Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Dodge Journey submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
I replaced the alternator and battery, 3 months later I was told I have an issue with the pcm which was similar with the recall for the same vehicle I drove. My vehicle was not part of the recall. Tbs Recall tv-u87-18
Stated having coolant issues in 2023. September 2025 Engine light Started blinking and Started running rough at 65 mph. Stopped the vehicle and you could see the whole car shaking from the motor running so rough. Fueled up kept going and it kept doing it. Eventually dying at a stop light and I couldn't get it to fire back up. Ended up needing a tow since it wouldn't stay running. White smoke coming from tailpipe. Cracked cylinder head. $3000 repair with a USED PART.
***Radio system not working properly no longer connecting properly to phone, sounds muffled to the receiver on the other end of call, audio connect is not allowing me to be heard and I got a brand new updated phone! Thinking that was the issue. It wasn’t the phone, there was a precious recall regarding system updates issues, that I saw on here, but I was never notified about it!! *Audio hands free won’t map my iphone, to the car Bluetooth system will not connect at times, ****instrument panel lights are not showing, Radio goes off while driving often, not working properly, *****BACK UP CAMERA NOT WORKING PROPERLY: *Back up camera not working properly, noticed blurry, not able to see properly at night. ****Back up parking assist lines are not as bright and clear when backing up, image is no longer vivid! *Difficulty seeing behind you at night when Backing up, looks like snow on a tv screen ! ***off road system comes on by its self and stays on at times, car is serviced regularly!
Car trys to start, it turns over but doesn't start. When it does start the red lightening bold is illuminated. Motor runs rough and shaky has ZERO POWER to accelerate. On going since 2024
No accidents
The cruise control has stopped working. And there is faulty wiring in the hood making the check engine light come on. And a huge water and oil leak we just got the vehicle Friday 2/21
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the engine was slow to turn over and start. There was an abnormal chugging sound at start up. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle shut off unintendedly and failed to restart. The contact stated that the half-circle symbol to depress the brake pedal was displayed. The engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined the failure was due to the electrical system. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure was due to the oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at undisclosed speeds over a bridge, the steering wheel and the brakes became inoperable, and the vehicle shut down. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electrical system, transmission, timing chain, camshaft, and engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
While driving on the freeway some of the lights on my dash kit up and all the sudden my car would not go over 15 mph. I tried to turn it off and turn it back on and it continued to do the same thing. I did have my grandkids in the car.
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shut-off with the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the spark plugs, alternator, battery, engine coils, oil housing, and engine gaskets were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that after the initial repair, the same repairs were made by the same mechanic approximately every two to three months. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately start, and white exhaust smoke was coming from the vehicle. Also, the message "Coolant Low" was displayed although the coolant reservoir was full. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the head gasket was faulty. The head gasket was replaced but the coolant message continued to display. The contact also indicated that the back over prevention camera was faulty, and condensation was present inside the driver's side front headlight housing. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Car shuddered while driving, started making metal clanging noises’ and stalled in the middle of an intersection. I just had it worked on and had to fully replace the transmission (approximately $4000) due to the torque converter shredded metal in the transmission and seized up. Car after stalling would not go into reverse or drive. Would start up, but once in gear would make loud metal clanging sounds and shut down. No warning lights shown on dashboard.
Cylinder misfire. Cylinder leak. Engine damage. Dodge issued Service Bulletin TSB-09-002-14 for model years 2011-2013 for vehicles with the same 3.6L engine and same issue. TSB provided warranty extension for covered models up to model year 2013. My 2018 model year has the same defective engine type and Dodge refuses to repair because the TSB, which predates the manufacturers date for my vehicle, doesn't cover my vehicle.
My 2018 dodge journey shutdown when driving. There is recalls for this but not for my dodge journey. This is unsafe. The manufacturer should pay for it to be fixed. I have read so many store on all makes of dodge journeys they all have same problem but only certain ones are being recalled.
The vehicles warning lights have all lit up and the engine has stalled. We have taken it to multiple mechanics and they believe it to be the voltage regulator chip that is faulty which is accusing the engine to stall. It has also lost the back up camera capabilities which is also another recall of the 2018 Dodge Journey.
The contact's son owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the headlight bulbs burned out soon after replacement. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that moisture was entering the headlight module and causing the bulbs to become blown. The contact also stated that the alternator had failed due to a defective O2 sensor. The contact replaced the O2 sensor; however, the failure returned soon after the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
We had problems with axels. After that the throttle control system light would turn on. Now the backup camera doesnt work and we changed everything and still doesnt work. Currently the car starts getting hot when we drive in the freeway and the AC blows hot air
Cylinder 2 is misfiring, for coils and spark plugs. Vehicle had tune up and replaced all spark plugs and coils in March. Check engine still coming on reading same code, has been checked multiple times, coils and spark plugs are perfect and brand new.
Multiple cylinder misfires, low mileage. Mechanic doesn't know how it happened.
Engine shuts off without warning. Driving and all of sudden, engine stops, drop vehicle in neutral and push start and it starts right back. I have been on curvy road, going up steep hill and also on perfectly level road, makes no difference, happens without warning. Dangerous because on hill started rolling back...can't steer on curvy road unless engine running...please check into this before I or someone else gets hurt or killed.
THE AC AIR COMPRESSOR ARE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE SERPTINE BELT TO BREAK AND CAR STOP IMMEDIATELY IN TRAFFIC TO A DEAD STOP THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT FIXING IT IT'S A FACTORY DEFAULT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SHOOK AND VIBRATED AT START-UP WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING UPON DEPRESSION THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO LANDMARK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6850 MT ZION BLVD, MORROW, GA 30260) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.
FROM DAY 1: CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY; DOESN'T GO AS IT SHOULD WHEN ONE PULLS INTO TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY! THE 'EXTRA GEARS' ONLY MAKE THE MOTOR SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE, & DOESN'T MAKE CAR MOVE ANY FASTER/EASIER. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD; IT'S NOT THE DRIVER! SECOND ISSUE: THE HOOD KEEPS POPPING UP, AND I FEAR IT WILL EVENTUALLY FLY ALL THE WAY UP. THESE ISSUES ARE LIFE THREATENING. 3RD ISSUE: IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T GET THE GAS MILEAGE THAT IT SHOULD, GETTING 16-18. PLEASE HELP! AS A CANCER PATIENT, I DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO GET TO MANY DR VISITS. THANK YOU.
I WAS DRIVING MID DAY, 35 MPH ON MAJOR CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AS I WAS IN RIGHT HAND LANE I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE CAR TO THE CURB EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING HAD SHUT DOWN. WITH THE CAR STOPPED I COULD SEE THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AND THE IT WAS STILL IN "DRIVE". AFTER MY NERVES CALMED I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND DRIVE ON. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR THAT I HAD DRIVEN FOR 1,700 MILES DURING THE PAST 10 DAYS WITH OUT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER AN HOUR BEFORE I HAD BEEN ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN A DRIVING RAINSTORM. HAD IT SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING THERE I AM SURE THE ACCIDENT WOULD OF SHUT THAT INTERSTATE FOR HOURS.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS STRUGGLING FOR POWER. I EXITED. AT THE STOPLIGHT MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND PUTTERING. `WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS TO GO THE CAR PUTTERED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO, BUT THEN DID. SO I DROVE TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP ON THE NEXT EXIT. MY CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT A FUEL INJECTOR HAD EXPLODED AND WAS SPEWING RAW GAS. MY CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP AWAITING PARTS. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT IT EASILY SLIPS INT REVERSE WHILE DRIVING. SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE WENT AWAY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,100.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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