The Dodge Journey is a midsize SUV that was closing on sale for the 2020 model yr. It supplied customers an American-badged completely different to European three-row rivals, and did so at a decrease price than most of them. Although outclassed in numerous respects by brisker rivals, the most recent Dodge Journey to be supplied proper right here is now even cheaper, considering it’s quite a few years earlier. For lots of, the price proposition is further important than something. To make your used Dodge Journey purchasing for experience easier, we’ve put collectively a list of the simplest and worst model years for this crossover, primarily based totally on reliability. Primarily, we focused on the number of purchaser complaints to separate the good model years from the unhealthy ones.
Dodge Journey Historic previous
The Dodge Journey was launched for the 2009 model yr as an all-new model to Dodge’s lineup. It was Dodge’s reply to rivals inside the midsize crossover SUV section, such as a result of the Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Rogue. Dodge Journeys can seat 5 or seven people, counting on the model chosen. Engine selections for the US market included a 2.4-liter ‘World’ four-cylinder engine and a 3.5L Chrysler-sourced V6 engine – which was in the end modified by the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine for fashions made between the 2011 to 2019 model years. Most had been equipped with each a four- or six-speed computerized transmission, with the selection for each front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.
All by means of its whole manufacturing run, the Dodge Journey expert one midlife exchange for the 2011 model yr, which included a minor exchange to the doorway exterior styling. The Dodge Journey model fluctuate was moreover updated one final time for the 2020 model yr sooner than the model was totally retired from Dodge’s product lineup altogether.
On the time of this textual content’s writing, Dodge has not launched an alternative choice to the Journey inside the US market, although the Dodge Hornet, serving as a result of the mannequin’s compact crossover SUV model, affords comparable and associated qualities found inside the Journey; though it comes with a lot much less cargo functionality and is smaller. Open air of the US, the Journey nameplate has moreover been revived for use in a collaboration between Stellantis and Chinese language language vehicle mannequin, GAC Group. This iteration of the Dodge Journey is merely a rebadged variant of GAC’s Trumpchi GS5 SUV.
Together with the USA, the Dodge Journey was moreover supplied beneath Stellantis’s Fiat mannequin, as a result of the Fiat Freemont – in select markets abroad.
| Dodge Journey (US Market) | |
|---|---|
| Model Years | 2009–2020 |
| Engines | 2.4L I4 |
| 3.5L V6 | |
| 3.6L V6 | |
| Transmissions | 4-speed computerized |
| Six-speed computerized | |
The Best Dodge Journey Model Years
We have now consulted revered on-line sources, similar to Car Complaints and the Nationwide Freeway Guests Safety Administration (NHTSA), to gauge which Dodge Journey model years are in all probability probably the most and least troublesome. The NHTSA affords in all probability probably the most full report of purchaser complaints, nonetheless it’s normally valuable to hunt the recommendation of recall data and completely different sources to pick out up any patterns.
Should you’re out there out there for a Dodge Journey, as with all used vehicle – it is extraordinarily useful to do as loads due diligence and evaluation inside your means to confirm that the one you must purchase is relatively trouble-free, or has had any important recall work carried out (with associated documentation). This would possibly moreover lengthen to having a pre-purchase inspection carried out by an entrusted service technician or mechanic, so that you notice as many particulars about its current state of affairs.
From reviewing data recorded and made on the market, these model years of the Dodge Journey must be the least problematic.
2020 Dodge Journey
Basically probably the most reliable Dodge Journey reported by owners are these made for the 2020 model yr. On the NHTSA, solely 17 complaints are listed for this Journey model yr, and there aren’t any recollects. These had been a couple of of the ultimate examples to depart the manufacturing line sooner than the model was eradicated totally from the Dodge lineup. Ideally, the overwhelming majority of the frequent factors or faults reported would have been rectified by Dodge amongst late fashions. That does not indicate 2020 Journeys are totally fault-free. NHTSA does report some minor complaints involving in-car electrical gear – devices such as a result of the reversing digicam not displaying appropriately, to the UConnect infotainment system’s Bluetooth function connecting intermittently with associated models. It ought to even be well-known that even the 2020 Journey was criticized for the utilization of low-quality provides inside the cabin. However, this does not technically impression its reliability.
2019 Dodge Journey
2019 Dodge Journey fashions actually have a low number of complaints all through all completely different model years. There have been moreover no recollects for this model yr. NHTSA does report 39 complaints from owners – ranging from intermittent in-car gear factors affecting the rearview digicam present not working appropriately, to the automated transmission shifting roughly or vibrating abnormally. There have been moreover some points with the second-row seat mechanisms. For this model yr, Dodge discontinued the SXT trim stage and added some further choices for the SE.
2018 Dodge Journey
You probably have not noticed however, there is a clear pattern creating: the newer the Dodge Journey, the much less factors. That is wise given that crossover was solely supplied inside the USA for a single period, so Dodge had time to iron out factors the longer it was on sale. This model has further complaints (145) than the 2019-2020 fashions, nonetheless that’s nonetheless low as compared with completely different Journeys. Car Complaints does cite some factors affecting lack of vitality when at tempo and the UConnect’s Bluetooth connectivity.
