Emissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Dodge Journey engine problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Dodge Journey have filed 46 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 89,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Journey | 88 |
| 2010 Journey | 75 |
| 2011 Journey | 22 |
| 2012 Journey (this page) | 46 |
| 2013 Journey | 43 |
| 2014 Journey | 51 |
| 2015 Journey | 66 |
| 2016 Journey | 53 |
6fires
When does it fail?
Of the 46 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Dodge Journey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 46 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
STARTER - ENGINE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗wiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 Dodge Journey engine generates a consistent pattern of serious failures across a large owner population. Stalling without warning at traffic lights and low speeds is the most frequent complaint—owners describe RPM fluctuation followed by complete shutdown, often followed by re-stalling. Dealership diagnostics frequently fail to pinpoint the cause or reproduce the issue, leaving owners stranded.
Power loss and limp mode activation occur suddenly while highway driving, with documented oil pump failures (code P06DD) and throttle body problems as underlying causes. Engine fires are the most alarming reports: vehicles catch fire unprompted, sometimes destroying the vehicle and igniting surrounding property and parked cars. The engine beauty cover melts and detaches, and foam insulation releases toxic fumes into the cabin.
Cooling system failures—overheating, radiator clogs, leaks, and sludge accumulation—are widespread, frequently requiring radiator or fan replacement. Plastic adapter deterioration inside the engine causes coolant leaks. Heater core clogging is chronic; multiple flushes or replacements fail to provide lasting fixes. Electronic throttle control errors, crankshaft sensor failures, and head gasket problems round out the engine issues.
The 2015 recall for fire risk (Campaign 15V431000) has been hampered by prolonged parts unavailability, leaving hundreds of owners unable to address the fire hazard. Repairs often fail to resolve failures permanently.
Same Dodge Journey engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling at stop or low speed
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly when approaching stops, stop lights, or at complete stops. Engine often restarts immediately but may re-stall. RPM fluctuation commonly precedes stalling. Multiple incidents reported over months of normal driving.
When: At traffic lights, stop signs, or low-speed conditions after 10-15 miles of driving; reported across wide mileage range from 87,000 to 120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: RPM fluctuation at stops; Complete engine stall without warning lights; Engine re-stalling after restart; Engine bucking/lunging forward before stall; Multiple occurrences over weeks or months
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers unable to reproduce issues or find codes; some advised to keep vehicle in neutral or 1st gear with firm braking pressure as temporary mitigation
Uncontrolled engine power loss and limp mode
Engine loses power suddenly while driving at various speeds, often accompanied by check engine light. Vehicle enters limp mode (severe power reduction). Oil pump failure documented as underlying cause in at least one case, producing diagnostic code P06DD. Failures prevent normal highway driving and create accident risk from slower traffic.
When: While driving at 40-75 mph; reported at 116,000-126,000 miles and highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden power loss while driving; Vehicle deceleration from 40+ mph to 20 mph; Check engine or service engine light illumination; Electronic throttle control (ETC) errors on dash; Limp mode activation with immediate power decline
Codes mentioned: P06DD (oil pump failure)
Repairs/costs cited: One mechanic shop confirmed oil pump failure requiring extensive diagnostics and repair; other cases resulted in throttle body replacement or head gasket and throttle body repair; some repairs failed to remedy issue
Engine fires and melting engine cover
Engine catches fire without warning during normal driving or while parked. In multiple cases, foam insulation inside engine cover melts, releasing toxic fumes into cabin. Engine beauty cover has detached and contacted catalytic converter, initiating fires. Some fires destroyed vehicle and damaged surrounding property.
When: Reported at various mileages from 11,000 to 115,026 miles; one vehicle experienced five fires within eight months
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise from engine without warning; Smoke under hood while driving or parked; Vehicle catching fire with flames visible; Melting foam inside engine cover releasing toxic fumes; Engine beauty cover detachment; Toxic fumes preventing use of heater/AC
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealers and repair attempts unsuccessful; one case involved 23 dealership visits with repeated cover replacements; fires caused vehicle destruction and damage to surrounding property and vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued for engine cover detachment and fire risk; recall parts repeatedly unavailable
Cooling system overheating and radiator failures
Vehicle overheats with smoke visible under hood and temperature gauge in danger zone. Radiator leaks, clogs, or fails, sometimes requiring replacement. Cooling system produces bubbles or sludge accumulation. Failures can recur after initial radiator replacement, sometimes requiring fan replacement.
When: At various mileages from 39,546 to 114,000 miles; occurs at stops and during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke from under hood; Temperature gauge spiking into overheating zone; Coolant warning light illumination; Coolant leaks from engine; Bubbles in cooling system; Sludge/coolant clogging radiator; Oil entering cooling system and vice versa
Repairs/costs cited: Radiator replacement costs noted; fan replacement required in repeat failures; plastic adapter part (Dodge part #68003582) deterioration caused coolant leak at 89,000 miles; dealer acknowledged awareness of adapter deterioration issue; independent cooling system flushes attempted but problems recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 11V487000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) addressed some cooling failures but did not remedy all cases
Engine coolant leaks from plastic components
Plastic adapter inside engine (Dodge part #68003582, Adapter C) deteriorates and leaks engine coolant. This represents a preventive maintenance hazard—catastrophic coolant loss while driving could cause full engine seizure.
