2013 Dodge Journey: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2013 Dodge Journey
On the 2013 Dodge Journey, the failure owners report most often is other body or interior problem, and the reports cluster around 92,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other electrical problem, reported by a median of 45,000 miles. Overall it scores 70 out of 100, high risk for a 2013.
High risk for a 2013 — 197th riskiest of the 284 2013 vehicles we can rate. 509 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2013 Dodge Journey
Owners have reported 55 named failure modes on the 2013 Dodge Journey, and the three most-reported carry 29% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other body or interior problem leads with 56 reports, about 0.8 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 60k to 112,500 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 45 reports, usually reported between 46k to 115,000 miles. 5 of those reports mention a fire.
Other brake problem follows with 45 reports, usually reported between 26k to 85,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (84), brakes (78) and electrical (70).
The mileage the reports cluster at
330 of the reports on the 2013 Dodge Journey came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 72,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 29% by 50,000 miles, 74% by 100,000 miles and 95% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 3 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 50,000 and 60,000 miles, which alone holds 10% of the dated reports.
18% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other electrical problem around 46k, ABS module or sensor failure around 60k, other brake problem around 62k and other driver assistance problem around 66k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 55. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 3 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 25 mention a crash, 15 a fire and 30 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.49, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other brake problem at $300–$1,800 and other driver assistance problem at $250–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
23% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other body or interior problem | body | 56 | 38 | 60k | 92k | 113k | 0.8 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 45 | 21 | 46k | 94k | 117k | 0.6 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 45 | 22 | 26k | 62k | 85k | 0.6 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 32 | 14 | 61k | 66k | 92k | 0.4 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 26 | 18 | 37k | 46k | 78k | 0.4 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 22 | 16 | 50k | 72k | 77k | 0.3 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 22 | 15 | 36k | 60k | 91k | 0.3 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 20 | 12 | 42k | 71k | 93k | 0.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 19 | 13 | 39k | 99k | 107k | 0.3 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 17 | 14 | 57k | 82k | 98k | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 10 | 6 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 8 | 3 | — | 50k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 7 | 5 | — | 99k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 7 | 6 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 6 | 6 | — | 105k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 6 | 3 | — | 51k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 6 | 6 | — | 84k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 6 | 6 | — | 66k | — | 0.1 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 6 | 2 | — | 61k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 6 | 6 | — | 67k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 5 | 3 | — | 110k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 5 | 1 | — | 82k | — | 0.1 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 5 | 5 | — | 114k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 4 | 4 | — | 86k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 4 | 4 | — | 47k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 4 | 3 | — | 34k | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 38k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Airbag deployed without a crash | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 121k | — | 0.1 | $2,500–$8,000 | Critical |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 4 | 4 | — | 44k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 95k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 3 | 1 | — | 87k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 51k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 82k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 3 | 1 | — | 200k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 58k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 3 | 3 | — | 74k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 3 | 3 | — | 91k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 3 | 2 | — | 82k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 267k | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 114k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 2 | 2 | — | 29k | — | 0.0 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 2 | 2 | — | 49k | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 2 | 1 | — | 174 | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 68k | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 86k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 33k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 58k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 48k | — | 0.0 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 33k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 16k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 46 | 26 | 44k | 88k | 119k | 0.6 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2013 Dodge Journey draws about 7.0 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 89th percentile of complaint rates among 2013 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 72,696 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2013 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
This car is brand new and has major flaw leaks water through roof somewhere and whole headliner is full of water is coming out of heater vents in ceiling as well as dvd entertainment system which I believe is a electrical hazard .vehicle was brought to dealer once and waiting for second appointment .was told clogged vents car was 2 months old and never had an issue I don't believe clogged vents serious issue .can cause several mechanical and safety issues. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge journey. The contact stated that the driver side door handle chrome plate was deteriorated. A sharp piece of material bruised the contact's hand. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
Other engine problem
Turned car on and feels like the engine is stuttering need to make trip to dealer. Suspension noise coming from the front. Truck has been taken to the dealer numerous times on the suspension issue. The first time they said they lubed the bushings and every other time they say there is nothing wrong with it. This truck is a safety hazard for my family. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge journey. While the vehicle was parked, the contact heard a loud whining noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and repaired. The details of the repair were unknown. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 34,536. Ma 04/04/15 updated 10/19/2017*cn
Other brake problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the brakes were depressed and the rear end of the vehicle veered to the right. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it was diagnosed but the repairs were unknown. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 7,125. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge journey. The contact stated that while driving at night and during rainy weather conditions at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle began spinning uncontrollably without warning. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a stop. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS or the all wheel drive sensor, failed but that the vehicle could still be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN was not available.
Recalls on the 2013 model year
NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 2013 Dodge Journey, affecting an estimated 171,638 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags:frontal, steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connection, service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electron and engine and engine cooling:engine. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
363,480 vehicles 2017-07-07- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
- 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 recall began August 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T47.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
8,569 vehicles 2016-05-06- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S08.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
275,187 vehicles 2015-10-19- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
145,379 vehicles 2015-07-07- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
- 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 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R32.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2013 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2013 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2013 — 197th riskiest of the 284 2013 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 12 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2020 comes out best at 63 and 2014 worst at 75, with 2013 itself at 70.
If the model year is negotiable, 2020 and 2019 score lower than 2013 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2011–2017 generation specifically, 2013 is the strongest year at 70 and 2014 the weakest at 75.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2011-2017 generation, 2013 Dodge Journey scores best at 70 and 2014 Dodge Journey worst at 75.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other brake problem from about 26k, ABS module or sensor failure from about 36k, other electrical problem from about 37k and no-start or intermittent start failure from about 39k.
On a 2013 Dodge Journey with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other brake problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
509 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 509 reports, 330 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 65% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Journey?
The most-reported failures are other body or interior problem (56 reports, median 92,500 miles), other engine problem (45 reports, median 95,000 miles) and other brake problem (45 reports, median 60,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2013 Dodge Journey problems start?
Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 45,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 35,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 72,000 miles.
Is the 2013 Dodge Journey reliable?
It scores 70 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 197th riskiest of the 284 2013 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2013 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Dodge Journey is best?
Within the 2011–2017 generation, 2013 scores best at 70 out of 100 and 2014 worst at 75. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed