Advice on Service/maintinance

[Scorpison]

Hey everyone I'm new here and looking for some advice on things I should look out for:

So, we've had our Dodge Journey since 2015, its a 2015 SXT AWD 3.6L, coming up on 52k miles now, when we got it it was a retired rental sitting at 8k miles and was only 5 months old. Since then we've really not had too many problems with it other than higher than the breaks wearing out pretty fast. We recently replaced the thermostat at the end of last year because it got stuck open, and the battery about a year ago. The only other thing we've had to replace was the drivers side door controls as they stopped working, and one of the hood nozzles for the wiper sprayers because some idiot at the inspection place opened the hood too far and snapped it off. 

Known issues we have right now are a mild leak from the transmission pan (Fix/new gasket and filters and a fluid flush and such is on the to do list), the flex disk on the driveshaft to the rear is pretty badly worn out (Again on the to do list), and the only other thing is the rear heater fan whines on higher speeds (Not affecting performance so we're leaving that alone)

My question here is: What should I be looking for, is there anything with the year or model I should be concerned about? Anything I should preventative check now that it's above 50k? I know for most other Journey's of 2015 this is relatively low mileage, but I want to make sure I'm doing my do-diligence and staying ahead with preventative maintenance. Thanks for the help! 

[2late4u]

I have a 2014 3.6  178 k on the cluster , and had to replace the oil pressure sensor at around 34 k of course under my warranty and also the  thermostat as well about 2 yrs ago, which I did since it cost less for me to do it other than the dealership $100 ded that I have,,,,, trans is good until around 100k I WOULDN'T do  a flush just change the filter and replace the fluid with OME approved fluid,plugs are good as well along with the coolant service at around 100k that said I had my trans serviced at around 60k at the dealership and then again at around 100 along with the plugs and coolant service yes high but I have the unlimited warranty yrs and mileage and wanted it on their record that they had done it, I worked at chrysler so I always owned dodge trucks and caravans and seems I always had to do a transmission rebuild on all of them LOL except this one..as far as brakes go I buy my rotors off amazon name brand only and also I only use akebono pads from amazon and they will last you forever I started using them on my daughters mail vehicle for yrs after I quit using Wagner thermoquiet pads that  seem to be not as good as they use to be,she would go thur a set every 5 months till I switched to the akebono pads...act 1589   front ,,,,act 1596   rear  they build the OEM pads for most vehicles and made in the USA as far as I know...... and I did have a ABS unit replaced thur the dealership and also the OIL COOLER leak which you can see if you remove the engine cover and shine an led light straight down along the side of the housing which is how I found my leak before it became a bad problem,,also I had the electronic  drivers side control  unit go bad as well last yr had it done at the dealership with the OEM part as I had them doing something else as well,, about 2 yrs ago I had discount tire replaced all the TPMS  since the batteries has started to go out, and about 4 yrs ago I had the upper rear lateral links replaced/upper rear control arms as some call them,,,,,, the OEM are non adjustable and I had aftermarket adjustable ones installed as I was wearing the inside of the tires out premature maybe due to the wife's 3 wheel scooter we carry on a hitch rack.........   anyways welcome to the group     P.S. one other problem I had was the windshield wiper washer hose cracked at the hood edge of the drivers side as they used an hard plastic line and the opening and closing the hood it tends to break there I just bought about 2-3 ft of rubber washer hose and cut out the plastic and replaced it and no more problems with that at least...LOL

Edited September 7, 2025 by 2late4u
spelling

[Dean H]

Welcome to the forum.

 

The best thing to do for your

3.6 is - check your engine oil level regularly.

 

General information on the DJ

read this post below.

 

https://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/18760-journey-maintenance-and-other-fun-facts/

 

 

 

Transmission service.

 

Drop the pan, replace the filter and clean out the pan and magnet.

 

Use the correct specified fluid

for your year of DJ.

 

I don't do or recommend transmission fluid flushes.

 

 

Check-

  Engine air filter

   cabin air filter

 

 

Clean out your HVAC AC drain line. Read post below.

 

https://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/17985-easy-ac-drain-clean/

 

 

Cooling system check and use the correct coolant for your year of DJ.

 

 

[Scorpison]

Thanks for the replies!

Sounds like I'm on the ball then, we've done the filters already, keep a regular eye on them, Oil interestingly has never been a problem, never have had to add oil or anything other than routine changes. Fluids looked after regularly as well for all others. My main concern is if there is anything with the transmission that might be prone to failing, it's not shifting rough per say, but it can be a little jerky sometimes, I'm assuming this is tied to the mild fluid leak it has, (it's been topped up once by the dealership as part of our annual inspection courtesy of the extended warranty we have) That seemed to make it less rough but it's still a concern as the fluid level wasn't low by any means. 

And yeah as for the washer nozzle hose under the hood, we've already replaced that bit with a rubber hose, as I said in my original post, the service center opened the hood too far once and broke the original one off already, just makes sense to replace it, haven't had a problem since and that was in. . . 2018? I think around there before covid. 

