Selling a broken or junk Dodge Journey
Nearly half of all NHTSA complaints about the Journey concern its first two model years. Owners filed 1,594 on the 2009 and 1,085 on the 2010, which is 2,679 of the 5,544 on record as of October 10, 2026. In both years the electrical system is named most often: 561 complaints on the 2009 and 528 on the 2010.
- US model years
- 2009-2020
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 5,544
- 2009 and 2010 combined
- 2,679 complaints
- Recall campaigns
- 27
- Most-named component
- Electrical system (1,612)
- Built in
- Toluca, Mexico
- Engines
- 2.4 four, 2.7 V6, 3.5 V6
A Journey with a dead module, a failed engine or brakes that need more than they're worth can be sold whole. We buy whole non-running and junk cars. A Journey parked anywhere in the US gets free pickup.
One generation, three stretches of complaints
The US only ever got one Journey. Wikipedia says every one was built at Toluca, Mexico, on the Chrysler JC platform, with just over 1.1 million made before production ended in 2020. Engines were the 2.4-liter World four, the 2.7-liter V6 and the 3.5-liter V6, with a 4-speed automatic. Wikipedia also mentions an optional 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with a six-speed automatic, later dropped along with all-wheel drive. The second-generation Journey sold in Mexico from 2022 is a rebadged GAC GS5 and was never sold here.
With no generation change to split on, the groups below follow the complaint data.
| Model years | Complaints | Recall campaigns per year | What the file names most |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-2010 | 2,679 | 8 and 4 | Electrical system, air bags, brakes |
| 2011-2016 | 2,255 | 4 to 7 | Brakes, engine, seats |
| 2017-2020 | 602 | 1 to 6 | Electrical, backup camera |
Another 8 complaints are filed under 2008.
2009-2010: wiring, keys and air bags
Four of the early recalls deal with wiring and ignition. 09V082 covered 16,852 2009 Journeys whose unused 115-volt outlet connector could corrode. 10V658 replaced front door wiring harnesses on 64,934 2009 Journeys, because the wires could fatigue and break. 11V139 replaced the WIN module on 2010 cars that could have ignition key problems; that campaign of 195,798 also covers the Grand Caravan and Town & Country. 14V373 put a new ignition switch and fobs in 2009-2010 cars; until that was done, the notice said to hang nothing on the key but the key itself.
Air bags are the second most named component on the 2009, with 259 complaints. Recall 16V047 replaced the air bag control unit on certain 2009 Journeys, in a 110,482-vehicle campaign that includes the minivans. The 2009 also has 201 complaints about the hydraulic brakes.
2011-2016: brakes, the 2.4 engine and seats
Service brakes are the top component on the 2011 (42) and tie for top on the 2013 (53). The 2015 has the most complaints of this stretch, 553, with the engine named in 92 and seats in 79. It also lists 47 injuries, the most of any Journey year.
Several recalls in this stretch cover the Journey alone. 15V675 sealed the ABS wiring harness on 275,187 2012-2015 Journeys, because water could get in, and replaced the ABS module where needed. 15V431 added a better engine cover mount on 145,379 2011-2015 Journeys with the 2.4. 17V432 inspected the driver's air bag wiring inside the steering wheel on 363,480 2011-2015 Journeys, where chafing could make the air bag deploy. The 2016 had a crank or cam sensor connector recall (16V907) and a transmission pump recall (16V461), both shared with other models.
2017-2020: the last years
Over four years the count falls to 602. The final Journeys made have also been driven the shortest time, so owners have had less chance to report. Recall 22V723 replaced headlamp assemblies on 83,453 2017-2018 Journeys because the side reflector wasn't bright enough. 18V523 bled the brakes on 2018 models whose rear caliper pistons might not be coated enough. 25V552 replaces the rearview camera on 2019-2020 Journeys and 2019-2021 Ram ProMasters, and back-over prevention shows up in the 2019 and 2020 complaint lists.
Complaints and recalls by year
Source: NHTSA complaint records downloaded October 10, 2026. If a campaign lists three model years, it's counted in each of those three rows.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Injuries noted | Fires noted | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1,594 | 35 | 37 | 8 |
| 2010 | 1,085 | 19 | 17 | 4 |
| 2011 | 169 | 10 | 4 | 4 |
| 2012 | 376 | 24 | 13 | 6 |
| 2013 | 353 | 32 | 9 | 4 |
| 2014 | 416 | 38 | 9 | 7 |
| 2015 | 553 | 47 | 9 | 6 |
| 2016 | 388 | 16 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 199 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| 2018 | 236 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 | 102 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 65 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Repair it or sell it?
Get the repair cost on paper, then look up what a working Journey like yours is listed for. If the Journey repair swallows most of that amount, selling it broken usually leaves more in your pocket.
- Run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup. On a 2009-2010, an unfinished wiring or ignition campaign may be the fault you're chasing. Ask a Dodge dealer.
- Electrical gremlins on an early car? The electrical problems guide covers when chasing them stops making sense.
- Brakes on a 2011-2016? See bad brakes. On a 2012-2015, ask whether 15V675 was done before paying for an ABS module.
- Engine or transmission gone? Read blown engine or bad transmission.
How to sell your Journey whole
- Gather the VIN, mileage, year and engine (2.4 four or V6), plus what's wrong.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Let us know where your Journey sits and whether the wheels spin freely. Say if it's front-drive or all-wheel drive, since that changes how the truck pulls it on. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
- Skip the stripping. A Journey goes as one piece, wheels, battery and converter included; flag anything already gone.
- When we come, give the driver the keys and title and show your ID. Your state's plate rules are on after you sell.
Lost the title? Start with selling with no title. Other Dodge SUVs and vans: the Durango, Nitro and Grand Caravan, or all Dodge models.
Questions people ask
- Which Journey years have the most NHTSA complaints?
- The 2009 (1,594) and 2010 (1,085) top NHTSA's October 10, 2026 tally, with the 2015 third at 553. The last two years, 2019 and 2020, show only 102 and 65, and part of that gap is simply that owners of the final Journeys have had fewer years to file.
- What was the key ring recall on the 2009-2010 Journey?
- Campaign 14V373. The notice told Journey owners to take everything off the ring except the ignition key until a dealer did the fix, because of a risk to the air bag system. The fix is a new ignition switch and new fobs. NHTSA lists 722,705 vehicles for it, and that total can take in more than the Journey.
- Will you buy a Journey with a dead engine or one that won't shift?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US. Tell us what happens when you start it and whether it rolls.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), Dodge Journey, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 09V082: unused 115-volt connector, 2009 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 10V658: front door wiring harnesses, 2009 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 11V139: WIN module and ignition key, 2010 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 14V373: ignition switch and key fobs, 2009-2010 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 15V431: 2.4L engine cover, 2011-2015 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 15V675: water in ABS wiring, 2012-2015 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V047: air bag control unit, 2009 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V461: transmission pump, 2016 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V907: crank or cam sensor connector, 2016 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V432: driver air bag wiring, 2011-2015 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 18V523: rear brake caliper pistons, 2018 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 22V723: headlamp reflector, 2017-2018 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 25V552: rearview camera, 2019-2020 nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Dodge Journey en.wikipedia.org