RoadVitals

2018 Dodge Journey Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jan 30, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 227 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Dodge Journey submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming interior

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Interior & seats
Filed Jan 30, 2026

The drivers side active headrest deployed while the vehicle was unoccupied. It is not electronically controlled, so no warning lamps were illuminated. This appears to be a known issue with FCA but they offer no assistance with correcting the known safety defect.

NHTSA ID
11714424
Incident
Jan 28, 2026
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 22, 2025

I was driving home in the dark and I heard a loud bang pop! It scared me at first I didn't see anything wrong but when I got home to looked I notice the passenger head rest popped out! I am happy that no one was sitting next to me. That could have been so scary. I have uploaded a picture of it not extended out. I was driving 70 mph going home on the interstate. No accident nothing. Just came out of no where. This was scary.

NHTSA ID
11700947
Incident
Nov 20, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 25, 2025

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING,THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADREST EXPLODED, HIT MY WIFE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND SNAPPED HER NECK FORWARD, ALMOST KNOCKED HER OUT. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS EXPLODED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (I'LL BET THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT WAS OVERLOOKED). I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE...I ADVISED THEM TO DO SOME ONLINE RESEARCH...IT HAS HAPPENED THOUSANDS OF TIMES! THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT COST ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE (TIMES TWO FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL). NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEADREST WILL EXPLODE! AS FOR THIS BEING A SAFETY FEATURE TO PROTECT AGAINST A REAR END COLLISION, IT IS NOT, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF SOMEONE HITTING THE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC I KNOW AND HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.

NHTSA ID
11676161
Incident
Jul 24, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 22, 2025

The passengers side head rest came apart. It came apart so fast it was like it exploded. It was almost like it had an air bag on the inside of it. I just started the unit in our drive way, went to back out, and it came apart. I tried to reset the head rest but the plastic locking tabs on the inside no longer work. This needs to be a recall!

NHTSA ID
11675486
Incident
Jul 22, 2025
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jun 23, 2025

My passenger side headrest popped open while my car was in park today. Randomly deployed. This is beyond unacceptable that something could just happen like a safety feature deploying when not impact provoked.

NHTSA ID
11668726
Incident
Jun 23, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed May 20, 2025

I was entering a highway on the entrance ramp when I was hit in the back of the head by the headrest, with no warning it just burst apart and caused dizziness. I pulled over as I literally felt like I was in a car accident. I continued to feel dizzy and experienced neck and lower back pain. I spoke with my Doctor this morning, and contacted the local Dodge, Chrysler dealer and have an appointment on 5/22.

NHTSA ID
11662142
Incident
May 19, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 11, 2025

Owner was driving about 40 mph when the headrest popped open. There were no collisions or issues when this happened.

NHTSA ID
11654113
Incident
Apr 10, 2025
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Feb 6, 2025

I came out of a meeting and found it this way. There is no evidence of an accident or hit while I was away. Also there is no evidence of anything making impact with the headrest inside the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11641042
Incident
Feb 5, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 24, 2024

While care was parked, daughter (11yo) leaned around passenger seat with her forearm against the left side of the head rest to talk to her mother. Randomly and suddenly the head rest safety mechanism deployed. No one was seriously injured but it did leave a mark on my daughter's arm. Looks like the plastic inside is cracked on the right side where the pin holds the restraining pin that keeps the headrest from deploying. Have not taken yet to the dealer. There were no warning signs prior to deployment. Potentially could've been worse if someone was sitting in the seat when it occurred.

NHTSA ID
11621693
Incident
Oct 23, 2024
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 6, 2023

Went out to my Dodge Journey 2018 to go run errands and noticed the passenger side head rest was apart. The vehicle had been sitting for two days Feel this should be a recall issue Fortunately this didn’t happen while the car was in use Contacted dodge dealer and FCA And was advised there is no recall or warranty coverage This is a safety issue and should be covered

NHTSA ID
11510496
Incident
Mar 6, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 28, 2022

Passenger side head rest exploded while driving down the road. This is a huge safety issue and could have caused sever damage. Now I’m afraid the driver side will do the same thing while I’m driving down the road

NHTSA ID
11471365
Incident
Jun 27, 2022
Interior & seats
Filed May 24, 2019

WHEN SECOND ROW SEATS ARE FOLDED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND SLID FORWARD. THEY DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE SEAT SLAMS FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BEFORE CAUSING A SEVERE INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11209696
Incident
May 24, 2019
Mileage
1,800 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 19, 2018

I HAVE A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY I HAD THE DRIVER SEST RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK TO VACUUM. I LIFT THE HANDLE TO PUT SEAT UP AND IT FLEW FORWARD HARD. AFTER TURNING ON VEHICLE NOTICED AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. TOOK TO DODGE THEY SAID ITS THE DRIVER HEADREST THE WIRES WERE PULLED OUT AND ACTIVATED AIRBAG LIGHT. THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE WIRES GOT RIPPED OFF FROM SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY PULLING THE SEAT OFF. THE SEATS ARE DANGEROUS AS FAST AS THEY FLIP FORWARD. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IF THE WIRES GOT UNATTACHED FROM JUST IT SWINGING FORWARD.

NHTSA ID
11162433
Incident
Dec 17, 2018
Mileage
10,536 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .