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2013 Dodge Journey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Dodge Journey. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 32% of relevant complaints.
Better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 48 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).
Does the 2013 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 99 of 305 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 41% and the 2014 scores 38%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Dodge Journey years
Of the 11 Dodge Journey years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (32%). The worst is the 2016 (57%), the best the 2020 (18%). By volume, the 2013 drew 353 complaints (99 drivetrain), against 376 for the 2012 and 416 for the 2014.
Dodge Journey years to avoid and best years →
2010 Journey problems · 2011 Journey problems · 2012 Journey problems · 2013 · 2014 Journey problems · 2015 Journey problems · 2016 Journey problems · 2017 Journey problems · 2018 Journey problems · 2019 Journey problems · 2020 Journey problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Dodge Journey
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Dodge Journey said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 99 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Dodge Journey engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Dodge Journey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Dodge Journey? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 99 of 305 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Dodge Journey?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Dodge Journey is service brakes: 74 of 353 complaints (21%) name it, followed by electrical system (73) and engine (72). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 32% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Dodge Journey reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 32% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Dodge Journey years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Dodge Journey?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Dodge Journey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 15V431000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Dodge Journey years are better?
Among the Dodge Journey years we track, the 2020 (18%), the 2019 (19%) and the 2010 (26%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (32%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-journey
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.