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EnginePart report

2020 Dodge Journey Engine Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
12%of 66 total for the year
Median mileage
57,800miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the engine of the 2020 Dodge Journey, 12% of the 66 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 57,800 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.

“The thermostat and housing failed at 57,000 miles, less than 5 years of owning the vehicle. Not available for inspection as it is being replaced as I'm typing this. The problem was reproduced by the shop who is repairing the thermostat. There were no warnings or messages, the car started overheating severely one day and I brought it to the shop. This all started 3 days ago.”

NHTSA complaint #11652276, filed 2025-04

“I purchased my 2020 in April of 2021 brand new. When I’m driving my SUV, it will stall and not pick up speed, but my RPM still rise. Both of my front headlights fog all the time and have been replaced multiple times. The fog makes the lightbulbs blow and they have been replaced multiple times. The back up camera is turns upside down stops working when it wants to goes black and also has a green light. It was replaced by the dealership and started doing the same things again after one month. There is also an issue with my radio. …”

NHTSA complaint #11664096, filed 2025-05

“I am filing this complaint to report a repeated safety-related defect involving the engine thermostat in my 2020 Dodge Journey and to formally request an investigation by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The thermostat in this vehicle has failed twice, despite being replaced after the initial failure. The recurrence of the same failure in a critical engine temperature control component indicates a potential design or manufacturing defect, not normal wear or improper maintenance. Each thermostat failure resulted in abnormal engine temperature behavior and warning indicators. …”

NHTSA complaint #11714270, filed 2026-01

“Driving on highway 26 at 70 miles in Newberry, SC, the truck hesitated and cut of stalled, was able to get it of the road before it died, push the button to try to start, Engine light came on and dashboard went out, steam coming from the hood, got the children out of the car, on the side of the road, open the hood, fluid everywhere, with no warning lights, truck ran hot, and messed the engine up in the truck, me and my daughter and grandchildren could have gotten hurt in that truck if another car had hit us in that road, the truck just cut of No warning lights or nothing, this problem needs…”

NHTSA complaint #11704116, filed 2025-12

“Driving on highway and my car started to lose power. When I pulled over and cut it off it wouldn't come on was making a sound as if it was trying to turn on. The engine light came on and a symbol that looked like a lighting bolt in-between two parentheses came on. I sat for 20 mins after trying numerous of times to turn it on and after calling a tow truck. Eventually it came on and I was able to get home but as I was driving the rmp kept going high and the it was making noises. I got home and looked up the symbol and it said it's the electric throttle. …”

NHTSA complaint #11436484, filed 2021-10

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2020812%
201999%
20183113%
20174422%
201611429%
201513524%
20149824%
20137220%
20129726%
20112917%
201016417%
200914910%

Other parts of the 2020 Dodge Journey

Electrical system
20 complaints
Other or unknown
19 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
14 complaints
Exterior lighting
5 complaints
Brakes
4 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
3 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
Air bags
2 complaints
Seat belts
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Dodge Journey

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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