When: Detected at 89,000 miles during routine inspection while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Visible coolant leak from engine; Deterioration of plastic interior engine part; Leak discovered during vehicle standing (preventive)
Repairs/costs cited: Part replacement required; owner states Dodge customer service acknowledged awareness of deterioration problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge acknowledged awareness of plastic adapter deterioration issue
Defective heater core and passenger-side heating failure
Passenger side vents fail to produce heat while driver side works normally. Heater core clogs repeatedly, requiring multiple flushes or replacements. Problem recurs within months of repair, sometimes requiring radiator replacement as well. Creates safety hazard from windshield fogging and loss of defroster.
When: Recurring issue with initial failure in winter months (November-December); reported at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: No heat from passenger side vents; Warm air only from driver side vents; Windshield fogging due to lack of heater function; Clogged heater core confirmed by dealer diagnostics; Recurrence within 2 months of flush or replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Heater core flush performed by independent shop and dealer; heater core replacement in December 2018 failed (problem returned); multiple re-flushes required; dealer suggested radiator replacement and complete cooling system flush with no guarantee; cumulative repair costs over $2,000 with additional $700+ quoted
Electronic throttle control (ETC) failure
Throttle fails to respond or engine shuts down with ETC error displayed on dashboard. Vehicle becomes unable to accelerate and may stall during highway entry or at various speeds. Multiple occurrences within short timeframes.
When: Reported within 2 days of first failure; highway entry speeds; vehicle had 36,000 miles warranty exhaustion issue
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal does not respond; ETC error symbol on dashboard; Engine shutdown with lights still functioning; Inability to restart immediately (requires 15+ minutes sitting); Repeated stalling attempts when restarting
Codes mentioned: ETC error (Electronic Throttle Control)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has not yet visited dealer; vehicle ownership outside warranty period (36,000 miles)
Crankshaft sensor failure
Crankshaft sensor fails, causing vehicle to shut off suddenly while driving at various speeds without warning indicators.
When: At 116,785 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine shutdown while driving; No warning lights before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed faulty crankshaft sensor requiring replacement; vehicle not repaired
Head gasket failure
Head gasket fails, causing loss of compression and combustion leaks detected by pressure and leak detector testing. Vehicle loses power while driving.
When: At 98,000 and 126,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power; Check engine light illumination; No compression confirmed by cylinder test; Combustion leak confirmed by detector test
Repairs/costs cited: One case required transmission replacement as side effect; head gasket repair mentioned in another case (also requiring throttle body replacement)
Oil leak from oil pan gasket
Oil leaks from oil pan gasket during routine oil changes. Technician advised this is a common issue with newer Dodge vehicles.
When: Discovered during routine oil change; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Visible oil leak from oil pan gasket during service
Repairs/costs cited: Identified during routine maintenance; owner reports difficulty obtaining dealer or corporate satisfaction on repair
Recall part unavailability (15V431000)
Multiple owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) covering engine beauty cover detachment fire risk, but required repair parts were not available from dealers for extended periods. Owners expressed safety concerns while waiting for parts, with no estimated delivery dates provided by manufacturer.
When: Recall notices sent August 2015 onward; many owners contacted dealers multiple times over months without part availability resolution
Symptoms owners cite: Receipt of recall notice without available parts; Manufacturer unable to provide part availability timeline; Safety concerns about driving recalled vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Parts distribution disconnect documented; owners parked vehicles due to fire safety concerns while waiting for unavailable parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V431000 issued; parts unavailable for extended periods with no estimated resolution date provided to owners
Engine failure requiring replacement
Engine fails completely and requires full replacement. Failures occur during normal driving with sudden stalling or power loss. Multiple independent mechanics have confirmed need for engine replacement.
When: At 120,000 miles and 111,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine stall during driving; Check engine warning illumination; Sludge accumulation in radiator with oil leaking into radiator and vice versa; Engine unable to run
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement quoted by independent mechanics; radiator sludge contamination noted as contributing factor
Synthesized from 46 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Passenger side of vehicle had no heat just cool air coming out of vents. Drivers side had heat coming out of vents. Vehicle was taken to an independent facility to have cooling system and heater core flushed. Was told by independent shop if problem comes back to take vehicle to dealer and have heater core replaced. After about 2 months problem came back. Took to dealer and found same problem, a…
Heater core has to be replaced! I have no heat coming out of the passenger side vents! Will cost over$1300.00
The 4 cylinder engine on my 2012 Dodge journey developed an engine coolant leak. Trouble shooting found the leak to be related to deterioration of a plastic part inside the engine...Dodge part# 68003582...adapter c. The car was standing when the problem was diagnosed. If I had not had the part replaced a catastrophic engine coolant leak could have occurred while the car was being driven, leading…
Engine shut down while entering highway but all lights still work, I was barley able to coast to side. Electronic throttle control is the issue according to my dash symbols. I have looked online and see lots of these problems. This has now happened 3 time in 2 days. When I try to restart I get the etc error symbol on my dash, car just keeps trying to turn over but cannot. I have been able to…
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Dodge Journey?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 Dodge Journey?
It's a meaningful issue. 46 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 50,286 and 116,000 miles, with the median around 89,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,286; a quarter make it past 116,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Dodge/Journey.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.