Is the 2018 Dodge Journey a bad year?
237 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 2018 Dodge Journey are in line with other Journey years.
4th 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 2018 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 27,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 72 (30%) | 16k–48k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 33 (14%) | 22k–70k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 25 (11%) | 13k–61k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 21 (9%) | 8k–57k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 18 (8%) | 15k–52k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 12 (5%) | 10k–77k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 25 (11%) | 60k–91k miles · ahead | — |
| Exterior lighting | 27 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 14 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (3%) | 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 27,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 237 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
38 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.
Recalls for the 2018 Dodge Journey: 6
The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the risk of a crash.
When reverse gear has been selected, the rear camera view may not be fully visible within two seconds. If the full camera view is delayed and the driver does not check their surroundings before backing up, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
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 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: 75
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Dodge Journey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Suspected engine coolant leak
CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminated, P057B Brake Pedal Position Sensor Performance
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)
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Vehicle entrapment
Back up camera failure
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2017 Journey: 202 complaints, keep it · 2019 Journey: 102 complaints, keep it.
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 2018 Dodge Journey a bad year?
237 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Journey years. At 27,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Dodge Journey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (72), engine (33), brakes (25), speed control (21), transmission and drivetrain (18).
How many recalls does the 2018 Dodge Journey have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 22V-723), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-524), Brakes (NHTSA 18V-523), Backup camera (NHTSA 18V-398) 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.