The 2019 Journey is essentially a facelifted 2009 platform with decade-old mechanicals. The 62TE transmission and 3.6L Pentastar are your primary concerns, with early catastrophic failures appearing surprisingly often on what should be a nearly-new vehicle.
62TE Transmission Failure (3.6L V6 models)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh 2-3 or 3-4 shifts with flaring RPM, Shuddering during light acceleration around 35-45 mph, Delayed engagement from Park to Drive (5+ seconds), Transmission overheating warning light with burnt fluid smell
Fix: Internal clutch pack failure, solenoid body issues, or valve body scoring. Transmission oil cooler frequently fails simultaneously, contaminating fluid. Rebuild requires 12-16 hours; most shops recommend reman unit. Replace cooler regardless or you'll be back in 6 months.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,200
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · high severityTypical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink or red coolant in overflow tank (classic trans fluid mixing), Transmission slipping or delayed shifts after warmup, Overheating transmission and engine simultaneously, Milky strawberry-milkshake colored transmission fluid on dipstick
Fix: Factory cooler integrated into radiator fails internally, cross-contaminating coolant and ATF. This destroys the transmission if not caught immediately. Requires 4-5 hours: drain both systems, flush transmission lines, new radiator, fresh fluids. If milkshake fluid is present, transmission damage is likely already done.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
3.6L Pentastar Left Cylinder Head Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Cylinder 1 or 5 misfire codes (P0301, P0305) that return after plug/coil replacement, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, White smoke on cold start that clears up, Rough idle that worsens progressively
Fix: Left head (driver side) cracks between valve seats or develops valve seat recession, especially cylinder 1. Requires head removal, crack testing, and resurfacing or replacement. Parts alone run $1,200-1,800. Labor is 14-18 hours because of tight engine bay. Both heads often done preventively once one fails.
Estimated cost: $3,200-5,500
2.4L Tigershark Engine Oil Consumption
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 25,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Low oil warning light between 3,000-5,000 mile oil changes, Consuming 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, Blue smoke on deceleration or startup, Fouled spark plugs on cylinder 2 and 3
Fix: Piston ring design flaw causes excessive oil burning. Chrysler had extended warranty coverage through 2020 (now expired). Proper fix is new pistons and rings — 18-22 hours labor. Most owners just add oil every 1,000 miles and trade it in. Valve stem seals are secondary contributor.
Estimated cost: $3,800-5,200
EVAP System / Fuel Tank Filler Neck Issues
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: P0456 or P0457 codes (small/large EVAP leak), Fuel pump clicking but tank won't fill normally, Check engine light after refueling, Fuel smell near rear wheel well
Fix: Filler neck rubber hose cracks or EVAP canister purge valve sticks. Diagnosis takes 1-2 hours with smoke test. Filler neck replacement is 2-3 hours, purge valve is 0.8 hours. Charcoal canister itself occasionally saturates from overfilling — that's 2.5 hours and $400 in parts.
Estimated cost: $300-900
Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Steering wheel off-center after hitting potholes, Inner tire edge wear on front tires, Wandering steering on highway
Fix: Front lower control arm bushings separate or tear. Chrysler doesn't sell bushings separately — full control arm assemblies required both sides. 2.5-3.5 hours labor plus alignment. Do both sides and both transmission mounts at same time if you're in there.
Estimated cost: $650-1,100
TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Faults
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Fuel pump not priming intermittently (crank/no-start), Wipers or windows operating on their own, Multiple warning lights with no stored codes, Horn honking randomly or headlights flashing while parked
Fix: Internal relay failures in the TIPM (fuse/relay box under hood). Chrysler updated part numbers multiple times but issues persist. Requires 1.5-2 hours for replacement and programming. Used units from salvage cause same problems — must be new or remanufactured with updated internals.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Buy only if under $8,000 and you have $3,000 set aside for transmission work — this platform was outdated when new and the powertrain proves it.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.