- What you'll get from Dodge Journey VIN check?
- Dodge Journey Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Dodge Journey VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Dodge Journey
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Dodge Journey VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Dodge Journey VIN.
- 10th Character in the Dodge Journey VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Dodge Journey VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Dodge Journey Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Dodge Journey
- How to find a Dodge Journey's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Dodge Journey
What you’ll get from Dodge Journey VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 2018, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Drive Type: The VIN details the body class as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), which may indicate a versatile and spacious design. Additionally, the VIN specifies an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, potentially reflecting the vehicle’s handling capabilities in various road conditions.
- Engine and Fuel Type: The VIN specifies a V-shaped engine with a 3.6-liter displacement that operates on Gasoline. This information provides insights into the vehicle’s performance and environmental considerations.
- Safety Features and Restraints: The VIN indicates the presence of active safety systems like Brake Assist and Electronic Roll Mitigation, along with front airbags for the 1st row and side airbags for all rows, emphasizing the vehicle’s commitment to occupant safety.
- Technology and Convenience Features: The VIN suggests standard keyless entry and ignition, enhancing user convenience. Additionally, options for parking assist signify modern technological integrations within the vehicle.
- Transmission and Performance: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 283 horsepower engine, providing insights into its powertrain setup and operational performance.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN discloses that the vehicle was assembled in Toluca, Mexico, providing insight into its production origin and potentially affecting aspects like availability and maintenance considerations.
Dodge Journey Vehicle History Risk Factors
Dodge’s used vehicle market is heavily weighted toward performance cars and large SUVs — segments where hard use, modifications, and elevated accident rates all affect used vehicle condition. A Bumper VIN check is particularly important for several reasons.
HEMI tick and MDS lifter issues on 5.7L and 6.4L engines. Dodge’s HEMI V8 engines across the Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram lineup have documented issues with Multi-Displacement System (MDS) lifter failure, similar to the GM AFM problem. Repair costs are significant. Service records referencing lifter replacement, MDS delete, or oil consumption complaints are red flags on any HEMI-powered used Dodge.
Transmission failures on 8HP70/8HP75 8-speed automatic. Dodge’s ZF-sourced 8-speed automatics have generated owner complaints related to shuddering, hunting for gears, and torque converter issues — particularly in high-performance Charger and Challenger applications with significant power. This is a well-documented TSB item.
Accident frequency on Charger and Challenger. Dodge’s performance cars rank among the highest in accident rates in the used car market — not a knock on the vehicles, but a statistical reality that makes a Bumper accident history check particularly important. A Charger SRT or Challenger Hellcat with three owners and no reported accidents deserves more scrutiny than a minivan with the same profile.
Title issues on modified Hellcat and Demon models. High-value Hellcat and Demon variants are disproportionately represented in salvage title databases. Their high replacement values make total-loss designations more likely after even moderate damage. Title washing is a documented risk on these models.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Dodge Journey VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Dodge Journey VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), uniquely identifying the vehicle’s manufacturer, the specific attributes, and the country of manufacture. For the Dodge Journey, two distinct WMIs are noteworthy: ‘3D4’ used during the model years 2009-2011, and ‘3C4’ covering the years 2012-2020, both denoting vehicles produced by Chrysler de Mexico Toluca. These WMIs indicate that the vehicles in question are Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPVs), manufactured in the city of Santa Fe, within Mexico City, Mexico. This systematic coding allows for the easy identification and tracking of vehicles, enhancing the ability to recall information and verify authenticity. The use of different WMIs over different periods signifies changes or updates in manufacturing processes or vehicle specifications.
List of WMI Codes for a Dodge Journey
WMI: 3D4
- Model Years Covered: 2009-2011
- Example VIN: 3D4GG47B09T133417
- Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Santa Fe
- State or Province: Mexico City
- Country: Mexico
WMI: 3C4
- Model Years Covered: 2012-2020
- Example VIN: 3C4PDDEG0CT229009
- Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Santa Fe
- State or Province: Mexico City
- Country: Mexico
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Dodge Journey VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Dodge’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes model variant, engine configuration, body style, and restraint system across the Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram (now a separate brand) lineups. On Chargers and Challengers, the VDS is critical for confirming the specific engine variant — the 3.6L Pentastar V6, 5.7L HEMI, 6.4L 392 HEMI, and supercharged 6.2L Hellcat/Demon variants are all available on the same body and require completely different maintenance and insurance cost expectations. Dodge muscle cars are among the most frequently modified used vehicles on the market, and confirming factory engine specification via VDS before a pre-purchase inspection is essential to distinguishing factory performance from modified one-off builds.
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Dodge Journey VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the Dodge Journey VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| L | 2020 Dodge Journey |
| K | 2019 Dodge Journey |
| J | 2018 Dodge Journey |
| H | 2017 Dodge Journey |
| G | 2016 Dodge Journey |
| F | 2015 Dodge Journey |
| E | 2014 Dodge Journey |
| D | 2013 Dodge Journey |
| C | 2012 Dodge Journey |
| B | 2011 Dodge Journey |
| A | 2010 Dodge Journey |
| 9 | 2009 Dodge Journey |
11th Character in the Dodge Journey VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Dodge Journey Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Beijing | China | Beijing Benz Daimlerchrysler Automotive(B.B.D.C.A) | 3D4GH67U297193265 | |
| C | Detroit | Michigan | United States | Jefferson North Assembly | 3C4PDCBG3JC508479 |
| E | Saltillo | Coahuila | Mexico | Saltillo Van/Truck Assembly Plant | 3C4PDCBG5EE164129 |
| G | Saltillo | Coahuila | Mexico | Saltillo Truck Assembly | 3C4PDDGG5GGT21731 |
| J | Fenton | Missouri | United States | St. Louis Assembly North | 3C4PDCAB4DJ533400 |
| L | Toledo | Ohio | United States | Toledo South Assembly | 3D4PG4FBXAL190844 |
| N | Sterling Heights | Michigan | United States | Sterling Heights Assembly Plant | 3C4PDCAB1GN542455 |
| P | Melfi | Potenza | Italy | 3C4PDCBG6LP587979 | |
| R | Windsor | Ontario | Canada | Windsor Assembly | 3D4PG9FV1AR244729 |
| T | Toluca | Mexico | Mexico | Toluca Assembly | 3D4GG47B09T133417 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Dodge Journey
The final 6 characters in a Dodge Journey’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Dodge Journey’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Dodge Journey is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Dodge Journey; the VIN is typically visible from outside the vehicle.
- Open the driver’s side door and check the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) for a label that includes the VIN on your Dodge Journey.
- Inspect the vehicle’s registration documents or insurance card, as the VIN of your Dodge Journey is often printed there.
- For a more detailed inspection, check under the hood of your Dodge Journey; the VIN may be found on a plaque near the engine.
Don’t have your Dodge Journey’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Dodge Journey
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Optional |
| Base Price ($) | 31995 |
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 3600.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 219.68547874103 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.6 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 283 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | FCA |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Model | Journey |
| Model Year | 2017 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 3 |
| Number of Seats | 7 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Active Seat Belt |
| Plant City | Toluca |
| Plant Company Name | Toluca assembly |
| Plant Country | Mexico |
| Plant State | State Of Mexico |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Series | JC |
| Series2 | Body Style: Hatchback Tall |
| Side Air Bag Locations | All Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Top Speed (MPH) | 118 |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Trim | GT (US), GT Rallye (Can) |
| Turbo | No |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 3C4PDDEG*HT |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 113.8 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 19 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 19 |
| Sample VIN | 3C4PDDEG0HT502036 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Dodge Journey for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Dodge Journey?
On most Dodge vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Dodge Journey's history for free?
Enter the Dodge Journey’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Dodge Journey VIN numbers start with?
Dodge Journey VIN's start with 3D4 and 3C4 for vehicles manufactured by Chrysler de Mexico Toluca in Mexico. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Dodge Journey.
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