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Total NHTSA Complaints
64
Owner filings recorded
#1 Reported Problem
Electrical System
19 reports (29.7%)
Crash Incident Reports
1
Filings citing a crash
Fire & Injury Reports
2
1 fire • 1 injury filings
Defect Investigation Analysis

Executive Problem Findings

AutoUtility currently tracks 64 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2020 Dodge Journey. Electrical System issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 19 complaints (29.7% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 1 filing cites a crash, 1 cites a fire, 1 reports one or more injuries.

Methodology Notice: Consumer complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Filings are not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and do not constitute an audited component failure rate.
Incident & Severity Profile
  • • Total Owner Reports: 64 complaints submitted under federal penalty.
  • • Primary Subsystem: Electrical System accounts for 29.7% of submissions (19 reports).
  • • Secondary Systems: Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (16), Engine & Cooling (9).
  • • Crash Incidents: 1 filings cite an impact or collision.
  • • Thermal Incidents: 1 filings cite smoke or fire.
  • • Reported Casualties: 1 injury filings • 0 fatality filings.
Category Distribution

Reported Defect Categories for 2020 Dodge Journey

Factual proportion of owner complaints categorized by automotive subsystem in NHTSA records

Electrical System
19
29.7%
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
16
25%
Engine & Cooling
9
14.1%
Exterior Lighting
5
7.8%
Brakes & Traction Control
4
6.3%
#1 29.7% SHARE

Electrical System

19 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

🔥 1 Fire
#2 25% SHARE

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech

16 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

✓ 0 Incidents
⚠️ 1 Associated Recall Campaign
#3 14.1% SHARE

Engine & Cooling

9 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

✓ 0 Incidents
#4 7.8% SHARE

Exterior Lighting

5 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

✓ 0 Incidents
Deterministic Text Analysis

Recurring Symptoms Identified in Owner Reports

Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis

Powertrain & Transmission 4.7%

Loss of Motive Power While Driving

3 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Federal Oversight

Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

Formal engineering analyses and preliminary evaluations opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

ODI Action #EA24003 OPEN Engineering Analysis (EA)
Opened: 2024-08-01 • Active
Subject / Subsystem
Vehicle entrapment
Affected Component
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Recall Linkage
No direct recall linkage
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-008 on May 1, 2023 to investigate an incident involving a 2009 Dodge Journey alleging occupant entrapment during a vehicle fire that resulted in a fatality. During the investigation, ODI collected information from the manufacturer and involved parties to confirm or refute the defect allegation. ODI has determined that additional reports of vehicle entrapment exist for other model year Dodge Journey vehicles. ODI continues to explore the cause of the thermal event and its potential effect on the actuation of the door locks. ODI also continues to explore other potential causes for door lock malfunction. ODI has determined that an upgrade to an Engineering Analysis (EA) is necessary to continue the review of the investigative material and to assess the risk to motor vehicle safety . To review the ODI report cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
ODI Action #PE24006 CLOSED Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Opened: 2024-02-27 • Closed: 2025-09-26
Subject / Subsystem
Back up camera failure
Affected Component
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Recall Linkage
Campaign #25V552
On February 27, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate complaints alleging a loss of back up camera function in Model Year (MY) 2018 through 2020 Dodge Journey vehicles.  Complainants reported experiencing black screens, upside down images, flashing images, or blurred images.  A back up camera that does not display correctly increases the likelihood of a crash or injury. Analysis of warranty data provided in response to ODI’s information request letter demonstrated a pattern of elevated warranty claims in subject vehicles built in calendar years (CY) 2019 and 2020.  The rate of camera related warranty repairs for models built in CY 2019-2020 was nearly double that of vehicles built in CY 2017-2018.  This increase in warranty claims occurred after the introduction of a new camera part number. ODI presented this analysis to FCA in February 2025.  In response, FCA started a review of component change history in February 2025 and opened an internal investigation into MY 2019-2020 Dodge Journey and 2019-2021 Ram Promaster vehicles in May of 2025. On August 26, 2025, FCA submitted a Part 573 Safety Recall Report to the agency.  In the report, FCA notes that a damaged microprocessor may cause the camera to not function properly.  FCA will replace defective cameras in the recalled vehicles with an updated part that mitigates the issue. See NHTSA recalls 25V552 and 25E052 for further details.  Based on available information, FCA's recalls address the alleged defect identified in this PE.  Accordingly, this investigation is closed.  The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Consumer Filings

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2020 Dodge Journey

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Electrical System ODI #11758733
Filed: 08/22/2026
Defect Report

"When starting my car and turning on my air or heat component the front will turn on but the components in the middle won’t! You have to hit the panel to make it turn on and when your driving the middle component shuts off losing power and dims the lights and dash lights with radio screen! I’ve had..."

