2015 Dodge Journey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
553 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 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. 2015 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 553 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
The cheap crossovers: Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass and Renegade, used, including 2015 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 553 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 50.27
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Car overheared i was checking on regular basis to maybe sure it haf coolant.warning lights didnt come on.temperature gage was normal. Oil hot came o. 2 times with temperature gage just fine .sone who the upper inlet on top radiator hose broke off into the hose . No sign no warning car just kept driving fine . Also a clicking soumd occauisonally from dash sounds like coming from drivers side behind dashboard
While driving, the electric window and doorlock module started smoking. It was a heavy white smoke. There were no warning lamps or messages. I smelled the smoke and burning of plastic immediately before I even saw the smoke. I pulled over to a safe spot, turned off my vehicle, grabbed my purse and keys and waited for help/assistance. The buttons of module are melted, my window is stuck, and the component is severely …
ABS module was recalled and replaced. The replaced piece is now not working and needs replaced. Every place says part is on backorder. Its a safety issue to continue driving my car
Recalls: 6 campaigns (3 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. |
| 14V711000 | Equipment:Other:Labels | Chrysler 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. |
| 18V332000 | Electrical System:Wiring | Chrysler (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),… |
| 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.
- Engine135 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System118 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes106 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Seats89 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
- Unknown Or Other80 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train77 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Dodge Journey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Dodge Journey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (135 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2015 Dodge Journey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 49/100, computed from 553 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2015 Dodge Journey's most common problem?
135 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2015 Dodge Journey sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 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 2015 Dodge Journey cost to run per year?
About $6,415 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $32,075 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 2015 Dodge Journey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2015 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.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2015 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 — 553 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 553 NHTSA complaints on record (50.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (27.0/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems