Is the 2011 Dodge Journey a bad year?
169 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Journey years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Dodge Journey are in line with other Journey years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
2th quietest of 11 Journey years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Journey owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 25,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 55 (33%) | 11k–67k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Suspension | 5 (3%) | 14k–82k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 43 (25%) | 62k–111k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 34 (20%) | 65k–119k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 23 (14%) | 42k–120k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (12%) | 32k–107k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 14 (8%) | 60k–117k miles · ahead | — |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (5%) | 43k–105k miles · ahead | — |
| Speed control | 7 (4%) | 38k–100k miles · ahead | — |
| Stability control | 7 (4%) | 79k–120k miles · ahead | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 169 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
It has been about a month since my 2011 Dodge journey had begun to shut off without warning while I was driving, and with nyc traffic in the city it became dangerous for me to drive.
I was driving my kids to school when the engine just shut off. The power steering did not work and then the car just started back up on its own.
Today 8-24-15 my 2011 Dodge journey shut off as I was driving down a road. There was no prior indication the car all of the sudden would not steer , brake or do anything .
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 25,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Dodge Journey: 4
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. Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist. A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold. If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. A missing or incorrectly installed rivet could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 80
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Dodge Journey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exceed NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) emission level standards due to loss of catalytic converter efficiency
No Start After Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Replacement and/or Reprogramming
Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect oil pump for relief valve failure
Powertrain Diagnostic and System Improvements
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Vehicle entrapment
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2010 Journey: 1,085 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2012 Journey: 377 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Dodge Journey year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Journey years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Journey a bad year?
169 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Journey years. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge Journey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (55), suspension (5), electrical system (43), engine (34), steering (23).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Journey have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 17V-432), Steering (NHTSA 16V-273), Engine (NHTSA 15V-431), Steering (NHTSA 11V-315). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.