The 2020 Dodge Journey is essentially a 2009 design that Dodge kept alive far too long. It's plagued by transmission failures, oil consumption issues on the 2.4L, and a tendency toward catastrophic engine damage when maintenance lapses.
Automatic Transmission Failure (62TE)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh 2-3 or 3-4 shifts, especially when cold, Slipping under acceleration or complete loss of forward gears, Whining noise from transmission area, Check engine light with P0732 (gear ratio incorrect) or P0871 codes
Fix: The 62TE transmission behind both engines has weak clutch packs and the solenoid block fails. Rebuilds run 12-16 hours labor, reman units about 8-10 hours to swap. Oil cooler replacement is mandatory during any trans work because they leak internally and contaminate fluid.
Estimated cost: $3,200-5,500
2.4L Tigershark Engine Oil Consumption and Bearing Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles even with no visible leaks, Knocking or ticking noise from bottom end, especially cold starts, Check engine light with low oil pressure codes, Catastrophic engine failure if oil level drops unnoticed
Fix: The 2.4L World Engine has porous cylinder walls and weak piston rings that let oil slip past. Once rod bearings start knocking from oil starvation, you're looking at short block replacement or full rebuild. 18-24 hours labor for engine R&R and rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
3.6L Pentastar Rocker Arm and Lifter Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud ticking or tapping from valve covers, left bank most common, Check engine light with multiple misfire codes, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Rough idle and loss of power
Fix: Rocker arms wear through and drop valves or damage cam lobes. Requires cylinder head removal to replace rockers, lifters, and often the camshaft. 14-18 hours per bank, both banks if metal contaminated the oil system. Sometimes need head resurfacing if valve damage occurred.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Internal Leak
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid mixing with coolant (milky pink fluid in overflow), Engine overheating with no obvious coolant leak, Transmission overheating or erratic shifts, Loss of coolant with no visible external leak
Fix: The factory transmission cooler integrated into the radiator develops internal cracks. Coolant and ATF cross-contaminate, destroying the transmission if not caught early. Requires radiator replacement plus full transmission fluid flush. 3-4 hours labor if caught before trans damage.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
EVAP System and Fuel Tank Leaks
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0442, P0456 (small EVAP leak), Strong fuel smell after filling tank, Difficulty filling tank (pump clicks off repeatedly), Fuel gauge reading erratically
Fix: Fuel tank vent valves stick and the filler neck develops cracks. Also see fuel pump module leaks at the tank seal. Tank drop required for diagnosis and repair, 2-3 hours labor. Sometimes need full tank replacement if plastic is cracked.
Estimated cost: $400-1,400
Engine and Transmission Mount Failures
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive engine movement visible during acceleration/deceleration, Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Vibration at idle that smooths out at higher RPM, Shudder during hard acceleration
Fix: Hydraulic mounts fail and cause drivetrain movement that stresses CV axles and transmission linkage. Front torque mount is most common, but right side and trans mount also fail. 2-3 hours to replace all three if done together.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Backup Camera Failure
Occasional · low severitySymptoms: Blank screen or 'camera unavailable' message when in reverse, Intermittent camera operation, works when cold but fails when hot, Distorted or flickering image, Water condensation visible inside camera lens
Fix: The liftgate-mounted camera develops internal moisture issues and the wiring harness chafes at the hinge point. Subject to recall but failures continue post-recall. Camera replacement is 1 hour, but diagnosing intermittent wiring can add time.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Hard pass unless under $5,000 with full service records — this platform was obsolete when new and the drivetrain reliability is abysmal compared to any competitor.
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.