Engine Oil Leak
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Dodge Journey engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Dodge Journey have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the engine 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 →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Journey | 51 |
| 2015 Journey | 66 |
| 2016 Journey | 53 |
| 2017 Journey | 19 |
| 2018 Journey (this page) | 13 |
| 2019 Journey | 3 |
| 2020 Journey | 5 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 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 ↗Suspected engine coolant leak.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 Dodge Journey report a cluster of engine-related failures that disable the vehicle during normal driving. The most common complaint is unplanned engine shutdown at various speeds and conditions—flat roads, hills, curves—without warning. The vehicle may roll backward on inclines and lose power steering and brakes. Check engine and traction control lights illuminate, but dealers and independent mechanics cannot consistently diagnose the root cause; repairs attempted on electrical systems, ignition coils, spark plugs, fuel delivery, and transmission have failed to prevent recurrence. One owner reports the vehicle was driven for months with repeated failures and identical repairs every two to three months.
Cylinder misfire emerges as a distinct second failure pattern. Owners report persistent misfire codes despite replacement of spark plugs and ignition coils. One owner notes Dodge issued TSB-09-002-14 in 2011 for the same 3.6L engine and identical defect in earlier model years, which included warranty extension, but Dodge refuses to apply that bulletin to 2018 models. One case involved a fuel injector exploding and spraying raw gas; another describes a transmission failure with catastrophic metal shedding inside the torque converter. A head gasket failure at 65,000 miles produced white exhaust smoke and a persistent coolant warning that remained after gasket replacement. None of these failures triggered early recall action, creating significant safety exposure on hills and curves where loss of steering and braking power can be fatal.
Same Dodge Journey engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Unplanned engine shutdown while driving
Engine shuts off suddenly and without warning during normal driving at various speeds, on flat roads, hills, and curves. Vehicle may or may not restart immediately. Multiple diagnostic attempts by dealers and independent shops fail to identify root cause or provide lasting repair.
When: Varies from 11,005 miles to 120,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off without warning; Vehicle rolls back on hills when engine dies; Loss of power steering and braking when engine shuts down; Check engine light and traction control light illuminate; Vehicle may restart after neutral/push-start attempt or may fail to restart; Symptom recurs despite multiple repair attempts
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light (specific codes not provided in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and independent mechanics unable to diagnose; attempted repairs to electrical system, oil service, spark plugs, alternator, battery, engine coils, oil housing, and engine gaskets have not resolved issue. One dealer diagnosed need for timing chain, camshaft, and engine replacement at 120,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted in at least one case and advised additional diagnostic testing; no recalls or TSBs specific to this failure pattern mentioned for 2018 model.
Cylinder misfire
One or more cylinders misfiring persistently despite replacement of ignition and fuel delivery components. Owners report Dodge issued TSB-09-002-14 for earlier model years (2011-2013) with the same 3.6L engine and identical defect, but Dodge refuses warranty coverage on 2018 model.
When: Low mileage noted in narratives; one example with new tune-up in March still misfiring
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Cylinder 2 misfire code recurring; Vehicle shaking and puttering while driving; Loss of power when accelerating; Misfire persists after coil and spark plug replacement
Codes mentioned: Cylinder 2 misfire code (specific code number not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced spark plugs and ignition coils; failure recurred. Other owners report fuel injector explosion in at least one case. TSB-09-002-14 addressed same 3.6L engine defect in 2011-2013 models but Dodge denies coverage for 2018.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge issued TSB-09-002-14 for 2011-2013 model years with warranty extension for cylinder leak/misfire on 3.6L engine; explicitly refuses to apply to 2018 model despite identical engine and failure mode.
Fuel injector failure
Fuel injector exploded, spraying raw gasoline into engine. Vehicle began shaking and puttering on freeway, lost power on acceleration, then shut down completely at dealership entrance.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle struggling for power on freeway; Shaking and puttering at stoplight; Delayed response to accelerator; Sudden engine shutdown; Raw gasoline spraying into engine
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injector was exploded and had to be replaced; vehicle awaiting parts at time of complaint.
Head gasket failure with persistent coolant warning
Head gasket found defective at 65,000 miles. Replacement did not resolve ongoing 'Coolant Low' warning message despite coolant reservoir being full. White exhaust smoke present, indicating coolant entering combustion chamber.
When: 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle would not start immediately; White exhaust smoke from vehicle; Coolant Low warning message displayed despite full reservoir; Warning message persists after head gasket replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replaced by dealer; coolant warning persisted. Cause of continued warning not determined.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of failure.
Transmission slippage and metal damage
Transmission shuddered, made metal clanging noises, and stalled in intersection. After stalling, vehicle would not go into reverse or drive properly. Full transmission replacement required due to torque converter shredding internal metal and seizing.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering while driving; Metal clanging noises from transmission; Vehicle stalls in intersection; Will not shift into reverse or drive smoothly; Loud metal clanging when attempting to shift; Vehicle shuts down when in gear; No warning lights on dashboard despite failure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement required; torque converter shredded metal inside transmission and seized. Cost approximately $4,000.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Engine shuts off without warning. Driving and all of sudden, engine stops, drop vehicle in neutral and push start and it starts right back. I have been on curvy road, going up steep hill and also on perfectly level road, makes no difference, happens without warning. Dangerous because on hill started rolling back...can't steer on curvy road unless engine running...please check into this before…
Had engine trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Dodge Journey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 52,751 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2018/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.