Six recollects had been issued for AWD and FWD fashions made all through this yr – addressing a typical fault reported with the reversing digicam present not working when reverse gear was engaged, cruise administration not with the power to cancel with driver enter, and exterior light factors.
Dodge Journey Model Years To Steer clear of
Producers beneath the Stellantis umbrella (Dodge, Chrysler and plenty of others.) aren’t any strangers to recollects and shopper complaints, and sadly, the Dodge Journey is not any exception. A number of of the commonest Dodge Journey factors reported embrace:
- Brake factors
- Electrical points
- Inside accent faults
- Drivetrain factors
From the evaluation gathered all through all model years of the Dodge Journey, we’ve now narrowed down which ones are in all probability probably the most troublesome. Taking focus is the 2009 Dodge Journey – the first iteration of the Dodge crossover SUV.
2009 Dodge Journey
The first Dodge Journey model yr, 2009, has racked up in all probability probably the most complaints. Seeing as these had been the very first to be supplied new to customers and are moreover the oldest working examples, it is no shock that 2009 Journeys are these useful staying away from. On the time of writing, the 2009 Journey has practically 1,600 complaints and eight recollects to its title.
Very early fashions have been reported to endure points surrounding premature brake and brake rotor placed on, powerful engine idle factors, quite a few electrical factors, and lack of engine vitality, to name quite a few. Recollects moreover issued by Dodge for this model yr embrace a restore to the driving force’s airbag wiring and vitality present unit which may affect the deployment of the airbags in an accident, a restore to the engine wiring harness (which may pose a fire hazard), and a restore to the ignition swap which may in all probability deactivate key safety methods if the ignition key bodily strikes into the ‘OFF’ or ‘ACCESSORY’ mode.
2010 Dodge Journey
2010 Dodge Journey fashions do not fare loads higher with reference to long-term reliability and factors reported by owners. NHTSA data states as a lot as 1,067 registered complaints and 4 recollects issued for this model yr. Along with the premature brake placed on and powertrain factors reported by owners of early model Journeys, 2010 fashions are more likely to endure factors affecting a novel Dodge half – the Utterly Constructed-in Vitality Module (TIPM) fuse. Defective objects can result in quite a few factors, from the horn instantly going off with out warning, inflicting aspect dwelling home windows to spice up or lower with out warning, or most alarming, inflicting the central locking system to perform with none enter from the keyfob.
2012 Dodge Journey
The number of factors confronted by owners of the Dodge Journey decreased inside the first few years, with the 2012 occasion registering 355 complaints, primarily based totally on current NHTSA data. That could be a lot higher than the 2009 mannequin, but it surely absolutely nonetheless will not be a trouble-free automobile, with factors affecting the brake methods, premature brake rotor placed on, and most prevalent for this model yr, factors affecting the air-con and heating methods. Six recollects had been moreover issued for 2012 Journey fashions – most notably one to cease unintended deployment of the driving force airbag, and a restore to ensure water coming into the ABS module would not affect the operation of the automobile stability methods. Further recollects moreover aimed to restore factors which may set off the power steering return hose to rupture, inflicting sudden lack of vitality steering.
Throughout the following desk, we’re in a position to see in all probability probably the most complaints registered by Dodge Journey model years, primarily based totally on current data from Car Complaints.
| Dodge Journey Points By Model Yr | ||
|---|---|---|
| Model Yr | Number of Complaints | Most Prevalent Factors |
| 2009 | 1,585 | Premature Brake and Rotor Placed on |
| Lack of Engine Vitality When Driving | ||
| Quite a few Electrical Failures | ||
| Brake Calipers Locking Up | ||
| 2010 | 1,067 | Premature Brake and Rotor Placed on |
| Engine Not Turning Over | ||
| Defective Utterly Constructed-in Vitality Module (TIPM) | ||
| 2012 | 355 | Premature Brake Placed on |
| Air Conditioning/Heater Factors | ||
Summary: Steer clear of Early Dodge Journeys
Out of all the model years of the Dodge Journey, the early fashions are these to steer clear of. Practically all of trouble-prone Journeys are normally 2009 fashions. 2009 Journeys have the very best number of proprietor complaints. That they had been in all probability probably the most affected by the commonly reported brake and powertrain factors, and as well as acquired many recollects.
Should you’re looking for a used Dodge Journey with a lot much less probability of working into potential factors, our advice is to aim for a later model produced in course of the highest of the Journey’s manufacturing run. Ideally, aim for one made between the 2019 to 2020 model years, as these had been reported with little to no recollects issued the least bit, along with the least number of complaints from owners. The Dodge Journey may not be as reliable as Japanese or Korean midsize SUVs, nonetheless for any family needing an affordable, good choice, the Journey matches these requirements. As with all used vehicle, we advise procuring spherical and doing as loads due diligence as potential to increase your chances of discovering one which’s a lot much less extra more likely to run into trouble.