2016 journey problems

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Dodge Journey

Reliability

Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how used vehicles are holding up in 17 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical system.

2016 SUVs Reliability

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Dodge vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

No detailed data available.

Consumer Reports obtains its reliability data from a questionnaire that is sent to subscribers. In the questionnaire, we ask subscribers to note any problems with their cars that occurred in the past 12 months. They are asked to identify problems that they considered serious (because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime).

A typical model has about 200 to 400 samples for each model year. For some model years, typically those of older or less popular cars, we do not have a large enough sample size to provide results of statistical confidence.

There are several ways in which a savvy car buyer can still research the quality of a car.

Learn more about Car Brands Reliability Learn How To Avoid A Lemon Car

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• Crash Tests 2
• Journey Recalls 4
• Defect Invest. 1

2016 Dodge Journey

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2016 Dodge Journey

# 16 out of 18 in 2016 affordable midsize suvs.

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$ 11,715 - 15,845

Avg Price Paid

$ 20,995 - 33,695

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2016 Dodge Journey Review

Other Years:

U.S. News Rating

The 2016 Dodge Journey seems more affordable than most midsize SUVs, but a thirsty engine and a shaky expected reliability score cancel out much of its savings. Further dampening its appeal (and its standing in our rankings) are low safety ratings, an underpowered base engine, and a small cargo area.

Sleek, intuitive infotainment system

Versatile seating and cargo features

Low price for a midsize crossover

Poor safety and reliability scores

Weak base engine

Small cargo area for the class

What's New for 2016

Reshuffling of trim levels

Features and Specs

Seats 5 - 7

16-19 City / 24-26 Hwy

173 - 283 horsepower

Dodge Journey Rankings

The 2016 Dodge Journey's #16 ranking is based on its score within the 2016 Affordable Midsize SUVs category. Currently the Dodge Journey has a score of 7.3 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 46 pieces of research and data elements using various sources .

• # 16 in 2016 Affordable Midsize SUVs
• # 19 in 2016 Affordable SUVs with 3 Rows
• # 36 in 2016 Affordable Crossover SUVs
• # 58 in Used SUVs with 3 Rows under $15K
• # 121 in Used Crossover SUVs $10K to $15K
• # 173 in Used Midsize SUVs under $20K
• Critics' Rating 7.5
• Performance 6.8
• Total Cost of Ownership 8.9
• Interior 7.8

Where This Vehicle Ranks

2016 Chevrolet Traverse

$15,740 - $19,012 AVG PRICE PAID

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe

$14,541 - $17,210 AVG PRICE PAID

2016 Buick Enclave

$17,080 - $20,584 AVG PRICE PAID

2016 Mazda CX-9

$17,456 - $24,600 AVG PRICE PAID

2016 Nissan Murano

$15,294 - $18,916 AVG PRICE PAID

$11,715 - $15,845 AVG PRICE PAID

2016 Journey Photos

2016 Dodge Journey Overview

Is the 2016 dodge journey a good used suv.

Unless you need the absolute cheapest 3-row vehicle you can find, you should look elsewhere. The 2016 Journey is laden with black marks, like a low safety rating, an anemic base engine, and lower-than-average reliability – though a few interior perks attempt to offset these issues.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our Dodge Journey review includes far more than just one person's opinion. We collected professional evaluations from more than 40 sources and combined them with concrete data like fuel economy estimates, safety features, and performance specs to help you make an informed buying decision.

At U.S. News & World Report, we rank the Best Jobs , Best Hospitals , and Best Colleges to guide readers through some of life’s most complicated decisions. We've been ranking and reviewing the Best Cars since 2007, backed by a team with more than 75 years of combined automotive experience. To keep favoritism out of the picture, we maintain a separate advertising team and decline expensive gifts and trips from car companies.

How Much is a 2016 Dodge Journey?

The Journey’s purchase price is its primary strength. Its average price tag of $17,900 is several thousand dollars less than most other used midsize SUVs. Overall, prices range from $14,000 to $22,000 (based on 2,200 listings for the 2016 Journey on our site). The exact price you’ll pay depends on the vehicle's mileage, condition, and trim level.

See the Best Used Car Deals »

How Much Does the 2016 Dodge Journey Cost to Own?

The 2016 Journey's five-year costs for gas, repairs, maintenance, and insurance are $24,300. That’s similar to what you'll spend if you own a Hyundai Santa Fe , Kia Sorento , or Ford Flex .

Is It Better to Buy a Used or New Journey?

If you're set on buying a Journey, it's best to buy used. None of the faults that affect the 2016 Journey have been rectified for the 2018 model year. The new Journey still bears a history of subpar safety and reliability scores, uninspiring engines, and little cargo space. In fact, the only advantages of buying a 2018 Journey are its new car warranty and its standard third-row seats (only an option in the 2016 model). The fact that the MSRP for a base 2018 Journey ($22,495) is $4,600 more than the starting price of a 2016 Journey further solidifies the used model as the better buy.

Read about the new Dodge Journey »

You'll be hard-pressed to find a new SUV with more than five seats that costs less than a used Journey. That's because the Journey's price tag is one of the lowest among 3-row SUVs. One option is to step down to a smaller crossover SUV. These cost an extra $1,700 or so, but with the help of a cash back bonus or another new car deal , you might be able to get close to the 2016 Journey's average price. For example, the 2018 Honda HR-V , one of the least expensive 2-row SUVs you can buy new, will run you around $19,670 (before incentives).

See the Best New Car Deals »

See the Best New Car Lease Deals »

How Reliable Is the 2016 Dodge Journey?

Reliability is one of the 2016 Journey’s red flags. J.D. Power gave it a score of 2.5 out of five. That’s a below-average score for the industry, and one of the worst ratings in its class.

Read more about Journey reliability »

2016 Dodge Journey Recalls

At the time of this writing, three recalls have been issued on the 2016 Journey. The largest recall addresses a problem with an engine sensor that may work intermittently, causing the engine to stall. Additional recalls relate to the transmission pump and a power steering hose. Not all of these recalls affect every 2016 Journey, but a quick VIN search can reveal which ones are relevant to the vehicle you are considering. Make sure that any applicable recalls are addressed before you buy.

See more information on Dodge Journey safety recalls »

Which Model Year of the Dodge Journey Is Best?

Dodge first launched the Journey for the 2009 model year, and the 2018 Journey is included in the same generation. The crossover underwent a major refresh for 2011, but little has been altered in recent years (beyond minor tweaks to the cosmetics and trim levels). Scores are also similar throughout the generation, though the 2014 model scored higher in reliability than any other Journey thus far. For this reason – and its considerably lower price – the 2014 Journey stands out as the best model year to buy.

Compare the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Journey »

Which Used Dodge Journey Is Right for Me?

