DodgeJourney20122.0L/dodge/journey/2012/2-0l/
JC platform

2012 Dodge Journey — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Journey 2.0L.

Body SUVEngine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2012 Dodge Journey is a midsize SUV built on the JC platform and powered by a 2.0‑liter engine paired with a six‑speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA ratings of 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and a combined 19 mpg while using 4.5 qt of 5W‑20 API oil. Within the broader 2007‑2020 Journey line, the 2012 model falls between the low‑complaint debut year of 2007 (four complaints) and the peak complaint year of 2009 (1,594 complaints), recording a total of 375 owner complaints with service brakes identified as the most frequent issue and six recalls issued for the model year. This positioning suggests that the 2012 Journey offers a relatively moderate reliability record—better than the line’s worst years but still showing notable brake‑related concerns that researchers should consider when evaluating its long‑term durability.

Model year2013201220112010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04892339BE. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP225-70R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04892339BE alt 68079744AD
Engine air filter68081249AD alt 04891916AA
Spark plugSP0ZFR5F11 alt SP149125AF
BatteryBB86F101AA alt BB34A901AA
Front wiper blades68103974AA alt 68103975AA
Thermostat68676480AA alt 55111017AB
Cabin air filter05058693AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.5 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase113.8 in
Curb weight4228 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · MS-6395
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugPTU: 26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugPTU: 26.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub118 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.40 oz

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.097 in / 0.463 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.107 in / 0.482 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.04 in / 0.409 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages
140
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 9 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
233.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
375 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.75 degrees
450 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.50 degrees
5Loosen bolts in reverse sequence
622.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
733.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
870 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.70 degrees
970 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.; Bolts should be checked for stretching using a straight edge. Ay bolts that show stretching should be replaced.70 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 8,000 mi; coolant at 104,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 104,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 8,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 16,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 16,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 32,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust)
At 48,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 64,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 96,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
At 104,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The Dodge Journey generation launched with severe quality issues, as 2009 and 2010 saw 1,594 and 1,084 complaints respectively, before a sharp drop to 169 complaints in 2011. The 2012 model year reversed that improvement, with complaints more than doubling to 375 and recalls rising to 6, placing it in a mid-generation arc of elevated problem reports that persisted through 2015. Its top complaint areas were service brakes (43), electrical system (39), and engine (37), and the federal record includes 21 crash complaints and 13 fire complaints for this year, though the data does not specify root causes. With a high TSB count of 224 and a complaint rate well above the prior year, the 2012 Journey represents a regression in reliability within the generation, making it a less advisable choice compared to the improved 2011 or later post-2015 models.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
224
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
375
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 13 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 375 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes43
Electrical System39
Engine37
Unknown Or Other19
Air Bags13
Power Train11
Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes9
Seats8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V432000Air Bags:FrontalReported 07/07/2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These…

16V273000Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And ConnectionsReported 06/05/2016

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 224 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
U67 Combo Rev112026-06-18EngineEmissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)
91006532025-08-15Unknown Or OtherVerify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders…
1062412025-07-28Electrical SystemLAMP - DOME
1049742025-06-12Electrical SystemLAMP - DOME
1037742025-05-01Electrical SystemLAMP - DOME

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Journey. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Journey 2.0L take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING CHRYSLER SPECIFICATION MS-6395, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Journey have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.