The 2017 Dodge Journey has 2 safety recalls and 202 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (59 complaints).
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z99.
Electrical system › Software
NHTSA recall 18V332000 · May 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Components: Electrical system › Software; Vehicle speed control › Cruise control; Electrical system › Wiring
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2017 Dodge Journey SUV FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
18.5%
2017 Dodge Journey SUV AWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
17.9%
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Journey
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Journey FFV
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Journey AWD
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Horn
59
2
3
2
35,750 mi
Engine
44
0
2
0
48,900 mi
Power train Driveline › Driveshaft
32
0
0
0
29,660 mi
Air bags Srs malfunction warning lamp/light
30
8
1
7
38,500 mi
Unknown or other
25
0
1
1
48,542 mi
Seats Front assembly › Head restraint
21
0
0
3
74,000 mi
Vehicle speed control Cruise control
19
2
0
1
24,647 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
15
0
0
0
25,500 mi
Service brakes
15
2
0
1
29,830 mi
Steering
15
0
0
1
27,992 mi
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Warning light/devices
8
0
0
0
23,000 mi
Visibility/wiper
5
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jul 27, 2026Engine The vehicle experienced a premature catalytic converter failure directly related to the defect covered under manufacturer Recall Z98 (Federal Emissions: 2016-2017 JC 2.4L NOX FAIL). Prior to the recall being announced, the owner had the failed component replaced out-of-pocket using a legally compliant, EPA-certified aftermarket part. FCA/Stellantis has improperly denied the pre-notice reimbursement claim, asserting that warranty and recall guidelines strictly require an OEM part. This practice violates federal recall reimbursement guidelines and anti-tying regulations by refusing fair remedy for a known manufacturer defect simply because a compliant aftermarket part was used for a…
Oct 13, 2026Service brakes The ABS light control light and brake light are currently on. The issue is the ABS control module. There are 1300 on order with zero in production.
May 18, 2025Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera The backup camera on my 2017 dodge journey is displaying the image upside down. At times, it shows vertical lines, flickers or doesnât turn on at all.
Oct 5, 2026Air bags The airbag in the passenger headrest has deployed
Sep 30, 2025Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint Headrest popped open on passenger side and car hasn't been in accident since I have had it. Also my backup camera isn't working, it started going blank, and upside down til it doesn't do anything anymore.
Aug 26, 2026Power train On the morning of August 26, 2026, my 2017 Dodge Journey 2.4L was brought to DeLand Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for federal safety Emissions Recall Z98, which required updating the software calibration on the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The vehicle was scanned by the dealer at check-in (116,561 miles) and had zero transmission faults. The technician updated the PCM, and the dealer put 2 miles on the vehicle during service. Within 4 minutes of leaving the property, while accelerating to 50 MPH on a public roadway, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic loss of power and total transmission failure. The vehicle dropped completely out of gear, would roll backward while shifted into Drive, and…
Jul 5, 2026Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint While driving on a smooth paved road at normal speed, the active head restraint on the passenger seat suddenly deployed without any impact or collision. The headrest struck the passenger in the back of the head, causing pain and a potential injury. The vehicle did not experience a crash, bump, or sudden stop. After deployment, the headrest could not be reset or latched back into place. This appears to be a mechanical failure of the active head restraint system. This defect poses a serious safety risk because it could injure the driver causing an accident and may deploy again unexpectedly.
Nov 18, 2024 · 90,000 milesTraction control system The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60â70 MPH, the traction control warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was released, the vehicle was shaking erratically. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The contact stated that the traction control switch was inoperable. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken back to CarMax, where the vehicle was purchased. The contact was informed that the vehicle was repaired; however, the…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA24003 · opened Aug 1, 2024 · openVehicle entrapment The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-008 on May 1, 2023 to investigate an incident involving a 2009 Dodge Journey alleging occupant entrapment during a vehicle fire that resulted in a fatality. During the investigation, ODI collected information from the manufacturer and involved parties to confirm or refute the defect allegation. ODI has determined that additional reports of vehicle entrapment exist for other model year Dodge Journey vehicles. ODI continues to explore the cause of the thermal event and its potential effect on the actuation of the door locks. ODI also continues to explore other potential causes for door lock malfunction. ODI has determined that an upgrade to an Engineering Analysis (EA) is necessary to continue the review of the investigative material and to assess the risk to motor vehicle safety . To review the ODI report cited in the Opening Resume…
PE24006 · opened Feb 27, 2024 · closed Sep 26, 2025 · led to recall 25E052Back up camera failure On February 27, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate complaints alleging a loss of back up camera function in Model Year (MY) 2018 through 2020 Dodge Journey vehicles. Complainants reported experiencing black screens, upside down images, flashing images, or blurred images.  A back up camera that does not display correctly increases the likelihood of a crash or injury. Analysis of warranty data provided in response to ODIâs information request letter demonstrated a pattern of elevated warranty claims in subject vehicles built in calendar years (CY) 2019 and 2020. The rate of camera related warranty repairs for models built in CY 2019-2020 was nearly double that of vehicles built in CY 2017-2018. This increase in warranty claims occurred after the introduction of a new camera part number. ODI presented this analysis…
PE19014 · opened Sep 9, 2019 · closed Feb 25, 2026Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat…
