Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Journey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM quickly increased but the vehicle was only able to reach a maximum speed of approximately 10 MPH, prompting the contact to pull to the shoulder of the roadway where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission and observed metal shavings inside the transmission casing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 124,000.
The electrical is so messed up the battery drains within hours, I have shorts in all aspects of this car(Bluetooth, navigation, clicking relays nonstop, heat goes out intermittently, power switches on doors. I saw my headlights surging in power in the middle of nowhere, they would get bright, then go dim, then a battery icon illuminated on my dashboard before my car downshifted so hard I almost lost control of the car. The dealer replaced my motor mounts and my alternator, after calling to say my battery is bad and then turned around and said it wasn't. Not to mention my brakes locked up in a little rain and I couldn't stop crashing through a wall. Replaced my rear light turning bulb and it exploded with fire when I went to change it. The suspension is horrible and I am pretty sure my cv axles are all broken. Everything keeps breaking. …
My 2012 dodge journey suddenly and violently stalled in the middle of crossing a green light. no check engine lights prior to this only thing that happened a few days before was car wouldn't start said to press clutch and start button I have an automatic engine, and kept saying keys lefts vehicle even though keys where in the car. This was very scary because it gave me no problems before we could have been on the freeway when this happened thankfully not but this needs to be looked into.
The crankshaft position sensor as well as a oil leak from the motor and has intermittent start delays these failures I found on this sight that affects my vehicle make & model year my engine 3.6 when I accelerate the overdrive doesn't engage and i took it to Nyle Maxwell in San Antonio where it's at now I also have the diagnosis that matches what is posted here on this site & 3 open recalls that suggest other years may be affected.
Rear differential viscous coupler. The internal drum to hold the clutch packs together cracked and separated could have caused the rear differential to lock up and is a known issue with these vehicles and there is no parts available to repair other than to replace whole unit from dodge
We've owned this vehiclenot even 4 years. It had an engine recall that it was part of. It says it was repaired, however it never recieved a new engine. Now I just spent $9,000+ to replace the entire engine because of the exact issue of the recall: metal fragments in the engine. Why did I pay for this recall problem? Did dodge replace the engine during the recall? Paperwork says no, but shows it was "repaired". If it was replaced, why did I replace it again for the exact same issue? Dodge has financially ruined our family. Besides this $9k we've spent $6k on engine work before the new engine, $4,500 on transmission work (with more to come as we're currently experiencing transmission issues) and $6k + on all kinds of issues that has never occurred on any vehicles I have owned in the last 30 years. And we've spent all this in under 4 years. This is unacceptable! …
I had a ABS light and ESC light appear, pulled into gas station. Approached the fuel pumps and pressed the brakes and slid on the icy pavement (snowy michigan) into the gas pump protectors made of concrete. Couldn't control the vehicle @~8mph slightly turned approaching a gas pump on wet/icy concrete.
I was driving on the highway when my husband and I smelt a burning oil like smell which we thought was the car in front of us. Nothing on the dash indicated any issues. We arrived home and noticed it was our car that the smell was coming from. I parked the car and came out the next morning and noticed a small wet spot under my car, thought nothing of it and left for work. After working all day I came out to find another small wet spot and on the drive home the same smell. Mentioned it to my husband who glanced underneath but couldn't see where the moisture was coming from. Drove my car to work the next day and it started making a low growling noise. Arrived at work and had a mobil mechanic stop and inspect the car where it was determined I had a crack in the transfer case. Parked the car for almost a year while I saved the money for the new transmission I was told I needed. …
Takata recall I was driving home while at a stop light I smelt a burn odor. I was just a 1/4 of a mile from home so I drove it home. Upon parking I noticed there was a small spot under my car forming. About the size of a quarter. Check all my fluids and and nothing was low. The next day it started and ran OK until it was ran for about 15 then once again the smell and now a low growling. I pulled off the road and parked at a gas station. I had a local shop look at my car and they determined my transfer case is broken. I have been having issues with my car when accelerating it would pull sharply to the right when it shifted gears. Was told there was nothing wrong with my car. It shouldn't try and change lanes when you accelerate. I have almost hit the car next to me just by accelerating. I have also been driving along and have my car turn off. …
The brake warning light, ABS warning light and traction control warning lights come on randomly. Sometimes the brakes fail to engage when the ABS light is lit and the vehicle makes a weird noise (sounds like grinding sound). Yesterday my wife was unable to stop at a traffic signal and went through a red light when the brakes would not work. This model and year are under a recall r61 (hhtsa 15V675000) but Chrysler support says our VIN is not covered. Turns out that the manufacture date of our car is about 6 months prior to the reported recall manufacturing dates. This is a dangerous situation that they refuse to even look at or diagnose without charging us to do so. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that our vehicle is exhibiting the exact same problems and symptoms as detailed in the above recall. I guess they want someone to die before taking action. …
Transmission complaints in other Journey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2012 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2012 Dodge Journey, 10% of the model year's 376 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Journey transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2012 Dodge Journey, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Journey transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.