2013 Dodge Journey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the driver or passenger active headrest deploying on its own, sometimes while parked and sometimes while driving, and it is the single most repeated complaint in the sample. A second common theme is electrical trouble that shows up as stalling, warning lights, and start or charging problems, along with ABS/ESC warning lamps and brake issues reported from fairly low mileage up through high mileage. Many complaints come in between roughly 70,000 and 120,000 miles, though some are filed on vehicles with far fewer or far more.

1. 1
   Seats

   Active headrest deploys on its own

   • 66 complaints (19%)
   • median 87,500 mi at 7.3 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe the front headrest popping open with a loud noise and striking the back of the head, sometimes while the vehicle is parked and sometimes while driving. Several say the plastic retainers that hold the locking pin are broken, and that the headrest cannot be reset and must be replaced. According to the complaints, dealers have quoted a replacement cost or said the repair was not covered, and some owners mention an extended warranty program for the headrest. Reported from about 44,000 to 183,000 miles, at parking, at stop lights, and while driving at ordinary speeds.

   What to check: Check both front headrests for broken retainers or any sign they have already deployed, and ask whether the headrest warranty extension for inadvertent deployment was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was waiting for my son to get out of practice. The car was off and I was smacked very hard in the head from behind. I looked back to see the the headrest had popped out. After researching the issue, I thought it needed reset. Bit after looking at it, the plastic connection points of the pin had actually broke and the headrest cannot be reset but now needs to be replaced at a crazy price.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342723, filed 2020-08, 44,000 miles

   “I was driving and out of no where my drivers side headrest popped, I didn't hit the brakes hard nor was I in any accidents. It pushed my head forward hard, I thought someone had hit me or the car seat got unlatched and hit the seat. I was driving down a two lane road no vehicles around me.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325515, filed 2020-05, 112,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and ESC warning lights, brake pedal trouble

   • 78 complaints (22%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report ABS, traction control, and stability warning lights coming on, sometimes with the brake pedal feeling stiff or traveling to the floor and requiring pumping to stop. Several say a mechanic diagnosed a failed ABS module, and some note the vehicle was not included in a related recall. Others describe the pedal and steering stiffening until the warning lights cycle. Reported from about 54,000 to 155,000 miles, at various speeds and sometimes after driving through slush or snow.

   Recall 15V675000

   What to check: Check that no ABS or ESC lamps stay lit after start-up, ask whether the ABS module has been replaced or the recall repair performed, and test the brake pedal feel on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brakes aren't catching at times almost have several accidents on the highway and city streets when I step on brakes I have to keep pumping them to stop .. Then when I try start car it says key aren't located even while driving”

   NHTSA complaint #11141659, filed 2018-10, 16,390 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that the ABS and stabilitrak warning indicators illuminated. While driving various speeds, both warning indicators turned off and the brake pedal and steering wheel stiffened. The brake pedal and steering wheel remained stiff until the warning indicators illuminated again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11287237, filed 2019-12, 140,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 37 complaints (10%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at highway and city speeds, with dash lights and gauges flickering or the vehicle failing to restart right away. Some owners were told a battery was at fault, and in other cases dealers replaced or disconnected modules or found sensor and throttle-body codes. Several reports note the vehicle dying again after a repair. Mostly reported between roughly 54,000 and 165,000 miles, at various speeds including highway driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling has been diagnosed and what was replaced, and have a mechanic check for stored codes and the condition of the battery and charging system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was in motion when it all of a sudden jumped and the audio went off as well as the lights to the dash my car shut off and wouldn't turn back on. Believed to be the alternator. The car never had any other signs prior to this. I only was in motion for about 2 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328229, filed 2020-06, 2 miles

   “My car stalled on me while driving. The first time (2014) it happened I was making a turn on a city street. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong with it while under warranty. It just stalled while driving last week for a second time. I was waiting on a light on a city street. My car was completely dead I couldn't put the hazard lights on. I was in the middle of a school zone. I tried starting it and nothing. Two gentlemen had to push my car out of traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407541, filed 2021-04, 54,000 miles
4. 4
   Electronic stability control

   Power steering assist drops out

   • 20 complaints (6%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2022

   Complaints describe the power steering assist cutting out, sometimes returning immediately and sometimes leaving heavy steering effort, with one owner reporting the vehicle pulling sharply to the left. One owner found a recall for the power steering hose but was told the vehicle was not covered. Others mention the steering wheel stiffening along with warning lights. Reported from about 74,000 to 164,000 miles, at highway and city speeds and while turning.

   Recall 16V273000

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering return hose recall was completed for this vehicle, and check for any stiffness or assist loss while turning at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the road all the sudden my check engine light turned on in my steering locked up. I pulled to a middle lane since it was in a very busy road and shut my car off and tried to turn it back on and it started shaking. Again turn the car off let it sit for a little bit try to turn it on and it started shaking again. Try to third time I was able to drive it home the steering wheel unlocked and drove it home fine but the check engine light was on the whole time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351942, filed 2020-08, 57,500 miles

   “My whole steering column is causing problems from airbags, my wipers not working now, speed-control wont work., traction control . Causing my car to swerve out of control and causing my car to almost rollover as it went into oncoming traffic, I keep having to change my tires including the back tires the most.the car was in motion when this happened.the light is on the dash, but no one will fix it, I have a son who is 14 years old I bought the car because I thought it would be dependable. My son has to have a live and kidney transplant. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349045, filed 2020-08, 85,968 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, jerking, and loss of power

   • 48 complaints (14%)
   • median 69,592 mi at 6.1 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe jerking, hesitation, and clicking or noise from the transmission, with some reporting the vehicle losing power or failing to shift into drive. A few say a mechanic could not duplicate the noise, and one report describes a broken flex plate between the engine and transmission found by a dealer. Others mention repeated transmission repairs over several years. Reported from very low mileage on new vehicles up to about 152,000 miles, at city and highway speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test for shudder or delayed engagement during a test drive, and ask whether the transmission has been serviced or replaced and whether any related service bulletin work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There are 2 different problems I have been dealing with since day one of owning my Dodge Journey. The first being electrical, my clock runs fast because of the power flow to it. I have 2 power outlets in my car that do not work properly and 1 of them the dealership in florida messed up to fix one of the electrical problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11316946, filed 2020-03, 84,000 miles

   “While driving 75mph on the highway the car suddenly lost power, losing all gas pedal function. I had my children in the vehicle and was driving in heavy traffic. This is a huge safety issue! After getting pulled over, once the car was turned off it would no longer restart. The car would not even go into neutral without using the bypass switch, which is how we got it on the tow truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11339501, filed 2020-07, 110,000 miles

Buying note. These complaints center on the active headrests, stalling and electrical behavior, ABS/ESC warnings, and steering assist, so check those items directly and confirm which recalls and warranty extensions have been completed for the specific vehicle. A pre-purchase inspection with a scan for stored codes is worthwhile given how often owners describe intermittent faults.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.