U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Dodge JOURNEY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

386 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

56,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 240 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 113 of 386 complaints (29.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	81	21.0%
Engine operation	64	16.6%
Transmission and shifting	63	16.3%
Electrical and battery issues	49	12.7%
Steering behavior	47	12.2%
Fuel system concerns	2	0.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine

113

Power Train

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Service Brakes

Seats

Steering

Vehicle Speed Control

Engine: 113; Power Train: 85; Electrical System: 83; Unknown Or Other: 65; Service Brakes: 49; Seats: 34; Steering: 34; Vehicle Speed Control: 31

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 58; 50,000 to 74,999: 60; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 146 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2016: 12; 2017: 26; 2018: 43; 2019: 82; 2020: 57; 2021: 39; 2022: 27; 2023: 30; 2024: 25; 2025: 28; 2026: 17

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 81 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 64 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 63 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10883578 · 2016-07-08 (July 8, 2016)

I HAD 2016 DODGE JOURNEY BOUGHT FROM SUPERSTITION DODGE IN MESA ARIZONA. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF WHILE BRAKING AND ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING. WHEN ENGINE SHUTS OFF THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS COULD CAUSE FETAL ACCIDENT AND MAY BE DEATH. I CONTACTED DODGE TEMPE ARIZONA. I WENT TO THEM AFTER IT HAPPEN FIRST TIME AND THEY SAID NO ERROR CODE AND IT COULD BE A GLITCH!! THEN WHEN IT HAPPEN FOR SECOND AND THIRD TIME AND I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE AN ACCIDENT, I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND CONTACTED DODGE COMPANY. THEY OPEN A CASE # 29588…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883578 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10886143 · 2016-07-20 (July 20, 2016)

VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE DECELLERATING, BRAKING, STOPPED OR DRIVING. ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAIN OPERATIONAL (A/C. RADIO, GAUGES, ETC.) BUT BRAKING AND STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT. YOU MUST COME TO A STOP, PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW, TWICE TO MYSELF AND ONCE TO MY WIFE. TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE FOUND NO ISSUE SO NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I AM AT THE END OF MY OPTIONS AND FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY OPTIONS BEFORE ONE OF US IS HURT OR WORSE.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10886143 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10955117 · 2017-02-16 (February 16, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY SEAL, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 600.

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10957959 · 2017-03-01 (March 1, 2017)

THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T DOWNSHIFT CORRECTLY.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957959 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11152666 · 2018-11-20 (November 20, 2018)

I HAVE A 2016 DODGE JOURNEY ABOUT A MONTH AGO RAN OVER A LARGE RAIN PUDDLE WHILE TURNING IN TO GET SOME GAS. FILLED UP AND AS I'M DRIVING OFF ABS, BRAKE, AND THE SWERVING CAR SIGNAL KEPT COMING ON. MY FUEL GAUGE READER WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GO UP AND DOWN RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. COUPLE DAYS LATER WE HAD TOOK IT IN TO GET CHECKED OUT WAS TOLD MY FUEL SENSOR WENT OUT AND NEEDED TO GET A NEW FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS INSIDE OF IT. HAD IT FIXED AFTER WAITING TWO DAYS FROM OUR CAR GUY DROVE IT OFF THE RE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11152666 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11172842 · 2019-01-29 (January 29, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE JOURNEY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. RICK HENDRICK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (1468 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V907000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11172842 at NHTSA ↗