2013 Dodge Durango Interior & seats Problems

Seat headrest popped out while driving. First it was the passanger seat and the driver seat followed. Part is broken and unable to be popped in.

NHTSA ID

11682426

Incident

Aug 21, 2025

The passenger seat head rest exploded without any impact to the vehicle. Fortunately, no one was sitting in the passenger seat at the time it exploded because it could have caused a head injury. After checking on the head rest, the plastic pin that kept it together broke.

NHTSA ID

11679874

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

The head rest exploded out of no where - sounded like a gunshot while I was driving and pushed my whole head forward .

NHTSA ID

11657429

Incident

Aug 24, 2018

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The passenger Active Head Restraints (AHR) deployed for no reason. I was sitting in in the passenger side seat talking to my wife, in the driveway, when the AHR deployed without cause. The head restraint struck me on the back left side of head with force. My neck is starting to stiffen up. Yes it is available for inspection. I will send pictures. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The force generated during the deployment of an Active Head Restraint (AHR) system is significant, I know because I was hit on the back of the my head thankfully I was not driving. My safety concern is two fold, one injury from AHR deploying inadvertently and elderly person might be at more risk for this type of injury. Two, AHR deploys striking driver while the car is in motion causing an accident. Also, this might be related to an open investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA Action Number: PE19014) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

NHTSA ID

11616433

Incident

Sep 25, 2024

Active headrest deployed on its own. Never been in an accident. Dealer has verified. Unable to use seat because headrest sits too far forward. Fortunately my son wasn't sitting in the seat when it happened.

NHTSA ID

11611466

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

While causally driving down the road, without warning, the passenger headrest on my 2013 Dodge Durango violently "exploded" forward. Thankfully, my son who was riding in the passenger seat, was sleeping with his head bent forward so it didn't hit him. Upon inspection (by myself), the active head restraint feature is held together by PLASTIC, which obviously failed. I searched on the internet and this appears to be a common problem, and each time it's due to this plastic clip failing. This is totally unacceptable. I have the headrest available for inspection. It was brought to the dealer who wants $950 to replace it. They said the warranty expired less than a year ago. Again based on internet research, apparently Dodge/Chysler just recently extended the warranty to 10 years for 2014 models (and possibly 2013?). How convenient to extend a warranty short of the period covered. Not only shouldn't I be responsible for the cost of replacement for such a dangerous feature, but what happens when I'm driving and the driver's side suddenly fails and I'm violently hit in the back of the head and swerve into on-coming traffic? Ironic that these "active head restraint" features are causing injuries instead of preventing them. These headreasts need to be recalled IMMEDIATELY before more people are injured or killed.

NHTSA ID

11608206

Incident

Jul 28, 2024

The active head rest restraint deployed on the driver side while driving. The plastic holding the rod failed causing this to happen. Not very safe and concerned about the passenger side deploying.

NHTSA ID

11559363

Incident

Dec 8, 2023

Was sitting in the car while parked and the drivers side headrest deployed.

NHTSA ID

11545775

Incident

Sep 15, 2023

The active restraint in the driver’s side headrest deployed on it’s own without the vehicle being in a collision.

NHTSA ID

11532381

Incident

Jul 14, 2023

Passenger active head restraint deployed unexpected and without collision.

NHTSA ID

11482584

Incident

Aug 12, 2022

I was driving about 40 miles per hour when the front passenger seat headrest exploded. The front cushion of the headrest just blew off. The seat no longer has a functional headrest. Now the airbag light is on.

NHTSA ID

11481271

Incident

Aug 25, 2022

Was parked at school when the headrest on the passenger front seat just deployed and hit my husband in the back of the head. It just popped, sounded like a shot went off.

NHTSA ID

11479443

Incident

Aug 15, 2022

The passenger headrest deployed with no warning. My daughter was sitting in the seat while we were driving at 40 mph when the headrest shot forward and hit her head. There was no accident and no collisions of any kind to cause this to happen.

NHTSA ID

11468968

Incident

Jun 3, 2022

While my wife was driving the passenger seat headrest popped out for no apparent reason. The headrest will not pop into place. We are concerned with the remaining headrest in the car for fear they will pop out at any moment. Please let’s try to resolve this problem before someone looses a life due to a problem we know exists. Will you all also please send info on possible solutions. There are many forums stating solutions but the headrest will not pop back in. The suv was not involved in any collision for this to have happened. Please help

NHTSA ID

11456445

Incident

Mar 9, 2022

The headrest has opened and nothing caused that to happen.

NHTSA ID

11456089

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

Driver seat Headrest “exploded” open while I was driving, no one else was in the car, there were no warning lights that this was going to happen. The headrest remains in the same state if inspection is needed.

NHTSA ID

11435177

Incident

Sep 25, 2021

Passenger side head restraint "exploded". We were backing out of a parking space and the thing popped open; no collision or sudden stop, just backing up.

NHTSA ID

11427198

Incident

Jul 26, 2021

I was sitting in the vehicle while it was in park, idling, and the driver’s seat active headrest suddenly deployed. Nothing struck the vehicle to cause it to jar suddenly. I was sitting in my kids’ school parking lot dropping them off. When looking inside the deployed headrest, it seems like there is a broken plastic piece that possibly works to keep the headrest “latched.”

NHTSA ID

11419183

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH

NHTSA ID

11384617

Incident

Oct 5, 2020

Mileage

57,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST SAFETY FEATURE DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS SITTING STATIONARY (PARKED) ON A CITY STREET. THE SAFETY FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO DEPLOY DURING A REAR END ACCIDENT TO PREVENT WHIPLASH. THE HEADREST BURST OPEN STRIKING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITHOUT THERE BEING ANY REAR END COLLISION OR MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO NO ONE SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE HEADREST TO DEPLOY. I CONTACTED TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. THE TWO DEALERSHIPS WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR ISSUES FOR MY VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COST WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID

11372685

Incident

Oct 31, 2020

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND GOT HIT IN THE BACK OF HEAD BY THE HEADREST. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE SO THERE'S NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT GAVE HER A PRETTY GOOD HEADACHE TOO.

NHTSA ID

11365054

Incident

Oct 18, 2020

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE HEADREST POPPED OPEN AS IF HE HAD AN ACCIDENT. HE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY, STAYED IN ONE LANE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP OR ANYTHING SIMULATING AN IMPACT. THE HEADREST HIT MY DAUGHTER IN THE HEAD CAUSING A HEADACHE.

NHTSA ID

11363998

Incident

Jul 31, 2020

Mileage

89,745 mi

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADREST DEPLOYED ON IT'S OWN WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.*DT*DT

NHTSA ID

11363188

Incident

Oct 7, 2020

Mileage

107,000 mi

THE ACTIVE HEADREST RESTAINT DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. LOOKS LIKE THE PLASTIC HOLDING THE PIN FAILED.

NHTSA ID

11355210

Incident

Sep 14, 2020

Mileage

162,000 mi

HEADREST DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT - DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE RUNNING BUT IN PARK. LOUD POP AND SEAT HIT ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

NHTSA ID

11353629

Incident

Sep 7, 2020

Mileage

129,700 mi