- Safety
- 4
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 6
- on record
- MPG
- 21
- combined
Open recalls on record
6 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2018 Dodge Journey
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 6
- Owner complaints
- 223
- Complaints citing a crash
- 7
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
6 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
6 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 18V396000high
Visibility issue
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. When reverse gear has been selected, the rear camera view may not be fully visible within two seconds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence
If the full camera view is delayed and the driver does not check their surroundings before backing up, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U58.
- 18V398000high
Rear-visibility system issue
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence
A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U56.
- 18V332000high
Wiring harness issue
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Consequence
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
- 18V523000high
Brake system issue
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
- 18V524000high
Electrical issue
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Consequence
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
- 22V723000high
Lighting issue
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence
A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z99.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2018 Dodge Journey.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 4 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 17.9%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2018 Dodge Journey 4 out of 5 stars overall, below the 5-star median for the 8 comparable 2018 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 17.9% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2018 Dodge Journey, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
19
City
25
Hwy
21
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,950
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 420 g/mi
How this compares
At 21 MPG combined, the 2018 Dodge Journey ranks 7th of 8 small SUVs (2WD) EPA rated for 2018 — 2 MPG short of the 23 MPG median for that group.
That places it in the lower third of its class. If annual mileage is high, the running-cost gap against a class-average rival compounds quickly.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,950, $275 more than the $2,675 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $14,750, a $1,375 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 420 grams per mile — about 6.3 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
223 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 223
- Total
- 7
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ELECTRICAL48
- ENGINE41
- OTHER37
- BRAKES24
- SEAT BELTS17
Notable Issues
223 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 7 reports involve injuries. 7 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2018 Dodge Journey, newest first.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE19014
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE24006
Back up camera failure
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation EA24003
Vehicle entrapment
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE24006
Back up camera failure
- Recall
A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE19014
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
- Recall
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
If the full camera view is delayed and the driver does not check their surroundings before backing up, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
- Recall
A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Drive type
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 2.4L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
19
City
25
Hwy
21
Comb
- Annual cost
- $2,950
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE19014
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE24006
Back up camera failure
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation EA24003
Vehicle entrapment
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE24006
Back up camera failure
- Recall
A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