A little background info on the actual usage the car gets to give some context, I live with my parents still, it's their car, but it's my job to look up all of the service stuff and help Dad, he can't crawl under the car anymore. (They're older), it's also the newest car we've ever had, before this we had 90s cars from GM so we're really in uncharted territory, car leaves maybe once or twice a week, three times at best, the only reason it's even at 52k is because we moved and there was a lot of back and forth, otherwise it would probably still be sitting down around 25k haha. (Makes me wonder what the lowest mileage good condition journey is?) A lot of the normal things I already know to check, so while I appreciate that wealth of knowledge it was more of a "Specific to the journey" question. 

My only other concern is gas mileage, Its abysmal, I haven't checked the gauge cluster screen MPG for a while but I'm pretty sure its 12-14, it's driven pretty lightly, in the winter the mileage is def higher, but in the summer the AC just seems to eat fuel, sometimes in the past few years its felt like the engine struggles a little bit when the compressor kicks on, is that normal with the Journey for wear over time or should I be taking a deep dive into the system?

Again thanks so much for the replies!

[2late4u]

as far as gas mileage goes 12-14 is on low side someone must have a heavy foot,the journey doesn't get good mpg in the city and it does a lot better on the hwy which I avg around 26-27 on the freeway around town and some highway driving 21-22 worst I have ever got is just in town driving and it was around 15-16 ,,,it is how its driven and the conditions its driven in  also sometimes the trans might be a bit jerky I have noticed is where you hesitate on the gas when accelerating or slowing down and then going back to accelerate and its trying to decided which gear it wants,  it hasn't happened lately but it does happen, no worry's on it anyways

[Summer Solstice]

My experience with gas mileage is the same 2late4u. It is also the same with shifting. A perk is rare but does occur when slowing down and then suddenly reaccelerating. It is rare and can be mostly avoided but it does happen under those circumstances. It is as if the trans has to think about it for a second  

[John/Horace]

Wow 53k on a  2015, probably a record for the site. Driving that little, I would always run premium high test fuel. The additives help fuel from going crappy and might help the power/roughness you see  on occasion. Base regular fuel ages out really fast now.

 

Lots of things affect car reliability beyond just pure milage numbers. In door storage on concrete, versus humidity direct sun.  I would always do an oil change every 12 months, short driving is the hardest on engine oil quality.

 

Lots of rubber items age more from uv light, time, temperature, vibration, than just odometer number. I like the idea of staying out ahead of maint on vehicle's, towing is expensive and break downs can be stressful. 

 

Glycol ages out after 10 yrs max, dump and fill would even work fine. Coolant gets corrosive when additives age out.

CPS crank position sensors are a $25 dealer part that can cause stalling, no starts. On two wheel  drive journey only 15 min install, heat and vibration take them out, I normally change by 100k on all cars.

Transmission oil change with out flush is always a good investment, even at low miles, years matter too.

The two upstream 02 sensors control fuel trim (big milage influence), if super not helping milage new NTK which make OEM unit are good. Payback poor for $s in.

Factory platinum spark plugs are 100k milage range item, if getting bad,  codes often turn up. Coils can fail before plugs. Should check car for codes even now, see what shows up, regardless of no dash light on.

 

At your driving rate you might be the last person left on this forum...mmm.

 

[Scorpison]

Thanks everyone for the kind and helpful support! It helps more than you could ever know, My mother really likes the car and my dad is satisfied that its 'american' and doesn't have a 4 cylinder, (Its a fiat freemont but he doesn't need to know that lol) So I'm trying to make sure it lasts them into their golden years. I'm going to keep all of the suggestions in mind when I'm looking over it. I just wish I could get my dad to clean out the garage so they'd park it in there, right now its in the shade in the gravel driveway and it pains me because that's what killed their last car (Rust, 91 Olds Bravada) 

I did notice on both rear wheel arches right above where the bumper connects some mild bubbling in the paint, going to get it looked at so I can nip any rust in the butt before it gets too bad. North East though so road salt in the winter is always going to be a killer. 

Again thank you everyone for being so kind! And I hope to be with you all for years to come! Even if I'm the last one here! Lol

[2late4u]

so is it a dodge journey or a Fiat freemont? what are the emblems on  it show? just wondering since you said what you said. didn't know they shipped freemonts to the us??????

[Scorpison]

On 9/10/2025 at 9:28 AM, 2late4u said:

so is it a dodge journey or a Fiat freemont? what are the emblems on  it show? just wondering since you said what you said. didn't know they shipped freemonts to the us??????

Its a Journey, the Freemont and Journey are identical afaik save for some options when it comes to engines and transmissions. I believe the Freemont existed first though. 

[erbie78]

I believe the Journey came first in 2008 and then was rebadged for Fiat in Europe as the Freemont in 2011.

Edited September 16, 2025 by erbie78