Is the 2015 Dodge Journey a bad year?
554 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 138, 4.2× a quiet Journey year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 4.2× the complaints of a quiet Journey year, spread over 20k–88k 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 2015 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 59,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 138 (25%) | 20k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 118 (21%) | 26k–73k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 105 (19%) | 22k–74k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 90 (16%) | 46k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 69 (12%) | 35k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 51 (9%) | 30k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 77 (14%) | 22k–91k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 39 (7%) | 33k–80k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 32 (6%) | 33k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 19 (3%) | 22k–70k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 10 (2%) | 15k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 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 59,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 554 complaints: 30 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 36 report an injury · 33 say the car was towed.
17 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My journey will turn off sitting a stop light or just turn off while accelerating from a stop position. Entering or exiting traffic.
When you are driving the car it doesn't matter the speed the car will turn off without any warning. Causing a dangerous and scary situation after you put in park and press the start button amd it will turn back on.
When in motion going at variety speeds the car stalls mid movement and power steering stops. It has happened at stops as well as in motion.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 59,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Dodge Journey: 6
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.
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: 118
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 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)
Some vehicles may exceed NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) emission level standards due to loss of catalytic converter efficiency
No Start Intermittently, Vehicle Requires Multiple Keyless Push To Start Attempts To Start Vehicle, Intermittent Key Not Detected Message
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Vehicle entrapment
Stall from Crankshaft\Camshaft Failure
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2014 Journey: 416 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2016 Journey: 389 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 2015 Dodge Journey a bad year?
554 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 138, 4.2× a quiet Journey year. At 59,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 4.2× the complaints of a quiet Journey year, spread over 20k–88k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Dodge Journey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (138), electrical system (118), brakes (105), seats (90), air bags (69). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 20k–88k miles.
How many recalls does the 2015 Dodge Journey have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-432), Steering (NHTSA 16V-273), Brakes (NHTSA 15V-675) 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.