This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
We were driving down the highway didn't hit anything and the headrest airbag deployed. We were starting to slow down to turn and the headrest airbag deployed
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.
Head rest on the driver's side popped open for no reason. I had just entered the car, closed the door, and the head rest popped open against my head. I see that this devise is part of the anti whip lash system in the event of a crash. But there was no accident and the car was stationary in a parking lot of a store.
The seat belt release is sticking and won't clamp the seat belt. Engine had a slight tick when purchased an tucking has became worst. Electrical dvd is short and won't operate. Side panel on van and modern like mine missing.
A year ago the front of the headrest on the passenger seat popped out while driving on a city street. I attempted to push it back in later but it would not stay. I recently learned that the piece that holds it into place was plastic, and it broke. I am now concerned with this happening on the driver side. In addition, the headrest cannot be repaired.
While getting out of our van, the passenger side active head restraint deployed. After searching online, it appears that this is an ongoing issue with the vehicle. Fortunately, no one was hurt but could have easily been worse.
The front passenger headrest popped open, hitting my head, while we were sitting in the parked car (at taco bell eating). It will not go back in place. The dealership wants $800 to replace it and Chrysler claims that other VIN from that year have recalls but not mine?! they will not help replace the deployed headrest.
Friday morning, 09-28-18, I got in my vehicle to drive to work (vehicle in my driveway parked all night). I noticed the passenger headrest/active head restraint was extended. On Sunday morning (vehicle parked in my driveway all night), two days later, I get in my vehicle to go to church and the driver headrest/active head restraint was extended. I reviewed the issue on both headrest and noticed the plastic that holds the pin had weakened and broken. The pins are still locked in place by a holder or clamp. I stopped by the dealer and a service rep stated this is known to happen. It is not covered and I will have to pay +$500 to replace the active head restraints.
The passenger seat head rest had a plastic piece that broke spontaneously inside, and the front part of the head rest is popped out. I tried to reset it using the manufacture's instructions, but since the piece is broken, it will not go back together. The vehicle was stationary and unoccupied when this occurred.
The active head restraint (headrest) on the driver side of my van activated for no reason while it was parked. The vehicle has never been in a crash and has 110000 miles. I have not been able to reset the headrest. I took it to the dealership today and they said it would cost $759 to replace. After reading all the complaints about headrest issues in Town and country minivans, and the recall of over 800000 vehicles in 2013 for the exact same problem www.autonews.com/article/20130703/oem11/13130709941/Chrysler-recalls-840000-vehicles-mostly-in-U.S.-for-headrests, I am convinced that the Chrysler Town and country minivans should have been included in the recall. This is a major safety issue. What if the headrest would have activated while I was driving? please look into this. Thank you.
On or about the date reported in this claim the vehicle was at a stop in a parking lot space. Nothing happened to the vehicle and without warning the driver seat active headrest restraint, part of the safety system and designed to move up and towards the head in the case of a rear-end collision, activated and struck the driver in the back of the head throwing the head forward. No medical attention was sought. The vehicle was taken to a Dodge dealership to diagnose the issue and and the certified mechanic found no evidence/indication for why the active headrest restraint should have activated. Fiat Chrysler automobiles (fca) was contacted about the safety issue and a service ticket was created. Although no recall has been issued for this defective part, fca's response was that the vehicle exceeded the basic vehicle warranty coverage and that vehicle repairs would be the responsibility of the owner. The owner has found multiple other posts of this same situation online from other owners, including vehicles within fca's basic vehicle warranty where age and mileage were not a factor. At the time of this claim the vehicle is at the dealership for repairs. The repair invoice can be provided at a later time upon request by NHTSA.
The driver-side active head restraint fired without provocation while the car was parked. It hit my wife in the head. The plastic parts inside the head rest are broken and chalky, like plastic left to sit in the sun too long. This part is clearly defective but the dealership refuses to do anything about it.
Yesterday my 69 year old mother got into the 2nd row captain seat of my van. I was buckling my son into the other captain seat. All of a sudden she screamed. She pulled the lever on the side of the seat that allows you to lean the seat back and the headrest snapped forward with incredible force and almost knocked her out. I couldn't understand what happened so I investigated.... the lever that allows you to tilt the seat back is also the same lever that releases the seat from the floorboard and snaps it forward so that it is folded up to go down into the floor for storage. So, if you pull that lever all the way up - the seat snaps out of the floor and folds up like a accordion with a great amount of force. If you gently pull that lever up a little bit, but not all the way, it allows you to adjust the tilt of the seat back. In other words, allows you to recline or sit up more. I was shocked!!! if that headrest snaps forward with enough force to almost knock out a full grown adult, what would it do to a child" how is a child supposed to know not to pull the lever up all the way? how can I prevent my kids from pulling that lever" there's no way to lock it. The vehicle was located in the driveway of my home in a stationary position. I am happy to provide more information if you would like to contact me. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The driver head rest deployed while driving on the highway, striking the driver in the back of the head, causing momentary loss of control of the vehicle, but no accident. The head rest will not go back into normal non-deployed position after following the on-line instructions for re-setting the head rest.. after checking on the internet for other such problems or recalls, found that Chrysler dealers refuse to classify this as a manufactoring problem and will only repair this problem at owners expense. I saw that multiple other owners of the 2013 Town and country also had this problem. Please investigate this problem, I bought this vehicle brand new from a Chrysler dealer.
While in park, driver was leaning forward to reach something on floor when head rest shot forward. Inspection revealed plastic retainer had broken allowing the active head restraint to release. Safety concern is what if this had happened while driving with head near the head rest?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Waldport, OR, USA