Emissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Dodge Journey engine problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Dodge Journey have filed 51 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 59,000 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
51
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Journey | 75 |
| 2011 Journey | 22 |
| 2012 Journey | 46 |
| 2013 Journey | 43 |
| 2014 Journey (this page) | 51 |
| 2015 Journey | 66 |
| 2016 Journey | 53 |
| 2017 Journey | 19 |
| 2018 Journey | 13 |
2fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 51 engine complaints filed for the 2014 Dodge Journey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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 51 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 7 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 ↗Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a consistent pattern of engine problems across this model year. Cylinder misfires and hesitation are the most frequent complaint—check engine lights trigger, acceleration bogs, and power drops during highway merges and turns. Multiple owners took vehicles to dealerships and independent mechanics who couldn't isolate the cause. One owner had the entire cylinder head replaced for a leaking valve; the same misfire code returned within a day. Lifter and valve train noise is another major theme, with one owner reporting his mechanic fixed four identical lifter failures in 2014 Journeys within a single week—a red flag suggesting a design or manufacturing defect in the 3.6L Pentastar engine.
Engine stalling without warning occurs at various mileages and speeds, with no prior warning lights or symptoms. Owners lose all power, steering, and brakes, creating hazardous situations. One vehicle died completely on a highway and required engine replacement with a used 96k-mile unit. Oil issues are consistent too: rapid consumption with no warning light or visible leaks, oil filter housing cracks, and engine-transmission gasket leaks. One vehicle developed an engine fire at 230,000 miles.
Recall 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) was issued but created a new frustration: parts remained unavailable for many months after notification, leaving owners unable to schedule repairs.
Same Dodge Journey engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine misfire and hesitation
Owners report persistent cylinder misfires causing check engine lights, rough idle, hesitation on acceleration, and power loss during merging and turning. Multiple mechanics and dealerships unable to diagnose root cause. Some cases involved leaking valves or defective cylinder heads requiring replacement, yet failures recurred immediately after repair.
When: Consistent throughout ownership; one case at 14,207 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light (multiple cylinder codes including cylinder 3); Hesitation and slow acceleration; Loss of power during highway merges and turns; Rough idle; Engine shaking
Codes mentioned: P0300 (general misfire), P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had entire cylinder head replaced at Champion Dodge (Indianapolis) for leaking valve; same issue recurred within a day. Another had hardware tightened and lifters addressed; problem unresolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) notified to some owners; parts unavailable for many months, delaying repair
Engine stalling without warning
Vehicle suddenly stalls while driving at various speeds with no warning lights or prior symptoms. Engine dies completely or fails to restart initially. Mechanics unable to diagnose cause despite full system checks.
When: Intermittent; mileage ranges 600 to 151,978 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stall with no warning indicators; Complete loss of power and steering; Loss of brakes (power assist); Failure to restart initially; Check engine light in some cases
Codes mentioned: Not found on computer
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had booster check valve replaced; result unknown. Most cases undiagnosed. One engine completely died and was replaced with used 96k-mile engine.
Lifter and valve train noise
Ticking or knocking noise from engine at idle and acceleration. Owners and mechanics identify lifter failure. One owner reports mechanic fixed four other 2014 Journeys with identical lifter issues in one week, suggesting systemic problem with the 3.6L Pentastar engine.
When: Post-warranty; one case at 15,000 miles; another with 167k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking or knocking noise from engine; Noise evident between idle and acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Additives (Seafoam, Lucas High Mileage) ineffective. Camshaft and lifters replacement needed at 15k miles (not performed). At 167k miles, owner determined repair not economically viable.
Excessive oil consumption and engine failure
Engine consumes oil rapidly with no warning light or visible leaks. Owner added over 3 quarts with no alerts. Resulted in internal engine damage, metal shards found in oil filter, engine unable to run correctly.
When: No specific mileage given
Symptoms owners cite: No warning light; No puddles on ground; Harsh clanking and banging from engine; Engine failure
Repairs/costs cited: Metal shards contained within oil filter. Engine failed beyond repair.
Cylinder head failure with oil leak
Left cylinder head failed, causing violent shaking, check engine light, and oil leak under vehicle. Another case diagnosed at dealership but not repaired; failure recurred. Third case noted left cylinder head diagnosis at 100k miles.
When: 100,000 to 230,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking at highway speeds; Check engine light; Oil leak underneath vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed at Courtesy Chrysler Dodge Ram (Mesa, AZ) as left cylinder head failure requiring replacement; not repaired and failure recurred.
Oil filter housing fracture
Oil filter housing cracked, causing oil leak from underneath vehicle. Owner reported engine oil odor before leak became visible.
When: 21,000 miles and 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak underneath vehicle; Engine oil odor
Repairs/costs cited: Oil filter housing replaced at dealership. Repair performed at both reported cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in both cases
Engine fire
Engine caught fire while driving, with black smoke visible under hood. No warning lights illuminated. Driver successfully exited vehicle before fire department arrival. Vehicle deemed total loss by insurance.
When: Approximately 230,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Black smoke from under hood; Engine fire
Repairs/costs cited: Fire deemed recall-related by fire department. Vehicle towed and totaled; not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 15V431000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) notification sent; parts unavailable. Manufacturer made aware of failure.
Engine power loss under load with overheating warning
Vehicle loses power when climbing hills or in traffic with multiple passengers. Check engine light displays 'Oil Extremely Hot, you will lose power' warning. Power loss occurs despite dealership test drive confirming the issue.
When: Mountainous terrain driving
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power on hills with multiple passengers; Sluggish acceleration in traffic; Check engine light with oil temperature warning; Actual power loss after warning
Repairs/costs cited: Service supervisor at Sahara Dodge witnessed issue but did not document findings. Second manager claimed false test drive with Chrysler rep. No repairs made.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership refused to address safety issues and closed service account
Catalytic converter rattling
Catalytic converter develops rattling noise after approximately 2 weeks of normal driving. Initially appeared as popping noise.
When: Early in ownership (2 weeks into use)
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise from catalytic converter area; Rattling sound
Engine gasket leak
Gasket between engine and transmission leaks oil. Vehicle only 4 years old at time of report with regular oil change maintenance.
When: Early life of vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from engine-transmission gasket
Intermittent electrical shutdown
Since ownership, radio and all lights intermittently turn off and come back on while driving. Progressed to complete engine failure.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership; culminated in engine shutdown at 600 miles on newer engine after replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Radio and all lights shutting off intermittently; Lights and radio restoring power; Check engine light; Horrible engine noise before stall; Complete engine shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replaced with 96k-mile used engine; issue unresolved with replacement unit
Synthesized from 51 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Appears that the gasket between the engine and transmission is leaking oil. This vehicle is only 4 years old. I still owe alot of money on this vehicle and have changed the oil on a regular basis. Now this !!!! Not right !!!!
Had engine trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Dodge Journey?
It's a meaningful issue. 51 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 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 14,000 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 59,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 105,000. 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/2014/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.