What 548 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Dodge Journey

[XXX]: Driving down a city street, had not braked or slowed down when I heard a loud bang behind me and something hit me in the back of the head. My son was in the car with me and said the headrest had exploded. I had nausea and a headache for a couple of days, which indicates a slight concussion. Saw my doctor the next day and he said to let him know if it got worse, which it didn't. Took the car to my dealership where I purchased the car, Bill Luke Dodge, Phoenix, AZ and they said the headrests were added to my cars warranty, but since my warranty had expired a little over a year ago it wasn't able to be replaced free of charge. I also need to get the passenger headrest replaced before it injures a passenger. It's almost $800 to replace each headrest. I had multiple items fixed under my warranty just before it expired and feel the headrests should have been replaced also. I would have requested they be replaced if I had been notified there was a problem with them. I was driving down a mountain with sharp curves approximately 2 hours before this occurred. If I had still been in the mountains there's no doubt I would have had an accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11744875

The contact owned a 2015 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the interior of the vehicle was filled with smoke. No warning lights were illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was driven to the rear of a local gas station. The contact noticed the fire coming from the rear passenger side area of the vehicle. The contact and staff at the station began to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A Fire report was filed. In addition, the fire inspector informed the contact that the fire was an electrical fire. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11720452

1.) Air bags failed to deploy going 35mph during a car accident. Yes, this is available for inspection. 2.) Given the lack of air bag deployment, all of the passengers are suffering from injuries that would have been less severe. 3.) The vehicle is in a safe location until I am able to find direction for assessment of the air bags. 4.) This vehicle has not been inspected yet except photos. This has been reported to the police. 5.) No warnings. The air bags did not deploy during a car accident.

NHTSA ODI 11710139

We were driving down the interstate and my vehicle caught fire, there were no warnings on the dash and the vehicle was driving fine. Luckily someone pulled us over to let us know that something was getting on their windshield... Some kind of fluid... Were not sure what. After pulling over we seen fire dropping out from under the vehicle and within 5 minutes the vehicle was completely engulfed

NHTSA ODI 11662274

Drivers seat head rest deployed at a stop light which caused my head to jerk forward.

NHTSA ODI 11552106

I was sitting in the house and heard a loud boom, looked outside and my dodge journey was on fire. I called 911 to get to the fire department, and went outside with the fire ext. and the fire was on the left rear of the truck. I put the fire out on the outside but it was burning on the in side and could not get the doors open. The Bardstown KY fire department arrived and put the fire out. The fire department took pictures and are making a report. There is no reason this truck caught on fire. The wires were burnt on the tail light on the left rear and the inside of the truck. My insurance has pictures also Bardstown ky fire department

NHTSA ODI 11551518

Driver headrest exploded while driving on expressway.

NHTSA ODI 11467225

Drivers headrest airbag deployed while driving injuring my head and neck.

NHTSA ODI 11449055

The contact owned a 2015 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle wheels inadvertently locked. The contact daughter depressed the brake and the vehicle slid in the neighbor's yard and crashed into a tree. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's daughter sustained whiplash, upper chest pain, upper back pain and neck pain. The contact transported her daughter to the hospital, where it was diagnosed that she had sustained soft tissue injuries and muscle strain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The contact did not have the VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11444026

On Nov.18,2021 while driving my 2015 dodge journey suddenly felt like something slammed into the back of my driver seat, and into the back of my head. Come to find out my headrest airbag deployed. I feel this should be repaired at the expense of manufacturer. It is a defect that can cause injury to driver. I was not in an accident was just driving down the road. I have had pain in my neck and head since this occured.

NHTSA ODI 11441104

WAS DRIVING DOWN A NEW ROAD AT 35 MPH WITH NO POTHOLES AND MY DRIVER SIDE HEADREST EXPLODED AND STRUCK ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. NOW THERE ARE BROKEN PIECES WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY AND IT WILL NOT CLOSE BACK! IT NOW PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD WHILE *DT CONSUMER STATED HE REACHED OUT TO DODGE/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NOR IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11375787

HEAD ON COLLISION AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IT WAS RAINING AND THE OTHER CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT . HE TOOK THE LIGHT ON RED AND WE BOTH HIT HEAD ON . I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SIDE WINDOW . AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY HIT MY HEAD PRETTY BAD AND MY BACK AND NECK WERE IN PAIN HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK AND LOST MY ONLY CAR AND JOB . WENT TO THERAPY FOR A WHILE MY CONCERN WAS WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY . THE OTHER CARS AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD AN EYE WITNESS AND POLICE REPORT BUT I STILL LOSS THE BATTLE . STILL PAYING FOR A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK. PLS IF U CAN HELP ME RESOLVE THIS IT WILL BE A BIG HELP. I STILL FILL PAIN IN MY NECK FROM THE ACCIDENT. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE LEGAL ACTIONS I JUST WANT WHAT IS RIGHT . THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11374040

MY CHILDREN AND I WERE STOPPED STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON I-75 N IN ATLANTA, GA HEADED TO THE NORTH GEORGIA PREMIUM OUTLETS WHEN MY DAUGHTER'S HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE HEADREST WAS SUDDEN AND CAUSED HER TO WAKE UP FROM HER SLEEP. SHE STATED THAT IT WAS VERY PAINFUL AND CAUSED HER NECK AND HEAD TO HURT.

