The Dodge Journey is a midsize SUV that was last on sale for the 2020 model year. It offered buyers an American-badged alternative to European three-row rivals, and did so at a lower price than most of them. Although outclassed in many respects by fresher rivals, the most recent Dodge Journey to be sold here is now even cheaper, considering it’s a few years old. For many, the value proposition is more important than anything else. To make your used Dodge Journey buying experience easier, we’ve put together a list of the best and worst model years for this crossover, based on reliability. Primarily, we focused on the number of customer complaints to separate the good model years from the bad ones.

Dodge Journey History

The Dodge Journey was introduced for the 2009 model year as an all-new model to Dodge’s lineup. It was Dodge’s answer to rivals in the midsize crossover SUV segment, such as the Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Rogue. Dodge Journeys can seat five or seven people, depending on the model chosen. Engine choices for the US market included a 2.4-liter ‘World’ four-cylinder engine and a 3.5L Chrysler-sourced V6 engine – which was eventually replaced by the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine for models made between the 2011 to 2019 model years. Most were equipped with either a four- or six-speed automatic transmission, with the option for either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.

Throughout its entire production run, the Dodge Journey experienced one midlife update for the 2011 model year, which included a minor update to the front exterior styling. The Dodge Journey model range was also updated one final time for the 2020 model year before the model was completely retired from Dodge’s product lineup altogether.

At the time of this article’s writing, Dodge has not announced a replacement for the Journey in the US market, although the Dodge Hornet, serving as the brand’s compact crossover SUV model, offers comparable and similar qualities found in the Journey; though it comes with less cargo capacity and is smaller. Outside of the US, the Journey nameplate has also been revived for use in a collaboration between Stellantis and Chinese car brand, GAC Group. This iteration of the Dodge Journey is merely a rebadged variant of GAC’s Trumpchi GS5 SUV.

In addition to the United States, the Dodge Journey was also sold under Stellantis’s Fiat brand, as the Fiat Freemont – in select markets abroad.

The Best Dodge Journey Model Years

We’ve consulted reputable online sources, such as Car Complaints and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to gauge which Dodge Journey model years are the most and least troublesome. The NHTSA provides the most comprehensive record of customer complaints, but it is also valuable to consult recall information and other sources to pick up any patterns.

If you are in the market for a Dodge Journey, as with any used car – it is highly recommended to do as much due diligence and research within your means to check that the one you are looking to purchase is relatively trouble-free, or has had any crucial recall work performed (with relevant documentation). This could also extend to having a pre-purchase inspection performed by an entrusted service technician or mechanic, so you know as many details about its current condition.

From reviewing data recorded and made available, these model years of the Dodge Journey should be the least problematic.

2020 Dodge Journey

The most reliable Dodge Journey reported by owners are those made for the 2020 model year. On the NHTSA, only 17 complaints are listed for this Journey model year, and there are no recalls. These were some of the last examples to leave the production line before the model was removed completely from the Dodge lineup. Ideally, the majority of the common issues or faults reported would have been rectified by Dodge among late models. That does not mean 2020 Journeys are completely fault-free. NHTSA does report some minor complaints involving in-car electrical equipment – items such as the reversing camera not displaying correctly, to the UConnect infotainment system’s Bluetooth function connecting intermittently with connected devices. It must also be noted that even the 2020 Journey was criticized for the use of low-quality materials in the cabin. However, this does not technically impact its reliability.

2019 Dodge Journey

2019 Dodge Journey models also have a low number of complaints across all other model years. There were also no recalls for this model year. NHTSA does record 39 complaints from owners – ranging from intermittent in-car equipment issues affecting the rearview camera display not working properly, to the automatic transmission shifting roughly or vibrating abnormally. There were also some problems with the second-row seat mechanisms. For this model year, Dodge discontinued the SXT trim level and added some more features for the SE.

