2012 Dodge Durango Interior & seats Problems

My fairly new teen driver drove the car to the gym and the headrest basically “exploded” onto the back of his head with a swift blow. He had a very bad headache and was really freaked out. There were no lights, no notice, no impact. Just out of the blue drivers side. Called local dealership to see what it could be and apparently the pin can break or the plastic holding the pin and the airbag restraint type system in the headrest will just explode open as if in an accident. He said no recalls and out of warranty. How can this NOT be a serious safety issue??? My inexperienced teen driver could have been so stunned he caused an accident! Anyways they said it would be roughly $1100 to replace entire headrest because there is no option to repair it once deployed. Can we still drive it? If we don’t have that $ now

NHTSA ID

11572408

Incident

Feb 16, 2024

Headrest exploded while I was driving. Hit me in the head. Gave me a concussion. Dealership says there is no recall. I have to pay out of pocket. This is a safety feature. I am not paying for the repairs.

NHTSA ID

11546793

Incident

Sep 23, 2023

The truck was in park and idling. We were not moving. There were no abnormal lights on the gage cluster. Out of knowwhere the head rest exploded forward and hit the back of my father-in-laws head. He is OK but it was a hard hit and left him sore. Luckily we were not driving on the freeway.

NHTSA ID

11513089

Incident

Mar 21, 2023

The headrest deployed under normal driving conditions. A quick google search shows I'm not the only one with this issue. Some have described this issue as the headrest "exploding" since it disengages in a very quick and forceful manner. Some Dodge Durango Models from 2011 - 2018 fall under recall "(X88) Active Head Restraint" but for some reason I'm being told my 2012 Dodge Durango does not fall under this same recall.

NHTSA ID

11478415

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

AS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED INTO THE BACK OF MY PASSENGER'S HEAD.*DT CONSUMER HAD A WHIPLASH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11366397

Incident

Oct 26, 2020

Mileage

287,815 mi

THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY. WE HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR WHEN IT DEPLOYED. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE OR MADE THE VEHICLE MOVE IN A NONE NORMAL WAY. THANK GOODNESS WE WEREN'T IN MOTION WHEN IT DEPLOYED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE HEADREST CANNOT BE RESET AS YOU CAN SEE THE INTERNAL PLASTIC THAT WAS HOLDING IT TOGETHER IS BROKEN. I AM PROVIDING PICTURES AND AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

11362790

Incident

Oct 4, 2020

Mileage

36,696 mi

THE ORC MODULE NOT WORKING I JUST DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURN ON

NHTSA ID

11083852

Incident

Mar 2, 2018

I HAD A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVING THE SEAT BACK WITH POWER CONTROLS AND THE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT FIRST, IT WAS LOUD POPPING SOUND...ONCE I LEARNED WHAT HAPPENED I LOOKED UP TO SEE HOW TO RESET IT AND ATTEMPTED SO..WITH NO SUCCESS. THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE PIN IS/WAS BROKEN. I ALSO LEARNED THIS IS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN UNLESS YOU ARE HIT FROM BEHIND AND IT SHOULD DEPLOY TO AVOID WHIPLASH, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE, LUCKILY MY PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED FROM THE HEADREST DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO LEARN THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY PLAN I HAVE. THE REPAIR COST IS 911.85 THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR, I PAID 135 JUST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, WHICH WILL GO TOWARDS REPAIRS IF FIXED WITHIN 30DAYS, THIS COST IS NOT WITHIN REACH FOR ME. I HAVE ALSO READ OTHER DODGE MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BUT VERY COSTLY TO THE CAR OWNER. THANK YOU. MILEAGE THIS OCCURRED AT 52000

NHTSA ID

11081960

Incident

Mar 20, 2018

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. AFTER THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM THE MIRROR CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ORANGE PARK DODGE (7233 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING) DAYS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11042903

Incident

Sep 27, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TEMPE DODGE (8005 S AUTOPLEX LOOP, TEMPE, AZ 85284, PHONE NUMBER: (480) 598-2329) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V879000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 17V435000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2018 AND DID NOT RECOMMEND AN INTERIM REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11032982

Incident

Oct 6, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10983237

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10967348

Incident

Jan 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10893264

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY OR PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10846043

Incident

Feb 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC AND THICK SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE VANITY LAMP AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED DUE TO THE DANGER OF THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V530000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10839240

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi