2016 Dodge Journey Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Journey years
- More complaints than other years 5th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 388 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Journey. That ranks 5th out of 14 Journey model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (113 complaints, 29%), typically at around 64,244 miles. Complaints mention 19 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 388owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 19complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Dodge Journey problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 113 | 29% | 64,244 | “chrysler jeep ram” (11%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 87 | 22% | 65,000 | “transmission pump” (10%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 85 | 22% | 61,000 | “traction control” (9%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 65 | 17% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes problems | 50 | 13% | 34,250 | “traction control” (22%) | — |
| Seats | 36 | 9% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 34 | 9% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 9% | 56,119 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 26 | 7% | 69,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 18 | 5% | 49,642 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 3% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 3% | 95,365 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 2% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 2% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 2% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | 1% | 61,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 1% | 84,618 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 1% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 1% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 1% | 118,575 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 17,300 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 39,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Dodge Journey recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:software; vehicle speed control:cruise control; electrical system:wiring
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S89.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to April 18, 2016, 2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2015, to January 29, 2016, and 2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured August 15, 2016, to April 15, 2016. The transmission pump may seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure.
Risk: If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission pump, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S44.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Problem: 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 engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S08.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Vehicle entrapment (EA24003) — opened Aug 1, 2024, still open.
- Stall from Crankshaft\Camshaft Failure (RQ22002) — opened Jul 22, 2022, closed Jun 16, 2025.
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment (PE19014) — opened Sep 9, 2019, closed Feb 25, 2026.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact's wife owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The vehicle lost power while depressing the accelerator pedal in the middle of an intersection and narrowly avoided being struck by an 18-wheeler. The check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact and…
The ABS light came on and the Brake light came on plus the traction light is on. The car will not activate cruise control or the traction control either. We have no idea when it will completely stop working and causing an accident as a result. The problem has been identified as the ABS Brake Module…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driverâs side headrest exploded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,490.
An authorized Dodge dealer replaced the original rearview backup camera under warranty in 2021 with Mopar replacement part 56054158AG. The replacement camera later became inoperative, displaying a black or distorted image and eventually no usable rearview image when the vehicle is shifted into…
The rearview camera of my Dodge Journey, without warning, displayed an inverted screen in place of the rearview image. "A rearview image that is blank/black/blue or inverted reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash." I have received two safety recall…
Other Dodge Journey years
← 2015 Journey · 2017 Journey →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Journey | 65 | 1 |
| 2019 Journey | 102 | 1 |
| 2018 Journey | 236 | 6 |
| 2017 Journey | 199 | 2 |
| 2016 | 388 | 4 |
| 2015 Journey | 553 | 6 |
| 2014 Journey | 416 | 7 |
| 2013 Journey | 353 | 4 |
| 2012 Journey | 376 | 6 |
| 2011 Journey | 169 | 4 |
| 2010 Journey | 988 | 3 |
| 2009 Journey | 1,433 | 8 |
| 2008 Journey | 8 | 0 |
| 2007 Journey | 4 | 0 |
See all Dodge Journey problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Dodge Journey?
Owners most often report engine, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 113 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Dodge Journey?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Dodge Journey a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Journey model years, the 2016 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.