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Exterior lightingPart report

2012 Dodge Journey Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
12about this part
Share
3%of 377 total for the year
Median mileage
80,295miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Dodge Journey, 3% of the 377 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,295 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving down the highway with my two kids when I had turned my bright lights on then off again as cars were coming when the windshield wipers turned on. They will not turn off, the high beams won't turn on and my blinkers do not work as well. Everytime I start the vehicle the windshield wipers turn on and cannot be turned off again. Everything in the switch that controls all of these features is useless and a huge safety issue. Luckily we were not hit turning off the highway headed home.”

NHTSA complaint #11328791, filed 2020-06, 163,000 miles

“My truck first started with my drivers side taillight going out. It don't work when my lights are off, but when my light out on it works prefect fine. When I first notice this was when I went to get in my car during the day and my neighbors who was parked behind me told me my taillight was out and was the LED taillight. I believe there is as electrical issues there. And secondly, my airbag light come on. The vehicle was on a city street and all I did was turning a corner and it came on and still on. …”

NHTSA complaint #11302585, filed 2020-01, 105,441 miles

“My 2012 Dodge Journey rear windshield wiper is acting up. It won't start unless the wiper switch is off and the car is in reverse. It will not work if I have the switch on. Also, I have one tail light that's bothersome. If I open any of my doors, all of the tail lights work. When I turn my lights on, one of my tail lights appears to be out along with my license plate lights. I'm not sure what could be causing these problems.”

NHTSA complaint #10610679, filed 2014-07, 30,000 miles

“When opening the back hatch, all the doors will randomly lock or unlock. The hatch light does not work. The rear window, back hatch, wiper cleaner will not work. Attached is a picture of the wiring harness for the back hatch. All the wires have been cut just from regular opening and closing of the hatch due to the fact where it is located and that when the hatch is closed it bends all that wiring in half. As you can see from the picture at least 5 are completely broken and many more are almost completely cut.”

NHTSA complaint #11174288, filed 2019-02, 60,000 miles

“This issue occurred regardless if the car was in motion or stationary. It also occurred if the motor was turned on or not. The license plate light was out, but it was not a bulb issue. The center rear brake light (on the tailgate) was out, but it was not a bulb issue. This is a safety issue. The tailgate wiper would not return to the home position when turned off. It would remain wherever it was when the switch was turned off. This was a visibility issue. The key-less entry fob would not unlock the car doors. This was not a fob battery issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11192786, filed 2019-03, 80,295 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202058%
201988%
20182711%
201752%
201692%
201551%
201451%
201351%
2012123%
201185%
2010374%
2009121%
2008225%

Other parts of the 2012 Dodge Journey

Electrical system
116 complaints
Brakes
107 complaints
Engine
97 complaints
Other or unknown
52 complaints
Electronic stability control
44 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
36 complaints
Air bags
29 complaints
Steering
23 complaints
Vehicle speed control
20 complaints
Fuel system
15 complaints
Wheels
13 complaints
Seats
10 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Dodge Journey

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology