What 679 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chrysler Town And Country

The Battery died and would not recharge. I checked the van. No lights were left on; no warning notifications. I replaced the battery. I had the seat behind the driver seat stowed because I had surgery on my left foot and needed to haul my knee cart with me. I no longer needed it so I raised the seat and found it had melted/burnt in several spots on the seat back. I was mortified! My van is a 2013 but is in great shape and only has 46,937 miles on it. It was parked in my garage and could have caused a house fire killing all occupants. I contacted Chrysler. They won't assist in the repair or replacement stating it hadn't been recalled and was no longer in warranty. Insurance denied the claim due to it being a part malfunction. Please let others know that the seat heater & wiring harness are defective!! I feel Chrysler should accept the responsibility pay for the repairs due to defective parts. Had this fire continued, they would be facing a much larger lawsuit such as wrongful death, etc.

NHTSA ODI 11696582

I was driving and all of a sudden I heard a loud pop and the driver side head rest deployed on its own. There was no accident, I was just was driving. The headrest struck the back of my head resulting in me having a sore neck.

NHTSA ODI 11535362

HEAD REST ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE POPPED OPEN FOR NO REASON. I HAD JUST ENTERED THE CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR, AND THE HEAD REST POPPED OPEN AGAINST MY HEAD. I SEE THAT THIS DEVISE IS PART OF THE ANTI WHIP LASH SYSTEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT OF A STORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329465

WHILE DRIVING ON I-70 IN COLORADO MY DRIVER SIDE HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY 2013 TOWN & COUNTRY MINI-VAN. THERE WAS NOTHING HAPPENING, WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, THERE WERE NO BUMPS OR REASONS FOR IT TO DEPLOY. IT STRUCK ME HARD IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD CAUSING WHIPLASH. WE PULLED OVER AND THE HEAD REST LOCKING PIN AND COME OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE HEADREST. THE REASON WAS THE PLASTIC HOOKS HOLDING IT HAD BROKEN. WE PULLED IT TOGETHER AND WRAPPED IT WITH A STRAP.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11312047

ON 8/15/19, MY 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RIDING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON THE CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE HEADREST POPPED OUT AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD THROWING MY HEAD FORWARD CAUSING MY HAT AND SUNGLASSES TO FLY INTO THE DASHBOARD. MY NECK WAS SORE FOR A DAY OR 2 BUT I DO NOT HAVE LINGERING PHYSICAL ISSUES THAT I KNOW OF. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA THE MOPAR WEBSITE CHAT AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHICH QUOTED ME $700 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HEADREST. UPON INSPECTION, THE THIN PLASTIC MOUNT THAT RETAINS THE METAL RELEASE BAR CRUMBLED CAUSING THE HEADREST TO DEPLOY. THIS IS APPARENTLY AN ISSUE AS I HAVE READ ON CAR FORUMS HUNDREDS OF ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME HEADREST. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST CHRYSLER FOR THIS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF A DRIVER IS HIT IN THE HEAD WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11245407

THE FRONT PASSENGER HEADREST POPPED OPEN, HITTING MY HEAD, WHILE WE WERE SITTING IN THE PARKED CAR (AT TACO BELL EATING). IT WILL NOT GO BACK IN PLACE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $800 TO REPLACE IT AND CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT OTHER VIN FROM THAT YEAR HAVE RECALLS BUT NOT MINE?! THEY WILL NOT HELP REPLACE THE DEPLOYED HEADREST.

NHTSA ODI 11170936

THE DRIVER-SIDE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT FIRED WITHOUT PROVOCATION WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT HIT MY WIFE IN THE HEAD. THE PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE THE HEAD REST ARE BROKEN AND CHALKY, LIKE PLASTIC LEFT TO SIT IN THE SUN TOO LONG. THIS PART IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11096783

