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2018 Dodge Journey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Dodge Journey. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 26% of relevant complaints.
Better than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 39 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 21%).
Does the 2018 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 50 of 195 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (26%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 46% and the 2019 scores 19%. 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 2018 compares with other Dodge Journey years
Of the 11 Dodge Journey years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (26%). The worst is the 2016 (57%), the best the 2020 (18%). By volume, the 2018 drew 234 complaints (50 drivetrain), against 197 for the 2017 and 101 for the 2019.
Dodge Journey years to avoid and best years →
2010 Journey problems · 2011 Journey problems · 2012 Journey problems · 2013 Journey problems · 2014 Journey problems · 2015 Journey problems · 2016 Journey problems · 2017 Journey problems · 2018 · 2019 Journey problems · 2020 Journey problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Dodge Journey
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 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 50 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Dodge Journey engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2018 Dodge Journey, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
6 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 2018 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 2018 Dodge Journey have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 50 of 195 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Journey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (26%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Dodge Journey?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Dodge Journey is electrical system: 72 of 234 complaints (31%) name it, followed by engine (30) and exterior lighting (27). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 26% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Dodge Journey reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 26% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Dodge Journey years we score, it ranks 3rd-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 2018 Dodge Journey?
No. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2018 Dodge Journey, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Dodge Journey years are better?
Among the Dodge Journey years we track, the 2020 (18%) and the 2019 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (26%). 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.