YearToAvoid

2017 Dodge Journey Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

30/100

#8 most-complained of 11 Journey years

The 2017 Dodge Journey has a complaint index of 30, ranking 8th out of 11 model years, with a verdict of "Good" relative to other Journey years. NHTSA lists 197 complaints, 2 recalls, and a top problem area of Engine (32% of complaints).

Complaints
197
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
12 / 7
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 25 hwy

Top 2017 Dodge Journey problems

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

  1. Engine63 (32%)
  2. Electrical System59 (30%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain32 (16%)
  4. Airbags29 (15%)
  5. Other26 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body22 (11%)
  7. Brakes21 (11%)
  8. Fuel System15 (8%)
  9. Steering15 (8%)
  10. Seat Belts8 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report front airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and T-bone collisions.
  • Some vehicles reportedly caught fire under the rear or front end minutes after a crash or while driving, with flames emerging from wheel wells or the center console.
  • Owners describe brake pedals that did not respond when trying to stop at low speed, leading to collisions with fixed objects.
  • Electrical system failures were reported alongside doors or ignitions not responding to remote entry, followed by unexpected vehicle movement.
  • One owner described smoke and an abnormal noise from the front end that preceded the vehicle catching fire and burning completely.
  • A cruise-control related complaint described the vehicle failing to slow down while turning, resulting in a crash into a hillside and fence.
2017 Dodge Journey complaints: complaints filed per quarter302017 Q12018 Q42020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32023 Q42025 Q12026 Q2
305 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (30).

2017 Dodge Journey recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V723000Sep 29, 2022Electrical System83,453 vehicles

    Exterior lighting

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z99.

  2. NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

    Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

2017 Dodge Journey fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
25 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.

2017 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
2015Avoid90553620
2016Caution50386420
2017Good30197220
2018Good40234620
2019Best10100120

All Dodge Journey years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Dodge Journey reliable?
Compared to other Journey model years, the 2017 ranks 8th out of 11 with a complaint index of 30 and a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 197 complaints and 2 recalls for this year.
What problems does the 2017 Dodge Journey have?
The top problem area is the Engine, making up 32% of complaints, followed by the Electrical System at 30% and Transmission & Powertrain at 16%. Median mileage at failure across all issues is 35,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Dodge Journey have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2017 Journey, both involving the Electrical System: one for headlamp reflectors that don't reflect brightly enough, and one covering a software flash related to the powertrain.
How does the 2017 Journey compare to other years?
The 2017 Journey's complaint index of 30 is lower than the worst year, 2010, at 100, and higher than the best year, 2020, at 0. Years like 2010, 2014, and 2015 carry an "Avoid" verdict, while 2017 is rated "Good."
Did airbags fail to deploy in the 2017 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA lists 29 airbag-related complaints for the 2017 Journey, including several crash reports where front airbags did not deploy, at a median mileage of 38,500 miles.

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.