Home · 2016 Dodge Journey · Complaints

What 383 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Journey

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (383)Crash / fire / injury (27)Engine (113)Transmission & drivetrain (86)Electrical system (84)Brakes (52)Seats (35)Steering (34)Speed control (32)Airbags (26)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (18)Fuel system (13)

5 of 383 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 8, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineFire

The engine/powertrain occasionally does not accelerate on the freeway causing us to backup traffic. This happens randomly and will eventually cause a major accident. I have contacted dodge but they want me to leave my car for 6 weeks with no loaner I am a single mother that is not possible. The car is under bumper to bumper coverage but they still wont fix the issue! Also my heated seats are stuck on high and often smell like they are going to catch fire! Again dodge wont help!

NHTSA ODI 11478120

Jan 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel systemCrash

VEHICLE WHILE DRIVE FINE FOR MANY MILES USUALLY AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BUT WHEN I NEED TO MAKE A TURN IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND WILL SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD OR POP. MY CAR WAS RECENTLY SERVICED DUE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT CRACKING IN AN ABNORMAL WAY ACCORDING TO MECHANICS WHICH COSTED $4200 I EXPECTED THE ISSUE TO BE SOLVED AFTER THE REPAIR BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE THERE WAS A HUMMING SOUND NOW WHILE TURNING I'M AFRAID THE PROBLEM MAY BE MANUFACTURER RELATED SINCE IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR

NHTSA ODI 11165513

Dec 7, 2017Transmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

TAKATA RECALL, RESEARCHING MY CAR VIN 3 RECALLS FLAGGED UP AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS MY CAR HAS BREAKING ISSUES THE BREAKS WORK AT TIMES AND NOT OTHER TIMES , THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CHANGE GEAR RANDOMLY AND WILL LUNG FORWARD WHEN STOPPING LASTLY IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT SO HARD ITS HARD TO DRIVE THE CAR DEALER SAID THERE IS NOT ISSUES WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11052951

Nov 17, 2017Transmission & drivetrainCrashFire

VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS HARD IN SLOW TRAFFIC. VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDS TO TURN OFF BUT ENGINE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL YOU PUT FOOT ON BRAKE PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND PUSH ENGINE BUTTON. THE DEALERSHIP RESETS CODE AND RUNS GOOD FOR ABOUT 200 TO 400 MILES AND HAPPENS AGAIN. BEEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS JERKY BETWEEN 30 TO 37 MPH AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHILCE STOPS.

NHTSA ODI 11046920

Jun 5, 2017Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlCrash

I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT OUTSIDE OF MY WORK AND THE CAR REVVED AND JERKED FORWARD; I HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS AND PILLAR AND SLAM ON MY BRAKES BECAUSE IT JUMPED OVER A CURB AND ALMOST HIT A BUILDING! THE PARKING SPOT WAS A LITTLE UPWARD SO I DID HAVE TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS

NHTSA ODI 10993188

Working with the data? Download all 383 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Dodge Journey verdict →