The Dodge Journey offers a range of options for shoppers. There are five trims to pick from: SE, SXT, Crossroad, Crossroad Plus, and R/T. You can also choose between seating for five or seven, two different engines, and front- or all-wheel drive. You'll find one of the best values with the Dodge Journey SXT. It comes standard with third-row seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and aluminum wheels, and it's available with the V6 engine and AWD.

See 2016 Dodge Journey trims and specs »

2016 Dodge Journey Safety

Score: 8.4/10.

The 2016 Journey's safety rating is below average for the class. It earned the lowest rating, Poor, in the small overlap front crash test (which mimics the corner of your car hitting an object) administered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS gave the Journey a Good rating for all other tests, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it four out of five stars overall, which is also below average for the class.

Additionally, the Journey doesn't come standard with any advanced safety features. A rearview camera is available, though many rivals offer one as standard. Some used Journeys may also come with rear parking sensors. In comparison, many competitors are available with advanced safety features that the Journey lacks completely, such as lane departure alert and automatic pre-collision braking.

2016 Dodge Journey Versus the Competition

Unless price is your sole consideration, other vehicles will serve you better in the long run. For example, compact SUV rivals like the Nissan Rogue and Ford Escape may technically be a class below the Journey, but they offer similar features for the money and are almost as spacious. Midsize rivals like the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe cost more, but they are larger and offer better performance.

Which Is Better: 2016 Dodge Journey or 2016 Dodge Durango?

It would be appropriate to label the Journey a Dodge Durango Lite. Both are categorized as midsize SUVs, with the Durango boasting a standard third-row seat, better crash test scores, and more powerful engines. You'll pay thousands of dollars more for these gains, though.

Which Is Better: 2016 Dodge Journey or 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?

A Mitsubishi Outlander costs about as much as a Journey, but it pulls ahead of the Dodge in one key area: safety. The IIHS named it a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ (its highest safety designation), and its available safety technology includes lane departure warning and forward collision avoidance.

Which Is Better: 2016 Dodge Journey or 2016 Nissan Rogue?

Though it's a compact SUV , the Nissan Rogue has more cargo space than the Journey. It also gets better fuel economy, has higher safety ratings, and is within spitting distance of the Journey's base price. You’ll get a more polished vehicle all-around, proving that you don't have to scrimp on refinement to save money.

Compare the Journey, Durango, and Outlander »

2016 Journey Performance

How does the 2016 dodge journey drive.

The Journey doesn't quite measure its zero-to-60-mph time with a sundial, but its four-cylinder engine delivers decidedly less power than most of its crossover rivals. It's paired with a four-speed automatic transmission (also trifling, as most competitors use at least a six-speed) that's slow from a stop. If you need to go anywhere quickly or want to take more than two people with you, the V6 engine is a worthwhile upgrade. While it's not the most impressive V6 in the class, the increase in performance is noticeable when climbing hills and passing on the highway, and your gas mileage won't be reduced by much. V6 models have a six-speed automatic.

This Dodge crossover's ride is quite nice, even over potholes and bumps. It leans heavily in corners, diminishing your confidence and comfort in higher-speed turns (on exit ramps, for instance). However, that's not unusual in these tall crossover vehicles, and the Journey's handling is still competent enough that it shouldn’t cause you undue stress.

Does the 2016 Dodge Journey Get Good Gas Mileage?

Unfortunately, the Journey's lackluster acceleration doesn't reward you with decent fuel economy: Its fuel rating of 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway is mediocre for a crossover this size.

2016 Dodge Journey Towing Capacity

You can't tow as much with a Journey as you can with many other midsize SUVs. Journey models equipped with a four-cylinder engine can tow up to 1,000 pounds, while V6-equipped Journeys can tow 2,500 pounds.

Read more about Journey performance »

2016 Journey Interior

How many people does the 2016 journey seat.

The Journey's best assets are inside, where you'll find high-quality materials and flexible storage features and seating. The first two rows are comfortable for five adults, and it can accommodate two more children or smaller adults in the available third row.

How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2016 Dodge Journey?

You can clip child safety seats into upper and lower anchors on any of the three seats in the second row. However, installing a car seat in the Journey using the LATCH hardware takes more time than you’d expect. The system’s faults earn it a Marginal rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for ease of use. Built-in booster seats are available for the second row, which is rare for the class.

2016 Dodge Journey Features

The Journey comes with a 4.3-inch touch screen, and an extra-large 8.4-inch touch screen is available in higher trims. The larger screen comes with Dodge's Uconnect infotainment system, which is one of the best setups on the market. It has an intuitive and smartphonelike layout, large text and icons, and a responsive screen. There are separate knobs for major settings like volume and temperature.

See 2016 Dodge Journey specs »

Read more about Journey interior »

2016 Dodge Journey Dimensions

Dodge journey cargo space.

There are plenty of storage bins around the cabin and under the floor, which is especially convenient given that the Journey's cargo area is one of the smallest among similarly sized SUVs. Two-row models have 39.6 cubic feet of space behind the seats, and 3-row models have only 10.7. Folding down all the seats nets almost 68 cubic feet of space in total.

Dodge Journey Length and Weight

The Journey is a 16-foot-long SUV. It weighs between 3,818 and 4,238 pounds, depending on how it's equipped.

Where Was the 2016 Dodge Journey Built?

Dodge built the 2016 Journey at its factory in Toluca, Mexico.

Other Years

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Journey Shoppers Should Also Consider

# 1 in 2016 Affordable Midsize SUVs

# 2 in 2016 Affordable Midsize SUVs

# 3 in 2016 Affordable Midsize SUVs

# 4 in 2016 Affordable Midsize SUVs

Dodge Journey Problems: 8 Common Issues (Explained)

The most common problems and possible solutions are listed below.

Table of Contents

Remote Keyless Entry System Works Intermittently

If your remote keyless entry system starts acting weird and only working sometimes, you might get frustrated.

It’s a huge inconvenience not to have technology work the way you expect it to. But, there’s an easy fix for the problem.

Probable Causes and Solutions

The most common reason your Dodge Journey remote keyless entry system may begin working intermittently is because there is a problem with the component’s software .

Usually, updating the software will correct the problem.

If you upgrade the software and continue to have problems with the remote keyless ignition system, you should visit a Dodge dealership and have the problem diagnosed.

If the problem isn’t related to a software update, it could be an issue with the keyfob itself. If the keyfob has gone bad, it might be necessary to replace the keyfob.

A Dodge-certified technician can also upgrade the software for you.

Unexplained Dampness Inside a Dodge Journey

If you enter your vehicle and notice unexplained dampness, it could create an uncomfortable ride and be upsetting. Afterall, water isn’t supposed to leak inside a vehicle.

But unexplained dampness inside the vehicle of the Journey is a common problem, and is easily fixed.

Most often, especially in models 2009 to 2018, unexplained dampness in the interior of the Journey is from a water leak .

