2010 Dodge Journey

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
18–21 mpgcombined; city 15–19, highway 23–25; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$15,470–$18,050U.S. average; Ohio $13,820–$16,120 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
4over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
1,085filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2010 Journey. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 1,085 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Journey. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system653480
Engine178330
Unknown or other126316
Service brakes116111
Air bags95818
Steering83110
Power train53021
Electronic stability control (ESC)49000
Exterior lighting42010
Service brakes, hydraulic40100
Vehicle speed control29100
Engine and engine cooling26142
19 more parts
Seats24005
Suspension16100
Visibility/wiper16000
Wheels15010
Tires13000
Fuel/propulsion system10000
Structure7302
Visibility6000
Equipment4000
Equipment adaptive/mobility4000
Service brakes, air4000
Forward collision avoidance3000
Latches/locks/linkages3000
Seat belts2000
Traction control system2000
Back over prevention1000
Fuel system, gasoline1010
Fuel system, other1000
Interior lighting1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 20091,594
  2. 20101,085
  3. 2011169
  4. 2012376
  5. 2013353
  6. 2014416
  7. 2015553
  8. 2016388
  9. 2017199
  10. 2018236
  11. 2019102
  12. 202066

Every Journey year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2010 Journey over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Steering: hydraulic power assist

NHTSA campaign 16V273000 · reported May 6, 2016 · 8,569 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags; Electrical system: ignition

NHTSA campaign 14V373000 · reported Jun 26, 2014 · 722,705 vehicles potentially affected

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured June 29, 2007, to June 17, 2010, and 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, to June 17, 2010. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R03. Note: This is an expansion of recall 11V-139.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: ignition

NHTSA campaign 11V139000 · reported Mar 1, 2011 · 195,798 vehicles potentially affected

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 DODGE JOURNEY, GRAND CARAVAN, AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURER FROM AUGUST 3, 2009, THROUGH JUNE 17, 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT IGNITION KEY DISPLACEMENT FROM THE RUN TO ACCESSORY POSITION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF.

Risk: ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIN MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA's record and documents

Steering: electric power assist system

NHTSA campaign 10V475000 · reported Oct 7, 2010 · 23,237 vehicles potentially affected

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING, 300, CHARGER (LX) AND DODGE CHALLENGER (LC), AVENGER (JS), AND JOURNEY (JC), AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2011 DODGE RAM LIGHT DUTY PICKUP (DS) VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SEPARATION AT THE CRIMPED END OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Risk: LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 54 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2010 Journey, the latest on Jul 28, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (17), seats (12), electrical system (8), power train (8), structure (7).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA24003
Vehicle entrapment
Latches/locks/linkagesAug 1, 2024Open
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE19014
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment · covers 4 makes
SeatsSep 9, 2019Closed Feb 25, 2026
NHTSA's record and documents
Defect petition DP14004
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure · covers 4 makes
Electrical systemSep 25, 2014Closed Jul 24, 2015
NHTSA's summary names recall 14V530000, 15V115000
NHTSA's record and documents
Recall query RQ14002
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall · covers 2 makes
Air bagsJun 16, 2014Closed Mar 2, 2015
NHTSA's summary names recall 11V139000, 14V047000, 14V373000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2010 Journey.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2010 Dodge Journeys for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Journey
Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic 4-spdRegular Gasoline19 / 25 / 21
Journey
Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline16 / 24 / 19
Journey
All-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 23 / 18

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data