2018 Dodge Journey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
233 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. 2018 specifically: a year the record favours — 233 complaints, score 70/100. 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 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 233 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 29.12
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Air Bag in the steering wheel. we took it back to the dealership for them to fix or do something about it and they refused to. No warning at all.
Sitting at red light and with out warning car turns off I place it in park and try to start car again as soon as I push the ignition to crank the car a huge explosion from under the hood blew the hood backwards striking the a-piler to the driver's door trapping me inside the car as flames were observed coming through the dashboard had to forcefully kick driver side window out of frame to dive out of the car because t…
First Complain is that I was driving my 2018 Dodge Journey SE 2.4L across the interstate in [XXX]. My friend was sitting in the Passenger's seat when all of a sudden a loud popping noise happened and the airbag in the headrest popped out and almost hit my friend in the head. The second issue is that the headlight assemblies that was replaced under a recall in 2022-2023 due to a reflective issue. Well the the recall…
Recalls: 6 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V523000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance. |
| 18V524000 | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid… |
| 18V396000 | Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. When reverse gear has been selected, the rear camera view may not be fully visible within two seconds. |
| 18V398000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. |
| 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),… |
| 22V723000 | Exterior Lighting | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-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 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
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.
- Electrical System72 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other45 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine30 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Exterior Lighting26 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
- Service Brakes25 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Back Over Prevention23 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
Other Dodge Journey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Dodge Journey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (72 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Dodge Journey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 70/100, computed from 233 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Dodge Journey's most common problem?
72 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 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 2018 Dodge Journey cost to run per year?
About $5,293 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,465 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 2018 Dodge Journey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Dodge Journey, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 09/08/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 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 — 233 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 233 NHTSA complaints on record (29.1/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (27.0/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems