MY RADIO KEEPS CHANGING STATIONS AS I AM DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP, SOMETIMES IT JUST DOES IT RANDOMLY ON ITS OWN. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY. VERY FRUSTRATING!
2013 Dodge Journey
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Dodge Journey do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 293.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Journey years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
236 reports with mileage · 117 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
73 reportsMY 2013 DODGE JOURNEY HAS A RANDOM NO START. IT WILL JUST CLICK. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER ARE ALL GOOD. I USUALLY HAVE TO JUMP IT TO GET IT TO START. SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK. IT WILL MAKE THE LIGHTS START TO GO HAYWIRE. THEY WILL FLICKER OR FLASH ON AND OFF. IT WILL SAY NO KEY DETECTED WHEN I'M LITERALLY SIT…
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MY 2013 DODGE JOURNEY HAS A RANDOM NO START. IT WILL JUST CLICK. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER ARE ALL GOOD. I USUALLY HAVE TO JUMP IT TO GET IT TO START. SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK. IT WILL MAKE THE LIGHTS START TO GO HAYWIRE. THEY WILL FLICKER OR FLASH ON AND OFF. IT WILL SAY NO KEY DETECTED WHEN I'M LITERALLY SITTING WITH MY KEY FOB IN HAND. IT IS A PUSH BUTTON START. I HAVE GOT THE BATTERIES REPLACED IN THE KEY FOB AS WELL. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT RANDOM. IT'S HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE SO WE PARKED IT ON THE CURB WHERE IT WAS FLAT TO SEE OF MAYBE THE INCLINE OF THE DRIVEWAY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT IT'S DONE IT ON FLAT SURFACES AS WELL. I HAVE TRIED TO LOOK UP REASONS WHY AND HAVE SEEN THIS AS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF OTHER JOURNEY OWNERS. THIS STARTED BACK IN THE SPRING AND HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES IN A WEEK THEN IT WILL STOP FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND THE CYCLE WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN.
FOR TWO YEARS BATTERY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HOLD CHARGE, EVEN WHEN REPLACED NEW, ENGINE RIDING ROUGH TO COMPLETE STOP IN ROAD, NO FLASHERS ETC. ALTERNATOR REPLACED COMPLETE ELECTRIC HARNESS BURNT, ALL FIXED STILL WILL NOT HOLD BATTERY CHARGE. NO CAR FOR TWO MONTHS. CAR STALLED IN ROAD.
CRANK SENSOR, CUT OUT TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS TIME AND HAD TO GET REPLACED! EACH TIME, VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION! VERY DANGEROUS! HAD TO TOW VEHICLE EACH TIME. MY CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME THE FIRST TIME. I EXPECT FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR EACH INCIDENT. *JS
WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2016 FOR THE SAME SAFETY CONCERNS OF JERKING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. THE MOST RECENT EPISODE OCCURRED TODAY. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHARGED US ALMOST $2000 OVER THE…
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WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2016 FOR THE SAME SAFETY CONCERNS OF JERKING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. THE MOST RECENT EPISODE OCCURRED TODAY. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHARGED US ALMOST $2000 OVER THESE LAST 3 YEARS. THESE CHARGES HAVE INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF TIRES, BATTERIES AND SENSORS WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS WHO ARE TRAVELLING IN OUR VEHICLE AND THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING AROUND US. THANK YOU.
STATIONARY AT THE TIME MECHANIC CAME, CAR HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING RIGHT, HESITATING WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLED IN DRIVEWAY. BATTERY NOT CHARGING OR HOLDING A CHARGE/ NO START, NO NOTHING SENT TO LOCAL MECHANIC - I HAVE NOT HAD A RUNNING CAR FOR FIVE WEEKS. ALTERNATOR SHOT, AND CHARGING SYSTEM, REQUIRES COMPLETE RE WIRE AS OF 8-13…
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STATIONARY AT THE TIME MECHANIC CAME, CAR HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING RIGHT, HESITATING WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLED IN DRIVEWAY. BATTERY NOT CHARGING OR HOLDING A CHARGE/ NO START, NO NOTHING SENT TO LOCAL MECHANIC - I HAVE NOT HAD A RUNNING CAR FOR FIVE WEEKS. ALTERNATOR SHOT, AND CHARGING SYSTEM, REQUIRES COMPLETE RE WIRE AS OF 8-13 / 3 BURNT WIRES, MECHANIC CALLED AUTO ELECTRIC SPECIALIST, INDICATED COMPLETE CHARGING SYSTEM BURNT UP.
VEHICLE NEVER SHIFTS RIGHT. DOORS SOMETIMES WON'T UNLOCK LEAVING ME STUCK INSIDE. STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD AFTER BATTERY SAVER LIGHT CAME ON AND ABS LIGHT CAUSING MY CAR RPMS TO FLY UP TO 4 REPEATEDLY AND I COULD BARELY GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD SAFELY BEFOELRE THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. WHEN I GO TO TURN IT BACK ON SAYS MY CAR IS NOT…
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VEHICLE NEVER SHIFTS RIGHT. DOORS SOMETIMES WON'T UNLOCK LEAVING ME STUCK INSIDE. STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD AFTER BATTERY SAVER LIGHT CAME ON AND ABS LIGHT CAUSING MY CAR RPMS TO FLY UP TO 4 REPEATEDLY AND I COULD BARELY GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD SAFELY BEFOELRE THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. WHEN I GO TO TURN IT BACK ON SAYS MY CAR IS NOT IN PARK WHICH IT IS. I REALLY HOPE I'M NOT DEALING WITH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DEALT WITH WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY CAR IS ABOUT TO HIT 70K MILES. I GET EVERY SERVICE DONE TO IT. ALSO GOT THE BRAKES DONE NEW AND THEY STILL SQUEAK.
BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED I WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE ALTERNATOR WHICH I DID. AN HOUR LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEN I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY WHICH I DID. AFTER AN HOUR DRIVE THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY I HAD…
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BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED I WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE ALTERNATOR WHICH I DID. AN HOUR LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEN I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY WHICH I DID. AFTER AN HOUR DRIVE THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY I HAD TO GET TOWED. I WAS TOLD TO GET AN ALTERNATOR FROM MOPAR WHICH I DID. NEW BATTERY ANOTHER NEW ALTERNATOR A NEW SENSOR NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.
FUEL HAND GOES TO EMPTY, LIGHTS POWER OFF,POWER LOCKS STOP WORKING, A/C CUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION BUT CAR WILL NOT CUT OFF UNLESS DISCONNECTED FROM BATTERY HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET BUT I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AFTERWARDS JUST TO GET IT HOME WILL NOT CRANK FROM PUSH START BUTTON HAVE TO RECONNECT THE BATTERY AND HOLD DOWN A FUSE
I HAVE HAD THE CAR THREE MONTHS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AND THE BATTERY AND THE CAR IS DOING IT AGAIN IT WILL NOT START AND I'M AT THE END WITH THIS LEMON OF A CAR
Official recalls
417V432000 · Air Bags:frontal
Jul 7, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T47.
16V273000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
May 6, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 31, 2007, to November 12, 2016. After exposure to cold temperatures, the power steering return hose may rupture at engine start-up causing a loss of power steering assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist may require extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return hoses, steel tubes, and power steering oil cooler, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S08.
15V675000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Oct 19, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Consequence: If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured April 21, 2012, to April 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the wiring harness for the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module and leak into the module, disabling the ABS and/or the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Consequence: If the ABS or ESC is disabled, a loss of vehicle stability could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will seal the ABS wiring harness to prevent water from entering and will replace the ABS module and repair the headlamp and dash wiring harness, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R61.
