2018 DODGE JOURNEY Power Train Problems

10.17.25 Vehicle started making tapping noise under the hood. I wasn’t able to identify the problem. I took it to the dealership and they found noise coming from the transmission and stated possible front pump, but wasn’t for sure. They wanted to do an additional diagnostic after I had already paid $197.27, for 3 more hours at $200 per hour. I took vehicle to another company who found noise was coming from the transmission and stated that the transmission will need to be replaced as they found metal shavings in the pan. They flushed the fluid, replaced the filter, test drove noise went away. They advised that I would make it back to Georgia but definitely suggested to get transmission checked. I made it 107 miles from home when it stalled out in 5 o’clock traffic. I tried to accelerate and but it lost motive power. I tapped the breaks tried again after 2 attempts I was able to get to the right shoulder out of the heavy traffic without incident. I was on the side of the road for 4hrs before an older man pulled up to assist. I had to be pushed 2 exits to a gas station. We added more transmission fluid still no motive power it stalled again. Got it towed to a shop to be checked for 3rd time was told it’s the transmission and as of this morning it has been towed to a 4th shop who handles transmission. In my online search for recalls I noticed the same thing happened with the 2016 Dodge Journey as well. I’ve had this vehicle just over a year. I received it with 42k miles on it, awesome condition, apparently one owner who appears to have taken care of it from the looks of vehicle. No major/minor issues noted. By God’s grace I made it out of heavy traffic safely to the off shoulder which was still frightening as well. I may be the first one to report this issue but it needs to be addressed not only for me but everyone who owns one. Metal shavings inside the transmission is crazy. No warning lights on the dash to show something is wrong.

Stated having coolant issues in 2023. September 2025 Engine light Started blinking and Started running rough at 65 mph. Stopped the vehicle and you could see the whole car shaking from the motor running so rough. Fueled up kept going and it kept doing it. Eventually dying at a stop light and I couldn't get it to fire back up. Ended up needing a tow since it wouldn't stay running. White smoke coming from tailpipe. Cracked cylinder head. $3000 repair with a USED PART.

Car trys to start, it turns over but doesn't start. When it does start the red lightening bold is illuminated. Motor runs rough and shaky has ZERO POWER to accelerate. On going since 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving at night, the contact noticed that the headlights were significantly dim. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact had been driving with the high-beam headlights at night. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal to merge into another lane, the vehicle failed to respond. The traction control warning light and an unknown warming light were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving 35-45 MPH, which required the contact to pull to the side of the road on each occasion. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle responded as needed on some occasions and the contact was able to drive safely; however, on other occasions, the failure recurred upon resuming driving. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, and to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. Additionally, the contact stated that the rearview camera was inoperable while reversing. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the failure could not be duplicated. The contact's husband replaced the rearview camera fuse, per the Owner's Manual instructions; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failures to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V723000 (Exterior Lighting), 18V524000(Electrical System), and 18V398000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

Mileage: 9,000

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the engine was slow to turn over and start. There was an abnormal chugging sound at start up. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle shut off unintendedly and failed to restart. The contact stated that the half-circle symbol to depress the brake pedal was displayed. The engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined the failure was due to the electrical system. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure was due to the oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at undisclosed speeds over a bridge, the steering wheel and the brakes became inoperable, and the vehicle shut down. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electrical system, transmission, timing chain, camshaft, and engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

On October 22, 2021, I was driving my 2018 Dodge Journey Crossroad and upon sitting at a traffic light I press the gas and my truck started humming for about five seconds and it stopped. I brought this truck on December 4th, 2019 and it has roughly 64,000 miles on it but I kept up my routine maintenance. I am a person with disabilities and I need my vehicle to get to work. Please look into this matter my transmission should not have gone out so soon! Thank you for your kind attention.

I GOT A VEHICLE FROM CARVANA AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. GOT IT BACK 2 DAYS AGO AND NOW SEEMS LIKE THE REAR END IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T GET IT IN FOR 2 WEEKS AND SENT ME HOME DRIVING IT YET AGAIN.

Mileage: 52,000

THE AC AIR COMPRESSOR ARE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE SERPTINE BELT TO BREAK AND CAR STOP IMMEDIATELY IN TRAFFIC TO A DEAD STOP THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT FIXING IT IT'S A FACTORY DEFAULT

Mileage: 43,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SHOOK AND VIBRATED AT START-UP WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING UPON DEPRESSION THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO LANDMARK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6850 MT ZION BLVD, MORROW, GA 30260) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

Mileage: 5

AWD SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING, REAR AXLE NOT GETTING ANY POWER FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. FRONT WHEELS SPIN ON GRAVEL OR WET PAVEMENT WHILE BACK WHEELS DON'T MOVE. THEN THE AWD SYSTEM SERVICE LIGHT KICKS ON. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES & THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION ON WET OR SNOWY ROADWAYS.

Mileage: 40,000

THE DODGE JOURNEY HAS FAULTY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS CAUSING MY DRIVE SHAFT TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT ONLY AFTER 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND MILES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN SHIFTING, I CURRENTLY HAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP GETTING THESE ITEMS REPLACED

Mileage: 49,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK'S COUNTRY CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (503-746-9621, LOCATED AT 767 SW BASELINE ST, HILLSBORO, OR 97123) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT PROBLEMATIC AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH MORE LEAKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000

I HAVE HAD TO BRING MY DODGE IN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 7 TIMES SINCE I GOT IT BRAND NEW. I HAD STEERING ISSUES, BRAKE ISSUES, THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. NOW THE CAR WILL "STALL" AT TIMES WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND I GO TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THIS ISSUE YET .

THE CAR HAS BARELY ANY POWER. THE TACKOMETER REVS UPTO THE RED ZONE WHEN GOING UPHILL AND THEN STILL STRUGGLES TO KEEP SPEED. WHEN DRIVING ON THE STREET MY CAR REVS UP TO TO THE 6 ON THE TACKOMETER BEFORE CHANGING GEARS. SOMETIME I HAVE TO LET GO OF GAS TO GET IT TO DROP TO CHANGE GEARS.

Mileage: 25

WHEN CRUISING DOWN THE ROAD IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR DROPS OUT OF GEAR MOMENTARILY THEN SLAMS BACK INTO GEAR. THIS IS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM BUT IT COULD BE DEADLY.

Mileage: 2,800

JAMES TOWN OUTSIDE CENTER TX ON HWY 7 GOING 60-65 JUST HAD MY CAR SERVICED 6/3/19 TRANSMISSION RUNS LIGHT COMES ON RUNS HOT CAR STARTS JERKING AND DECREASE THEN INCREASE IN SPEED TRACTION CONTROL IS ALSO ON I STOP AT THE FIRST STORE I SEE TURN OFF THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK FOR TWO DAYS 6/5/19 AT 11:45-50 IT STARTS I STRUGGLE TO GET IT TO JOAQUIN TEXAS WHERE I LIVE IT JERKED, INCREASED AND DECREASED IN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN CRANKING AND TOUCHY WHILE DRIVING ALSO THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON

Mileage: 30,470

WHEN IN REVERSE ON A UPWARD SLANT OR STREET OR A HILL THE CAR WILL GO GO FOWARD AS IF DRIVING IN DRIVE POSITION UNTIL YOU STEP ON BRAKE VERY HEAVILY AND QUICKLY PRESS HARD FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL AND EXCELLIARATOR FAST. WHEN PRESSING BRAKE ON A HILL AND ON FLAT SURFACE IF U DONT KEEP FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKE CAR WILL ROLL BACK

Mileage: 30