Incident Date: 04/13/2023 NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech ODI #11756716
Filed: 08/13/2026
Defect Report

"The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the rear-view camera was inverted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local..."

Incident Date: 08/01/2024 NHTSA Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
Electrical System ODI #11755881
Filed: 08/10/2026
Defect Report

"The wiring harness for back hatch the coating of the wire are all cracking . The passenger side rear back up light wasn’t working and the harness is cracking the wiring when opening and closing the hatch . I have picture. It looks worse in person"

Incident Date: 08/09/2026 NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech ODI #11746706
Filed: 06/26/2026
Defect Report

"The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the rearview camera image was intermittently flipped, distorted, and inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted and stated that there was no fix for the failure. The..."

Incident Date: 06/26/2021 NHTSA Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech ODI #11739227
Filed: 05/21/2026
Defect Report

"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 was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the remedy to be available. The..."

Incident Date: 08/26/2025 NHTSA Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
Multi-Year Trend

Complaint History for Dodge Journey

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2020)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2015 Dodge Journey 552 30 6 View 2015 Problems →
2016 Dodge Journey 385 19 4 View 2016 Problems →
2017 Dodge Journey 197 12 2 View 2017 Problems →
2018 Dodge Journey 231 7 6 View 2018 Problems →
2019 Dodge Journey 100 6 1 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Dodge Journey Current Page 64 1 1 Current
Exhaustive System Audit

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2020 Dodge Journey

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 28 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Injury Entries Fatality Entries
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 0 0 0 0
Back Over Prevention / Camera NHTSA category: BACK OVER PREVENTION 8 0 0 0 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 0 1 0 0
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 4 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 0 0 0 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 2 0 0 0 0
Tires NHTSA category: TIRES 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 1 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 1 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 0 0 0 0
Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 1 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2020 Dodge Journey

Cross-reference safety recalls, crash test safety ratings, and EPA fuel economy for this model year

← 2020 Dodge Journey Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2020 Dodge Journey Safety Recalls (1) →

Official recall campaigns, safety defect descriptions, and manufacturer free remedy instructions.

2020 Dodge Journey Safety Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover resistance ratings.

2020 Dodge Journey MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Common Problems & Reliability Questions for the 2020 Dodge Journey

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2020 Dodge Journey

What are the most common reported problems with the 2020 Dodge Journey?

In official NHTSA consumer records, the most frequently cited issue area for the 2020 Dodge Journey is Electrical System, appearing in 19 records (29.7% of submitted filings).

Secondary reported categories include Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (16) and Engine & Cooling (9).

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Is the 2020 Dodge Journey a reliable vehicle?

AutoUtility does not issue subjective reliability scores or commercial ratings. In official United States government records, NHTSA tracks 64 consumer defect complaints and 1 safety recall campaign for the 2020 Dodge Journey.

Reviewing documented component complaint distributions, recall remedy notices, and active federal investigations provides an objective, evidence-based view of the vehicle's historical safety and defect record.

Cross-reference official safety recall campaigns →
Source: NHTSA ODI & Safety Recalls Databases

Are there crash, fire, or injury reports associated with the 2020 Dodge Journey?

Among consumer complaint records on file with NHTSA for the 2020 Dodge Journey, 1 filing cites a crash, 1 cite smoke or fire, and 1 report one or more injuries.

Incident entries represent consumer descriptions at the time of submission to federal authorities and do not establish mechanical causation or legal liability.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Consumer Logs

Has NHTSA formally investigated defects on the 2020 Dodge Journey?

NHTSA ODI records list 2 formal defect investigations involving the 2020 Dodge Journey (1 currently open).

Federal defect investigations are formal engineering evaluations opened when safety defect trends emerge, and do not by themselves establish a confirmed defect or mandatory recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Registry
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database under 49 CFR Part 576.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.