2013 Dodge JOURNEY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
353 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 236 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 72 of 353 complaints (20.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 87 | 24.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 61 | 17.3% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 72 |
| Electrical System | 71 |
| Service Brakes | 61 |
| Seats | 54 |
| Air Bags | 44 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 44 |
| Unknown Or Other | 31 |
| Power Train | 29 |
Engine: 72; Electrical System: 71; Service Brakes: 61; Seats: 54; Air Bags: 44; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 44; Unknown Or Other: 31; Power Train: 29
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 47 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 54 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 51 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 47; 50,000 to 74,999: 54; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 51; 150,000 and above: 16
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (54). 117 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 47 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2020 | 51 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2013: 3; 2014: 17; 2015: 47; 2016: 44; 2017: 25; 2018: 34; 2019: 57; 2020: 51; 2021: 21; 2022: 14; 2023: 12; 2024: 12; 2025: 9; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 87 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 61 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 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 10564357 · 2014-02-14 (February 14, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,125. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10617934 · 2014-07-31 (July 31, 2014)
I BELIEVE OUR DODGE JOURNEY IS EITHER A 2013 OR 2014. I LOOKED & I COULD NOT FIND A RECALL FOR THE RED REAR BRAKE LIGHT COVER. THE EDGES OF THE REAR LIGHT COVER ARE NOT COVERED WITH A FOAM LINER OR PLASTIC LINER. MY HUSBAND, MY CHILD & I HAVE CUT THE INSIDE PALMS OF OUR HANDS ON THE LIGHT COVER. THE LIGHT COVER IS DANGEROUS & WE TRY TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT OURSELVES. WE WARN OUR CHILDREN TO STAY AWAY FROM THE LIGHTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM SO NO ONE ELSE GETS HURT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10617934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556104 · 2013-12-15 (December 15, 2013)
THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND HAS MAJOR FLAW LEAKS WATER THROUGH ROOF SOMEWHERE AND WHOLE HEADLINER IS FULL OF WATER IS COMING OUT OF HEATER VENTS IN CEILING AS WELL AS DVD ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WHICH I BELIEVE IS A ELECTRICAL HAZARD .VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER ONCE AND WAITING FOR SECOND APPOINTMENT .WAS TOLD CLOGGED VENTS CAR WAS 2 MONTHS OLD AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE I DON'T BELIEVE CLOGGED VENTS SERIOUS ISSUE .CAN CAUSE SEVERAL MECHANICAL AND SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676437 · 2015-01-19 (January 19, 2015)
VEHICLE WON'T START ON FIRST TRY. AFTER FIRST TRY LIGHTING BOLT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR IDLES ROUGH. I TURN VEHICLE OFF WAIT FOR ABOUT 2 MIN. THEN RETRY TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTS UP AND LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. FOR THE REST OF THE DAY THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS OK. ONCE THE CAR SITS OVERNIGHT AND I GO TO START IT THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I CALLED DODGE AND WAS TOLD THAT LIGHTING BOLT IS THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE CONTROL. I WENT ON LINE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE VEHICLE. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN AN RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10621484 · 2014-08-11 (August 11, 2014)
I COULD NOT SET THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE I GOT THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. I HIT THE BRAKES 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD DECELERATE. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF THERE WAS A SUDDEN HARD SHIFT ON THE ENGINE AND A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,364 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10760067 · 2015-08-28 (August 28, 2015)
I REAR-ENDED A DODGE RAM TRUCK. MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN MY TOOTH GOING INTO MY LIP. I SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MY KNEES HIT THE DASHBOARD AND WERE INJURED. LUCKILY I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR. CONSIDERING NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE WORKED IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10760067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564671 · 2014-02-17 (February 17, 2014)
THE CAR STALL AT SLOW SPEED AND SOMETIME IT WILL JERK FORWARD..TRANSMISSION MAKING NOISES...WHEN U STOP U CAN HEAR IT..THIS IS BRAND NEW CAR. I MIGHT HAVE IT MAYBE 5 MONTHS NOW..CALL THE CHRYSLER ALL THEY IS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER LET THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578312 · 2014-04-08 (April 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE AND WOULD SHIFT HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE SOFTWARE FAILURES. THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10810029 · 2015-12-14 (December 14, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V675000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854046 · 2016-04-07 (April 7, 2016)
I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK ON THE CITY STREET IN MY 2013 DODGE JOURNEY SXT, A PERSON RAN THE RED LIGHT AND STRUCK ME NEAR THE GAS TANK AND THEN STRUCK ME A SECOND TIME IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIX OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN THE CRASH. I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I AM HERE TODAY DUE TO THE BUILD OF THE 2013 DODGE JOURNEY SXT. I WAS SO SURPRISED THAT I WENT OUT AND PURCHASED ANOTHER DODGE JOURNEY.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854046 at NHTSA ↗