2012 Dodge JOURNEY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
376 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 269 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 114 of 376 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 130 | 34.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 17.0% |
| Engine operation | 39 | 10.4% |
| Steering behavior | 32 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 114 |
| Engine | 97 |
| Service Brakes | 95 |
| Unknown Or Other | 48 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 44 |
| Power Train | 35 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Steering | 23 |
Electrical System: 114; Engine: 97; Service Brakes: 95; Unknown Or Other: 48; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 44; Power Train: 35; Air Bags: 28; Steering: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 54 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 51 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 71 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 54; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 51; 100,000 to 149,999: 71; 150,000 and above: 16
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (71). 107 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 48 |
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 37 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 63 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2012: 9; 2013: 19; 2014: 32; 2015: 48; 2016: 34; 2017: 37; 2018: 44; 2019: 63; 2020: 20; 2021: 16; 2022: 12; 2023: 15; 2024: 12; 2025: 7; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 130 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 64 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 39 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10464809 · 2012-07-09 (July 9, 2012)
BRAKES ON THE 2012 DODGE JOURNEY SQUEAKED AND APPEARED TO NOT WANT TO STOP PROPERLY. I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BREAK DUST THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE SQUEAKING GOT WORST, I TOOK IT BACK IN WAS TOLD THAT THEY REPLACED MY BRAKE PADS. HERE I AM 2 MONTHS LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAS A SLOW TAKE OFF. WHEN TRYING TO OBTAIN SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS BEFORE SPEED IS PICKED UP. NOW, I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SEATBELT NOT GIVING A LIGHT SIGNAL NOR ALARMING SIGNAL THAT SEATBELT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10469173 · 2012-08-04 (August 4, 2012)
I BOUGHT MY NEW DODGE JOURNEY ON THE 16TH OF JULY 2012. I LIVE APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WERE I BOUGHT MY JOURNEY. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY SO I DIDN'T NOTICE THE ISSUE RIGHT AWAY. THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO A STOP WITH MY NEW VEHICLE THE BRAKES SHUDDERED LIKE THEY WERE GRABBING THEN LETTING GO AND GRABBING AGAIN, REALLY FAST. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS AND A TRANSMISSION SHUDDER WHICH THEY SAY CHRYSLER HAS NO FIX. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU HAVE SEEN FROM JOURNEYS BEFORE? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568908 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH "ENGINE BATTERY DRAIN" WHICH HAS CAUSE NUMEROUS RETURNS TO THE DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES SINCE JULY 2013 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM (WILL NOT START-UP WITHOUT BEING BOOSTED OFF WITH JUMPER CABLES).HERE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT: JULY 10,2013 HAD TO BOOSTED OFF TO START WHILE OUT-OF TOWN, RETURN TO GA & ON JULY 18, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & DISCOVERED THAT BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ON AUGUST 5, WHILE OUT-OF-TOWN HAD TO BE BOOSTED OFF TO START, GOT BACK TO GA. ON AUG. 7, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568912 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH "ENGINE BATTERY DRAIN" WHICH HAS CAUSE NUMEROUS RETURNS TO THE DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES SINCE JULY 2013 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM (WILL NOT START-UP WITHOUT BEING BOOSTED OFF WITH JUMPER CABLES).HERE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT: JULY 10,2013 HAD TO BOOSTED OFF TO START WHILE OUT-OF TOWN, RETURN TO GA & ON JULY 18, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & DISCOVERED THAT BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ON AUGUST 5, WHILE OUT-OF-TOWN HAD TO BE BOOSTED OFF TO START, GOT BACK TO GA. ON AUG. 7, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499565 · 2013-02-21 (February 21, 2013)
MY 2012 DODGE JOURNEY EXPERIENCES A STALL WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. IT APPEARS TO SOUND LIKE THE TRANSMISSION DON'T WANT TO CHANGE OVER. IT MAKES A JUMPING SOUND WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490833 · 2013-01-02 (January 2, 2013)
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 15,2012. UNEXPECTEDLY, ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 MY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AT THE LOCATION I 287NB EXIT 41A PARSIPPANY RAMP ONTO 80 E TRAFFIC THEN MY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND SLAMMED ONTO THE GUARD RAIL REPEATEDLY. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED JOHN JOHNSON OF THE INCIDENT AND I PLEADED FOR THEM TO SEND ME A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE OF MY 100,000 MI WARRANTY. FURTHER, I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURERS CHRYSLER GROUP AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT CAUSE AND EFFECT THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE AND SEND FOR A …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691436 · 2015-09-28 (September 28, 2015)
2012 DODGE JOURNEY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING ISSUES, FUEL LEAKS AND BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED UPON PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER, IT WAS LEAKING GAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING.*JB.....UPDATED 02/11/16 *BF UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10691436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462997 · 2012-06-25 (June 25, 2012)
BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. I TOOK IT TO ONE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY "RESET" THE COMPUTER CHIP AND THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.... IT DIDN'T!! I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL". WHAT!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN THAT BE NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR TOLD ME THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT UNTIL 3000-3500 MILES. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!! NOW I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM CHRYSLER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468447 · 2012-07-31 (July 31, 2012)
WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 DODGE JOURNEY IN MARCH 2012. THE CAR HAD 14 MILES ON IT, OUR FIRST NEW CAR. SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AROUND FOR ABOUT A MONTH, WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE NOTICED THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION STARTING STUTTERING AND IT WOULD SHAKE THE WHOLE CAR. WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THAT ONCE, BUT THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY TIME WE WOULD COME TO A STOP, WHETHER WE WERE SLOWING DOWN COMING OFF OF A HIGHWAY OR SITTING THROUGH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487972 · 2012-12-11 (December 11, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A BUSY ROAD IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DIED WHILE DRIVING IT, HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD BLOWN, THE CAR IS ONLY 1YR OLD. THE SECOND TIME WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGH WAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD THE DEALER REPLACED IT, THERE HAVE BEEN A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM THE AC NOT COMING ON TO THE RADIO/NAV SCREEN NOT COMING ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. BRAKE PROBLEMS SEEMS TO BE THE NEXT THING TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851213 · 2016-03-23 (March 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS MORE EVIDENT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851213 at NHTSA ↗