Your vehicle report

2012 Dodge Journey

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
377
Received May 2012 to Oct 2026
Official recalls listed
6
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up25 complaints · 6.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Engine suddenly shuts off while driving17 complaints · 4.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Vehicle catches fire from wiring15 complaints · 4.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #17V432000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
  • Recall #16V273000Chrysler (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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 21 crashes, 13 fires, 24 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

2 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

1 more problem

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2012 Dodge Journey
63
Show as a table
YearComplaints
20129
201319
201432
201548
201634
201737
201844
201963
202020
202116
202212
202315
202412
20257
2026 (to Oct 2026)9
Total377

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up256.6%–NHTSA recall #15V675000
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving174.5%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring154.0%–
Jeep Cherokee stalls while driving143.7%–NHTSA recall #11V487000
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes123.2%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early123.2%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking112.9%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract92.4%–
Tires blow out or tread separates92.4%–
Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own92.4%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips92.4%–
Head gasket leaks coolant into engine82.1%–
Airbag warning light stays on71.9%–
Heater blows cold air, defroster fails71.9%–
Battery drains and dies when parked71.9%–
Tailgate or trunk latch fails61.6%–
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly61.6%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines61.6%–
Check engine light comes on repeatedly61.6%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close51.3%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #17V432000July 7, 2017363,480 vehicles affected

    air bags: frontal

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.

    Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T47.

  • NHTSA recall #16V273000May 6, 20168,569 vehicles affected

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #15V675000October 19, 2015275,187 vehicles affected

    electronic stability control (esc); service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.

    If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.

  • NHTSA recall #15V431000July 7, 2015145,379 vehicles affected

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #11V550000November 10, 2011340 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: fluid

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 Dodge Journey and Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured from october 24, 2011, through october 26, 2011. Some vehicles were assembled with contaminated brake fluid and may experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system.

    This could lead to loss of braking ability increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners and replace all brake components that come in contact with hydraulic brake fluid. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 1, 2012. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  • NHTSA recall #11V487000September 29, 2011667 vehicles affected

    engine and engine cooling

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 Chrysler vehicles, including 200 and town and country models, Dodge vehicles, including charger, durango, grand caravan and Journey models and Jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured from august 31, 2011, through september 13, 2011, that are equipped with 3.6L engines. These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block.

    Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 18, 2011. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2012 Dodge Journey.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN