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

I found the headrest exploded on the driver side when I got in the car in the morning. Apparently, this is common as I found it on the Internet while looking for a solution. Looks like a plastic part inside the headrest broke. AHR system inadvertently activated it seems. I’m glad I wasn’t in the car and it didn’t hit my head.

NHTSA ODI 11742667

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

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 that while stopped, the child sitting in the second row hugged his sibling, who was sitting in the front seat, and the front passenger’s seat headrest deployed. The contact was unable to push the headrest back down. The headrest struck the child on the face; however, no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that an unknown plastic item had detached from the head restraint. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 132,168.

NHTSA ODI 11656421

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

UNKNOWN. Inexplicably, the driver's headrest had deployed (see photos). I noticed it while opening the vehicle's driver door in a parking lot. The vehicle was not parked near any other vehicle. I brought the minivan to the closest Chrysler dealer. For more history please see text that immediately follows from my original 3/2024 communication to you. Original 3/24 Request #1488564 Case/Reference [XXX] The case concerns a driver’s headrest that deployed in 2022. On [XXX], 2022 I brought my 2013 Chrysler Town & Country mini-van to Schumacher Chrysler of Delray Beach, FL. After 2 days (on [XXX]) the service advisor informed me that their parts department didn’t have a matching headrest in stock and they would have to order one. At that time the vehicle had 68,530 miles. I followed up monthly, then bi-monthly, then quarterly until October 2023. At that point (XXX) I called your office where it was assigned case [XXX]. Your office told me to call Stellantis, which I did the next day. It became their case [XXX]. They told me that they’d contact the dealer, Schumacher, and I’d hear from the dealer “soon." I never did and I finally called Stellantis on [XXX] as followup; 4 1/2 months is a long time for “soon." Stellantis claimed they tried calling me in December 3 times. I never received any such calls or phone messages (and in checking caller id on my phone — which I basically never erase — had no record of any phone calls from either Stellantis or Schumacher. You’d think someone would have the courtesy to leave a message.) Stellantis told me yesterday that I needed to start-over; make the 25 mile round-trip drive to Schumacher (the closest Chrysler dealership) to “diagnose” the problem. What is there to “diagnose” on a deployed headrest that they, Schumacher, already saw and diagnosed? I am requesting that you, NHTSA, take this matter “under your wing." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11590638

Driver side front seat active head restraint deployed while vehicle unoccupied. Plastic holding metal pin or rod broken.

NHTSA ODI 11546601

Headrest deployed with no occupancy or impact. Vehicle was parked in the garage when this occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11535339

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

Today my wife was driving our 2013 Chrysler Town and Country. I took some pictures of the headrest popped open. I watched some YouTube videos about it to find out that it is a safety feature if the vehicle is in a rear end collision. This van however was not in an accident. Since it is Saturday, my dealer's service department is not open. I will have to call them on Monday.

NHTSA ODI 11533803

Just driving down the road and passenger head rest just exploded hitting my 17 year old son in the back of his head. no impact or collision just normal driving

NHTSA ODI 11531197

I was driving and all of a sudden we heard a loud pop and the passenger head rest deployed on its own. There was no accident, just was driving. Looked online to see if I could push back together, but learning about all the pieces, the plastic parts that hold the pin in broke as it was deployed. Will need to call the dealership now to get it fixed/probably entirely replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11531077

Passenger seat active head restraint deployed while vehicle unoccupied.

NHTSA ODI 11501750

Sitting in my parked car and the front driver side AHR deployed without cause and hit me very hard in the head.

NHTSA ODI 11483701

The front passenger headrest deployed . There was no collision, did it for no reason. The plastic catches broke causing it to deploy. If this had impacted my wife’s head it could have injured her, if this happens to the drivers side while someone is driving and impacts the driver it could cause them to lose control of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11474702

Passenger seat headrest blew open while driving to work today. No accident involved. Just bam! Looks like the plastic pieces holding a pin in place gave out.

NHTSA ODI 11427207

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

The active headrest restraint of the front passenger seat deployed, while the van was parked in our driveway. The plastic brackets were broken, so there was no way to reset the headrest. The vehicle was not in any type of collision when the headrest safety feature was activated.

NHTSA ODI 11426876

My 18 year old son was driving my 14 year old daughter on I97 in Maryland when the passenger seat active head restraints headrest deployed startling both of my kids. No injuries or accidents but pretty scary at 65 MPH

NHTSA ODI 11424053

THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST SPONTANEOUSLY BUSTED OPEN ABS CANNOT BE PUT BACK BECAUSE THE RINGS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE BROKE. WE WERE NOT IN MOTION. SOMEONE SAT IN THE SEAT SND IT HAPPENED WITHOUT CAUSE.

NHTSA ODI 11405311

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

THE DRIVER ACTIVE HEAD REST EXPLODED FORWARD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A LOAD BOOM HAPPENED AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD. THE HEAD REST IS STICKING FORWARD FROM THE REST OF THE PIECE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PLASTIC PIECE HOLDING THE ROD BROKE CAUSING THE HEAD REST TO SHOOT FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11374760

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

MY 20123 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS AN ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT HEADREST. IT MOVES FORWARD IN AN ACCIDENT TO LESSEN THE LIKELIHOOD OF WHIPLASH. MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED (SNAPPED INTO THE FORWARD POSITION) WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. I WAS PICKING UP A BAG FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS STARTLING TO SAY THE LEAST. I WAS NOT HURT, BUT I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS WHO WERE ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAVE BEEN HURT DUE TO THE HEADREST HITTING THEM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. I LOOKED AT THE MECHANISM THAT RELEASES THE SPRING-LOADED HEADREST, AND IT WAS BROKEN. SEVERAL PIECES OF BROKEN PLASTIC WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HEADREST BOX, AND A METAL BAR THAT SERVES TO HOLD THE HEADREST IN THE NORMAL POSITION WAS AT AN ANGLE WITH BROKEN PLASTIC AROUND IT. IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THE PLASTIC RETAINED THE METAL BAR, AND THIS PLASTIC SIMPLY BROKE AND RELEASED THE HEADREST TO SPRING FORWARD. IN MY ESTIMATION, THE PLASTIC HOLDING THE BAR WAS INSUFFICIENT IN STRENGTH TO SERVE ITS FUNCTION RELIABLY LONG-TERM. IT'S A BAD DESIGN. FORUMS ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM THAT THIS FAILURE IS NOT INFREQUENT AND SOMETIMES HARMFUL TO THE PERSON IN THE SEAT. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADREST IS ABOUT $700. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, SO THE HEADREST MUST BE QUITE PRICEY. SINCE THE HEADREST IS FUNCTIONALLY IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS AN AIRBAG, AND SINCE IT CAN CAUSE PHYSICAL HARM WHEN IT SUDDENLY BREAKS FOR NO CAUSE OTHER THEN DESIGN FAILURE, I BELIEVE THAT THE HEADREST SHOULD BE RECALLED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BEAR THE BURDEN OF REPAIRING A FAULTY DESIGN IN A SAFETY SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11350185

ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WITH NO CAUSE OR WARNING. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11350232