Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Dodge Journey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Sometimes when I turn my car on the front screen won't turn on it will stay black, when I go to back up my rear view camera won't work, sometimes my two front windows won't roll down, my defroster won't turn on in the front, my blowers used to work where I was able to switch them to defrost, just face, or feet but it's just stuck on one setting and my passenger side blows hot air when the AC is on. In winter it's hard to see out my front window even when I let the car warm up, it will fog up while I'm driving and it causes me not to see and could potentially cause a major accident, also in the summertime when I need the AC for my children and it's not working properly can effect them as well, my car definitely should be on the recall list for several things that have been recalled, I feel unsafe to drive it especially with my babies in the car. It's my only transportation for anything! …
The other day I noticed my air bag warning light was on on my dashboard. I had my car hooked up to run the codes for the dash lights. It came back as the airbags in the drivers and passenger headrests had popped or started to pop. I had the headrests looked at and the black plastic cover on the back of it is partially coming off. There is a gap between the front of the headrest and the back of the headrest, big enough my finger can fit through. I was not in a car accident or anything like that, my car was parked for a few days and when I went to drive it, this is how I found it.
The contact's son owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 40 MPH, the headrest was deployed. The driver pulled over safely but could not reattach the headrest. The driver was not aware of any warning lights were being illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
While returning from a shopping trip with my mom the passenger headrest broke/exploded? It caused several small plastic fragments to fly from I guess inside and the headrest hit my mom in the back of the head. There were no lights to indicate a problem, no other vehicles around and we were only traveling 25 mph. No police or anyone else involved Ed. Wasn't sure what to do. I saw a recall for this on similar vehicles but mine is not included.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's seat independently moved up and down. In addition, the steering wheel independently moved up and down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I got in my car yesterday and the headrest of my driver's seat popped open. I am aware that they're was a class action suit against the manufacturer for malfunctioning headrest but I cannot find any recalls on this website for that issue. I would like to know if this is going to be covered, buy the dealership if I bring this in for repair.
My driver seat headrest had deployed somehow without getting into an thankfully I wasn't driving but I noticed it when I got into my car. The headrest also doesn't go back into place it seemed to have broke the clamps that hold the silver pole and the clamps that hold the silver pole is also locked.
The driver's headrest in my 2016 Dodge Journey has deployed and will not reset. The plastic pieces that hold the metal bar have broken. I have read about many other owners of Journeys, that are experiencing the same issue, yet there is no official recall. I have not taken it to be inspected.
After coming home and parking the car in the driveway, went out with my son and noticed the passenger headrest had been pulled out. Went and looked at it and noticed some of the brackets holding a metal bar in place had been broke off.
NHTSA investigations
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
Seat complaints in other Journey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2016 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the seats of the 2016 Dodge Journey, 9% of the model year's 389 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › head restraint (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Dodge Journey seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2016 Dodge Journey, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Dodge Journey seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.