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

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

NHTSA ODI 11552106

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

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

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

ON 7/26/17 I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD IN EASTCHESTER NY GOING UNDER 25 MPH WHEN THE HEADREST RESTRAINT DEPLOYED AND INJURED THE BACK OF MY HEAD. WENT TO ER AND NEED TO SEE A SPECIALIST FOR INJURY. CONTACTED DODGE/CHRYSLER AND WAS TREATED LIKE I WAS AT FAULT. LEASE DEALER STEPPED IN AND VERIFIED THERE WAS NO COLLISON. DODGE HAS AN ENGINEER SCHEDULED TO INSPECT IT 7/31/17. WAS TOLD TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE FOR INJURIES BUT THERE WAS NO COLLISION!! ALSO, WAS TOLD TO USE UBER. LEASE DEALERSHIP FINALLY GAVE ME A LOANER. YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK IN THIS MESSAGE OF CAR. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/0FO2WK6JLLC

NHTSA ODI 11011571

WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 3/14/17, HE STOPPED TO HELP A FELLOW OFFICER THAT WAS STRANDED, HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS HELPING THE OTHER OFFICER HE SMELLED SMOKE AND LOOKED BACK AND SAW THAT IT WAS OUR CAR ON FIRE. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME,AFTER HE THOUGHT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE NEXT DAY HE DROVE THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP,WHILE ON THE WAY THERE THE FIRE RESTARTED,HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE SAT AT THE DEALER SHIP FOR 13 OR 14 DAYS BEFORE WE FINALLY GOT THE OKAY FROM CHRYSLER TO FIX IT. THE MECAHANICAL PART WAS FIXED, HOWEVER THE SEVER SMELL FROM THE SMOKE,BURNT RUBBER,AND PLASTIC WAS NOT. WE DID TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK,AND THE DEALERSHIP DID DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO GET THE SMELL OUT, THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE WE HAVE.SO WE HAVE HAD NO CHOICE, BUT TO DRIVE IT. MY BOYS BOTH HAVE SEVERE ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES, SO RIDING IN A CAR WITH A CONSTANT ODOR OF SMOKE AND BURNT STUFF IS EXTREMELY UNHEALTHY. MY HUSBAND HAS ALSO HAD A COUGH FROM THE SMOKE INHAILATION THAT OCCURRED, HE IS CURRENTLY COUGHING STUFF UP OUTTA HIS LUNGS. I HAVE MADE AT LEAST 20-25 PHONE CALLS TO CHRYSLER, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE BACK, WE HAVE NOT EVEN RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THEY SENT. I WOULD REALLY JUST LIKE TO GET SOME ANSWERS AND KNOW MY RIGHTS. ANY AND ALL HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ODI 10971556

I WAS REAR-ENDED AFTER COMING TO A STOP ON A HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. UPON IMPACT, MY BODY LUNGED FORWARD AND THE BACKWARDS LANDING ON THE SEAT, CAUSING IT TO RECLINE ALMOST ONTO THE 2ND ROW SEAT. WHEN MY BODY WENT BACKWARD, IT CAUSED ME TO UNHAND THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SEAT TO RECLINE OTHER THAN THE IMPACT OF MY BODY ON THE SEAT. I HAVE A POLICE REPORT.

NHTSA ODI 10956912

THE PLASTIC AROUND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HAS BROKEN OFF EXPOSING SHARP METAL, AS WELL AS BINDS THE SEATBELT UP PREVENTING PROPER USE. THE SEATS WERE USED AS THEY SHOULD BE, THE PLASTIC CLIP THAT LOOKS TO HAVE SECURED IT IS TOO FAR TO THE SIDE TO WITHSTAND A DRIVER OR PASSENGER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE IF THEY TURN TO THE SIDE. I WAS TALKING WITH A PERSON AT WORK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THEY OWN A JOURNEY AND HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAD 13K MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SO IT'S NOT AN OLD PLASTIC ISSUE. I MANAGED TO CUT MY LEG WHEN WEARING SHORTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE, SO IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10852990

DRIVERS SEAT, PASSENGER SEAT PLASTIC AROUND SEAT BELT ON SIDE OF SEAT BREAKS AND SEAT BELT GETS STUCK IN BETWEEN CRACKED AREA. MIDDLE ROW SEATS SIDE PLASTIC PIECE BREAKS ALSO, POPPING OFF EXPOSING METAL SHARP PIECE WHICH CAN CUT YOUR LEG OR HAND OF CLOSE TO THAT PIECE. VEHICLE IS 2015 AND HAS HAD RECALLS, CONTINUES BRAKE PROBLEMS AND JUST RECENTLY THROTTLE BODY AND CAM PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 10824379