YearToAvoid

2018 Dodge Journey Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2018 Dodge Journey has a complaint index of 38 and ranks 9th worst out of 14 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Journey years. It has 234 complaints, 6 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Electrical System issues the top concern at 40% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
38/100
#9 of 14 Journey years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
234
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
7
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
7
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 25 hwy
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0

Top 2018 Dodge Journey problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System93 (40%)
  2. Engine49 (21%)
  3. Other45 (19%)
  4. Brakes28 (12%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras25 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body19 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain18 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (6%)
  9. Airbags12 (5%)
  10. Steering11 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in moderate-to-high-speed crashes, including a deer strike at roughly 50 mph and a frontal collision at 15 mph.
  • Owners describe backup cameras losing image display or failing to show a clear view within two seconds of shifting into reverse.
  • Some drivers reported unexpected loss of braking or skidding that extended stopping distance, including in a brand-new vehicle with very low mileage.
  • After the powertrain control module recall repair, some owners reported new electrical glitches such as Bluetooth disconnecting, a check engine light, and an inaccurate fuel-range display.
  • A few owners reported the vehicle stalling or shutting off unexpectedly while stopped, with one report describing a fire originating under the hood after a restart attempt.
  • One owner reported the cruise control failing to disengage, resulting in a low-speed collision with a garage structure.
2018 Dodge Journey complaints: complaints filed per quarter162018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
234 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q3 (16).

2018 Dodge Journey recalls

6 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 18V523000Aug 9, 2018Brakes154,335 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.

  3. NHTSA 18V524000Aug 9, 2018Electrical System12,779 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:front underhood

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.

    Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

See all 6 recalls for the 2018 Dodge Journey →

2018 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.

2018 compared with other Journey years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution62386420
2017Good46197220
2018Good38234620
2019Best23100120
2020Best1565121

All Dodge Journey years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Dodge Journey reliable?
Compared with other Journey model years, the 2018 rates Good, with a complaint index of 38 and a rank of 9th worst out of 14 years covered by NHTSA data.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Dodge Journey?
Electrical System complaints make up 40% of all reports, followed by Engine issues at 21% and Brakes at 12%, according to NHTSA complaint data.
Does the 2018 Dodge Journey have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Journey, covering the electrical system, brakes, backup camera display, and visibility/wiper systems. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2018 Journey compare to the worst Journey years?
The 2018 model's complaint index of 38 is much lower than the 2009 and 2010 model years, which have complaint indexes of 100 and 92 and Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Dodge Journey?
EPA rates the 2018 Journey at 20 mpg combined (18 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.

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.