2014 Dodge Journey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict

411 NHTSA owner complaints · 7 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.

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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. 2014 specifically: 411 complaints on record, score 64/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.

Read the guide

The cheap crossovers: Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass and Renegade, used, including 2014 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.

Owner complaints: 411 filed with NHTSA

Complaints per year on the road: 34.25

Electrical System104Engine97Service Brakes89Unknown Or Other63Air Bags46Seats42

What owners say

Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.

On Friday, August 28, 2026, my wife entered our 2014 Dodge Journey and found that the drivers side head rest had burst open. The vehicle was parked in our driveway. Thankfully neither of use were driving the vehicle when this occurred, as this could have caused an accident. There was no warning from the vehicle that this would occur. We found online that there was a warranty extension (which has expired), but that …
Rearview camera not working. I received a recall notice and 2 days later my rear view camera stopped working, but for some reason my vehicle is not on the list to be repaired?
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact became aware that the front passenger head restraint was damaged and unhinged. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contracted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

Recalls: 7 campaigns (3 severe)

20142015201620172018
CampaignComponentSummary
16V273000Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And ConnectionsChrysler (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.
15V431000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineChrysler (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.
17V432000Air Bags:FrontalChrysler (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.
14V711000Equipment:Other:LabelsChrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured October 25, 2013, to August 22, 2014. The affected vehicles may be equipped with tire placard labels which contain inaccurate seating capacity and occupant/cargo combined weight information.
18V332000Electrical System:WiringChrysler (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),…
15V675000Electronic 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.
17V824000EquipmentChrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf.

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.

Typical price today $19,500–$28,000 used market, 2026
You lose to depreciation $1,440/year $7,200 over five years
Price when new (2014)$40,300
Worth in five years$16,600
Depreciation, five years$7,200
Insurance, five years$6,800–$9,700
Fuel and maintenance, five years$30,902
Five-year cost of owning it$46,352
Per mile driven, at 12,000 miles a year$0.77

What it costs to run

EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,250

Fuel (your region)$3,250
Maintenance band (your region) $1,811–$3,630
Estimated running cost this year (age 12) $5,970
Range across the maintenance band $5,061–$6,880
Next five years, running cost $30,902

Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.

02468101214$7,435vehicle age (years)
fuel/energy + maintenance band, annual — US dollars, estimate

Run your own numbers in the true-cost calculator →

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.

  • Electrical System104 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
  • Engine97 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
  • Service Brakes89 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
  • Unknown Or Other63 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
  • Air Bags46 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
  • Seats42 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200

FAQ

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Dodge Journey?

The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (104 complaints in our indexed sample).

Is the 2014 Dodge Journey a good used car to buy?

Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 64/100, computed from 411 NHTSA complaints and 7 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.

How much does it cost to fix the 2014 Dodge Journey's most common problem?

104 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2014 Dodge Journey sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 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 2014 Dodge Journey cost to run per year?

About $6,180 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,902 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 2014 Dodge Journey have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for the 2014 Dodge Journey, 3 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.

What will a 2014 Dodge Journey really cost YOU per year?

Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.

Open the true-cost calculator

Data 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.

64RELIABILITY / 100
CAUTION

Strong evidence — 411 complaints, 7 recalls on record

Typical price today$19,500–$28,000used market estimate · the full money picture
Running cost, next 5 years$30,902fuel/energy + maintenance band midpoint · estimate
  • 411 NHTSA complaints on record (34.2/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (27.0/yr)
  • 7 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems

How this score is computed →