What 351 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Journey

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 ODI 11687948

My headrest randomly deployed/opened. I have contacted the dealership, and spoke directly, with Dodge; still no success. I have been trying to get this issue fixed for over a year; I still have a broken headrest that hurts my neck and makes it uncomfortable to drive. Please RECALL the headrest for 2013 Dodge Journey! This is my second form and NOTHING has been done yet!!

NHTSA ODI 11652174

The driver side seat headrest cushion deployed automatically. There was no car collision. I noticed the seat headrest deployed after returning to the car hours later. I liked into the interior back side of the cushion part and I saw broken pieces inside.

NHTSA ODI 11651269

We were going thru the park we did not hit anything nor where we going fast we were only going 14/15 mph . I was sitting in the pasenger seat and all of a sudden we heard what sounded like a loud pop and my head was hit by the head rest for no reason . We were not in an accident or anthing to cause it to just all of a sudden deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11637995

As I was driving to pick my son up from work at 10pm, I started to drive my 2013 dodge journey sxt and noticed my head position didn't feel right. I got to my sons job and as we were making our way to the gas station to get gas before we headed home my headrest hit me in the back of the head randomly. The active headrest sprung forward hitting me in the back of the head. Luckily I was not driving at that moment or it could have caused me to crash, being that it was night time and raining. I got home where I could get my flash light out and give it a good looking over and realized that it the clips on the inside of the active headrest broke. I tried to reset the headrest to dee if there was some other mechanism that would let it re-clip back in place and it just keeps springing forward. I have not taken it to get it looked at yet as I am writing you on the same night of the incident. I tool a picture of the headrest in it sprung forward state. I have also read alot of reviews on cargurus website about other dodge journey owners having the same issues. Over 20 complaints regarding this same issue. There were jo warning signs other than me noticing my head position felt strange before the headrest completely sprung forward.

NHTSA ODI 11604626

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard a loud explosion and was struck in the back of the head. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, and the contact observed that the driver's side headrest had unintendedly deployed. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11603329

We were pulling out of a parking lot on to the road and the riverside head headrest “exploded” open. We have looked and seen that some weee recalled but ours was not apart of the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11599864

There was no damage to my headrest when I parked my car on the evening of: June 29, 2024. On Sunday morning; June 30, 2024. When I entered my vehicle. I learned that the driver seat headrest; airbag deployed/busted open for no apparent reason. My children travel with me in this vehicle. This is very, very dangerous!

NHTSA ODI 11597845

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while her husband was driving out of the driveway, the passenger's side headrest abruptly exploded. No injuries were reported. The contact related to the failure with the Extended Warranty Program: Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment- X88 Warranty Extension. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, it was confirmed that the vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty extension. The contact received notification of the communication. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11592484

My headrest on my passenger seat employed during the night. My wife noticed it in the morning when she went to turn the car on for work. My safety or whoever would be sitting in the passenger could be compromised if the headrest would’ve went off while driving. We are worried now that our driver seat might activate for no apparent reason. That would put myself or anyone else on the road in danger.

NHTSA ODI 11540436

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the front passenger’s side headrest air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no reported injuries. The contact called the local dealer who informed her that the repair was not covered under warranty. The dealer referred her to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11509667

On November 2nd, 2022, while driving home with my teenage son in the passenger seat with his head leaning back on the headrest, the headrest spontaneously sprang/deployed and thrust his head forward toward the front of the car. When we got home, I looked into the headrest and found the latching pin broke away from the housing and deployed the headrest. This is available for inspection as I cannot put the broken headrest back into my vehicle. Fortunately, my son was not injured as far as we know. We will be having the local dealership look at the headrest tomorrow 11/5/22

NHTSA ODI 11492358

The driver side headrest has snapped from its plastic hinges inside that keep the front cushion part attached the the back plastic cover. It happened while I was driving with my children in the vehicle and could have caused an accident!

NHTSA ODI 11489471

My car was parked in the driveway and when I went to leave in my car I noticed the headrest felt odd. I got out of the car to inspect it and found that the active head rest had deployed. The vehicle has not been in an accident and was parked at time of incident.

NHTSA ODI 11467664

The passenger side headrest popped open when no one was in the passenger seat. Scared me half to death!

NHTSA ODI 11459336

I noticed today that the front passenger headrest popped apart, or deployed. I am not sure exactly what to call it. I had no front seat passengers.

NHTSA ODI 11444206

Active head rest deployed. Car was off.

NHTSA ODI 11423529

THE PASSENGER HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVEWAY. TRIED TO RESET HEADREST AND WHERE THE PIN IS MOUNTED IS BROKE. PIN IS STILL IN LATCH ASSEMBLY AND CANNOT BE RESET. AFTER GOOGLING IT WAS SUGGESTED I SEND A REPORT TO YOU. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ODI 11421877

ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT HEADREST ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. CAR WAS STATIONARY AND TURNED OFF. THE PASSENGER WAS BUCKLED IN AND HAD LEANING FORWARD TO OPEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE HEAD RESTS POPPED OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11366320

AS I WAS DRIVING THE HEAD REST DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SHOVED MY HEAD FORWARD CAUSING ME TO LOSE FOCUS

NHTSA ODI 11364753

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED. IT STRUCK DRIVER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

NHTSA ODI 11363816

PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED & UNOCCUPIED.

NHTSA ODI 11361586

DRIVER HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. LOOKED ONLINE SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST DODGE VEHICLES MADE AFTER 2010.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND HAD A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11361646

DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST SNAPPED APART WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11354162

THE ACTIVE HEADREST RESTRAINT DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11348599