2020 Dodge Journey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
65 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 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. 2020 specifically: a year the record favours — 65 complaints, score 92/100. 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 2020 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 65 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 10.83
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
When starting my car and turning on my air or heat component the front will turn on but the components in the middle won’t! You have to hit the panel to make it turn on and when your driving the middle component shuts off losing power and dims the lights and dash lights with radio screen! I’ve had this issue since I purchased this car 3yrs ago and the business just says oh they have that issue why do I have to pay to…
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the rear-view camera was inverted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repai…
The wiring harness for back hatch the coating of the wire are all cracking . The passenger side rear back up light wasn’t working and the harness is cracking the wiring when opening and closing the hatch . I have picture. It looks worse in person
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V552000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Ram ProMaster and 2019-2020 Dodge Journey vehicles. Cracks in the microprocessor may cause the vehicle's rearview camera image not to display properly. |
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 $3,100
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 System19 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other19 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Back Over Prevention14 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
- Engine8 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Exterior Lighting5 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
- Service Brakes4 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Dodge Journey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Dodge Journey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (19 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2020 Dodge Journey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 92/100, computed from 65 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2020 Dodge Journey's most common problem?
19 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2020 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 2020 Dodge Journey cost to run per year?
About $4,815 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,078 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 2020 Dodge Journey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2020 Dodge Journey, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 26/08/2025. 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 2020 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.
Moderate evidence — 65 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 65 NHTSA complaints on record (10.8/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (27.0/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems