2016 Chrysler Town And Country Interior & seats Problems

Inadvertent passenger side head rest deployment while driving with no collisions.

NHTSA ID

11739390

Incident

May 1, 2023

I am submitting this letter to formally express my serious concern and dissatisfaction regarding a safety issue that occurred and that, under only slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in a far more dangerous outcome. The situation I experienced was not only unacceptable but indicative of a potential systemic failure that warrants immediate investigation. The incident posed a clear risk to my safety and the safety of others. It is deeply troubling that such a failure was able to occur at all, and even more troubling that—had the conditions been marginally different—it could have led to severe injury or worse. This is precisely the type of preventable hazard that NHTSA exists to identify and address before it results in tragedy. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter thoroughly, determine whether similar incidents have been reported, and take appropriate action to ensure that this issue is corrected. Consumers should not be placed in harm’s way due to defects or oversights that compromise the safe operation of a vehicle or its components. This experience has left me with significant concerns about the reliability and safety of the system involved. I urge NHTSA to treat this as a serious complaint and to investigate promptly so that no one else is put at risk.

NHTSA ID

11736778

Incident

Apr 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s and driver’s side sliding doors failed to remotely latch properly. The contact had to manually slam the rear sliding doors for the doors to latch securely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was covered under Technical Service Bulletin: 23-001-25 (Sliding Door Lock(s) Inoperable Warranty Extension X98); however, the contact needed to pay for the door panels, which might crack during the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11705879

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Mileage

117,000 mi

Headrest literally exploded open while driving down the highway with my 15 yr old (who has had 3 brain surgeries) was sitting in the seat. The headrest is now split open and will not "close up". I had a Dodge dealership tell me it was a known problem and they said they would order me a new headrest but it's been 6-9 months and now they will not return my phone calls. Is this a broken active headrest restraint? Seems like a safety hazard for my family that I cannot get it fixed.

NHTSA ID

11686689

Incident

Feb 4, 2025

HEAD REST ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT DEPLOYED/MALFUNCTIONED UNEXPECTEDLY. YES IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. IT COULD HAVE HIT MY HUSBAND IN THE HEAD AS HE WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. NOW I AM CONCERNED THE SAME MALFUNCTION MAY HAPPEN ON DRIVERS SIDE WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. NO NO NO WARNING WERE GIVEN

NHTSA ID

11674076

Incident

Jul 12, 2025

The middle seat (driver side) was sitting properly, it clicked into place and wasn’t folded for months. It suddenly decided to fold on my child while we were driving. It hurt my child and it took an hour to get him to calm down and even be ok with going back into the van

NHTSA ID

11646386

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the locking mechanism of the driver's side rear sliding door had failed and the door could not be opened remotely or manually. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11622446

Incident

Oct 21, 2024

Mileage

62,000 mi

While parked in a parking lot, the active headrest restraint deployed, abruptly forcing my neck/head forward. The plastic piece inside the seat appears to be broken. After doing research, it sounds like this is a pretty widespread problem.

NHTSA ID

11614101

Incident

Sep 11, 2024

Found the front passenger seat headrest activated and separated from the frame after entering the parked vehicle. Unable to reset the headrest. It appears that the plastic frame that holds a silver locking bar broke. There was no rear end damage or known collision from the rear to this vehicle. The car had been parked for approximately 5 hours in 90+ degree weather in Illinois before reentering the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11610672

Incident

Aug 24, 2024

Driver side headrest deployed (AHR system) while driving at a speed of 55 mph with no accident. Driver bit tongue while driving. I have found many complaints of this issue online. Vehicle hasn't been inspected at this time since it happened a little over a week ago while on vacation. There were no warning signs that it was going to happen. Just purchased this 2016 Chrysler Town and County a little over a month ago and now have this repair to consider of a faulty "safety" system.