Improperly sealed body seams can let water into the vehicle and create dampness.

If this is the reason your Journey is getting wet inside, the problem can be fixed by having the seals replaced and properly installed.

Engine Overheating Due to Coolant Flow Problem

If your Dodge Journey was made between 2009 and 2018, you may have issues with your engine overheating. It seems the problem can occur at anytime during the Journey’s existence.

Vehicles with as low as 20,000 miles have experienced this issue as well as Journeys with well over 100,000 miles too.

Usually, it needs diagnosed by a Dodge mechanic. But, there are easy solutions to prevent this problem from happening again.

If you have debris in your engine, it could cause a coolant flow issue.

If there’s a disruption in your coolant flow, the engine could overheat.

If not corrected, an engine overheating could cause serious damage to the engine. When debris blocks the cylinder head at the coolant port of the thermostat housing, the right amount of coolant won’t reach the engine.

Removing the debris from the engine and especially around this port fixes the problem.

Check Engine Light with Diagnostic Code P0339

If your check engine light comes on, it’s a good idea to have a diagnostic test to determine what the cause of the warning is.

If you get a P0339 code, there is probably a problem with the vehicle’s crankshaft position sensor.

This issue is most common with 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2016 Dodge Journeys. Also, check our list of typical reasons the check engine light appears .

The crankshaft position sensor check engine light code will cause intermittent loss of power to this component.

To correct this problem, a technician may be able to add a shim to the crankshaft sensor .

If this does not correct the problem, it might be necessary to replace the sensor and flex plate.

Inaccurate Speed Settings and/or Excessive RPMs

If you notice your Journey is revving high or showing that you’re driving excessively, you might have a problem with the vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM).

This is even more likely if you notice the problem when using cruise control.

Thankfully, inaccurate speed settings and unusually high RPMs can be related to an issue with the Journey’s software.

In most cases, updating the software for the powertrain control module (PCM) will correct the problem.

Updating the software can be done at a Dodge dealership.

Dodge Journey Seats Showing Signs of Corrosion

Dodge Journey 2009, 2010, and 2013 Journeys may show signs of wear, specifically around the seat frames.

If you notice rust around the vehicle’s seat frames, it’s important not to ignore the problem.

Instead, you should take the vehicle to a Dodge dealership to have corrosion inhibitor in the affected areas. There are also revised covers for the second row available to help prevent the issue from progressing.

Rough Idle after Cold Start on Dodge Journey with V6 Engines

2009 and 2010 Dodge Journey drivers have reported rough idling after a cold start .

The problem usually only occurs with Journeys equipped with a V6 engine.

Sometimes when this happens, a check engine light will come on. Diagnostic testing will show code P050D.

If your vehicle is showing a P050D diagnostic code, the rough idling after a cold start could be due to a problem with the powertrain control module (PCM).

After a mechanic diagnoses the problem, they can tell you whether a software upgrade will correct the issue, or if a replacement part is needed.

Dodge Journey is Stuck in Park

There’s nothing more frustrating then getting in your vehicle and realizing it won’t start. If your Journey is stuck in park, you will need to see a technician to have the problem corrected.

Dodge is aware of this problem and has issued a recall to correct the issue.

A Journey shifter getting stuck in park is likely due to the material used to create the shifter .

Making an appointment at a Dodge dealership will give technicians the opportunity to replace the parts and ensure you’re vehicle shifts every time you need it too.

Dodge Journey Brakes Wearing Out Prematurely

Some people go through brake pads faster than others, but if you drive a Dodge Journey, it might not be your fault. When the car manufacturer created the 2009 and 2010 Journeys, they did so with the best SUV technology and developed a crossover vehicle that was pleasurable to drive.

But they added brakes that were more suitable to a sedan.

The sedan brakes created a need for new brakes at just about 12,000 miles.

Dodge drivers filed a class-action lawsuit that extended the warranty of the vehicle’s brakes by three years.

If you notice your brakes have worn out quickly on your Journey, it’s a good idea to have them checked out.

Of course, it’s also important to have the parts replaced as needed to ensure the vehicle is safe to drive.

General Pros and Cons of the Dodge Journey

• Third-row seating
• Easy to drive
• Handles well
• Lots of storage compartments
• Optional V6 engine available
• Attractive styling
• Comfortable interior
• Problems with electronics
• Water leaks
• Rough idling
• Vehicle gets stuck in park
• RPMs revving too high
• Early corrosion on components
• Brakes wearing out prematurely

Go back : problems for all Dodge models here .

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ⓘ  The information in this article is based on data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall reports, consumer complaints submitted to the NHTSA, reliability ratings from J.D. Power, auto review and rating sites such as Edmunds, specialist forums, etc. We analyzed this data to provide insights into the best and worst years for these vehicle models.

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Best and worst Dodge Journey years — which to avoid

We explored the best and worst dodge journey years, pinpointing the models with the most issues and collecting honest opinions from owners, all to offer you an insightful overview of its historical reliability..

Before the discontinuation, the Dodge Journey was one of the best mid-size SUVs produced for a dozen generations, and Dodge didn’t give up on it due to reliability issues. However, that doesn’t mean you can just go ahead and buy any model as some model years have received quite a few complaints.

Don’t go searching through the market just yet, since our team decided to give you all the important details in one guide. We’ve scanned the NHTSA records on common complaints and recalls to give you a complete picture of best years to buy and worst Dodge Journey years to avoid . On top of that, we’ve gone an extra step as we reached out to real Journey owners for their accounts and experiences, so stay tuned for the details.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology .

How we rated the best and worst Dodge Journey years

During our evaluation of the Dodge Journey as a model, we’ve gone through the reports on various model years based on several sources. First, we relied on trustworthy organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and we went through their records including details on recalls and common driver complaints.

After that, we’ve done some more digging on Dodge Journey recalls through reliable platforms like Cars.com, as well as sources of authority like Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book. As mentioned, we wanted to give you honest Dodge Journey reviews and we could only do that by citing some forums with real experiences of previous drivers and Journey owners.

Most common Dodge Journey problems

The Dodge Journey might be a safe and reliable vehicle. However, it is not exempt from faults and flaws. Among the Dodge Journey most common problems you could run upon are brake problems, defective remote keyless entry systems, interior water leaks, or even damaged head gaskets, so we’ll discuss each of those in more detail.

1. Overheating engine

Engine issues are a common issue in faulty Dodge Journey model years. For the Dodge Journey, these problems happened in the 2009-2016 model years, causing overheating once they hit the 78,000-mile mark. This problem is likely caused by coolant flow challenges due to debris locking the cylinder head coolant port at its primary thermostat housing.

At first, the vehicle’s temperature light may turn on, but this worsens over time. Some Journey owners complained that their vehicles experienced engine power loss , leading to overheating. The vehicle may also develop coolant leaks, which become excessive for its overflow reservoir, causing coolant fluid to spill over.

These engine problems are usually expensive and dangerous, depending on where they happen. For a driver, you don’t want to encounter engine issues every day.

2. Brake problems

Brake issues were the most common troubles that plagued the Dodge Journey, especially its 2009-2010 model years. The brakes on these models wear out prematurely , which happens to relatively new Journey vehicles at about 30,000 miles. Some drivers mentioned that this issue has become severe, requiring them to replace their brakes every three months.

The abovementioned issues are among the few brake-related problems you could face if you purchase a problematic Dodge Journey model year. These issues are inconvenient and dangerous, especially for driving at high speeds. You want to avoid a vehicle that struggles with maintaining proper brakes. 

3. Defective remote keyless entry system

The Dodge Journey has many cool features, and the remote keyless system is supposed to be one of them. Instead, the keyless system is another Dodge Journey feature that has become problematic for drivers.

Many frustrated owners complain that the system doesn’t work correctly as it gives off either wrong key readings or the annoying “key not detected” message. The system sometimes interferes with the key fob, preventing drivers from locking or unlocking the doors. To fix this issue, owners may need to do a software update.

4. Interior water leaks

Some owners of the 2009-2018 Dodge Journey models have expressed discomfort caused by dampness inside the cabin. The cabin appears vulnerable to water leaks , typically at a low mileage of about 50,000 to 60,000 miles. According to complaints from owners, the driver’s seat floor of the Dodge Journey may become wet when they travel in the rain.

Other drivers complained that they noticed leaks near the side of the Journey, causing wet floors and carpets. Additionally, some drivers reported leaks near windows, headliners, and vents, and you may need a professional to fix the leaks and resolve the issue.

5. Damaged head gasket

This is another notorious Dodge Journey issue among vehicle owners. Drivers note that this problem commonly happens at about 100,000 miles. It might begin with performance issues and graduate to engine failure over time. This may be due to cracked or damaged head gaskets.

Some drivers have reported having leaky or blown head gaskets , causing severe damage to the engine. Experts recommend a compression test to verify if your Journey has faulty head gaskets. If they are defective, you may replace them yourself if you are a DIYer or have a professional do the job.

Worst Dodge Journey years to avoid

The Dodge Journey has had several great models; however, there are also some model years you should avoid if you intend to purchase a Dodge Journey. Below is a list of Journey model years to avoid:

Naturally, our team will get you through all these model years and their issues so you can have an easier time picking the most reliable Journey model.

First-generation Journey (2009-2012 model years)

The 2009 Dodge Journey was the first model of this generation, and it was associated with numerous problems and complaints from drivers. Its prevalent issue was with the brakes, and many drivers complained of frequent brake replacements within a short timeframe. These drivers point out that the vehicle is too heavy for the brake pads and rotors.

Other drivers reported that regardless of how gentle you are with the vehicle, it doesn’t stop the brakes from wearing out at 30,000 miles or earlier. Additionally, the braking power isn’t sufficient for the size of the vehicle and can lead to disastrous accidents in the worst cases.

Another issue of the 2009 model year was with its transmission, which caused rough gear shifting . Some drivers complained that shifting the vehicle out of the first gear was difficult, especially during cold weather. Also, several drivers report that their transmission fails at around 60,000 miles, causing them to abandon the vehicle.

The 2009 and 2010 models were also plagued by electrical faults that prevented the engine from turning over, which may be caused by the neutral safety switch losing communication with the shifter. Most drivers had to put their vehicles in neutral to get the engine to start up. Some drivers also complained that they experience these issues on other components like the horn, windows, radios, etc.

2011 Dodge model year also had issues with the brakes, but unlike the 2009-2010 models, which had brakes that required premature replacements , the 2011 model had brakes that made grinding and squealing sounds. In addition to the noises, drivers complain that their 2011 Journey shakes the steering wheel while braking.

Best Dodge Journey years

The Dodge Journey has several years, which drivers have confirmed to be reliable while offering remarkable performance. So, are you still wondering what are the best Dodge Journey years to buy? The best Dodge Journey years are 2005, 2017, and 2020. Still, there’s a full list of best-rated models:

These Dodge Journey models are some of the best years to date and provide excellent performance. If you are searching for the best Journey years to buy, these years are great choices, and they would give little to no problems without any cause for expensive repairs.

2005 Dodge Journey

Based on all the available NHTSA records and reliability reports, the 2005 Dodge Journey is the best model to date. It only received a few complaints including some engine cooling difficulties, but none of those reports were sufficient to place the model on a list of problematic years.

With a clean reliability record , the model scored a decent overall rating of 4 out of 5 based on reliable automotive agencies.

2017 Dodge Journey

As for the later model years, the 2017 Dodge Journey made it to the list as one of the most reliable options. It received model-specific concerns with some of the main complaints being related to A/C heater faults and electrical malfunctions.

2020 Dodge Journey

Finally, we can’t leave out the 2020 Journey model which also proved to be pretty reliable with just under 10 reliability concerns. Among those, drivers have mostly reported problems with seat belts and brakes, while the model received an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Cars.com and similar sources.

Is the Dodge Journey worth buying?

The Dodge Journey is an excellent SUV with remarkable performance. However, it doesn’t have a reasonable edge over its rivals, as consumers complain that the vehicle is made from cheap interior materials and lacks a host of safety features that can be found in most competitors.

If you’re eyeing versatile SUVs check out Ford Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid , Nissan Xterra years to avoid , or Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid . While these vehicles are known for their ruggedness and capability, it’s vital to consider that not all model years have lived up to expectations.

What is the most common problem with the Dodge Journey?

The remote keyless entry system is Dodge Journey’s most reported issue. According to drivers, the system gives off the wrong readings or the u0022key not detectedu0022 message.

Is a Dodge Journey a reliable car?

The Dodge Journey is reliable as long as you keep away from its worst model years.

How many miles can you expect from a Dodge Journey?

The Dodge Journey can last up to 200,00 miles under ideal maintenance conditions.

Should I buy a Dodge Journey?

Yes, you can buy a Dodge Journey; however, you want to avoid buying its worst years. Also, it would be best if you considered its interior before making a purchase. 

Filip is a lifelong car enthusiast with over 3 years of experience writing about cars and had worked as a mechanic apprentice for over 5 years, gaining hands-on expertise in automotive mechanics. At REREV, he combines his passion for cars with his comprehensive knowledge to provide readers with a unique blend of technical insight and engaging storytelling that sets the bar high for automotive content.

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Used 2016 Dodge Journey Crossroad SUV Review

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2016 dodge journey crossroad suv., most helpful consumer reviews, awesome affordable buy, edmunds summary review of the 2016 dodge journey crossroad suv.

Pros & Cons

• Pro: Available three-row seating
• Pro: practical interior offers floor-mounted cubbies and integrated booster seats
• Pro: optional 8.4-inch touchscreen is feature-packed and easy to use
• Pro: available V6 engine improves performance
• Pro: budget-friendly pricing.
• Con: Weak acceleration from the base four-cylinder engine
• Con: below-average fuel economy
• Con: missing some of the latest safety technologies
• Con: imprecise handling around turns.

Full Edmunds Review: 2016 Dodge Journey SUV

For 2016, the Dodge Journey is essentially unchanged.

Edmunds says

Are you looking for an affordable crossover that has three rows of seats? The 2016 Dodge Journey could be what you want. It's family-friendly, and its modest size makes parking a cinch. Read more to find out what else about the Journey might come into play during your daily commute.

Vehicle overview

If you are like us, you may be surprised to learn that the 2016 Dodge Journey is still on sale. Other than an admittedly thorough refresh in 2011, under its skin the Journey is pretty much the same as it was when the three-row crossover debuted in 2009. During that time, the Journey's rivals have all undergone complete redesigns to remain competitive, while the Journey watches time pass from the sidelines.

Is it a wagon or a crossover? The 2016 Dodge Journey blurs the boundaries.

To its credit, the Journey does still have some positive attributes. Its suspension provides a smooth ride even over the roughest road surfaces, and that, in combination with supportive seats and a quiet interior, makes the Journey an ideal companion on long road trips. Pricing is competitive, and if you need to take on more than five passengers, the Journey is one of just a few vehicles in its price range to offer a third row of seating or an optional V6 engine.

Time has not been kind to the Journey, however. In most other aspects, it is woefully outclassed by nearly everything in the segment. Both available engines are undesirable in their own way. The base four-cylinder is unexceptional and paired with a four-speed automatic that was starting to show its age when the Journey was first released. At least you can spring for the 283-horsepower V6, which delivers smooth and reasonably swift acceleration. Either way, the Journey drives straight ahead just fine, but trundles through corners clumsily and with a considerable amount of body roll.

If you need a vehicle with three rows, you may want to consider the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan . This minivan costs roughly the same as the Journey and offers greater functionality, with plenty of rear cargo space and enough room in the third row to comfortably seat a couple adults. If you're set on a crossover SUV, our top pick for a similarly sized crossover with three rows of seating would be the 2016 Kia Sorento . It's more expensive, but we think its up-to-date design and technology features are worth the extra expense. And if you don't absolutely need a third row, just about any small crossover will give you similar seating comfort and cargo space but with superior fuel economy and refinement.

Yes, the Dodge Journey is still around. But 2016 might be the time to finally stop believin' .

2016 Dodge Journey models

The 2016 Dodge Journey is available in five- and seven-passenger configurations. It is available in five trim levels: base SE, SXT, Crossroad, Crossroad Plus and R/T.

The SE comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, tinted rear glass, roof rails, dual exhaust tips (V6 models only), heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, dual-zone manual climate control, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a sliding and reclining second-row seat, a 4.3-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB port and an auxiliary audio jack.

Optional for the SE is the Flexible Seating package, which adds a 50/50-split third row and tri-zone manual climate control.

Moving up to the SXT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a unique front fascia, LED taillights, body-colored exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control for front seat passengers, floor mats and the Flexible Seating package.

Moving up to the Crossroad gets you 19-inch wheels, gloss black and chrome exterior trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, satellite radio and a cargo net.

The Crossroad Plus trim expands upon the Crossroad's feature content by adding tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery with cloth inserts, a six-way power driver seat (with four-way power lumbar adjustment), a fold-flat front passenger seat with hidden storage bin, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, an in-dash DVD player and an SD card slot.

The 2016 Journey's optional 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system is one of the best you'll find at this price.

The R/T adds a V6 engine, remote engine start, monochrome exterior treatment, unique 19-inch wheels, dual exhaust tips, a sport-tuned suspension and steering wheel calibration, automatic headlights, perforated leather upholstery with red stitching, heated front seats, a premium audio system and a 115-volt power outlet.

Many of the features on the upper trim levels are available on lower trims via option packages. Other available features (depending on trim) include the Blacktop package (gloss black 19-inch wheels, grille and exterior trim), a sunroof, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, integrated second-row child booster seats, a rear seat entertainment system and a navigation system (paired with the 8.4-inch touchscreen).

Performance & mpg

By default, the 2016 Dodge Journey SE, SXT, Crossroad and Crossroad Plus are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 173 hp and 166 pound-feet of torque. It drives the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg combined (19 city/26 highway), a decidedly subpar rating for a four-cylinder crossover.

Optional on the SE, SXT, Crossroad and Crossroad Plus but standard on the R/T is a 3.6-liter V6. It's good for 283 hp and 260 lb-ft and is matched to a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard (except on the SE, which cannot be ordered in a FWD/V6 configuration) and all-wheel drive is optional. We recorded a 7.8-second 0-60-mph time in a front-drive, V6-equipped Journey, which is a sluggish showing given this engine's output ratings; still, the V6 gives you plenty of punch in most situations. EPA estimated fuel economy for the V6 is 19 mpg combined (17/25) with front-wheel drive and 19 mpg combined (16/24) with all-wheel drive.

Every 2016 Dodge Journey comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, active front head restraints, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag. Integrated second-row child booster seats are optional on every Journey. A rearview camera and rear parking sensors are available as an option on the Crossroad Plus and R/T. Features such as blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning are not available, however.

In Edmunds brake testing, a Journey V6 FWD came to a stop from 60 mph in 124 feet, an average performance for this class.

In the most recent government crash tests available, the Journey received four out of five stars for frontal-impact protection. In crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Journey received the top score of "Good" in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength tests. Its seat and head restraint design was also rated "Good" for whiplash protection in rear impacts. In the agency's small-overlap frontal-offset impact test, however, the Journey received the lowest rating of "Poor."

The 2016 Dodge Journey has two personalities, depending on which engine you choose. The four-cylinder engine is noisy and really doesn't have enough power to get this heavy crossover moving with any sense of urgency, especially when loaded up with passengers. The outdated four-speed automatic transmission that comes with this engine does the Journey no favors in the fuel economy department, either. Accordingly, we'd avoid the four-cylinder entirely and step up to the 3.6-liter V6, which feels potent in any situation. Unfortunately, the six-speed automatic transmission can be slow to respond when a downshift is needed.

When equipped with the optional V6, the 2016 Journey is pretty swift for what it is.

Around town, the Journey provides a smooth ride. However, the steering is on the slow side, and you might find yourself having to make more hand movements than you would otherwise prefer. When driven harder through turns, the Journey's body leans noticeably. The Journey feels heavier than other compact SUVs and solid on the open highway, even over rough surfaces, but it doesn't inspire much confidence around corners.

