2016 Dodge Journey electrical problems
85 of the 388 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Journey name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 45 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 85 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 19 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 4
Half of the 49 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 38,000 and 82,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
388 complaints in all about the 2016 Dodge Journey, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Dodge Journey electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The door locks continue to lock even if the key fob is in the vehicle. This happens especially in the mornings when it is cold
Vehicle not used 4 days, tried to start, the battery totally discharged, zero volts measured with a voltmeter. No apparent reason, nothing was left connected or powered on (i.e computer, phone, etc.) started with the help of another vehicle, the battery charged and works ok, the symptom did not recurred. I read several comments online.
2016 Dodge Journey. Consumer writes in regard to problems with vehicle that causes the battery to malfunction quickly. The consumer stated the battery in the vehicle failed four times and needed to be replaced. The vehicle would shut down without warning when the battery failed.
While driving on county road I came to sharp curve with an incline. As I entered the curve the power steering stopped working, brakes were very hard to depress and the vehicle came to a stop and would not accelerate, the engine was still running. I was able to shut off the vehicle and turn it back on and it worked as normal
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. While driving on an incline at 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power and rolled back into a ditch. There were no injuries. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the failure.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V332000 CriticalMay 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
- 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.
45 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 106241 Service bulletinJul 28, 2025
- LAMP - DOME
- 104974 Service bulletinJun 12, 2025
- LAMP - DOME
- 103774 Service bulletinMay 1, 2025
- LAMP - DOME
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Dodge Journey names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Dodge Journey
Source: the same files- engine problems 123 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 87 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Dodge Journey?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 85 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (22% of everything owners filed about it), and 45 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Dodge Journey?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V332000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Dodge Journey?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 62,000 miles; half of them between 38,000 and 82,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.