2016 Dodge Journey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
386 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Journey ran from 2009 to 2020 with the same basic platform, and its record is moderate throughout — brake wear, the four-speed automatic on the base four-cylinder, and the electrical system. The 2015 year carries the most complaints; the 2017–2020 years score between 71 and 93 and are among the cheapest three-row vehicles on the site to buy, if not to run. 2016 specifically: 386 complaints on record, score 65/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
The cheap crossovers: Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass and Renegade, used, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 386 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 38.6
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side headrest exploded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,490.
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 letters from FCA describing this exact issue, but the recall does not show when searching via my vehicle's VIN. I took the…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25-30 MPH, the engine made an abnormally loud sound. The check engine and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V273000 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 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. |
| 16V907000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 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. |
| 18V332000 | Electrical System:Wiring | 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),… |
| 16V461000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 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… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine113 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train86 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System84 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other65 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Service Brakes52 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Seats36 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
Other Dodge Journey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Dodge Journey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (113 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Dodge Journey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 65/100, computed from 386 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Dodge Journey's most common problem?
113 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Dodge Journey sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Dodge Journey cost to run per year?
About $5,903 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,515 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Dodge Journey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Dodge Journey, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 06/05/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Dodge Journey really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 386 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 386 NHTSA complaints on record (38.6/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (27.0/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems