Home · 2020 Dodge Journey · Complaints

What 61 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Dodge Journey

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (61)Crash / fire / injury (2)Electrical system (17)Backup camera & sensors (12)Engine (8)Lights (5)Brakes (4)Steering (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Visibility & wipers (3)Airbags (2)Seat belts (2)

17 of 61 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Apr 14, 2026Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Backup camera has been recalled several months ago but no remedy has been made yet. I’ve also noticed when I turn on the wipers my screens including the dash and entertainment go dark and barely visible.

NHTSA ODI 11731256

Apr 2, 2026Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Received notice of recall last year in the mail TWICE and parts are still not available at any local dealer to get fixed. We have dealt with this issue for over 2 years now with no solution

NHTSA ODI 11728722

Apr 1, 2026Electrical systemLights

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 off or on.

NHTSA ODI 11728675

Mar 2, 2026Electrical system

The car door locks fail to lock/unlock. Outside, it has been intermittent, meaning at times, my key fob will unlock/lock the doors but at times will it work. I tried to lock my car after parking and the car buttons wouldn’t work and the car horn just beeped when I tried to use the key fob. Inside, the lock/unlock button does not work on either the driver or passenger side. I cannot lock/unlock the car from the inside. I cannot open the back passenger doors from the inside/outside; they remain locked. I cannot unlock the front passenger door from the inside buttons but - so far - can open the door by pulling the inside handle. The back hatch seems to be unlocked at all times now. The car doors do not automatically lock when driving like they used to. My children cannot get in or out of the car at present without climbing into the front driver’s seat. I am not sure if this is a consistent issue or intermittent at this time. My car just passed a multi-point inspection on Saturday, and I have an appointment for it to be evaluated on Wednesday. Please contact me if additional information is needed.

NHTSA ODI 11721534

Feb 24, 2026Electrical system

Left speaker drivers seat goes in and out with sound. Radio glitches volume goes up and down randomly. Open door alarm sounds randomly. Blue tooth does not work. Sinus x does not work. Back up camera flipped upside down and beeps all the time when in reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11720072

Feb 16, 2026Electrical system

My electrical shorts out, radio goes in and out and the ac/heat turns on and off! When I choose to turn off it will turn back on! When driving at night driving on paved road you can see the lights dim and brighten it has gotten worse since I got the car in 2024

NHTSA ODI 11718274

Jan 23, 2026Electrical systemFire

The contact stated that their father owned a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle began making an abnormal noise. The Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system warning light was illuminated. The contact began to head back home when another vehicle blew its horn and informed them of a fire coming from under the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact immediately stopped the vehicle and was able to safely exit. The fire expanded and consumed the front of the vehicle. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The contact had no injuries, and no medical attention was needed. The dealer was not informed of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11712872

Oct 23, 2025Electrical systemSpeed controlBackup camera & sensors

When put in reverse? The camera either doesn’t come on or it’s looks upside down on the review mirror. It makes it extremely difficult to back up in public areas when there is so many blind spots in the back. Also the electrical system has issues- Bluetooth, cruise control, volume will go up loud on its own, check engine light stays on and it says fuel cap seal is basically messed up and it’s been replaced multiple times and won’t change it’s reading. The real cause is the small leak off fuel injection system tank. Also can’t get the hands free call system on the wheel to work properly.

NHTSA ODI 11695343

Jun 18, 2025Electrical system

I purchased my 2020 Dodge Journey brand new. About 2 years ago the back up camera view flipped upside down. I took it to the dealership where I was told it wasn’t covered on a warranty and it would be close to $800 to replace. They said it has to be replaced and cannot just be fixed. After doing a lot of research online about this it seems like a very, very common problem. This should absolutely be a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11667858

May 31, 2025Electrical systemEngineBackup camera & sensors

I purchased my 2020 in April of 2021 brand new. When I’m driving my SUV, it will stall and not pick up speed, but my RPM still rise. Both of my front headlights fog all the time and have been replaced multiple times. The fog makes the lightbulbs blow and they have been replaced multiple times. The back up camera is turns upside down stops working when it wants to goes black and also has a green light. It was replaced by the dealership and started doing the same things again after one month. There is also an issue with my radio. It works when it once the volume stops working when he wants and the Bluetooth works when he wants it has also been replaced by the dealership and now they won’t replace it again because it has been replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11664096

Apr 24, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

My backup camera has a black screen when it was working it was poor quality even if it was clean, the sensors for backing up have failed! Warning message comes on on the dash but the fuses and all have been checked big safety issue living where there many children have to park on side of road because can see backing up

NHTSA ODI 11656667

Dec 1, 2024Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Heater hose malfunction. No issues spotted but within 24 hours the car began to smoke and the hose obtained a leak and leak anti freeze while driving the entire hose blew up while car was in motion and came to a complete overheated stall in the middle of a busy intersection. I had to throw hazards on and could not exit the vehicle due to heavy traffic and unsafe conditions. No warning lights for a leak or empty reservoir where coolant goes. At blow up the antifreeze flushed to the engine and all oil flushed to the radiator cause an immediate engine block. No recalls for this hose but plenty of research on the hose needing to be removed and replaced with the previous version shaped as a letter Y. Purchased this vehicle brand new 3 years ago only 12 miles kept up with oil changes and new tires only issue I've ever had kept up with annual flushes and maintenance as well. This part could have cost me my life in that intersection and central dispatch had to be called to stop traffic vehicle towed for $230 and repairs over $10,000 for a new engine. Now being charged $22,000 the remaining balance on the vehicle for damages beyond my control that should have been a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11628123

Nov 29, 2024Electrical systemLightsSpeed control

Since I have owned this vehicle, the wiring for the backup camera has been wrong since purchase. The image is fuzzy, sometimes non-existent, and if it is it is upside down. The radio works when it wants to. The headlights keep filling with moisture no matter how many times I get it fixed. The windshield wiper will no longer spray the fluid to clear the windshield (after about owning it for a year) and the speedometers have been off since purchase. I bought the car brand new and just found out you’re supposed to report this stuff here. Please look into these issues with this vehicle, as the previous journey years also had the majority of these issues and have had those parts recalled.

NHTSA ODI 11627980

Sep 25, 2024Electrical systemLane Departure

Backup camera works when it wants to. Most times it's upside down, or staticky. Dealership says the only fix is to replace it, but we can't afford that. It's a safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11616398

Aug 13, 2024Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was displayed upside down, sideways, and occasionally blank. Additionally, the pedestrian warning system was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that front driver's side window failed to roll down or roll up while engaging the power door window switch. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11608247

Apr 20, 2024Electrical system

I backed out of a parking spot at work and the backup camera was working fine. A little over an hour later I was backing out of the driveway and the backup camera display had rotated 180 degrees and was upside down. It has been upside down since.

NHTSA ODI 11584225

Mar 2, 2024Electrical system

Rear back up camera upside down sometimes flashes in and out or just black at times.

NHTSA ODI 11574999

Working with the data? Download all 61 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2020 Dodge Journey verdict →