Though Dodge seldom has enjoyed a reputation for high-quality interiors, the 2016 Journey does boast pleasing materials and textures throughout the cabin and solid-looking assembly. The gauges and dashboard have a functional and contemporary design that wouldn't be out of place in any number of higher-priced vehicles.

The available Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment interface is one of the best in the business. You won't find a system that's more straightforward to use or more pleasing to the eye, with large, readable typefaces and icons and sensible menus.

Families will appreciate the selection of clever storage places squirreled throughout the Journey's cabin, particularly the cubby holes in the floor. There's a fair amount of legroom behind the front seats, and the integrated child booster seats are a nice bonus. Also helping the family-oriented mission is the Journey's available third-row seat, which is bundled with a separate rear air-conditioner. This seat is far from adult-friendly, but it's handy if you need to shuttle a couple extra kids to soccer practice.

Lower all the seats and the Journey coughs up 67.6 cubic feet of total cargo capacity, which is about what you'll get from the best two-row compact crossovers.

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

The Edmunds TCO ® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2016 Dodge   Journey in North Dakota is:

Related Used 2016 Dodge Journey Crossroad SUV info

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2016 Dodge Journey - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

🔎 common problems of the 2016 dodge journey.

528 problems have been reported for the 2016 Dodge Journey. The following chart shows the 21 most common problems for 2016 Dodge Journey. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's engine and engine cooling with 105 problems. The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's power train (76 problems).

Table 1. Common problems of the 2016 Dodge Journey

📈 ppmy index and problem occurrence trend.

In our research we use the PPMY index to compare the reliability of vehicles. The PPMY index of a certain model is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year . The total sales of the 2016 Dodge Journey in the United States are 73,270 units [1] . If the total number of problems reported by Dodge Journey owners in the last 8 years is 528, and the age of the vehicle is 8, the PPMY index can then be calculated as

      PPMY Index = 528 / 73,270 / 8 * 1000 = 0.90.

For more information, refer to this page: A study of reliability comparison across Dodge Journey model year vehicles .

The following chart shows the number of problems reported during each of the service years since the debut of the 2016 Dodge Journey in 2016.

Table 2. PPMY Index and Problem Occurrence Trend

📊 compare the 2016 dodge journey with other model years.

When making the decision between buying a new or used Dodge Journey, the following table can be used to compare the 2016 Dodge Journey with the Dodge Journey from other model years. Note that the number of problems reported for the 2016 Journey is 528 while the average number of problems reported for the 14 model years of the Dodge Journey is 537.

Table 3. Compare the 2016 Dodge Journey with other model years

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• Electrical, Battery & Charging

2016 journey, power window problems

• windows buttons not working

By bynarie March 20 in Electrical, Battery & Charging

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Occasionally the power windows seem to stop working for a day or so but then they will start working again. What happens is that the windows will not go up or down, but you will hear the clicking noise like they are trying to move.. All 4 windows are affected. All 4 switches stop working at the same time and then start working again at the same time. So I'm guessing its not a motor issue. But is there any 1 component that would affect all 4 windows and switches at the same time? Thanks

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In the interior fuse panel is a 25 amp  circuit breaker. It feeds all the power windows.

There is another 25 amp circuit breaker  near it. For power seats.

You could switch them and see what happens.

It's up underneath the glove box. 

Shot in the dark, are you aware of the window lockout switch on the drivers switch panel? Try engaging it both ways

to see if it affects an ything. 

On 3/20/2024 at 2:18 PM, bynarie said: Occasionally the power windows seem to stop working for a day or so but then they will start working again. What happens is that the windows will not go up or down, but you will hear the clicking noise like they are trying to move.. All 4 windows are affected. All 4 switches stop working at the same time and then start working again at the same time. So I'm guessing its not a motor issue. But is there any 1 component that would affect all 4 windows and switches at the same time? Thanks

question ,,,,is it each window doing it with their door  button? or are you saying it is happening from the drivers door control buttons? there has been a wiring problem that is in the lower drivers door jamb that the wires are breaking / or shorting out 

A broken wire in the harness can cause strange issues as they can occasionally make contact and work...

I had to replace the harness  

On 3/23/2024 at 10:30 AM, larryl said: A broken wire in the harness can cause strange issues as they can occasionally make contact and work... I had to replace the harness  

What I have seen in comparing the strand count on wires of the same gauge, across a span of 47 years (my 1946 Plymouth compared to a 93 Chrysler T&C) is that they used a much higher strand count wire on the older car, when compared to the later model one.  More strands = greater ability to withstand repeated flexing.  And about the only place where there was more or less constant flexing on the old car was in the engine harness.  Incidentally, however, that's also where I saw the most wire failure in the 93. I would have expected to find it in the door to body harnesses.  But come to think of it, I'm not sure I did a strand count on those wires on the 93.  Should do that sometime, because they just may have used high strand count wire in those constant flex areas.

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Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?

The environmental protection agency says “forever chemicals” must be removed from tap water. but they lurk in much more of what we eat, drink and use..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[THEME MUSIC]

This month for the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency began to regulate a class of synthetic chemicals, known as forever chemicals, in America’s drinking water. But the chemicals, which have been linked to liver disease and other serious health problems, are in far more than just our water supply. Today, my colleague Kim Tingley explains.

It’s Wednesday, April 17.

So Kim, any time the EPA announces a regulation, I think we all sort of take notice because implicit in it is this idea that we have been exposed to something — something bad, potentially, lead or asbestos. And recently, the EPA is regulating a type of chemical known as PFAS So for those who don’t know, what are PFAS chemicals

Yeah, so PFAS stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They’re often called forever chemicals just because they persist so long in the environment and they don’t easily break down. And for that reason, we also use them in a ton of consumer products. They’re in makeup. They’re in carpet. They’re in nonstick cookware. They’re in food packaging, all sorts of things.

Yeah, I feel like I’ve been hearing about these chemicals actually for a very long time. I mean, nonstick pans, Teflon — that’s the thing that’s in my mind when I think PFAS.

Absolutely. Yeah, this class of chemicals has been around for decades. And what’s really important about this is that the EPA has decided, for the first time, to regulate them in drinking water. And that’s a ruling that stands to affect tens of millions of people.

So, help me understand where these things came from and how it’s taken so long to get to the point where we’re actually regulating them.

So, they really actually came about a long time ago. In 1938, DuPont, the people who eventually got us to Teflon, they were actually looking for a more stable kind of refrigerant. And they came upon this kind of chemical, PFAS. The thing that all PFAS chemicals have is a really strong bond between carbon atoms and fluorine atoms. This particular pairing is super strong and super durable.

They have water repellent properties. They’re stain resistant. They’re grease resistant. And they found a lot of uses for them initially in World War II. They were using them as part of their uranium enrichment process to do all these kinds of things. And then —

Well, good thing it’s Teflon.

