DodgeJourney20133.6L/dodge/journey/2013/3-6l/
JC platform

2013 Dodge Journey — 3.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 Journey 3.6L.

Body SUVEngine 3.6LTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2013 Dodge Journey is a midsize SUV built on the JC platform, powered by a 3.6L V6 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It holds 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 oil and achieves an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined. With 351 owner complaints—most frequently about the seats—and four recalls, this model year lands in the middle of the Journey’s reliability history, far from the 1,594 complaints of the 2009 model but not as trouble-free as the 2007 model’s mere 4 complaints.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 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 a BCI 86 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04892339BE. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-55R19OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04892339BE alt 68079744AD
Engine air filter04891916AA alt 68081249AD
Spark plugSP0ZFR5F11 alt SP149125AF
BatteryBB86F101AA
Front wiper blades68103975AA discontinued · alt 68103974AA
Thermostat68676480AA alt 68676481AA
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 weight4246 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

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent published road-test results.

7.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 2013 R/T V6
283 hpHorsepower (as tested)
260 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2013R/T V6 3.6L V67.10 sec15.70 sec283 hpAWD
2011Crew V6 3.6L V67.50 sec15.90 sec283 hpAWD
2016Crossroad Plus 3.6L V67.80 sec16.10 sec283 hpAWD
2017GT 3.6L V67.90 sec16.10 sec283 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 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 1-2-3-4-5-6. 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 Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · MS-6395
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · MS-6395

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17 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
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.6-0.9 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6,000-9,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug TypeRER8ZWYCB4
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure5 psi @ Idle, 30-139 @ 3000 psi

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
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., step 2: 10530 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 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 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 10,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 190,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 260,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & 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 2013 Dodge Journey sits in the middle of the generation's arc, with 351 complaints and 4 recalls—statistically similar to 2012's 375 complaints but a dramatic improvement from the 2009 peak of 1,594 complaints and 8 recalls. However, 2013 recorded 248 TSBs, the highest count in the entire dataset, suggesting dealers and technicians were addressing a wide range of issues that year. The top complaint areas—seats (50), engine (34), electrical system (32), and air bags (25)—indicate persistent quality concerns across multiple systems, and the 19 crash-related and 9 fire-related complaints warrant scrutiny. Looking ahead, complaints rose again in 20142015 (408 and 548, respectively) before declining from 2016 onward, suggesting 2013 was part of a temporary plateau rather than sustained improvement. The takeaway: 2013 is neither the worst nor the best model year in the generation, but its elevated TSB count and complaint diversity indicate it may require more maintenance vigilance than later models with lower complaint volumes.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
248
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
351
Owner complaints
19 involved a crash · 9 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 351 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seats50
Engine34
Electrical System32
Air Bags25
Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes23
Service Brakes16
Unknown Or Other14
Power Train14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 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 248 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 2013 Journey 3.6L take?

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

Does the 2013 Journey have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.6L get?

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