Is the 2014 Dodge Journey a bad year?
416 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 103, 3.1× a quiet Journey year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 3.1× the complaints of a quiet Journey year, spread over 20k–98k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 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 58,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 106 (25%) | 20k–98k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 103 (25%) | 20k–98k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 87 (21%) | 20k–100k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 46 (11%) | 33k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 41 (10%) | 38k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 43 (10%) | 61k–91k miles · ahead | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 36 (9%) | 10k–86k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 28 (7%) | 35k–82k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 22 (5%) | 34k–77k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 13 (3%) | 17k–65k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (2%) | 30k–85k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Wheels | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 58,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 416 complaints: 26 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 28 report an injury · 24 say the car was towed.
17 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
In the past two years I have had multiple electrical problems. The A/C turns on all on its own.
I went into my church for about 2 hours and came back out and started the car to let it cool down for my kids.
My wife was driving our kids around town and the vehicle stalled out as they were approaching a stop sign. No check engine light or any other indicators were triggered.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 58,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Dodge Journey: 7
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… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
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, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, 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.
The affected vehicles may be equipped with tire placard labels which contain inaccurate seating capacity and occupant/cargo combined weight information. With inaccurate information on the tire placard, the operator may overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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: 105
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Dodge Journey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Vehicle Does Not Start, No Crank
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Vehicle entrapment
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2013 Journey: 352 complaints, keep it · 2015 Journey: 554 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 2014 Dodge Journey a bad year?
416 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 103, 3.1× a quiet Journey year. At 58,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 3.1× the complaints of a quiet Journey year, spread over 20k–98k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Dodge Journey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (106), engine (103), brakes (87), air bags (46), stability control (41). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 20k–98k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Dodge Journey have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332), Equipment (NHTSA 17V-824), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-432), Steering (NHTSA 16V-273) and more. 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.