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

The contact owns a 2013 Chrysler Town And Country. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the ignition switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V373000 (Electrical System, Air Bags); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11681653

The driver side headrest airbag deployed. No one was hurt, this was a replacement recall part from December 2023. This was supposed to be safe, what if I was driving my family and friends around and this happened? We don’t feel safe. I left a message with the dealer and am waiting to hear back. No one has inspected it this time yet. No warning signs.

NHTSA ODI 11678603

The contact owns a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness underneath the seat had fractured, which could cause the air bags not to deploy during a crash. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11603032

I was enjoying holiday driving with family in my 2013 Chrysler Town & Country Limited when suddenly a very loud pop was heard, with a forceful strike to the back of my head being felt. Alarmed & dazed for a moment, it was observed that my driver’s side active headrest had just exploded forward striking me on the back of my head. Once off the highway and stopped, I discovered that the active headrest had actually come apart. From the damage inside the exposed headrest, this catastrophic failure seemed to be mechanical in nature with root cause thought to be STRESS FATIGUE for the plastic casement. In other words, this active headrest did not just randomly “go off” from an errant SRS command or an electronically manipulated trigger short. I observed the headrest’s metal latch pin to still be in the locked or reset position. Instead, the plastic assembly holding two (2) heavy coil springs ruptured unprovoked. When this happened, the front part of the headrest assembly rapidly propelled forward. Though the 2010-2016 Chrysler Town & Country active headrests are an integral part of the air bag or Supplemental Restraint System, THIS particular failure was NOT due to a SRS Control nor electrical malfunction. Rather, the plastic retainer struts surrounding the metal latch pin failed. Being that my head and neck were static in position with a small amount of clearance from the front face of the headrest, the propulsion of the headrest forward caused quite a sharp smack to the back of my head. This led to some residual neck strain for the balance of the day. I have not experienced any repercussions since that day of the incident, but I do believe this to be a SAFETY ISSUE for others who may be more age OR physically compromised. I’ve found through MOPAR tech forum and dealership research that the 2010 - 2016 active headrest FAILURE is NOT rare, but more and more COMMON to the Chrysler make. Please advise. Thank you so much.

NHTSA ODI 11602682

The passenger side headrest popped open without any impact. It has been inspected by a mechanic who stated that this was not normal for this to happen. The headrest contains an airbag.

NHTSA ODI 11584690

The passenger front seat head rest deployed on its own. It looks like a plastic pin inside the headrest broke and popped open by itself!!!! This is very dangerous. I should not have to pay for this dangerous manufacture defect!!! The vehicle was never in a accident!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11437026

Passenger side headrest airbag deployed into back of passenger’s head while the vehicle was moving at a slow rate of speed, approximately 25 mph on school/residential street.

NHTSA ODI 11428263

I have written an email today to: customerservicesinternational@fcagroup.com; communication@stellantis.com, investor.relations@stellantis.com about the following issue on my 2013 Town and Country Touring. I am hoping they will respond to my request asap. Here is the note (minus the personal details): On July 27, 2021, I went to my driveway and saw that something was amiss with the driver’s headrest. It seemed to have deployed for no reason. I Googled this and learned that it is a defective Active Head Restraint (AHR) system in many Chrysler vehicles, where the plastic breaks off and the headrest deploys unexpectedly when the car is not involved in an accident. I went to have a closer look and sure enough, the plastic piece in the headrest had broken off, causing the headrest to deploy. Because the plastic is broken, I cannot get the headrest to go back into place. This is definitely a defective part in the manufacturing of the vehicle. I am lucky that I was not driving at the time as I am sure it would have given me whiplash on top of the shock of having something like that explode behind my head which could have caused an accident. I read online that there are several class action suits in process for this exact issue against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. I don’t necessarily want to take part in the law suit -- I just want to get this headrest fixed so that the car is safe to drive again. How can such an important component of the car just give away like that, time and time again, and not be a recall? There have been other recall issues on this car regarding the airbag -- but not this headrest, although I believe that Fiat Chrysler is well aware of the issue. In any case, since it is not a recall issue, I am asking that you kindly extend my warranty to 10 years/unlimited mileage to cover this faulty headrest, and I will get it fixed as soon as possible. I am attaching pictures to show you the headrest, VIN, and odometer. Please rectify this situation. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11426810

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, THE PASSENGER HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, AND I WAS NOT REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ODI 11378127

PARTS IN THE HEADREST BREAK AND HEADREST POPPED FORWARD HITTING DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN BACK OF THE HEAD THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY ONE TIME THE SECOND TIME IT WAS MOVING ON A RURAL HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11375822

BOTH HEADRESTS DEPLOYED INVOLUNTARILY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE IGNITION WAS BEING BEEN TURNED OFF AFTER I PULLED IN THE MY DRIVEWAY. THE VAN WAS STATIONARY AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR CAUSE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT/. I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE HEADREST HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD WITH FORCE. WE WERE UNABLE TO RESET THE HEADRESTS AS THE PLASTIC CLIP HOLDING THE METAL ROD HAD BROKEN ON BOTH HEADRESTS

NHTSA ODI 11352680

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND THE HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WE WERE STARTING TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN AND THE HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED

NHTSA ODI 11342737

PASSENGER FRONT HEAD REST EXPLODED WHILE CLEANING. STATIONARY IN GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11321492

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARINA AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT 765 RIDGE RD 943 RIDGE RD, WEBSTER, NY 14580, (866)681-0102, FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE WAS PROVIDED TO THE MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11297945

SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON WHEN CAR IS MOVING THEN OFF THEN BACK ON WHEN IDLING

NHTSA ODI 11288326

AIRBAG STAYS ON.HAD IT CHECKED AN RESET.CAME BACK ON DAY LATER.CAN BE IN MOTION OR PARKED ON MY CARPORT.NOT ON RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI 11277804

A YEAR AGO THE FRONT OF THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SEAT POPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT BACK IN LATER BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE PIECE THAT HOLDS IT INTO PLACE WAS PLASTIC, AND IT BROKE. I AM NOW CONCERNED WITH THIS HAPPENING ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE HEADREST CANNOT BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11268340

AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON FOR MOST OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF AND THEN IN A FEW MINUTES TURNS BACK ON THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY

NHTSA ODI 11266647

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2013 TOWN & COUNTRY WILL NOT TURN OFF. AND I CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO TURN ON. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 11243791

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO HER BRAKE PEDAL TO THE PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS STEERING THE VEHICLE TRYING TO AVOID IMPACT WITH AN APARTMENT BUILDING. RED AND YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING AS THE VEHICLE PROCEED TO JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASH INTO THE APARTMENT BUILDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER, WHO WITNESSED THE CRASH, WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR FOR THE CONTACT TO EXIT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (PRESTON HOOD CHEVROLET SERVICE 212 HOLLYWOOD BLVD NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548 (877) 389-0395) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. WHILE THE CONTACT'S BLOOD PRESSURE SPIKED AFTER THE CRASH, IT EVENTUALLY STABILIZED AND DID NOT NEED FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. HOWEVER, AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED PAIN IN HER LOWER BACK AND HAD TROUBLE WALKING ON HER LEFT SIDE, SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEADACHES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *DT*JB *AS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11233066

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PASSENGER HEADREST DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY NO-ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS BROKEN AND SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY MALFUNCTION ON THE HEADREST.

NHTSA ODI 11219389

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE PLASTIC BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE RETAINING ROD IN THE 'ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM' BROKE (PASSENGER SIDE), PREMATURELY RELEASING THE HEADREST. THE HEADREST CANNOT BE RESET AS INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE BREAK. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER SIDE, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11205784

PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT CONTROL - CIRCUIT OPEN. CAUSING A LOST COMMUNICATION WITH RIGHT B-PILLAR IMPACT ACCELERATION SENSOR, LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE RIGHT DOOR TRACK IMPACT ACCELERATION SENSOR AND SEAT BELT LIGHT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11186653

DRIVERS PASSIVE RESTRAINT HEAD REST EXPLODED ON IT'S OWN, CAR WAS SITTING IN A GARAGE OVER NIGHT AND NEXT MORNING HEAD REST HAD DEPLOYED. IT SEEMS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM IN JUNE OF 2013. DEALERSHIP SAYS NO RECALL. COST $1000 TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11174280

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ALWAYS

NHTSA ODI 11162775