44 of the
509 complaints about the 2013 Dodge Journey are about the
airbag system — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
85,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the air bag and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the cruise control feature became inoperable. The contact received notifications for Manufacturer Recalls: R61 and T47; and the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the air bag wiring harness and the ABS module water ingress were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred approximately five years later. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11756515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 267,000 milesRocky Mount, NCFire1 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V432000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that previously, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine oil pressure warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact managed to pull over at a local gas station and noticed black smoke leaking from under the hood. The contact stated that after she depressed the release hood latch button, the engine fire increased and rose in size. The contact was able to safely exit the vehicle. The contact managed to obtain a nearby fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire with the help of nearby pedestrians. The local fire deparment arrive on scene and filed a report. A police report was not filed. The contact sought medical attention for severe mental distress. The fire department deems the source of the fire was possibly due to engine oil. Upon further investigation, a local independent mechanic diagnosed the source of the fire as an engine main wireharness failure. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard, where it was diagnosed as a total loss by the insurance provider and later transported to the contact's residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 267,000.
NHTSA complaint #11721423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Douglasville, GA
AIR BAGS
Cusumer choice automotive 1706 lower Roswell rd. Sold me a vehicle with a branded title with /knowledge it was a total loss vehicle now the ABS and traction lights or on the seatbelt deployed light is on air sensor light on and brakes or grinding I purchased on 10-4- 2025 this is November-20-2025 I asked for refund and to cancel they say as is not sure this is a wreck or flooded vehicle
NHTSA complaint #11700612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palatka, FL
AIR BAGS
There was no damage to my headrest when I parked my car on the evening of: June 29, 2024. On Sunday morning; June 30, 2024. When I entered my vehicle. I learned that the driver seat headrest; airbag deployed/busted open for no apparent reason. My children travel with me in this vehicle. This is very, very dangerous!
NHTSA complaint #11597845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 132,000 milesJurupa Valley, CA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger’s side headrest air bag independently deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 132,300.
NHTSA complaint #11587296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cornelius, NC
AIR BAGS
I got in my car to go to work and noticed that the front headrests were busted open. I didn't not know that there were airbags in them, but apparently there are? The car has not been in an accident and was just sitting in my driveway. I have read up on this a little and it has happened to many other people as well. There is no reason for the cause, just a defect.
NHTSA complaint #11564840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poteet, TX
AIR BAGS
I was just pulling out of my driveway and it broke open air bag hasn't deployed but driver side head rest air bag compartment sounded like a small explosion but it broke open. There was no accident, I didn't hit anything just did it on it's own.
NHTSA complaint #11533807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tipton, IN
AIR BAGS
The front passenger head rest deployed while parked due to the plastic piece inside the head rest broke that holds the pin that locks the head rest in place.
NHTSA complaint #11485147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Baltimore, MI
AIR BAGS
Driver headrest deployed while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11444534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weatherford, TX
AIR BAGS
On November 26th as I was driving the headrest just popped and hit the back of my head, after doing a little bit of research I found out it's actually an airbag, nothing hit the back of the seat since I was the only one in the car, I'm concern as to how this had happened and if the other headrest will go off as well.
NHTSA complaint #11441765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,800 milesThibodaux, LA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was not yet performed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,800. The VIN was not provided.
NHTSA complaint #11437751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wylie, TX
AIR BAGS
Dodge Journey 2013 Headrest deployment while driving down the road for no reason.
NHTSA complaint #11427131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesGlen Burnie, MD1 injured
AIR BAGS
DRIVERS HEADREST BLEW, WHILE BACKING UP
NHTSA complaint #11386585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,968 milesHarrison, AR
AIR BAGS
MY WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS CAUSING PROBLEMS FROM AIRBAGS, MY WIPERS NOT WORKING NOW, SPEED-CONTROL WONT WORK., TRACTION CONTROL . CAUSING MY CAR TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSING MY CAR TO ALMOST ROLLOVER AS IT WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I KEEP HAVING TO CHANGE MY TIRES INCLUDING THE BACK TIRES THE MOST.THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED.THE LIGHT IS ON THE DASH, BUT NO ONE WILL FIX IT, I HAVE A SON WHO IS 14 YEARS OLD I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DEPENDABLE. MY SON HAS TO HAVE A LIVE AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER 100,000 ,MILES. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN I FOUND ALL THIS OUT. THEY SAID OR THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CAR DOES HAVE RECALLS BUT WONT FIX THEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU ,[XXX] PS: THERE ARE STILL OTHER ISSUES NOT LISTED ABOVE. THE CAR IS LEAKING OIL AROUND THE OIL PAN. I AM SHOCKED AS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A DODGE LOVER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11349045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesOcala, FL
AIR BAGS
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I WAS SITTING INSIDE WHEN THE PASSENGER HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY MY PASSENGER WASN'T SITTING THERE AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11342889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesPueblo, CO
AIR BAGS
I WAS WAITING FOR MY SON TO GET OUT OF PRACTICE. THE CAR WAS OFF AND I WAS SMACKED VERY HARD IN THE HEAD FROM BEHIND. I LOOKED BACK TO SEE THE THE HEADREST HAD POPPED OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I THOUGHT IT NEEDED RESET. BIT AFTER LOOKING AT IT, THE PLASTIC CONNECTION POINTS OF THE PIN HAD ACTUALLY BROKE AND THE HEADREST CANNOT BE RESET BUT NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A CRAZY PRICE.
NHTSA complaint #11342723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesMillsboro, DE
AIR BAGS
MY DRIVER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A NOISE AND WHEN I GOT TO THE STOP LIGHT I NOTICED IT HAD DEPLOYED AS WAS FULLY OPEN. CLEARLY THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. LOOK AT THE DODGE JOURNEY FORUMS AND YOU'LL SEE MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS ISSUE. THAT IS WHY I DID A SEARCH ON RECALLS AND CAME ACROSS THIS SITE AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, SO DODGE WE ARE WAITING ON YOU. PS THAT IS PROPERLY WHY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON..
NHTSA complaint #11327768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,455 milesParksville, TN
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ACTIVE HEADREST DEPLOYED, HITTING THE CONTACT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REATTACH THE HEADREST. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GARY MATTHEWS MOTORS (1100 ASHLAND CITY RD, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040, (931) 552-7100) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,455.
NHTSA complaint #11326449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lebanon, TN
AIR BAGS
DRIVER SIDE HEAD REST VIOLENTLY BURST APART DURING NORMAL OPERATION GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. NO IMPACT TO CAR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO CAUSE DAMAGE. THE IMPACT HIT THE BACK OF MY WIFE'S HEAD CAUSING DISORIENTATION AND THE FRIGHTEN AWARENESS SHE HAD BEEN STRUCK. AT THE TIME, SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF WHAT HIT HER UNTIL SHE NOTICED THE HEAD REST HAD COME APART. THE HEAD REST IS NOW SHOWING THE COMPONENTS OF THE MECHANISM AND DRIVING IS NOW DIFFICULT. THERE IS NOTICEABLE PLASTIC COMPONENTS THAT APPEAR TO BE SHATTERED OR DAMAGED INSIDE THE HEADREST.
NHTSA complaint #11325504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,000 milesFulton, NYCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THOUGH A YARD AND OVER AN EMBANKMENT RESTING AGAINST A TREE. FRONT END DAMAGE, AND DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 58-60 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THIS WAS ON A STATE RURAL ROUTE.
NHTSA complaint #11289046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gallipolis, OHCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A UTILITY POLE AT 28MPH. THE IMPACT WAS IN THE CENTER FRONT. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED USING BOSCH DATA RETRIEVAL SOFTWARE. I AM A CRASH RECONSTRUCTION TROOPER WITH THE OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. ALL DATA IN THE DOWNLOAD WOULD NORMALLY INDICATE THAT THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS WOULD HAVE ACTIVATED. THE CONCERN IS AS TO WHY NONE OF THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*DT *TR *DT
NHTSA complaint #11279837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesRED Wing, MN
AIR BAGS
I'VE HAD BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ACTIVE HEADREST BRAKE WITH OUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE BROKE WITH THE CAR RUNNING PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AT 75K, PASSENGER WAS STRUCK. THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE BROKE OVERNIGHT WHEN NO ONE WAS AROUND AT 85K, IN A DRIVEWAY. BOTH WERE BROKE AND NEED REPLACING, THE ACTUATOR WAS STILL IN THE LOCKED POSITION (NOT DEPLOYED).
NHTSA complaint #11241290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesBloomington, IL
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND STAYS ON - THIS APPARENTLY DISABLES AIRBAGS SO THEY WILL NOT GO OFF IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #11228736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesClearwater, FL
AIR BAGS
1. DRIVER SIDE HEADREST POPPED (AIRBAG) WHILE PARKED. THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS ILLUMINATED 2. ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE "BRAKE" LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENLY
NHTSA complaint #11208563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,560 milesSierra Vista, AZ
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #11207252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesLithonia, GACrash
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A LARGE TREE BRANCH THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE AT THE TIME. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE THAT WAS LYING IN THE ROAD AND THEN CRASHED INTO A BRICK MAIL BOX. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT SHE VISITED THE CHIROPRACTOR FOR SORENESS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V432000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11163486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD INEXPLICABLY TURNED ON AND KEEPS DOING SO INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL STAY ON, THEN TURN OFF AND REPEAT, WITH A BEEPING SOUND.
NHTSA complaint #11156116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Turlock, CA1 injured
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER HEADREST AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED INJURING PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11110144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,174 milesHesperia, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VICTORVILLE MOTORS (14617 CIVIC DR., VICTORVILLE, CA 92394, (760) 733-8484). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V432000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,174.
NHTSA complaint #11102421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesGeorgetown, TX
AIR BAGS
THE ACTIVE HEADREST HAS FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS DEPLOYED, BUT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESET THE UNIT, I NOTICED THE SILVER PIN THAT WAS DESIGNED TO HOLD THE HEADREST IN POSITION WAS LOOSE. THE SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT HELD THIS IN PLACE HAVE COMPLETELY BROKEN LOOSE, THUS DEPLOYING THE HEADREST. CLOSING THIS BACK INTO POSITION IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE. I CONSIDERED ORDERING A REPLACEMENT PART, BUT WHY SHOULD I BUY SOMETHING THAT IS LIKELY TO FAIL? I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD CHARGE TO FIX THIS FOR ME, AFTER BEING QUOTED $192 IN LABOR, I DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE HELPING ME WITH THIS. I'M GLAD THIS DID NOT SLAP ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS COULD VERY WELL KNOCK A DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS, OR CAUSE HIM OR HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY OPINION THIS NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I FOUND THE HEADREST OPEN WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO GO TO WORK. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. I CAN GET PHOTOS OF THE BROKEN HEADREST, I'M AT WORK AT THE MOMENT, BUT I CAN TAKE PICTURES TONIGHT AND UPLOAD TOMORROW IF NEED BE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11101699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.