In the 1950s is when they really started to come out as commercial products.

Even burned food won’t stick to Teflon. So it’s always easy to clean.

So, DuPont started using it in Teflon pans.

Cookware never needs scouring if it has DuPont Teflon.

And then another company, 3M also started using a kind of PFAS —

Scotchgard fabric protector. It keeps ordinary spills from becoming extraordinary stains.

— in one of their big products, Scotchgard. So you probably remember spraying that on your shoes if you want to make your shoes waterproof.

Use Scotchgard fabric protector and let your cup runneth over.

Right — miracle product, Scotchgard, Teflon. But of course, we’re talking about these chemicals because they’ve been found to pose health threats. When does that risk start to surface?

Yeah, so it’s pretty early on that DuPont and 3M start finding effects in animals in studies that they’re running in house.

Around the mid ‘60s, they start seeing that PFAS has an effect on rats. It’s increasing the liver and kidney weights of the rats. And so that seems problematic. And they keep running tests over the next decade and a half. And they try different things with different animals.

In one study, they gave monkeys really, really high levels of PFAS. And those monkeys died. And so they have a pretty strong sense that these chemicals could be dangerous. And then in 1979, they start to see that the workers that are in the plants manufacturing, working with these chemicals, that they’re starting to have higher rates of abnormal liver function. And in a Teflon plant, they had some pregnant workers that were working with these chemicals. And one of those workers in 1981 gave birth to a child who had some pretty severe birth defects.

And then by the mid 1980s, DuPont figures out that it’s not just their workers who are being exposed to these chemicals, but communities that are living in areas surrounding their Teflon plant, particularly the one in Parkersburg, West Virginia, that those communities have PFAS in their tap water.

Wow, so based on its own studies, DuPont knows its chemicals are making animals sick. They seem to be making workers sick. And now they found out that the chemicals have made their way into the water supply. What do they do with that information?

As far as we know, they didn’t do much. They certainly didn’t tell the residents of Parkersburg who were drinking that water that there was anything that they needed to be worried about.

How is that possible? I mean, setting aside the fact that DuPont is the one actually studying the health effects of its own chemicals, presumably to make sure they’re safe, we’ve seen these big, regulating agencies like the EPA and the FDA that exist in order to watch out for something exactly like this, a company that is producing something that may be harming Americans. Why weren’t they keeping a closer watch?

Yeah, so it goes kind of back to the way that we regulate chemicals in the US. It goes through an act called the Toxic Substances Control Act that’s administered by the EPA. And basically, it gives companies a lot of room to regulate themselves, in a sense. Under this act they have a responsibility to report to the EPA if they find these kinds of potential issues with a chemical. They have a responsibility to do their due diligence when they’re putting a chemical out into the environment.

But there’s really not a ton of oversight. The enforcement mechanism is that the EPA can find them. But this kind of thing can happen pretty easily where DuPont keeps going with something that they think might really be a problem and then the fine, by the time it plays out, is just a tiny fraction of what DuPont has earned from producing these chemicals. And so really, the incentive is for them to take the punishment at the end, rather than pull it out early.

So it seems like it’s just self-reporting, which is basically self-regulation in a way.

Yeah, I think that is the way a lot of advocacy groups and experts have characterized it to me, is that chemical companies are essentially regulating themselves.

So how did this danger eventually come to light? I mean, if this is in some kind of DuPont vault, what happened?

Well, there’s a couple different things that started to happen in the late ‘90s.

The community around Parkersburg, West Virginia, people had reported seeing really strange symptoms in their animals. Cows were losing their hair. They had lesions. They were behaving strangely. Some of their calves were dying. And a lot of people in the community felt like they were having health problems that just didn’t really have a good answer, mysterious sicknesses, and some cases of cancers.

And so they initiate a class action lawsuit against DuPont. As part of that class action lawsuit, DuPont, at a certain point, is forced to turn over all of their internal documentation. And so what was in the files was all of that research that we mentioned all of the studies about — animals, and workers, the birth defects. It was really the first time that the public saw what DuPont and 3M had already seen, which is the potential health harms of these chemicals.

So that seems pretty damning. I mean, what happened to the company?

So, DuPont and 3M are still able to say these were just a few workers. And they were working with high levels of the chemicals, more than a person would get drinking it in the water. And so there’s still an opportunity for this to be kind of correlation, but not causation. There’s not really a way to use that data to prove for sure that it was PFAS that caused these health problems.

In other words, the company is arguing, look, yes, these two things exist at the same time. But it doesn’t mean that one caused the other.

Exactly. And so one of the things that this class action lawsuit demands in the settlement that they eventually reach with DuPont is they want DuPont to fund a formal independent health study of the communities that are affected by this PFAS in their drinking water. And so they want DuPont to pay to figure out for sure, using the best available science, how many of these health problems are potentially related to their chemicals.

And so they ask them to pay for it. And they get together an independent group of researchers to undertake this study. And it ends up being the first — and it still might be the biggest — epidemiological study of PFAS in a community. They’ve got about 69,000 participants in this study.

Wow, that’s big.

It’s big, yeah. And what they ended up deciding was that they could confidently say that there was what they ended up calling a probable link. And so they were really confident that the chemical exposure that the study participants had experienced was linked to high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy induced hypertension.

And so those were the conditions that they were able to say, with a good degree of certainty, were related to their chemical exposure. There were others that they just didn’t have the evidence to reach a strong conclusion.

So overall, pretty substantial health effects, and kind of vindicates the communities in West Virginia that were claiming that these chemicals were really affecting their health.

Absolutely. And as the years have gone on, that was sort of just the beginning of researchers starting to understand all the different kinds of health problems that these chemicals could potentially be causing. And so since the big DuPont class action study, there’s really just been like this building and building and building of different researchers coming out with these different pieces of evidence that have accumulated to a pretty alarming picture of what some of the potential health outcomes could be.

OK, so that really kind of brings us to the present moment, when, at last, it seems the EPA is saying enough is enough. We need to regulate these things.

Yeah, it seems like the EPA has been watching this preponderance of evidence accumulate. And they’re sort of deciding that it’s a real health problem, potentially, that they need to regulate.

So the EPA has identified six of these PFAS chemicals that it’s going to regulate. But the concern that I think a lot of experts have is that this particular regulation is not going to keep PFAS out of our bodies.

We’ll be right back.

So, Kim, you just said that these regulations probably won’t keep PFAS chemicals out of our bodies. What did you mean?

Well, the EPA is talking about regulating these six kinds of PFAS. But there are actually more than 10,000 different kinds of PFAS that are already being produced and out there in the environment.

And why those six, exactly? I mean, is it because those are the ones responsible for most of the harm?

