YearToAvoid

2010 Dodge Journey Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 11 Journey years

The 2010 Dodge Journey has 988 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 100, the worst of all 11 model years and ranked #1 to avoid. Electrical System issues drive 62% of complaints, with median failure mileage of 79,000, alongside 3 recalls covering steering and airbags.

Complaints
988
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
18 / 16
Injuries / deaths
19 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17.5 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2010 Dodge Journey problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System610 (62%)
  2. Engine210 (21%)
  3. Brakes174 (18%)
  4. Other116 (12%)
  5. Airbags89 (9%)
  6. Steering69 (7%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain48 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body31 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers19 (2%)

What owners report

  • Vehicle stalls or loses power while driving, sometimes accompanied by smoke or blue smoke from under the hood.
  • Electronic door locks fail to release, trapping occupants inside after a stall or fire.
  • Engine compartment fires occur both while driving and while parked, in some cases with no clear cause found.
  • Brake pedal goes to the floor with no stopping power, leading to a collision.
  • Power steering fails suddenly at speed, causing loss of control and a crash.
  • A front wheel separates from the vehicle while turning, causing loss of steering control.
2010 Dodge Journey complaints: complaints filed per quarter1032010 Q12012 Q22014 Q32016 Q42019 Q12021 Q22023 Q32025 Q4
1415 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q3 (103).

2010 Dodge Journey recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V273000May 6, 2016Steering8,569 vehicles

    Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist.

    Risk: A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return hoses, steel tubes, and power steering oil cooler, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S08.

  2. NHTSA 14V373000Jun 26, 2014Airbags722,705 vehicles

    Air bags

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured June 29, 2007, to June 17, 2010, and 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, to June 17, 2010. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R03. Note: This is an expansion of recall 11V-139.

  3. NHTSA 10V475000Oct 7, 2010Steering23,237 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 chrysler sebring, 300, charger (lx) and dodge challenger (lc), avenger (js), and journey (jc), as well as model year 2011 dodge ram light duty pickup (ds) vehicles. Some of these vehicles may experience a separation at the crimped end of the power steering pressure hose assembly.

    Risk: Leaked power steering fluid onto hot engine components could cause a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary the power steering pressure hoses free of charge. The safety recall began on december 20, 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

2010 Dodge Journey fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Journey years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid100988320
2011Best20169421
2012Caution70376621

All Dodge Journey years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Dodge Journey reliable?
Compared to other Journey model years, the 2010 ranks worst, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 988 NHTSA complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Journey?
Electrical System complaints make up 62% of all reports, followed by Engine at 21% and Brakes at 18%, based on NHTSA data.
Does the 2010 Dodge Journey have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 Journey, covering power steering hoses (two separate campaigns) and an airbag/ignition switch key fob issue.
What year Dodge Journey should I avoid?
The 2010 and 2015 model years are both rated Avoid, with Complaint Indexes of 100 and 90 respectively, the two highest among the 11 years tracked.
At what mileage do 2010 Dodge Journey electrical problems happen?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 79,000 for Electrical System failures in the 2010 Journey.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.