Is the Dodge Journey more reliable than the Lincoln Nautilus?

Slightly, yes. Both rate good, but the Journey has far fewer recalls, 8 against 33. The Nautilus has a lower complaint rate per car sold, which keeps the gap narrow. The Journey's worst reports involve stalling, while the Nautilus's involve its transmission slipping out of gear.

Which has more recalls, the Journey or the Nautilus?

The Nautilus has more. Federal recall records list 33 recalls across its eight model years, while the Journey has 8 across three. The Nautilus covers more years, so some of the difference reflects a longer span on the road.

Which has fewer owner complaints?

The Nautilus has fewer relative to sales, at 10.8 complaints per 10,000 sold against 18 for the Journey. Its total is 206 complaints against 376. This is why the Journey's reliability lead is only slight.

What is the biggest problem with the Lincoln Nautilus?

The transmission. Owners describe jerking, shuddering, and lagging shifts, and in the worst cases it slips out of gear on the highway with a loss of power. Replacing the torque converter does not always fix it, and some dealers quote a full replacement.

Which Journey and Nautilus years should I avoid?

For the Journey, 2018 ranks among the weakest years, and 2020 appears as both strong and weak. For the Nautilus, avoid 2019 and 2020. Its 2026 model looks strong but has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat that as proof.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Dodge Journey

Good

Lincoln Nautilus

Good

Reliability favors the Dodge Journey over the Lincoln Nautilus, but only slightly. The Journey has 8 recalls to the Nautilus's 33. The Nautilus offsets that with fewer owner complaints per car sold, and its main risk is a troublesome transmission.

How Do the Dodge Journey and Lincoln Nautilus Generations Compare?

Production of the Journey has ended, and the 2018 to 2020 model years are the last cars built. Its only US generation ran from 2009 to 2020, and the 2011 facelift came well before those years. Any Journey you consider is an older used car with no newer version to move toward. The Nautilus has changed more. The first generation ran from 2019 to 2023, with a refresh in 2021. A second generation began in 2024 and runs through 2026. The weakest years, 2019 and 2020, came before the refresh. The 2026 model has had little time to collect complaints, so its clean record says little yet.

Verdict

The Dodge Journey is more reliable than the Lincoln Nautilus, scoring 74/100 vs 72/100.

Reliability tips slightly toward the Journey. Federal recall records show 8 recalls across its three model years, against 33 across eight for the Nautilus. The lead is small, because Nautilus owners file fewer complaints per car sold. The deciding factor is the kind of fault. Journey problems are mostly electrical and brake nuisances, with stalling as the serious exception. The Nautilus has a transmission that jerks, slips out of gear, and sometimes needs full replacement.

Key Differences

1Dodge Journey has 25 fewer total recalls
2Lincoln Nautilus has 7.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Dodge Journey scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Dodge Journey

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2Lincoln Nautilus

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Journey	Lincoln Nautilus
Reliability Score	74/100	72/100
Years Tracked	3	8
Total Recalls	8	33
Complaints per 10k Sold	18	10.8
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2020 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Journey and Lincoln Nautilus?

Stalling at speed with power steering lost is the worst pattern on the Journey, and it sits among a wide spread of faults: transmission trouble, headlight fogging, brake shudder, and backup cameras that flip upside down or go black. Owners often wait on recall parts. The Nautilus concentrates on its transmission: shudder, lagging shifts, and slipping out of gear on the highway. Its electrical reports include the car shifting itself into neutral while accelerating. Both models have crash-linked reports for electrical and back over prevention. The Journey also has one for exterior lighting. The Nautilus has one for the power train, which the Journey lacks.

Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus common problem areas comparison
Component	Dodge Journey	Lincoln Nautilus
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	4.6Average	1.8Low
POWER TRAIN	1.2Low	2.6Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.8Low	1.3Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	1.2Low	0.4Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	1.1Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.9Very Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.8Very Low	0.5Very Low
ENGINE	0.8Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.8Very Low	—None
SEATS	0.7Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.3Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.2Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.2Very Low
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Journey	Lincoln Nautilus	Edge
2020	77/1001R / 61C	69/1005R / 32C	Dodge Journey
2019	78/1001R / 92C	62/1008R / 96C	Dodge Journey

Best years to cross-shop: The 2019 Dodge Journey scored 78/100 and the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus scored 69/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Journey vs the Lincoln Nautilus?

Pick the Journey if you want the lower recall count and a predictable repair bill. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $562 a year, with a low chance that a repair is major. Target 2019, which is listed among its strongest years, and treat 2018 with caution. Ask whether the backup camera and headlight recall repairs were done, since owners report parts shortages. Check for any stalling history, brake shudder, and fogged headlights before you sign. Pick the Nautilus if you want a car with a second generation behind it and can accept transmission risk. Its owners file fewer complaints per car sold. Avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest years. The 2023 model is the last of the first generation and ranks among its strongest. Test drive at 10 to 60 mph and watch for jerking, shudder, or lag when shifting into drive or reverse. Ask for transmission service records, and have a Lincoln dealer check for open recalls before you buy.

Dodge Journey vs Lincoln Nautilus: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Journey more reliable than the Lincoln Nautilus?: Slightly, yes. Both rate good, but the Journey has far fewer recalls, 8 against 33. The Nautilus has a lower complaint rate per car sold, which keeps the gap narrow. The Journey's worst reports involve stalling, while the Nautilus's involve its transmission slipping out of gear.
Which has more recalls, the Journey or the Nautilus?: The Nautilus has more. Federal recall records list 33 recalls across its eight model years, while the Journey has 8 across three. The Nautilus covers more years, so some of the difference reflects a longer span on the road.
Which has fewer owner complaints?: The Nautilus has fewer relative to sales, at 10.8 complaints per 10,000 sold against 18 for the Journey. Its total is 206 complaints against 376. This is why the Journey's reliability lead is only slight.
What is the biggest problem with the Lincoln Nautilus?: The transmission. Owners describe jerking, shuddering, and lagging shifts, and in the worst cases it slips out of gear on the highway with a loss of power. Replacing the torque converter does not always fix it, and some dealers quote a full replacement.
Which Journey and Nautilus years should I avoid?: For the Journey, 2018 ranks among the weakest years, and 2020 appears as both strong and weak. For the Nautilus, avoid 2019 and 2020. Its 2026 model looks strong but has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat that as proof.

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How we score the Dodge Journey and Lincoln Nautilus

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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