2018 Dodge Journey Fuel system Problems

I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2018 Dodge Journey SE (VIN: [XXX] ) related to a failure in the vehicle’s emissions control system, specifically the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors. On January 13, 2026, the vehicle began producing a strong sulfur or “rotten egg” odor while driving, and shortly afterward the check engine light illuminated. Diagnostic testing revealed trouble code P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold – Bank 1). This code indicates that the catalytic converter is not properly converting exhaust gases, which can result in increased emissions and potential exposure to exhaust fumes. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealership in Maurice, Louisiana, which confirmed that the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors are failing and must be replaced. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. This vehicle was purchased for our growing family and is regularly used to transport our children, including a [XXX] infant and a [XXX] child. Since the emissions system issue began, occupants have noticed persistent exhaust-like fumes and strong sulfur odors while the vehicle is operating. Our infant has experienced recurring respiratory issues, and our [XXX] began experiencing respiratory symptoms after we purchased this vehicle. While we cannot definitively determine the cause, we are concerned that exposure to exhaust fumes from the malfunctioning emissions system may be contributing to these health issues. In addition, adult occupants have reported feeling unusually tired or fatigued after longer car rides in the vehicle, which raises additional concerns about potential exposure to exhaust gases inside the cabin. Because catalytic converter failures can allow harmful exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide and other pollutants to pass through the exhaust system improperly, we believe this issue presents a potential safety risk to vehicle occupants, p INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

NHTSA ID

11724215

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

CarMax sold me a vehicle with a Cracked & Leaking Exhaust Manifold & Catylic Converter & its causing Exhaust Fumes to come up inside vehicle & is getting worse as I drive it.

NHTSA ID

11718922

Incident

Dec 20, 2025

My 2018 dodge journey has a bad oder of gas when I am sitting at a light or in a drive thru. It's scary to drive at times since the odor is so bad. It gets worse when the heat is on

NHTSA ID

11623909

Incident

Oct 14, 2024

MY CAR ROLLS BACK OUT OF GEAR. TRANSMISSION DRAGGING. ELECTRIC PROBLEM WI LIGHTS. SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR

NHTSA ID

11399613

Incident

Mar 6, 2021

Mileage

53,000 mi

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!

NHTSA ID

11252356

Incident

Aug 27, 2019

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHEN I WENT TO DEALERSHIP I KNEW I WANT A TRUCK WITH 3RD ROW, I TEST DROVE THE JOURNEY I PICKED OUT OF WHAT WAS OFFERED WHEN I TEST DROVE THE FIRST TRUCK, IT REFUSED TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR SO WE WENT BACK AND DROVE THE ONE I PURCHASED. WELL I GOT IT HOME AND DROVE FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOTICED WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT OUT OF PARK IT WOULD ,AKE A LOUD THUMP NOISE ONLY SOMETIMES LIKE I AM SITTING ON A HILL. I TOOK IT BACK THEY HEARD THE NOISE SAID THEY COULD FIX IT BUT SERVICE SAID THAT WAS NORMAL, WHICH I STRONGLY DISAGREED BUT MY DEAL WAS FUNDED AND NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. SO ANOTHER MONTH OR SO LATER I NOTICE MY GAS TO EMPTY WAS JUMPING DRASTICALLY I FIGURED BAD GAS SO I DROVE IT OUT AND TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN. FINALLY HAD IT BECAUSE GOING FROM 60 TO 30 IN 2 MILES IS MAJOR THAT SAME WEEK I USED MY CRUISE CONTROL FOR MAYBE THE 3RD TIME SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT KEEP A STEADY SPEED I WENT UP 5 MPH FASTER THAN I SET IT AND THEN DROPPED IT DID THIS UNTIL I CANCELLED THE CRUISE. I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER THEY HAVE HAD IT A WEEK AND NO WORD FROM THEM YET. MEANWHILE I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEE THE SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING LEAD TO MORE ISSUES LIKE THE BRAKES NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND I TRAVEL 100 MILES BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT IS A VERY UNEASY FEELING. THE OTHER ISSUES LIKE THE RADIO FREEZING INBETWEEN CHANGING FROM BLUE-TOOTH TO RADIO SO I HAVE TO DRIVE THAT ENTIRE HOUR TRIP TO WORK WITHOUT ANY MUSIC UNLESS I STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. ALSO WHEN I GET OFF THE HIGHWAY A LOT OF TIMES THE SENSOR FOR THE SPEED AND RADIO FINALLY KICKS IN AND THE RADIO PLAYS EXTREMELY LOUD LIKE I AM STILL ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENTIRE RIDE THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN UP PASS THE LOW VOLUME.

NHTSA ID

11210684

Incident

Mar 25, 2019

Mileage

50,119 mi

WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH THE RPM STARTS ESCALATING AND GOES BACK TO NORMAL. RPM REPEATS AFTER ONE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER PUTTING A FULL TANK OF GAS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND METER READ GAS TANK EMPTY. VEHICLE STAYED WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR 8 DAYS FIRST TIME. FUEL PUMP AND WIRES WAS FULLY REPLACED. VEHICLE IS BACK WITH DEALERSHIP FOR A SECOND TIME. THIS TIME THE GAS METER READS LESS THAN 3/4 TANK AS A FULL TANK OF GAS IS PUT INTO THE VEHICLE. RPM STARTS DOING THE SAME THING WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS 50 MPH. WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP FUEL PUMP AND WIRES ARE THE REASON FOR MY VEHICLE BEING IN THE SHOP AGAIN. VEHICLE IS BACK TWICE IN THE SHOP LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. STILL WITHOUT A PROPER WORKING VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11210042

Incident

Mar 25, 2019

Mileage

18,000 mi

AFTER PCM AND ECM RECALL REPAIR, BLUETOOTH SYSTEM WOULD NOT CONNECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOUCH SCREEN RADIO MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, ECO COLOR DRIVEING TRACKER NOLONGER WORKED, THE ELECTRONIC GAS MILES WAS INCORRECT (EXP: AFTER PUTING GAS IN MILES SHOWED 115 UNTIL EMPTY, DRIVE 7 MILES THE CAR WOULD SHOW 70 MILES TO EMPTY) BOTH WOULD MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY AND CITY. VEHICLE WOULD NOW SHAKE WHEN IDLING AND WAS HESITATE TO START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP FOR 7 DAYS FOR SECOND REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11103911

Incident

Jun 15, 2018