2012 Dodge Journey Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2012 Dodge Journey, and owners have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 2012 Dodge Journey
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags: frontal
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made free of charge. The…
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Hose, piping, and connections (steering)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return hoses, steel tubes, and power steering oil cooler, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
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Electronic stability control (esc) and antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will…
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Fluid (service brakes)
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 dodge journey and fiat 500 vehicles manufactured from october 24, 2011, through october 26, 2011. Some vehicles were assembled with contaminated brake fluid and may experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and replace all brake components that come in contact with hydraulic brake fluid. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 1, 2012. Owners may contact…
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Engine and engine cooling
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 chrysler vehicles, including 200 and town and country models, dodge vehicles, including charger, durango, grand caravan and journey models and jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured from august 31, 2011, through september 13, 2011, that are equipped with 3.6l engines. These engines may…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 18, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
376 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Dodge Journey have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA; 21 describe a crash and 13 describe a fire. Reports cite 24 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 74,864 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 63 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The car says something like Vin number bot recognized. The windshield wipers start going crazy all the exterior and interior lights start going crazy the steering will locks the brakes lock and the ca”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 8, 2026 · Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 1, 2026 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Dodge Journey (Journey AWD, Journey FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–19 / 24–26 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 6-spd |
Compare Dodge Journey model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Journey model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Dodge Journey | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 Dodge Journey | 0 | 8 |
| 2009 Dodge Journey | 8 | 1,433 |
| 2010 Dodge Journey | 3 | 988 |
| 2011 Dodge Journey | 4 | 169 |
| 2012 Dodge Journey | 6 | 376 |
| 2013 Dodge Journey | 4 | 353 |
| 2014 Dodge Journey | 7 | 416 |
| 2015 Dodge Journey | 6 | 553 |
| 2016 Dodge Journey | 4 | 388 |
| 2017 Dodge Journey | 2 | 199 |
| 2018 Dodge Journey | 6 | 236 |
| 2019 Dodge Journey | 1 | 102 |
| 2020 Dodge Journey | 1 | 65 |
Checking a specific 2012 Dodge Journey
How do I know if my 2012 Dodge Journey has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2012 Dodge Journey; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V487000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- RAM 150012,416 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.