The 2017 Journey is essentially a carryover of FCA's aging JC platform with known weak points in the transmission cooling system, engine oiling issues on the 2.4L, and electrical gremlins. It's the last generation of a crossover that overstayed its welcome, so parts availability remains decent but fundamental design flaws persist.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (All Engines)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid mixing with coolant (strawberry milkshake appearance in overflow tank), Erratic shifting or slipping, Transmission overheating warnings, Check engine light with transmission-related codes
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler assembly, flush cooling system completely, replace transmission fluid and filter. If contamination occurred, transmission rebuild or replacement is often required within 5,000-10,000 miles. Labor alone is 3-5 hours for just the cooler, 12-18 hours if the transmission needs internal work.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 for cooler only; $2,800-4,500 if transmission contamination requires rebuild
2.4L Tigershark Engine Oil Consumption and Bearing Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse), Engine knock or rattling on cold start, Check engine light with misfire codes, Complete engine seizure if oil runs critically low
Fix: Root cause is piston ring design and inadequate oil flow to connecting rod bearings. Fix requires complete engine rebuild or replacement with updated pistons and rings. Some owners limp along adding oil religiously, but bearing failure leads to catastrophic damage. Engine R&R with rebuild is 16-22 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000 for remanufactured engine installed; $5,500-8,500 for rebuild with updated internals
Alternator and Wiring Harness Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Battery warning light intermittent or constant, Electrical accessories cutting in and out, No-start condition despite good battery, Burnt smell near engine bay, melted wiring insulation
Fix: Alternator failures are typical for mileage, but corroded or undersized wiring connections cause repeat failures. Inspect and repair/replace affected harness sections when doing alternator. Budget 2-3 hours labor for alternator, add 1-2 hours if harness repair needed.
Estimated cost: $450-750 for alternator; $650-1,000 if wiring harness sections require replacement
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle, especially with A/C on, Visible engine/transmission sag when inspected on lift, Harsh engagement into gear
Fix: The lower transmission mount is hydraulic-filled and fails predictably. Replacement requires supporting the transmission and is straightforward but labor-intensive. Plan on 2-3 hours shop time. Inspect all motor mounts while you're in there—they often fail as a set on these.
Estimated cost: $350-550 for transmission mount; $700-1,100 if replacing multiple motor mounts simultaneously
3.6L V6 Rocker Arm and Valve Train Noise
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise from engine, especially on cold start, Check engine light with cylinder misfire codes, Loss of power or rough idle, Noise persists after oil change with correct grade
Fix: Pentastar 3.6L can develop rocker arm wear or lifter failure, sometimes traced to oil contamination or extended drain intervals. Requires cylinder head removal to replace rocker arms and inspect cam lobes. Can escalate to full head resurfacing if wear is severe. Budget 8-12 hours labor per head.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800 for rocker arms and related valve train parts one head; $3,200-4,800 if both heads require work
Fuel System Clogging and Filter Issues
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: Rough idle or hesitation under acceleration, Check engine light with fuel trim or lean codes, Hard starting after sitting overnight, Intermittent loss of power
Fix: Journey uses an in-tank fuel filter that's not on a regular service interval. Contamination or debris buildup causes running issues. Requires dropping the fuel tank and replacing the fuel pump module assembly. Labor is 3-4 hours.
Estimated cost: $550-850 including pump module and labor
Owner tips
Check transmission fluid color religiously every oil change—pink/red is good, brown or milky means cooler is failing
If you have the 2.4L, monitor oil level every 500-1,000 miles and keep consumption records for warranty or trade-in documentation
Replace engine and transmission mounts as a set around 80,000 miles to avoid domino failures
Use full synthetic oil and don't stretch intervals beyond 5,000 miles on the 2.4L or 6,000 on the 3.6L
Budget for a transmission cooler replacement preemptively around 70,000-80,000 miles if you plan to keep the vehicle long-term
Buy only if dirt cheap and you're handy with a wrench—the 2.4L is a grenade with a timer, and the transmission cooler issue affects all engines. The V6 models are more tolerable but still plagued by the cooling system flaw. Pass unless under $8,000 and you have a Plan B for transportation.
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 in front engine compartment
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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 2017-2018 Dodge Journey vehicles. The amber side reflex reflector assembled into the headlamp may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: A dim reflector may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z99.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 18V332000
2018-05-17
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.
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 2017 Dodge Journey 3.6L V6 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.