YESTERDAY MY 69 YEAR OLD MOTHER GOT INTO THE 2ND ROW CAPTAIN SEAT OF MY VAN. I WAS BUCKLING MY SON INTO THE OTHER CAPTAIN SEAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE SCREAMED. SHE PULLED THE LEVER ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK AND THE HEADREST SNAPPED FORWARD WITH INCREDIBLE FORCE AND ALMOST KNOCKED HER OUT. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED SO I INVESTIGATED.... THE LEVER THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TILT THE SEAT BACK IS ALSO THE SAME LEVER THAT RELEASES THE SEAT FROM THE FLOORBOARD AND SNAPS IT FORWARD SO THAT IT IS FOLDED UP TO GO DOWN INTO THE FLOOR FOR STORAGE. SO, IF YOU PULL THAT LEVER ALL THE WAY UP - THE SEAT SNAPS OUT OF THE FLOOR AND FOLDS UP LIKE A ACCORDION WITH A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE. IF YOU GENTLY PULL THAT LEVER UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY, IT ALLOWS YOU TO ADJUST THE TILT OF THE SEAT BACK. IN OTHER WORDS, ALLOWS YOU TO RECLINE OR SIT UP MORE. I WAS SHOCKED!!! IF THAT HEADREST SNAPS FORWARD WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO ALMOST KNOCK OUT A FULL GROWN ADULT, WHAT WOULD IT DO TO A CHILD? HOW IS A CHILD SUPPOSED TO KNOW NOT TO PULL THE LEVER UP ALL THE WAY? HOW CAN I PREVENT MY KIDS FROM PULLING THAT LEVER? THERE'S NO WAY TO LOCK IT. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME IN A STATIONARY POSITION. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11093846

WE RENTED THE CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN TO TRANSPORT OUR FAMILY WHILE ON VACATION. A COUPLE OF DAYS INTO OUR VACATION, I PLACED MY RIGHT HAND AT THE TOP OF THE CAPTAIN SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VAN. I THEN USED MY LEFT HAND TO TRIGGER THE LEVER ON THE SEAT TO LEAN IT FORWARD SO ONE OF MY CHILDREN COULD GET OUT OF THE BACKSEAT MORE EASILY. THE HEADREST SNAPPED DOWN HITTING BOTH MY RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER AND MY RIGHT RING FINGER. THE POST OF THE HEAD REST BRUISED MY MIDDLE FINGER FROM THE TIP OF MY FINGER TO THE MIDDLE KNUCKLE. MY RING FINGER WAS PINCHED IN THE SLIT ON THE TOP OF THE SEAT WHERE THE POST ON THE HEADREST GOES WHEN THE SEAT FOLDS UP. WHEN MY FINGER WAS CRUSHED IN THE SLIT ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT, THE PAD OF MY RIGHT RING FINGER WAS CUT IN A SEMI-CIRCULAR SHAPE AND THE SKIN WAS PEELED BACK FROM THE FLESH. THE INJURY ON MY FINGER REQUIRED A TRIP TO URGENT CARE AND 4 STITCHES. IT TOOK ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MONTHS FOR THE INJURY TO HEAL. NOW, THE TIP OF MY FINGER IS SCAR TISSUE, WITH NO FEELING EXCEPT UNDERNEATH THE SCAR TISSUE WHERE THERE ARE STILL NERVES. I AM CURRENTLY UNABLE TO USE THE FINGER FOR TYPING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE PRESSURE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE SEATS. THERE IS ONLY ONE LEVER ON THE SEAT TO PROVIDE FOR LEANING IT FORWARD, BACKWARD OR FOLDING IT COMPLETELY SO IT MAY BE STOWED. THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE SEAT FOLDS MAKES IT DANGEROUS. AS A RESULT, THERE SHOULD BE OTHER LEVERS AVAILABLE FOR ADJUSTING THE SEAT THAT DO NOT FORCE IT TO FOLD UP COMPLETELY. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A FAILURE TO WARN OF THE DANGERS OF THE QUICKLY FOLDING SEAT, EITHER FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY. THERE IS NO VISUAL WARNING LABEL ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH WARNS THE USER TO KEEP THEIR HANDS AND BODY OUT OF THE WAY OF THE SEAT WHEN TRIGGERING THE LEVER.

NHTSA ODI 10537894

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN 5 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER STARTED TO SCREAM. TURNED AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SECOND ROW SEAT HAD FOLDED ON HER AS THOUGH TO "STOW & GO". WAS SHOCKED THAT A) THE SEAT ALLOWS ITSELF TO FOLD WHEN OCCUPIED B) THERE IS NOT A SAFETY BUTTON ON IT THAT ENGAGES PREVENTING SEAT HANDLE FROM OPERATING AND FOLDING. CHILD HAD FALLEN ASLEEP AND STARTED TO SLIDE OFF SEAT. IN ORDER TO CORRECT HERSELF SHE PUSHED ON THE EDGE OF HER SEAT. THE SEAT APPEARED TO INTERPRET THIS AS A NEED TO "STOW & GO". CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL THIS HANDLE AND BE FORCED TO REPLACE WITH A HANDLE WITH A SAFETY BUTTON OR REPLACE ALL THE SEATS WITH SEATS THAT ONLY FOLD WHEN NO WEIGHT ON THEM IS PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501885