repaired · 2018 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
2012 Dodge JourneyProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 377 owner complaints about the 2012 Dodge Journey, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-432 the manufacturer reports only 57% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 25, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Dodge Journey has problems
377 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
116Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
97Engine8 crash/fire/injury
96Service brakes8 crash/fire/injury
44Electronic stability control (ESC)1 crash/fire/injury
36Power train3 crash/fire/injury
29Air bags
23Steering
20Vehicle speed control
14Fuel/propulsion system
9915 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 116 | 5 |
| Engine | 97 | 8 |
| Service brakes | 96 | 8 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 44 | 1 |
| Power train | 36 | 3 |
| Air bags | 29 | 14 |
| Steering | 23 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 99 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2012 Dodge Journey recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Risk. A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Risk. If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Show 2 more recalls
no report yet
Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid
Risk. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
85kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 80 electrical system complaints. 64% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles51under 100k miles29100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Journey year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Journey median. How we score
'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Dodge Journey safety ratings
2012 Dodge Journey SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Dodge Journey, and the recalls they led to.
- Vehicle entrapmentOpen
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent DeploymentNo recall
In owners' words
What Journey owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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 car shuts off no accident
My 2012 dodge journey suddenly and violently stalled in the middle of crossing a green light. no check engine lights prior to this only thing that happened a few days before was car wouldn’t start said to press clutch and start button I have an automatic engine, and kept saying keys lefts vehicle…
Component/System That Failed or Malfunctioned & Availability for Inspection I have experienced multiple safety-critical failures in my 2012 Dodge Journey, including transmission failure, catalytic converter defects, engine repairs, electrical malfunctions, and brake system issues. Pattern of…
Own a 2012 Journey?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.