There are 6 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2012 Dodge Journeyin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
We've owned this vehiclenot even 4 years. It had an engine recall that it was part of. It says it was repaired, however it never recieved a new engine. Now I just spent $9,000+ to replace the entire engine because of the exact issue of the recall: metal fragments in the engine. Why did I pay for this recall problem? Did dodge replace the engine during the recall? Paperwork says no, but shows it was "repaired". If it was replaced, why did I replace it again for the exact same issue? Dodge has financially ruined our family. Besides this $9k we've spent $6k on engine work before the new engine, $4,500 on transmission work (with more to come as we're currently experiencing transmission issues) and $6k + on all kinds of issues that has never occurred on any vehicles I have owned in the last 30 years. And we've spent all this in under 4 years. This is unacceptable! For an american auto maker to produce and sell vehicles like this. This is why we people buy foreign. This dodge IS NOT a well built, trustworthy and dependable car. You won't believe how many times we've had to miss school and work because the car was broken down or being repaired. Our Honda civic was 20 years old, ran better and was 100% dependable. I never had to replace the engine, do ANY transmission work or have had half the problems with my civic than I have had and currently have with this "american" car that is only 11 years old. As a 1 income family with 2 kids in college and one still in high school, this is completely devastating to us. Trying to save money and get ahead and ALL OF IT has been spent fixing this vehicle. Dodge has completely devastated our family. How can an American auto maker be allowed to get away with producing vehicles like this? Why should I have to go bankrupt owning a dodge? Why won't they accept responsibility for their defective product? I've spent $25,000 fixing this dodge in 4 years. I can't afford to fix it or buy a new car. We're ruined
The electrical is so messed up the battery drains within hours, I have shorts in all aspects of this car(Bluetooth, navigation, clicking relays nonstop, heat goes out intermittently, power switches on doors. I saw my headlights surging in power in the middle of nowhere, they would get bright, then go dim, then a battery icon illuminated on my dashboard before my car downshifted so hard I almost lost control of the car. The dealer replaced my motor mounts and my alternator, after calling to say my battery is bad and then turned around and said it wasn’t. Not to mention my brakes locked up in a little rain and I couldn’t stop crashing through a wall. Replaced my rear light turning bulb and it exploded with fire when I went to change it. The suspension is horrible and I am pretty sure my cv axles are all broken. Everything keeps breaking. Lifter Taps intermittently, rough idling and hard shifting. Key fob doesn’t start car or is recognized with fresh batteries in it. When I jump start it sometimes the horn goes off for a minute. The reverse camera goes out for days and randomly comes on again. Under the hood feels so extremely hot and for some reason it doesn’t register as overheating. Even when I check fluids and for the coolant levels are low for some reason. There is an actuator That constantly is going off under the dash. Airbags didn’t deploy when i hit the wall at all. The limp mode has come on and gone off a few times. Only codes I have is for tps and an outdoor ambient temperature sensor that says it’s either negative 40 degrees or 122 degrees. Which won’t let me clear nor allow me to remote start. Warranty is gone and when you take the fuse box cover off under the hood(just the cover) it goes haywire shaking and lights all over the dash and I have to shut the car off. Yes somebody please inspect this vehicle. The absolute worst vehicle I owe 12k on and I can’t afford to fix all of this that’s shutting down at the same time
MY AWD LIGHT IS ON AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY SUV REAR WHEELS SPIN MY SUV AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON HIGHWAY 84 GOING TOWARD MISSISSIPPI.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LINK ON THE FRONT AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB NUT LOOSENED, CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. WAS RE-TIGHTENED TO SPEC TO ELIMINATE THE ISSUE. *TR
STARTED GETTING A LOT OF GRUNTING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND RETIGHTENED FRONT END PARTS AND SO FAR SEEMS TO BE OK. ALSO THE DUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL ONLY BLEW HOT AIR ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER A NEW SERVO UNIT FOR THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT IT.HAVE A LOT OF SAME CONCERNS AS OTHER PEOPLES COMPLAINTS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026