15V431000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Jul 7, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured July 19, 2010, to May 26, 2015 and equipped with 2.4L engines. In the affected vehicles, the engine cover may detach from the engine and contact the exhaust manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the displaced engine cover contacts the exhaust manifold, there would be an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved mounting system for the engine cover, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R32.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA24003 · Vehicle Entrapment
Opened Aug 1, 2024 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-008 on May 1, 2023 to investigate an incident involving a 2009 Dodge Journey alleging occupant entrapment during a vehicle fire that resulted in a fatality. During the investigation, ODI collected information from the manufacturer and involved parties to confirm or refute the defect allegation. ODI has determined that additional reports of vehicle entrapment exist for other model year Dodge Journey vehicles. ODI continues to explore the cause of the thermal event and its potential effect on the actuation of the door locks. ODI also continues to explore other potential causes for door lock malfunction. ODI has determined that an upgrade to an Engineering Analysis (EA) is necessary to continue the review of the investigative material and to assess the risk to motor vehicle safety . To review the ODI report cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
PE19014 · Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Opened Sep 9, 2019 · Closed Feb 25, 2026
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).ODI requested certain detailed information from FCA related to the following subject vehicles: MY 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger 200, MY 2010-2014 Dodge Calber, MY 2010-2014 Chrysler Sebring, MY 2013-2015 Ram Tradesman, MY 2012 Ram Van, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, MY 2010-2016 Chrysler Town and Country, MY 2010-2017 Jeep Compass, MY 2011-2020 Dodge Durango, MY 2011-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Journey, MY 2010-2012 Jeep Liberty, MY 2010-2011 Jeep Nitro, and MY 2010-2011 Jeep Patriot vehicles.On December 2, 2019, ODI received a response from FCA that included vehicle production data, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, production changes, and other data related to the alleged defect from the start of production (2010) through September 24, 2019.On January 27, 2020, ODI received an update to the December 2, 2019, IR response from FCA.On September 22, 2020, ODI requested additional subject vehicle AHR information from FCA.ODI received FCA's response on October 21, 2020.ODI subsequently received an update to FCA's October 21, 2020, response on February 16, 2021.During the investigation, ODI requested updates to certain IR questions on two occasions.FCA provided updates to question #2 on March 5, 2021, and questions #2 and #5 on May 26, 2023. FCA’s IR response data identified approximately 7.5 million subject vehicles (with approximately 15 million AHR assemblies).Due to the large number of vehicles and failure reports, ODI focused its analysis on the FCA vehicle model with the highest failure rate to represent the worst-case scenario.For this purpose, ODI focused on MY 2012-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for its analysis.This population includes 710,890 vehicles that FCA manufactured between August 19, 2011, and August 8, 2015.ODI identified 2,839 alleged AHR failures within this limited population.ODI identified 263 alleged injuries that were caused by AHR failures in MY 2012-2015 Grand Cherokees vehicles.Of these alleged injuries, ODI categorized them as eighty-two (82) soft tissue (neck/whiplash, bruise) injuries, four (4) concussions, fifty-nine (59) headaches, and one hundred eighteen (118) without a specific injury description.Although complainants have alleged injuries, ODI has been unable to obtain evidence to substantiate or validate any injuries where medical treatment was required.Consumer outreach was conducted by ODI, where sixty-three (63) FCA complainants with alleged injuries were contacted.Twelve of the sixty-three FCA consumers responded and were interviewed by ODI.ODI requested medical records, however, only one response was provided. Attorneys representing the responding complainant provided a synopsis that indicated they had experienced prior neck-related injuries dating to the mid-1990s.ODI also contacted one hundred (100) consumers who submitted Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) in an attempt to validate alleged injuries. Despite the efforts of ODI, the office has been unsuccessful at obtaining substantive documentation/evidence supporting complaints that allege serious injuries (where pre-existing medical conditions did not already exist). In addition to the low severity of alleged injuries caused by AHR deployments, there have been eleven alleged crashes and two alleged lane departures within the entire subject vehicle population that has been in the field up to sixteen years (with over 8,500 AHR inadvertent deployments).ODI was not able to validate that the alleged crashes were the result of inadvertent