2012 Dodge Journey vs 2012 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Dodge Journey | 2012 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 375 | 822 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 224 | 88 |
| Investigations | 2 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–22 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,295 mi | 70,050 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Journey | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 23 | 357 |
| Electrical System | 115 | 63 |
| Engine | 97 | 79 |
| Structure | 8 | 142 |
| Service Brakes | 95 | 19 |
| Power Train | 36 | 55 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 44 | 19 |
| Air Bags | 29 | 27 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 47 | 41 |
| Check engine light | 18 | 16 |
| Won’t start | 15 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 53 |
| Overheating | 12 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 11 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 11 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 0 |
2012 Dodge Journey
2012 Ford Explorer
Compare all Dodge Journey vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.