Those are the ones that the EPA has seen enough evidence about that they are confident that they are probably causing harm. But it doesn’t mean that the other ones are not also doing something similar. It’s just sort of impossible for researchers to be able to test each individual chemical compound and try to link it to a health outcome.

I talked to a lot of researchers who were involved in this area and they said that they haven’t really seen a PFAS that doesn’t have a harm, but they just don’t have information on the vast majority of these compounds.

So in other words, we just haven’t studied the rest of them enough yet to even know how harmful they actually are, which is kind of alarming.

Yeah, that’s right. And there’s just new ones coming out all the time.

Right. OK, so of the six that the EPA is actually intending to regulate, though, are those new regulations strict enough to keep these chemicals out of our bodies?

So the regulations for those six chemicals really only cover getting them out of the drinking water. And drinking water only really accounts for about 20 percent of a person’s overall PFAS exposure.

So only a fifth of the total exposure.

Yeah. There are lots of other ways that you can come into contact with PFAS. We eat PFAS, we inhale PFAS. We rub it on our skin. It’s in so many different products. And sometimes those products are not ones that you would necessarily think of. They’re in carpets. They’re in furniture. They’re in dental floss, raincoats, vinyl flooring, artificial turf. All kinds of products that you want to be either waterproof or stain resistant or both have these chemicals in them.

So, the cities and towns are going to have to figure out how to test for and monitor for these six kinds of PFAS. And then they’re also going to have to figure out how to filter them out of the water supply. I think a lot of people are concerned that this is going to be just a really expensive endeavor, and it’s also not really going to take care of the entire problem.

Right. And if you step back and really look at the bigger problem, the companies are still making these things, right? I mean, we’re running around trying to regulate this stuff at the end stage. But these things are still being dumped into the environment.

Yeah. I think it’s a huge criticism of our regulatory policy. There’s a lot of onus put on the EPA to prove that a harm has happened once the chemicals are already out there and then to regulate the chemicals. And I think that there’s a criticism that we should do things the other way around, so tougher regulations on the front end before it goes out into the environment.

And that’s what the European Union has been doing. The European Chemicals Agency puts more of the burden on companies to prove that their products and their chemicals are safe. And the European Chemicals Agency is also, right now, considering just a ban on all PFAS products.

So is that a kind of model, perhaps, of what a tough regulation could look like in the US?

There’s two sides to that question. And the first side is that a lot of people feel like it would be better if these chemical companies had to meet a higher standard of proof in terms of demonstrating that their products or their chemicals are going to be safe once they’ve been put out in the environment.

The other side is that doing that kind of upfront research can be really expensive and could potentially limit companies who are trying to innovate in that space. In terms of PFAS, specifically, this is a really important chemical for us. And a lot of the things that we use it in, there’s not necessarily a great placement at the ready that we can just swap in. And so it’s used in all sorts of really important medical devices or renewable energy industries or firefighting foam.

And in some cases, there are alternatives that might be safer that companies can use. But in other cases, they just don’t have that yet. And so PFAS is still really important to our daily lives.

Right. And that kind of leaves us in a pickle because we know these things might be harming us. Yet, we’re kind of stuck with them, at least for now. So, let me just ask you this question, Kim, which I’ve been wanting to ask you since the beginning of this episode, which is, if you’re a person who is concerned about your exposure to PFAS, what do you do?

Yeah. So this is really tricky and I asked everybody this question who I talked to. And everybody has a little bit of a different answer based on their circumstance. For me what I ended up doing was getting rid of the things that I could sort of spot and get rid of. And so I got rid of some carpeting and I checked, when I was buying my son a raincoat, that it was made by a company that didn’t use PFAS.

It’s also expensive. And so if you can afford to get a raincoat from a place that doesn’t manufacture PFAS, it’s going to cost more than if you buy the budget raincoat. And so it’s kind of unfair to put the onus on consumers in that way. And it’s also just not necessarily clear where exactly your exposure is coming from.

So I talk to people who said, well, it’s in dust, so I vacuum a lot. Or it’s in my cleaning products, so I use natural cleaning products. And so I think it’s really sort of a scattershot approach that consumers can take. But I don’t think that there is a magic approach that gets you a PFAS-free life.

So Kim, this is pretty dark, I have to say. And I think what’s frustrating is that it feels like we have these government agencies that are supposed to be protecting our health. But when you drill down here, the guidance is really more like you’re on your own. I mean, it’s hard not to just throw up your hands and say, I give up.

Yeah. I think it’s really tricky to try to know what you do with all of this information as an individual. As much as you can, you can try to limit your individual exposure. But it seems to me as though it’s at a regulatory level that meaningful change would happen, and not so much throwing out your pots and pans and getting new ones.

One thing about PFAS is just that we’re in this stage still of trying to understand exactly what it’s doing inside of us. And so there’s a certain amount of research that has to happen in order to both convince people that there’s a real problem that needs to be solved, and clean up what we’ve put out there. And so I think that we’re sort of in the middle of that arc. And I think that that’s the point at which people start looking for solutions.

Kim, thank you.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Tuesday, in day two of jury selection for the historic hush money case against Donald Trump, lawyers succeeded in selecting 7 jurors out of the 12 that are required for the criminal trial after failing to pick a single juror on Monday.

Lawyers for Trump repeatedly sought to remove potential jurors whom they argued were biased against the president. Among the reasons they cited were social media posts expressing negative views of the former President and, in one case, a video posted by a potential juror of New Yorkers celebrating Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. Once a full jury is seated, which could come as early as Friday, the criminal trial is expected to last about six weeks.

Today’s episode was produced by Clare Toeniskoetter, Shannon Lin, Summer Thomad, Stella Tan, and Jessica Cheung, with help from Sydney Harper. It was edited by Devon Taylor, fact checked by Susan Lee, contains original music by Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for The Daily. I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• April 19, 2024   •   30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
• April 15, 2024   •   24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
• April 14, 2024   •   46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’
• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma
• April 9, 2024   •   30:48 How Tesla Planted the Seeds for Its Own Potential Downfall
• April 8, 2024   •   30:28 The Eclipse Chaser
• April 7, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘What Deathbed Visions Teach Us About Living’

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Kim Tingley

Produced by Clare Toeniskoetter ,  Shannon M. Lin ,  Summer Thomad ,  Stella Tan and Jessica Cheung

With Sydney Harper

Edited by Devon Taylor

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Elisheba Ittoop and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

The Environmental Protection Agency has begun for the first time to regulate a class of synthetic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” in America’s drinking water.

Kim Tingley, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, explains how these chemicals, which have been linked to liver disease and other serious health problems, came to be in the water supply — and in many more places.

On today’s episode

Kim Tingley , a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine.

Background reading

“Forever chemicals” are everywhere. What are they doing to us?

The E.P.A. issued its rule about “forever chemicals” last week.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Fact-checking by Susan Lee .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

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