2018 Dodge Journey

If you haven’t noticed yet, there is a clear pattern developing: the newer the Dodge Journey, the fewer issues. This makes sense since the crossover was only offered in the USA for a single generation, so Dodge had time to iron out issues the longer it was on sale. This model has more complaints (145) than the 2019-2020 models, but that’s still low compared to other Journeys. Car Complaints does cite some issues affecting loss of power when at speed and the UConnect’s Bluetooth connectivity.

Six recalls were issued for AWD and FWD models made during this year – addressing a common fault reported with the reversing camera display not working when reverse gear was engaged, cruise control not being able to cancel with driver input, and exterior light issues.

Dodge Journey Model Years To Avoid

Brands under the Stellantis umbrella (Dodge, Chrysler etc.) are no strangers to recalls and consumer complaints, and unfortunately, the Dodge Journey is no exception. Some of the most common Dodge Journey issues reported include:

• Brake issues
• Electrical problems
• Interior accessory faults
• Drivetrain issues

From the research gathered across all model years of the Dodge Journey, we have narrowed down which ones are the most troublesome. Taking center of attention is the 2009 Dodge Journey – the first iteration of the Dodge crossover SUV.

2009 Dodge Journey

The first Dodge Journey model year, 2009, has racked up the most complaints. Seeing as these were the very first to be sold new to buyers and are also the oldest running examples, it is no surprise that 2009 Journeys are the ones recommended staying away from. At the time of writing, the 2009 Journey has almost 1,600 complaints and eight recalls to its name.

Very early models have been reported to suffer problems surrounding premature brake and brake rotor wear, rough engine idle issues, various electrical issues, and loss of engine power, to name a few. Recalls also issued by Dodge for this model year include a fix to the driver’s airbag wiring and power supply unit that could affect the deployment of the airbags in an accident, a fix to the engine wiring harness (that could pose a fire hazard), and a fix to the ignition switch that could potentially deactivate key safety systems if the ignition key physically moves into the ‘OFF’ or ‘ACCESSORY’ mode.

2010 Dodge Journey

2010 Dodge Journey models do not fare much better when it comes to long-term reliability and issues reported by owners. NHTSA data states up to 1,067 registered complaints and four recalls issued for this model year. Along with the premature brake wear and powertrain issues reported by owners of early model Journeys, 2010 models tend to suffer issues affecting a unique Dodge component – the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) fuse. Defective units can result in various issues, from the horn suddenly going off by surprise, causing side windows to raise or lower without warning, or most alarming, causing the central locking system to operate without any input from the keyfob.

2012 Dodge Journey

The number of issues faced by owners of the Dodge Journey decreased in the first few years, with the 2012 example registering 355 complaints, based on current NHTSA data. That’s much better than the 2009 version, but it still isn’t a trouble-free vehicle, with issues affecting the brake systems, premature brake rotor wear, and most prevalent for this model year, issues affecting the air conditioning and heating systems. Six recalls were also issued for 2012 Journey models – most notably one to prevent unintended deployment of the driver airbag, and a fix to ensure water entering the ABS module would not affect the operation of the vehicle stability systems. Additional recalls also aimed to fix issues that could cause the power steering return hose to rupture, causing unexpected loss of power steering.

In the following table, we can see the most complaints registered by Dodge Journey model years, based on current data from Car Complaints.

Out of all the model years of the Dodge Journey, the early models are the ones to avoid. The majority of trouble-prone Journeys tend to be 2009 models. 2009 Journeys have the highest number of owner complaints. They were the most affected by the commonly reported brake and powertrain issues, and also received many recalls.

If you are looking for a used Dodge Journey with less chance of running into potential issues, our advice is to aim for a later model produced towards the end of the Journey’s production run. Ideally, aim for one made between the 2019 to 2020 model years, as these were reported with little to no recalls issued at all, as well as the least number of complaints from owners. The Dodge Journey may not be as reliable as Japanese or Korean midsize SUVs, but for any family needing an affordable, practical option, the Journey fits these criteria. As with any used car, we advise shopping around and doing as much due diligence as possible to increase your chances of finding one that is less likely to run into trouble.