2013 Dodge Journey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
353 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Journey ran from 2009 to 2020 with the same basic platform, and its record is moderate throughout — brake wear, the four-speed automatic on the base four-cylinder, and the electrical system. The 2015 year carries the most complaints; the 2017–2020 years score between 71 and 93 and are among the cheapest three-row vehicles on the site to buy, if not to run. 2013 specifically: a year the record favours — 353 complaints, score 76/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
The cheap crossovers: Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass and Renegade, used, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 353 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 27.15
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving, the ABS, brake, and traction control warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module had failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the replacement ABS module was no longer available from the manu…
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the air bag and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the cruise control feature became inoperable. The contact received notifications for Manufacturer Recalls: R61 and T47; and the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the air bag wiring harness and the ABS module water ingress were replaced; however, the…
Incident occurred onJune 29, 2026 approximately around 6 pm. The system in question is the electrical. I was pulling out of the parking space at the Safeway parking lot, my arm was rested on the driver side door, window was down, and I heard the automatic door locks engaged. At that exact moment I felt a heavy shock go through my arm. I screamed, and at first I did not know what happened. As I was driving home, I…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V273000 | 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. |
| 15V431000 | 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. |
| 17V432000 | 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. |
| 15V675000 | Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Service Brakes74 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Electrical System73 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine72 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Seats58 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc)44 complaints · typical job: Yaw sensor or ESC module replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$660–$1,560
- Air Bags44 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Dodge Journey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Dodge Journey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Service Brakes (74 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Dodge Journey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 76/100, computed from 353 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Dodge Journey's most common problem?
74 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Dodge Journey sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $580–$1,140 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Dodge Journey cost to run per year?
About $6,115 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,578 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Dodge Journey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Dodge Journey, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 06/05/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Dodge Journey really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 353 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 353 NHTSA complaints on record (27.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (27.0/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems