Dodge Journey MOT Failures
An analysis of 14,111 real DVSA MOT tests on the Dodge Journey — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: JC49 (2007–2019).
Where the Dodge Journey fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Dodge Journey is suspension pin, bush or joint worn — this model is 22 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 14,111 MOT tests, 10.52% of all Dodge Journey tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include light unit fault (7.1x the fleet average), significant brake effort recorded with no brake... (13x the fleet average), subframe bushes or mounts worn (8.7x the fleet average), and emissions failure (8.5x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Dodge Journey's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Suspension, Seatbelts & Airbags, Brakes, Exhaust & Emissions, Steering. If you're inspecting a Dodge Journey before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Dodge Journey's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Dodge Journey specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are brake hoses perished or damaged (14x the average) and parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (12x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (7.4x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Dodge Journey specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are cable damaged or knotted (23x the average) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (22x). tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned (13x) and significant brake effort recorded with no brake... (11x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Dodge Journey specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are significant brake effort recorded with no brake... (13x the average) and abs fault (9.4x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (8.9x) and subframe bushes or mounts worn (8.7x) also appear frequently.
The shift from brake hoses perished or damaged at lower mileages to significant brake effort recorded with no brake... at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Dodge Journey specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Steering ball joint wear Dangerous
Steering ball joints show excessive wear at unusually low mileages on the Journey, with MOT failures at 8.2 times the national average. Affects JC49; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£400.
Suspension bush and joint wear Major
The Journey suffers from premature wear of suspension components, particularly lower control arm bushes and ball joints. Affects JC49; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Handbrake system deterioration Major
The Journey shows significant handbrake system problems with both efficiency and operation failures. Affects JC49; typical independent garage repair cost is £100–£300.
Wheel bearing wear Major
Wheel bearings on the Journey deteriorate prematurely, showing both excessive roughness (5.1x national average) and excessive play (3.8x national average) in MOT testing. Affects JC49; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£250.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Dodge Journey common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Dodge Journey
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Dodge Journey:
Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint worn, subframe bushes or mounts worn. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for light unit fault. Brakes — check for significant brake effort recorded with no brake..., cable damaged or knotted, brake hoses perished or damaged.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about steering ball joint wear and suspension bush and joint wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £150. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Dodge Journey?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Dodge Journey MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Dodge Journey?
Based on 14,111 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is suspension pin, bush or joint worn — at 22x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include light unit fault and significant brake effort recorded with no brake....
Is the Dodge Journey reliable based on MOT data?
The Dodge Journey has 15 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag steering ball joint wear as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Dodge Journey most commonly fails on significant brake effort recorded with no brake... and abs fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are brake hoses perished or damaged and parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How do I check a Dodge Journey's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.