2012 Dodge Journey Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

97Engine complaints

25.9%Of all 375 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM113 · 30.1%

ENGINE97 · 25.9%

SERVICE BRAKES95 · 25.3%

Unspecified / other48 · 12.8%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)44 · 11.7%

Share of the 375 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Dodge Journey overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V675000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 15V431000 (ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 10816467 — filed 12/28/2015

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE THROTTLE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK…”NHTSA complaint 10794815 — filed 11/19/2015

“ON NOVEMBER 11,2015, WE WERE TRAVELING FROM HOME TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT FOR A SURGICAL PROCEDURE. WE WERE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 65, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC…”NHTSA complaint 10794812 — filed 11/19/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Dodge Journey have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Dodge Journey: 97 of 375 complaints on file (25.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Dodge Journey have in total?

375 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 21 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 24 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.