Dodge Journey problems
169 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Electrical system: 33 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 60,000–119,174 mi
- Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Visibility obstruction: the heater has slowly been losing heat and is only blowing cold air. Visibility is severely obstructed due to the defrost system not working properly. The defrost system is blowing cold air not clearing the windshield and seriously obstructing…
Power steering hose ruptured while vehicle was parked and running in very cold temp
No heat on passenger side of vehicle dealer states heater core plugged needs replacing at over $1000.
2011 Dodge journey when the weather is cool the fobs will no unlock the doors. Cw the consumer also stated he had difficulty starting the vehicle. *jb
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA24003 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Journey reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Dodge Journey is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Dodge Journey?
The 2011 Dodge Journey is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 33 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 60,000–119,174 mi; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Dodge Journey?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 37 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 35,844 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 35,844 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Dodge Journey has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Dodge Journey?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 169 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.