YearToAvoid

2012 Dodge Journey Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Dodge Journey, 5% of that year's 376 total complaints. The median mileage at failure was 50,000, and no related recalls are listed for this area.

Structure & Body complaints
18
5% of 376
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
50,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Owners report headrests deploying randomly while the vehicle was parked or being driven, with no impact involved.
  • Some describe seat side panels breaking away from plastic mounting tabs near the seat belt anchor, worsening with repeated use.
  • Owners report rear doors that fail to latch shut in cold weather or become stuck and won't open from inside or outside.
  • One owner reported a rear passenger door filling with water.
  • One owner described the trunk latch failing to disengage despite multiple shop visits.
  • One owner reported the front passenger seat heating system failing in the on position and unable to be turned off.

When 2012 Dodge Journey body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 26, 2013, latest Feb 14, 2026.

2012 Dodge Journey structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2013Jun 2014Feb 2016Jan 2019Nov 2019Sep 2020Jan 2024Aug 2025
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2013 to Feb 2026; peak Dec 2019 (2).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2012 Dodge Journey

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Journey model year

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

  1. 201031 (3%)
  2. 20114 (2%)
  3. 201218 (5%)
  4. 201366 (19%)
  5. 201459 (14%)
  6. 201599 (18%)
  7. 201640 (10%)
  8. 201722 (11%)
  9. 201819 (8%)
  10. 20197 (7%)
  11. 20200 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA lists 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Dodge Journey, which is 5% of the 376 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Dodge Journey Structure & Body issues?
No. There are no related recalls listed for this problem area in the NHTSA data.
At what mileage do Structure & Body problems typically appear on the 2012 Journey?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 50,000 miles.
What kinds of Structure & Body problems do owners report on the 2012 Dodge Journey?
Owners describe randomly deploying headrests, broken seat side panels, doors that won't latch or open, water intrusion into a door, and a trunk latch that wouldn't disengage.
Did any Structure & Body complaints involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this area shows 1 crash and 1 injury among the 18 complaints, with 0 fires reported.

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.