NHTSA ODI 11363459

AFTER BEING HIT DEAD ON TO THE BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE MY VEHICLE SWUNG AROUND AND HIT A POLE ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THEN BOUNCED BACK BEFORE COMING TO A REST. THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT AND BACK DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE HEAVY IMPACT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE THE WHEEL AREA TO COLLAPSE. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILED PHOTOS OF BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE IF NEEDED. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING FAST BUT I'M UNSURE OF THEIR SPEED AS I WAS CROSSING THE ROAD.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11354749

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY I CHANGED LANES AND SUDDENLY THE CAR JERKED AND STARTED GOING FASTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BEEPING , I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DID'NT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH, SOON AS I LOOKED UP I CRASHED ON MY DRIVER SIDE, NO AIR BAGS CAME OUT...I DROVE THE CAR HM, THE SENSOR STARTED BEEPING LOW KEY BATTERY..I CHANGED OUT THE KEY BATTERY AND TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR START SAYING NO KEY DETECTED, I THEN CALLED A LOCKSMITH, THEY HAD ME BUY A NEW KEY FOB TO REPROGRAM..IT DIDN'T WORK, THERE IS SOMETHING VERY MUCH ELECTRICAL GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11354455

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OPEN WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NOTHING HIT THE SEAT OR HEADREST, NO SUDDEN HARD BREAKING OCCURRED AND NOTHING HIT THE CAR. NOR WAS THERE ANY FORM OF ACCIDENT BEFORE OR DURING THIS INCIDENT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEADREST SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OPEN WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND WAS NOT RUNNING. SAME AS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE, NOTHING HIT IT, THE SEAT OR CAR. NOR HAD THERE BEEN AN ACCIDENT AT ANY POINT.

NHTSA ODI 11353428

THE HEADREST EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IMPACTED BY ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11337998

THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD DISLODGED WITHOUT ANY MAJOR FORCE. THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE BAR HAS CRACKED LEAVING THE HEADREST UNABLE TO SECURE BACK IN PLACE. THE TINY BAR THAT IS LOCKED INTO PLACE WITH TWO PLASTIC PIECES ARE STILL INTACT AND THE TWO PLACES THAT HOLD THE BAR HAS CRACKED OFF BOTH SIDES. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT AND SHE LEANED ON THE HEADREST CAUSING THIS TO ACTIVATE AND HIT MY WIFE'S HEAD FROM THE BACK WHILE WAITING FOR ME IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324337

WHILE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT ELECTRONICALLY RELEASE, BUT THE PLASTIC GOING AROUND THE RETAINING PIN BROKE. PASSENGER WAS HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BUT NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA ODI 11308224

THE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO IMPACT. IT IS SPRING LOADED AND POPPED OUT VERY FAST, IT LOOKS LIKE PLASTIC HOLDING A DOING BACK BROKE CAUSING IT TO RELEASE, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI 11288037

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE QUARTER PANEL OF HER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED VIC BAILEY FORD LINCOLN (501 E DANIEL MORGAN AVE, SPARTANBURG, SC 29302 (888) 349-4165) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.*DT *TR*JB *BF*JB *JB

NHTSA ODI 11277136

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP WHEN PROMPTED. ALSO, WHILE SWITCHING THE TRANSMISSION TO THE DRIVE POSITION, A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPE CORAL CHRYSLER (2200 NE PINE ISLAND, CAPE CORAL, FL) WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 64687641. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11266733

TACT RECALL WE WERE T-BONE BY RANGE ROVER, WHOSE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY, OURS DID NOT. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR THE OTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40-45 MILES PER HOUR. THE IMPACT WAS THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF OUR CAR MORE IMPACT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE; THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BROKEN.. NEITHER AIR BAGS LOCATED IN THE CAR DEPLOYED. OUR CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS $12,500.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11196829

I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHO WAS GOING 30-40MPH AND MY CAR IS VERY DAMAGED. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND SLAMMED INTO THE STEERWHEEL AND HIT THE TRUCK IN FROM OF ME AND STILL NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11164052

TAKATA RECALL . I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I NOTICED IT SMOKING I LOOK AND THE BACK WINDOW WAS ON FIRE SMOKING AND MY WIRING TO DOOR IS FRIED AND WINDOW SWITCH IS FRIED. *DT UPDATED 12/06/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11145178