The 2015 Dodge Journey is a budget crossover built on an aging platform with known weak points in the powertrain and TIPM electrical module. The 62TE six-speed automatic transmission and 2.4L four-cylinder are the primary concern areas, with major failures often totaling more than the vehicle's worth.
62TE Six-Speed Automatic Transmission Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh or delayed shifts between 2nd-3rd or 3rd-4th gears, Shuddering during light acceleration around 40-50 mph, Transmission slipping or refusing to engage reverse, Metal shavings in pan during fluid service
Fix: Solenoid pack replacement buys time (4-6 hours labor) but usually full rebuild or replacement is needed within 20k miles. Remanufactured unit swap is 8-10 hours, internal rebuild is 12-16 hours. Cooler lines frequently leak at crimps and accelerate failure if ignored.
Estimated cost: $3,200-5,800
2.4L World Engine Oil Consumption and Piston Ring Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart of oil every 1,000-1,500 miles, Blue smoke on cold start or under load, Low oil pressure warning at idle when hot, Misfires on cylinders 2 and 3 most commonly
Fix: Caused by piston ring land collapse and scoring. Oil consumption usually starts moderate then accelerates. Engine rebuild with updated pistons is 18-24 hours, or used/reman engine swap is 14-18 hours. Many owners run these on synthetic oil top-ups until catastrophic failure.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,200
TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Fuel pump not priming, no-start condition, Wipers or horn activating randomly, Gauges flickering or going dark intermittently, ABS and traction control lights with no stored codes
Fix: The TIPM controls most electrical functions and fails due to internal corrosion or relay burnout. No repair possible, replacement only. Located in engine bay, 2-3 hours labor. Must be programmed to VIN at dealer or with capable scan tool. Aftermarket units exist but quality varies widely.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
3.6L Pentastar Cylinder Head and Rocker Arm Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking noise from left cylinder head that worsens when warm, Check engine light with P0300 series misfire codes, Metal debris in oil, glitter on dipstick, Loss of power and rough idle
Fix: Left-side rocker arms fail due to inadequate lubrication at startup. Damaged rockers score cam lobes and require head removal. Left head R&R is 10-13 hours, both heads if cam damage spread is 18-22 hours. TSB updates exist but many outside warranty window.
Estimated cost: $2,800-5,500
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Deterioration
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Steering wander and poor return to center, Uneven inner tire wear, Vibration through steering wheel at highway speed
Fix: Rear control arm bushings fail first, usually both sides simultaneously. Arms not sold separately from bushings by OEM. Aftermarket pressed bushings available but labor intensive. Full arm replacement is 2.5-3.5 hours per side, includes alignment.
Estimated cost: $650-1,100
Evaporative Emissions Purge Valve and Leak Detection Pump Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0455 or P0456 large/small EVAP leak codes, Difficulty fueling, pump clicks off repeatedly, Hissing from engine bay after shutdown, Occasional rough idle when hot
Fix: Purge valve sticks open causing rough idle and failed emissions tests. Leak detection pump diaphragm cracks. Smoke test usually required to verify. Purge valve is 0.5 hours, pump is 1.5 hours (behind left front wheel liner). Often both needed.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Water Pump Failure (3.6L V6)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant leak from timing cover area, Whining or grinding noise from front of engine, Overheating in traffic or under load, Pink residue on lower timing cover
Fix: Water pump driven by timing chain on 3.6L, requires front cover removal. 6-8 hours labor. Timing chains should be inspected while in there, adding 2-3 hours if replacement needed. Thermostat housing also prone to cracking, replace simultaneously.
Estimated cost: $1,100-2,200
Owner tips
Check transmission fluid condition every 30k miles regardless of 'lifetime fill' claim—dark or burnt fluid means imminent failure
On 2.4L engines, monitor oil consumption religiously from 50k miles onward and consider switching to 5W-30 synthetic
TIPM issues often start intermittently—if you see random electrical gremlins, budget for replacement before getting stranded
Inspect control arm bushings during every brake job—catching them early saves tires and alignment costs
Hard pass unless under $6,000 with full service records and recent transmission service—too many expensive failure points for a depreciated vehicle.
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.
Fitment notes: Standard top post battery; located under hood on driver side
As an Amazon Associate, OLP earns from qualifying purchases — how we link. This never changes the specs we publish.
Every control module on the 2011-2020 Dodge Journey — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Electric Power Steering Module (EPS)2.5 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.5 hr▸ programming details
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 17V432000
2017-07-07
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
Consequence: Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T47.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS · 16V273000
2016-05-06
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return hoses, steel tubes, and power steering oil cooler, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S08.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · 15V675000
2015-10-19
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Consequence: If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · 15V431000
2015-07-07
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 19, 2010, to May 26, 2015 and equipped with 2.4L engines. In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold.
Consequence: If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R32.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 14V711000
2014-11-07
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured October 25, 2013, to August 22, 2014. The affected vehicles may be equipped with tire placard labels which contain inaccurate seating capacity and occupant/cargo combined weight information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: With inaccurate information on the tire placard, the operator may overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a correct tire placard label, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P70.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2015 Dodge Journey 2.4L I4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.