NHTSA ID

11605349

Incident

Jul 22, 2024

The driver's seat headrest went off. The leather front popped off from the backing. Inside you can see where there is plastic broken and we can't push the pieces back together. The pop of it going off was loud and thank goodness I wasn't driving on the highway when it happened. Vehicle was not in motion when it went off. We were cleaning out the van and wiping down the seat when it happened. It was literally a ticking time bomb and I'm afraid that the passenger side is going to do this too.

NHTSA ID

11602861

Incident

Jul 4, 2024

*Passenger front active headrest has broken the retaining plastic allowing the headrest to spring forward. *Yes * Not at this time *No *Unknown

NHTSA ID

11525517

Incident

Jun 5, 2023

The headrest on the passenger side burst open. From what I’m reading online due to a faulty plastic part from Chrysler. I was not in any accident. It burst on its own.

NHTSA ID

11520772

Incident

Apr 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently down shifted to first gear. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift 3rd or 4th gear. The contact stated that after the vehicle down shifted, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he quickly pulled the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger’s side sliding door failed to open as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the actuator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ID

11489789

Incident

May 18, 2022

Mileage

138,000 mi

WE WERE GETTING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER HEAD REST ACTIVATED AND POPPED OUT

NHTSA ID

11486096

Incident

Sep 21, 2022

My son was seated in the front passenger seat on his phone. The car was parked and not on. He was waiti for for me to get in. In his words the "head rest shot out" at him. Sure enough when I entered the van the head rest was deployed. I asked him if he sat down roo hard, was jumping around, anything that the van could have confused as a Collison. He said no, he was sitting like normal waiting for me playing on his phone. And then pow!

NHTSA ID

11461027

Incident

Apr 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the warning indicating the passenger side sliding door was unlocked had displayed and the ceiling light would remain illuminated. On several occasions while driving, the sliding door erroneously opened. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the door latch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 76,000.

NHTSA ID

11460405

Incident

Apr 6, 2022

Mileage

76,000 mi

The headrest came apart while car was parked and turned off. If the driver was behind the wheel when this happen, there is a good possibality it may have cause the driver to have an accident. The car have been to a service center to check about replacing it. There was no warning before the headrest came apart. It is my understanding that Chrysler knew about the defect but I have not received a recall notice. It seem this part is expensive to replace and I don't see that it is my place to lay out the money. Can Chrysler be held accountable?

NHTSA ID

11438816

Incident

Oct 27, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated occasionally the rear passenger’s side sliding door failed to open or close in higher temperatures. The contact stated that the overhead light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11435993

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

56,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side sliding door would not open and the rear driver’s side sliding door was making a grinding sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with door axle failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 115,500.

NHTSA ID

11435351

Incident

Aug 30, 2021

Mileage

115,500 mi

I was in my car's passenger seat and my partner was driving when the passenger head rest deployed. We were not in an accident and were traveling slowly in traffic. Had I not been leaning forward my neck may have been injured. I called the dealer and am taking the van in Monday. There were no warning systems activated

NHTSA ID

11433449

Incident

Sep 18, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while attempting to lock the doors, the rear passenger’s side door would not lock. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the rear passenger’s side sliding door was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000

NHTSA ID

11424959

Incident

Jul 1, 2021

Mileage

98,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to unlock the vehicle and became aware that the driver’s side sliding door would not open automatically nor manually. The contact stated that it seemed as if the door was in a locked status. The contact was not able to unlock nor open the door. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11424783

Incident

Jul 3, 2021

Mileage

70,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that he was not able to enter or exit the vehicle through the passenger’s side sliding door. The contact also stated that the driver’s side sliding door was making a loud buzzing sound whenever it would close. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the contact was informed that both locking mechanisms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact back to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11424761

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the driver-side rear sliding door locking mechanism failed and the door would not open from inside or outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the door actuator and the failure was remedied. Later the failure had occurred on both the rear driver’s and passenger’s side sliding door. The failure was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11423249

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

20,000 mi