What 640 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Durango Srt

Seat headrest popped out while driving. First it was the passanger seat and the driver seat followed. Part is broken and unable to be popped in.

NHTSA ODI 11682426

The passenger seat head rest exploded without any impact to the vehicle. Fortunately, no one was sitting in the passenger seat at the time it exploded because it could have caused a head injury. After checking on the head rest, the plastic pin that kept it together broke.

NHTSA ODI 11679874

The head rest exploded out of no where - sounded like a gunshot while I was driving and pushed my whole head forward .

NHTSA ODI 11657429

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The passenger Active Head Restraints (AHR) deployed for no reason. I was sitting in in the passenger side seat talking to my wife, in the driveway, when the AHR deployed without cause. The head restraint struck me on the back left side of head with force. My neck is starting to stiffen up. Yes it is available for inspection. I will send pictures. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The force generated during the deployment of an Active Head Restraint (AHR) system is significant, I know because I was hit on the back of the my head thankfully I was not driving. My safety concern is two fold, one injury from AHR deploying inadvertently and elderly person might be at more risk for this type of injury. Two, AHR deploys striking driver while the car is in motion causing an accident. Also, this might be related to an open investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA Action Number: PE19014) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

NHTSA ODI 11616433

Active headrest deployed on its own. Never been in an accident. Dealer has verified. Unable to use seat because headrest sits too far forward. Fortunately my son wasn't sitting in the seat when it happened.

NHTSA ODI 11611466

While causally driving down the road, without warning, the passenger headrest on my 2013 Dodge Durango violently "exploded" forward. Thankfully, my son who was riding in the passenger seat, was sleeping with his head bent forward so it didn't hit him. Upon inspection (by myself), the active head restraint feature is held together by PLASTIC, which obviously failed. I searched on the internet and this appears to be a common problem, and each time it's due to this plastic clip failing. This is totally unacceptable. I have the headrest available for inspection. It was brought to the dealer who wants $950 to replace it. They said the warranty expired less than a year ago. Again based on internet research, apparently Dodge/Chysler just recently extended the warranty to 10 years for 2014 models (and possibly 2013?). How convenient to extend a warranty short of the period covered. Not only shouldn't I be responsible for the cost of replacement for such a dangerous feature, but what happens when I'm driving and the driver's side suddenly fails and I'm violently hit in the back of the head and swerve into on-coming traffic? Ironic that these "active head restraint" features are causing injuries instead of preventing them. These headreasts need to be recalled IMMEDIATELY before more people are injured or killed.

NHTSA ODI 11608206

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while pulling the vehicle out of a parking lot, the front driver’s headrest deployed without an accident or impact. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ODI 11594874

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving 55–60 MPH, there was an abnormal exploding sound detected. The contact pulled over and noticed that the driver's side headrest air bag had exploded without warning or impact. The contact sustained a headache, but medical attention was not provided. The contact called the local dealer, who stated that repairs were not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case and informed the contact that the repairs would be at her own expense. The failure mileage was approximately 171,088.

NHTSA ODI 11559712

The active head rest restraint deployed on the driver side while driving. The plastic holding the rod failed causing this to happen. Not very safe and concerned about the passenger side deploying.

NHTSA ODI 11559363

Was sitting in the car while parked and the drivers side headrest deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11545775

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver's side headrest deployed prematurely. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,820.

NHTSA ODI 11532919

The active restraint in the driver’s side headrest deployed on it’s own without the vehicle being in a collision.

NHTSA ODI 11532381

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while reversing into a parking space, the driver's side front seat headrest was deployed without impact. The contact sustained an injury to her head; however, no medical attention was received. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000.

NHTSA ODI 11516861

Passenger active head restraint deployed unexpected and without collision.

NHTSA ODI 11482584

I was driving about 40 miles per hour when the front passenger seat headrest exploded. The front cushion of the headrest just blew off. The seat no longer has a functional headrest. Now the airbag light is on.

NHTSA ODI 11481271

Was parked at school when the headrest on the passenger front seat just deployed and hit my husband in the back of the head. It just popped, sounded like a shot went off.

NHTSA ODI 11479443

The passenger headrest deployed with no warning. My daughter was sitting in the seat while we were driving at 40 mph when the headrest shot forward and hit her head. There was no accident and no collisions of any kind to cause this to happen.

NHTSA ODI 11468968

While my wife was driving the passenger seat headrest popped out for no apparent reason. The headrest will not pop into place. We are concerned with the remaining headrest in the car for fear they will pop out at any moment. Please let’s try to resolve this problem before someone looses a life due to a problem we know exists. Will you all also please send info on possible solutions. There are many forums stating solutions but the headrest will not pop back in. The suv was not involved in any collision for this to have happened. Please help

NHTSA ODI 11456445

The headrest has opened and nothing caused that to happen.

NHTSA ODI 11456089

Driver seat Headrest “exploded” open while I was driving, no one else was in the car, there were no warning lights that this was going to happen. The headrest remains in the same state if inspection is needed.

NHTSA ODI 11435177

Passenger side head restraint "exploded". We were backing out of a parking space and the thing popped open; no collision or sudden stop, just backing up.

NHTSA ODI 11427198

I was sitting in the vehicle while it was in park, idling, and the driver’s seat active headrest suddenly deployed. Nothing struck the vehicle to cause it to jar suddenly. I was sitting in my kids’ school parking lot dropping them off. When looking inside the deployed headrest, it seems like there is a broken plastic piece that possibly works to keep the headrest “latched.”

NHTSA ODI 11419183

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PASSENGER’S SIDE FRONT SEAT HEADREST AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11417555

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH

NHTSA ODI 11384617

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST SAFETY FEATURE DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS SITTING STATIONARY (PARKED) ON A CITY STREET. THE SAFETY FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO DEPLOY DURING A REAR END ACCIDENT TO PREVENT WHIPLASH. THE HEADREST BURST OPEN STRIKING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITHOUT THERE BEING ANY REAR END COLLISION OR MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO NO ONE SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE HEADREST TO DEPLOY. I CONTACTED TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. THE TWO DEALERSHIPS WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR ISSUES FOR MY VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COST WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI 11372685