2018 Dodge Durango Airbags Problems

Headrest on driver seat ejected at a stop and threw my wife’s head forward.

NHTSA ID

11737703

Incident

May 13, 2026

My front passenger headrest deployed while I was driving with no impact.

NHTSA ID

11698692

Incident

Oct 6, 2025

The driver side headrest "deployed" and pushed the headrest to the back of my head. I was sitting in the driver seat and the vehicle was parked, and when I moved a bag from the front passenger seat to the middle row, the driver side headrest opened on it's own. I cannot compress the headrest together. My concern is this was a faulty safety deployment.

NHTSA ID

11606456

Incident

Aug 4, 2024

While on my way to an appointment it was raining and I noticed my car wasn't handling the water on the road like it usually did. It was pulling to one side or jumping around when it hit shallow water. I turned the traction control off and then back on and that seemed to make a difference. That night I got on NHTSA and searched for recalls with my VIN number. While other 2018 Durango's had recalls on the ESP it said mine wasn't one on them. About a week later it had been storming all night and I was on my way to work the next morning when I come around a curve to deep flowing water covering the road for approx. 30 yards before a small break and then a thin flowing of water for approx. 20 feet which I didn't see because it was still raining. When I hit the deep water it pulled me towards the right ditch, I was able to keep from going in the ditch but it was a constant fight until I was through the puddle. After the first puddle let go of my vehicle there was just enough time for me to feel relieved I had made it through it before I hit the shallow water and my car hydroplaned darting left, entering the ditch, ramping the side of a driveway and going airborne between two trees before coming down on it's front end and sliding 30 feet to a stop. The emergency contact system spoke asking who to contact but none of my ICE was displayed. Thankfully I was wearing my seatbelt although the tensioner didn't lock the belt in place like it should in the event of an accident. Also neither front airbag deployed, only the passenger side air curtain deployed. My passenger side mirror was hit by a mailbox as I ramped the driveway so I assumed that is why the side curtain deployed but the accident crushed and partially removed both my front and back bumper so my 2 front air bags should have deployed as well. An accident report was made and my insurance company ruled my car as a totaled. I told them what happened but I am not sure if the inspected the ESP system or not.

NHTSA ID

11534477

Incident

Mar 3, 2023

Engine light on for to EVAP leak. Airbag warning light on and off periodically throughout drives.

NHTSA ID

11523331

Incident

Jan 25, 2023

The driver side headrest deployed on its own

NHTSA ID

11460554

Incident

Apr 9, 2022

I WAS IN A COLLISION, GOING 70*MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. GUY IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BREAKS WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF HIM. I HAD NO TIME TO STOP, SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF HIS CAR. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN.

NHTSA ID

11354002

Incident

Jul 19, 2020

Mileage

29,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY VEHICLE. I PLACED A SERVICE REQUEST TO GET IT CHECKED OUT ON 03/29/19. LANDMARK DODGE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS TOLD THAT A SPECIAL PART NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. WHEN THE SPECIAL PART WAS DELIVERED, I THEN HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PART CHANGED/FIXED. UNFORTUNATELY THE NEXT AVAILABILITY WASN'T TILL 05/23/19. I CAME IN ON THIS DATE TO GET MY VEHICLE SERVICE. AFTER INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THAT ANOTHER PART HAD TO BE ORDERED TO FIX THE AIR BAG WARNING. I WAS TOLD THAT I'D BE CONTACTED ONCE THAT PART CAME IN. IT'S 07/02/19 AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ANOTHER ISSUE I FOUND LATER, WHILE DRIVING WAS THAT MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE VEHICLE WITHOUT HORN, AND WITHOUT MY AIRBAG SYSTEM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11228877

Incident

May 23, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 43 MPH OVER AN ICY PATCH IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, THREE TELEPHONE POLES, AND A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. A SPECIAL INSPECTOR COLLECTED THE EVENT DATA RECORDER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT WOULD NOT CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11182599

Incident

Nov 18, 2018

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NO ALARM SOUNDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE SMITH CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (409-840-3560, LOCATED AT 1945 I-10, BEAUMONT, TX 77701) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED, THE SEAT BELT BECAME INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT OR UNLATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISLAND CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (844-673-0276, LOCATED AT 1239 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS USED INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT PROVIDED ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ID

11139480

Incident

Oct 5, 2018

Mileage

6,000 mi