Description
About the Dodge Journey License Plate Bracket
Direct fit Dodge Journey mid-size crossover SUV 2009-2020 (12-year US production). The Dodge Journey was Dodge’s mid-size crossover SUV (compact crossover positioning) built on Chrysler JC platform. Introduced 2009 as Dodge’s first crossover SUV – replacement for Dodge Caravan when Caravan designation was discontinued 2009 (Town & Country continued until 2016 Pacifica replacement – Batch 55 vaz510 1984 Chrysler minivan revolution reference).
Journey engines: 2.4L I4 (172 HP base for SE/SXT trim, standard FWD), 3.5L V6 SOHC (235 HP performance engine 2009-2010 earlier years), 3.6L Pentastar V6 (283 HP modern engine 2011+ for higher trims – the famous Pentastar V6 used across Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram lineup 2011+ in various applications replacing aging V6 family). Transmissions: 4-speed automatic (earlier with 2.4L I4) or 6-speed automatic (modern Pentastar V6). Drivetrain: FWD standard or AWD (Active Drive single-speed AWD system).
Trim levels: SE (base family), SXT (sport), Crossroad (off-road themed with body cladding), R/T (Road and Track performance variant), GT (Grand Touring premium). Body style: 4-door mid-size crossover SUV with regular doors (no sliding doors), liftgate rear. 5 or 7 passenger seating configurations. Approximately 192-inch length. Competed against Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Ford Edge/Explorer, GMC Acadia.
Discontinuation 2020: After 12-year US run, Journey discontinued without direct successor as Stellantis (formed January 2021 after FCA-PSA merger – Batch 57 vaz524 Ram brand Stellantis context reference) restructured brand portfolios. Dodge focused on performance cars (Charger/Challenger) rather than crossovers. Jeep brand took over most mid-size crossover roles in Stellantis group (Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee filled Journey’s market position).
License plate bracket definition: mounting hardware for license plate. Functions: (1) Plate mounting (provides holes/standoffs for license plate bolts), (2) Bumper protection (some brackets have cushioning to prevent plate direct contact with bumper avoiding scratches), (3) Alignment (maintains plate position and orientation), (4) Breakaway design some brackets (designed to detach without damage in minor impact).
Locations: front bumper (for front plate states – about 30 states require front plates) or rear bumper (rear plate mandatory all states). Construction: plastic or metal bracket body, mounting holes for plate (standard 4 holes typical), vehicle attachment points (bolts/clips to bumper body), optional reflective markers some designs.
Common failure modes: broken mounting points (plastic tabs crack from age/UV), corrosion (salt-belt areas damage metal brackets), impact damage (curb strikes), missing (lost after impact or service work). Replacement is easy DIY 15-30 minutes.
Dodge Journey Heritage
Production: 2009-2020 (12 years US)
Platform: Chrysler JC
Type: Mid-size crossover SUV
Engines: 2.4L I4, 3.5L V6 SOHC, 3.6L Pentastar V6
Transmissions: 4-speed or 6-speed automatic
Drivetrain: FWD or AWD (Active Drive)
Body: 4-door crossover with liftgate, 5/7 passenger
Trims: SE/SXT/Crossroad/R/T/GT
Discontinuation: 2020 (Stellantis restructuring)
| Dodge Journey 2009-2012 (Early Era) | JC platform launch era |
| Dodge Journey 2013-2016 (Mid Era) | Pentastar V6 standard |
| Dodge Journey 2017-2020 (Late Era) | Final years before discontinuation |
| Position Specific: | |
| Front Bumper Bracket | For front plate states |
| Rear Bumper Bracket | All states required |
| Trim Specific: | |
| SE/SXT/Crossroad/R/T/GT | Similar brackets typically |
| Engine Configurations: | |
| 2.4L I4 Equipped | Standard bracket |
| 3.5L V6 Equipped (2009-2010) | Standard bracket |
| 3.6L Pentastar V6 Equipped (2011+) | Standard bracket |
| Drivetrain: | |
| FWD or AWD | Same bracket typically |
| NOT Compatible: Dodge Caravan | Different minivan platform |
| NOT Compatible: Dodge Charger/Challenger | Different LX/LD platform sedans |
Call (240) 301-0095. Critical questions: (1) Year (2009-2020). (2) Front or rear bracket (DIFFERENT brackets per position). (3) Trim level (may affect on some models). (4) State requirements (front plate state requires front bracket).
Christos Konstantopoulos-Stamatides –
Replaced front license plate bracket on my 2015 Dodge Journey GT (premium Grand Touring trim level the top GT trim of mid-2010s era Journey lineup with premium features above SE/SXT/Crossroad/R/T variants, 3.6L Pentastar V6 ~283 HP the famous Chrysler Pentastar V6 modern engine used across Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram lineup since 2011+ replacing aging V6 family including 3.5L V6 SOHC of earlier Journey years 2009-2010, 6-speed automatic transmission modern era replacing 4-speed automatic of earlier 2.4L I4 base configurations, AWD configuration with Active Drive single-speed AWD system for additional traction, 4-door mid-size crossover SUV body style with regular doors and liftgate rear, 7-passenger seating configuration for family use). Original front bracket had broken plastic mounting tabs from years of plate movement and UV exposure. Vaz educated me extensively on the Dodge Journey heritage (12-year US production 2009-2020 Dodge’s mid-size crossover SUV built on Chrysler JC platform), Dodge Caravan successor context (introduced 2009 same year Caravan designation discontinued though Town & Country continued until 2016 Pacifica replacement documented Batch 55 vaz510 reference for 1984 Chrysler minivan revolution heritage), Pentastar V6 engine heritage (3.6L modern Chrysler V6 introduced 2011 used across Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram lineup including 300/200/Charger/Challenger/Journey/Durango/Wrangler/Cherokee/Grand Cherokee/1500/ProMaster, manufactured at Trenton Engine Plant Michigan, replaced aging V6 family unifying Chrysler V6 strategy), Stellantis 2021+ ownership context (Batch 57 vaz524 Ram brand reference for Stellantis January 2021 formation from FCA-PSA merger), Stellantis brand portfolio restructuring (Dodge focused on performance cars Charger/Challenger, Jeep brand absorbed crossover/SUV role with Cherokee/Grand Cherokee filling Journey’s market position after 2020 discontinuation), Journey trim levels (SE base, SXT sport, Crossroad off-road themed, R/T performance, my GT premium), AWD Active Drive single-speed system context, and license plate bracket function (plate mounting hardware with optional cushioning for bumper protection and breakaway design some brackets). Sourced from 2016 Journey GT donor matching configuration. The Journey crossover heritage and Stellantis context was excellent.
Friederike Hartmann-Schweighofer –
Bought rear license plate bracket for my 2010 Dodge Journey SXT (early era 2009-2010 Journey before Pentastar V6 introduction 2011+, 3.5L V6 SOHC ~235 HP the older Chrysler V6 engine before Pentastar replacement, 4-speed automatic transmission earlier era before 6-speed modernization, FWD configuration, 4-door mid-size crossover SUV body style with regular doors and liftgate rear, SXT sport trim level mid-range above base SE with sportier features). Original rear bracket had cracked from impact damage of curb strike. Vaz patiently explained the Dodge Journey heritage (12-year US production 2009-2020, my early 2010 model from initial Journey era with 3.5L V6 SOHC before 3.6L Pentastar V6 came in 2011, Chrysler JC platform), Dodge Caravan successor context (Journey introduced 2009 to replace Caravan when Caravan designation was discontinued though Town & Country continued until 2016 Pacifica replacement Batch 55 vaz510 reference), engine evolution (my 3.5L V6 SOHC early years 2009-2010 replaced by Pentastar V6 from 2011+, plus 2.4L I4 base across production), transmission evolution (4-speed automatic earlier replaced by 6-speed automatic with Pentastar V6), Stellantis era restructuring context (2020 Journey discontinuation as Stellantis formed January 2021 after FCA-PSA merger Batch 57 vaz524 Ram context, Dodge brand refocused on performance cars Charger/Challenger and Jeep brand absorbed crossover role with Cherokee/Grand Cherokee), Journey trim levels (SE/my SXT/Crossroad/R/T/GT), 5 vs 7 passenger configurations, FWD vs AWD Active Drive context, and license plate bracket function (mounting hardware with plate alignment and bumper protection roles). Sourced from 2011 Journey SXT donor matching early-era configuration. One star off because finding early 2009-2010 rear bracket vs modern Pentastar-era variant took multiple inspections. But the Journey crossover heritage context was excellent.