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2020 Dodge Journey
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
61 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Complaints are still coming in strong late in this car's life, a chronic-problem pattern, not early teething.
Electrical system problems dominate (28% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#84 of 424Among the 2020 models with a matured record, the 2020 Dodge Journey ranks #84, scoring higher than 78% of them. See the 2020 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2020 Dodge Journey SUV FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 19%
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2020 Dodge Journey, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (17) · Backup camera & sensors (12) · Engine (8) · Lights (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
28%17 complaints · 15 in the last 2 years
“If you turn the air or heat off it turns itself back on. Sometimes none of the botton on the dash responds to any command including turning the radio air or anything o…”
Backup camera & sensors
20%12 complaints · 12 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part for the repair w…”
Engine
13%8 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years
“Driving on highway 26 at 70 miles in Newberry, SC, the truck hesitated and cut of stalled, was able to get it of the road before it died, push the button to try to sta…”
Lights
8%5 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“If you turn the air or heat off it turns itself back on. Sometimes none of the botton on the dash responds to any command including turning the radio air or anything o…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 61 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 2 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Back Over Prevention · 25V552000
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Ram ProMaster and 2019-2020 Dodge Journey vehicles. Cracks in the microprocessor may cause the vehicle's rearview camera image not to display properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.
Risk: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning September 30, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated July 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 59C.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Dodge before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Dodge Journey. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report backup camera & sensors problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any backup camera & sensors symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2020 Dodge JOURNEY beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2020? See how every Journey model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2020 Dodge Journey against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.