Dodge Journey: common faults & what to check

Which Dodge Journey are you looking at?

2 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

2 variants documented

2008–2016JC2008–2016JC2.4 petrolPetrolDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2008–2016JC2008–2016JC3.6 V6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues4 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Dodge Journey

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Dodge Journey before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Any detectable play is a fail.

  See why

  Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Failure

  The Journey is a heavy vehicle (up to 1,900 kg) with front lower control arms using pressed-in ball joints. The ball joints wear prematurely under the vehicle's weight and are frequently found with excessive play on NZ/AU examples. Worn ball joints cause clunking over bumps, vague steering, and can fail suddenly causing complete loss of steering and wheel separation. This is a safety-critical fault. Many workshops recommend proactive replacement at 100,000–120,000 km on high-GVM vehicles.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking from front suspension over bumps or during steering
  • Vague or wandering steering feel
  • Uneven front tyre wear
  • Steering pull when braking
  • Vibration through steering wheel over rough roads

  Typically $500–$1,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Cold start the vehicle and listen for rattle from the cam cover area immediately on startup.

  See why

  3.6 Pentastar Cam Phaser Rattle on Cold Start

  The 3.6L Pentastar V6 fitted to the Journey suffers the same cam phaser cold-start rattle as other Pentastar applications. The VVT phasers depend on oil pressure and wear prematurely, particularly in vehicles serviced with incorrect oil grades or extended change intervals. Fault is widespread across all Pentastar-powered vehicles from 2011 onward. Rattling progresses to timing-related fault codes and rough running if phaser wear advances. Replacement requires removal of valve covers and cam phaser units.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from engine on cold start lasting a few seconds
  • Check engine light with P0011, P0014 or related VVT codes
  • Rough cold idle
  • Hesitation on acceleration from cold

  Typically $1,800–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Check oil level and condition, look for smoke under load, and ask about oil consumption between services on the 2.4 engine.

  See why

  2.4 World Engine oil consumption

  The 2.4 four-cylinder World Engine in the Journey is prone to oil consumption through worn rings and valve seals, with some cars using significant oil between changes and risking low-oil damage. Sludge from missed changes worsens it. Regular level checks are essential.

  What you would notice

  • Oil level dropping between services
  • Light smoke on acceleration
  • Low oil warning
  • Ticking from top end

  Typically $500–$2,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Test starting multiple times, check for phantom electrical operation, and ask about any battery drain or no-start history.

  See why

  TIPM module failure causing no-start and phantom faults

  The Journey's Totally Integrated Power Module is a notorious failure point, causing intermittent no-start, fuel-pump relay problems, phantom electrical operation of wipers, lights and horn, and dead batteries. Replacement modules are expensive and sometimes need programming. It is the single most reported Journey issue.

  What you would notice

  • Intermittent no-start / no crank
  • Fuel pump not priming
  • Wipers or horn operate on their own
  • Battery drains overnight

  Typically $500–$1,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Listen at the very start, before the engine is running.

  See why

  Throttle body failure on the 2.4 — clicking on ignition, then limp mode

  The throttle body on the 2.4 Journey fails, and it gives an unusually specific early warning: an odd clicking noise from under the bonnet when the ignition is first switched on, as the electronic throttle tries and fails to run its self-test. From there it progresses to a rough idle, hesitation, and eventually the car dropping into a reduced-power mode that limits you to walking pace — which is safe enough in a car park and unpleasant on an open road. It is a bolt-on part rather than a major repair, so this is a cost to price in rather than a reason to walk away, but it strands people, and the clicking is something you can hear in the first ten seconds of a viewing if you know to listen for it.

  What you would notice

  • Clicking or buzzing from under the bonnet when the ignition is switched on
  • Rough or hunting idle, or the engine stalling
  • Hesitation or no response when you press the accelerator
  • Engine warning light, or a reduced-power mode limiting speed
  • Throttle or electronic throttle control warning on the dash

  Typically $400–$1,400 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Drive the V6 through its gears feeling for shudder, slip and harsh shifts, and ask when the transmission fluid was last serviced.

  See why

  62TE 6-speed shudder and harsh shifts (3.6 V6)

  The 62TE six-speed automatic behind the 3.6 Pentastar V6 can develop torque-converter shudder, harsh or delayed shifts and solenoid faults, particularly with neglected fluid. Overheating on towing worsens it. Repairs range from a fluid service to valve-body or transmission rebuild.

  What you would notice

  • Shudder at light cruise
  • Harsh or delayed shifts
  • Slipping under load
  • Transmission fault codes

  Typically $400–$3,500 to put right.

Dodge Journey service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the Dodge Journey. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

Other Dodge models