The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact became aware that the front passenger head restraint was damaged and unhinged. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contracted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on a smooth paved road at normal speed, the active head restraint on the passenger seat suddenly deployed without any impact or collision. The headrest struck the passenger in the back of the head, causing pain and a potential injury. The vehicle did not experience a crash, bump, or sudden stop. After deployment, the headrest could not be reset or latched back into place. This appears to be a mechanical failure of the active head restraint system. This defect poses a serious safety risk because it could injure the driver causing an accident and may deploy again unexpectedly.
NHTSA complaint #11748798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX]: Driving down a city street, had not braked or slowed down when I heard a loud bang behind me and something hit me in the back of the head. My son was in the car with me and said the headrest had exploded. I had nausea and a headache for a couple of days, which indicates a slight concussion. Saw my doctor the next day and he said to let him know if it got worse, which it didn't. Took the car to my dealership where I purchased the car, Bill Luke Dodge, Phoenix, AZ and they said the headrests were added to my cars warranty, but since my warranty had expired a little over a year ago it wasn't able to be replaced free of charge. I also need to get the passenger headrest replaced before it injures a passenger. It's almost $800 to replace each headrest. I had multiple items fixed under my warranty just before it expired and feel the headrests should have been replaced also. I would have requested they be replaced if I had been notified there was a problem with them. I was driving down a mountain with sharp curves approximately 2 hours before this occurred. If I had still been in the mountains there's no doubt I would have had an accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11744875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The drivers side active headrest deployed while the vehicle was unoccupied. It is not electronically controlled, so no warning lamps were illuminated. This appears to be a known issue with FCA but they offer no assistance with correcting the known safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11714424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving home in the dark and I heard a loud bang pop! It scared me at first I didn't see anything wrong but when I got home to looked I notice the passenger head rest popped out! I am happy that no one was sitting next to me. That could have been so scary. I have uploaded a picture of it not extended out. I was driving 70 mph going home on the interstate. No accident nothing. Just came out of no where. This was scary.
NHTSA complaint #11700947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The cover for the seat belt and airbag on the front passenger seat have become disconnected without any incident causing such. Possibly not allowing the seat belt or airbag to function properly. Also the airbag sensor & seatbelt sensor for this seat stopped working at the same time the cover became un attached to the frame. It makes the seatbelt very hard to use and not sure it would function properly in a wreck not so I think the airbag would be able to deploy properly as the sensor is also not working. I was told this was not covered under my warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11694123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, the driver’s side headrest, part of my 2013 Dodge Journey’s AHR (Active Head Restraint) system suddenly exploded for no apparent reason. I was alone in the vehicle, waiting to make a left turn. The sudden loud, sharp sound and impact to the back of my head startled and stunned me; I felt as if I had been rear ended. I looked back but there was no one behind me. Not knowing what had happened, I felt scared and light headed. I was still able to complete my turn but I pulled over to compose myself and ensure that I was okay. I didn’t become aware of the failure of the headrest until I returned home and my husband inspected the vehicle. As I write this incident report 24 hours after it occurred, I am experiencing soreness and discomfort in my neck and plan to seek a medical assessment. The vehicle is available for inspection until repairs are made. The manufacturer acknowledges that the sudden failure of this component is a defect for this vehicle but as yet it has not been the subject of a recall. No inspection of the head rest component by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11687948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11686440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was sitting, idling in my car when my active headrest restrain system in my passenger seat suddenly went off. I am lucky no one was in my passenger seat and that I wasn't driving at that time. I looked more into it and it looks like the plastic encasing the metal bar which holds the headrest together snapped. Googling online I saw that this is a common issue with dodge, jeep, and Chrysler cars. I am now worried my driver side active headrest restraint system could go off while I am driving and cause an accident, as the passenger one definitely flew forward fast when it snapped.
NHTSA complaint #11684112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11679457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with her son seated in the front passenger’s seat, there was a loud popping sound coming from the passenger’s side seat before the front passenger’s seat headrest exploded. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be inspected; however, the vehicle was not repaired due to a fractured clip. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11676587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING,THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADREST EXPLODED, HIT MY WIFE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND SNAPPED HER NECK FORWARD, ALMOST KNOCKED HER OUT. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS EXPLODED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (I'LL BET THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT WAS OVERLOOKED). I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE...I ADVISED THEM TO DO SOME ONLINE RESEARCH...IT HAS HAPPENED THOUSANDS OF TIMES! THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT COST ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE (TIMES TWO FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL). NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEADREST WILL EXPLODE! AS FOR THIS BEING A SAFETY FEATURE TO PROTECT AGAINST A REAR END COLLISION, IT IS NOT, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF SOMEONE HITTING THE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC I KNOW AND HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.
NHTSA complaint #11676161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The passengers side head rest came apart. It came apart so fast it was like it exploded. It was almost like it had an air bag on the inside of it. I just started the unit in our drive way, went to back out, and it came apart. I tried to reset the head rest but the plastic locking tabs on the inside no longer work. This needs to be a recall!
NHTSA complaint #11675486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.