| 2017 (this page) | SOLID | 202 | 157 | 2 | — |
| 2018 Journey | SOLID | 237 | 139 | 6 | — |
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 2017 Dodge Journey
Electrical system (59 complaints on the 2017): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (44 complaints on the 2017): 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.
Powertrain / transmission (32 complaints on the 2017): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Air bags (30 complaints on the 2017): confirm the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that every air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
Seats (21 complaints on the 2017): try every power and manual seat adjustment and the seat heaters if fitted.
Recalls: confirm all 2 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2017 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.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
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Found a 2017 Dodge Journey for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
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FAQ
Is the 2017 Dodge Journey reliable?
2017 Dodge Journey: SOLID — 202 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~9 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (59 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 0.77, where 1.00 is a typical Journey year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2017 Dodge Journey problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2017 Dodge Journey are electrical system (59, 29%), engine (44, 22%), powertrain / transmission (32, 16%). The manufacturer has 157 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2017 Dodge Journey have?
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2017 Dodge Journey, most recently 22V723000 (Sep 29, 2022, exterior lighting); 18V332000 (May 17, 2018, electrical system). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2017 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 2017 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.