YearToAvoid

2011 Dodge Journey Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 41 engine complaints for the 2011 Dodge Journey, 24% of all complaints filed for the year, with 3 reported fires. A recall (15V431000) addresses an engine cover that can detach and contact drive belts, tied to the fire risk.

Engine complaints
41
24% of 169
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
82,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the engine cover detaching and leading to under-hood fires, sometimes with smoke seen before flames appeared.
  • Some drivers experienced the engine stalling at highway speed or losing power without warning, in one case followed by a check engine light.
  • Several complaints describe accelerator pedals physically breaking off at the base, cutting acceleration while driving.
  • Owners describe the vehicle surging forward abnormally when coming to a stop until the brakes were pressed a second time.
  • Cylinder misfires and rough shaking at stops were reported, with one owner noting dealers could not identify which cylinder was misfiring.
  • One owner reported repeated stalling occurring at least once per week with no identified cause.

When 2011 Dodge Journey engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 28, 2011, latest May 3, 2024.

2011 Dodge Journey engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2011Dec 2012Jun 2014Aug 2015Oct 2016Aug 2018Jul 2019May 2024
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2011 to May 2024; peak Jul 2015 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Dodge Journey

  1. NHTSA 15V431000Jul 7, 2015Engine145,379 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 19, 2010, to May 26, 2015 and equipped with 2.4L engines. In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold.

    Risk: If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R32.

Engine complaints by Journey model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010210 (21%)
  2. 201141 (24%)
  3. 2012118 (31%)
  4. 201384 (24%)
  5. 2014119 (29%)
  6. 2015166 (30%)
  7. 2016141 (37%)
  8. 201763 (32%)
  9. 201849 (21%)
  10. 201910 (10%)
  11. 202011 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2011 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA lists 41 engine complaints for the 2011 Journey, which is 24% of the 169 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Dodge Journey engine?
Yes. Recall 15V431000 covers 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles with 2.4L engines where the engine cover may detach; dealers install an improved mounting system free of charge.
Did the engine problems cause any fires or crashes?
NHTSA data shows 3 fires linked to engine complaints on the 2011 Journey and 0 crashes and 0 injuries reported.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 Journey is 82,000 miles, according to NHTSA data.

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.