head rest deployments, and the crashes were minor in nature. ODI has conducted a thorough investigation of the alleged safety defect and with up to sixteen years of exposure for some vehicles and over 8,500 inadvertent AHR deployments, no serious crashes or injuries could be validated in the sub-population of focus.The lack of serious injuries validated by ODI with such large period of field exposure is consistent with thework done by NHTSA’s Human Injury Research Division and the Biodynamic Research Corporation, which support that an inadvertent AHR deployment is not likely to cause serious injury.In addition to the low risk of injury, FCA released an extended warranty program that covers inadvertent AHR deployment for ten years / unlimited mileage from the vehicle's in-service date. PE19014 is closed with the FCA extended warranty program.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. To review a complete closing summary, please the attached closing report. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).ODI requested certain detailed information from FCA related to the following subject vehicles: MY 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger 200, MY 2010-2014 Dodge Calber, MY 2010-2014 Chrysler Sebring, MY 2013-2015 Ram Tradesman, MY 2012 Ram Van, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, MY 2010-2016 Chrysler Town and Country, MY 2010-2017 Jeep Compass, MY 2011-2020 Dodge Durango, MY 2011-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Journey, MY 2010-2012 Jeep Liberty, MY 2010-2011 Jeep Nitro, and MY 2010-2011 Jeep Patriot vehicles.On December 2, 2019, ODI received a response from FCA that included vehicle production data, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, production changes, and other data related to the alleged defect from the start of production (2010) through September 24, 2019.On January 27, 2020, ODI received an update to the December 2, 2019, IR response from FCA.On September 22, 2020, ODI requested additional subject vehicle AHR information from FCA.ODI received FCA's response on October 21, 2020.ODI subsequently received an update to FCA's October 21, 2020, response on February 16, 2021.During the investigation, ODI requested updates to certain IR questions on two occasions.FCA provided updates to question #2 on March 5, 2021, and questions #2 and #5 on May 26, 2023. FCA’s IR response data identified approximately 7.5 million subject vehicles (with approximately 15 million AHR assemblies).Due to the large number of vehicles and failure reports, ODI focused its analysis on the FCA vehicle model with the highest failure rate to represent the worst-case scenario.For this purpose, ODI focused on MY 2012-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for its analysis.This population includes 710,890 vehicles that FCA manufactured between August 19, 2011, and August 8, 2015.ODI identified 2,839 alleged AHR failures within this limited population.ODI identified 263 alleged injuries that were caused by AHR failures in MY 2012-2015 Grand Cherokees vehicles.Of these alleged injuries, ODI categorized them as eighty-two (82) soft tissue (neck/whiplash, bruise) injuries, four (4) concussions, fifty-nine (59) headaches, and one hundred eighteen (118) without a specific injury description.Although complainants have alleged injuries, ODI has been unable to obtain evidence to substantiate or validate any injuries where medical treatment was required.Consumer outreach was conducted by ODI, where sixty-three (63) FCA complainants with alleged injuries were contacted.Twelve of the sixty-three FCA consumers responded and were interviewed by ODI.ODI requested medical records, however, only one response was provided. Attorneys representing the responding complainant provided a synopsis that indicated they had experienced prior neck-related injuries dating to the mid-1990s.ODI also contacted one hundred (100) consumers who submitted Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) in an attempt to validate alleged injuries. Despite the efforts of ODI, the office has been unsuccessful at obtaining substantive documentation/evidence supporting complaints that allege serious injuries (where pre-existing medical conditions did not already exist). In addition to the low severity of alleged injuries caused by AHR deployments, there have been eleven alleged crashes and two alleged lane departures within the entire subject vehicle population that has been in the field up to sixteen years (with over 8,500 AHR inadvertent deployments).ODI was not able to validate that the alleged crashes were the result of inadvertent head rest deployments, and the crashes were minor in nature. ODI has conducted a thorough investigation of the alleged safety defect and with up to sixteen years of exposure for some vehicles and over 8,500 inadvertent AHR deployments, no serious crashes or injuries could be validated in the sub-population of focus.The lack of serious injuries validated by ODI with such large period of field exposure is consistent with thework done by NHTSA’s Human Injury Research Division and the Biodynamic Research Corporation, which support that an inadvertent AHR deployment is not likely to cause serious injury.In addition to the low risk of injury, FCA released an extended warranty program that covers inadvertent AHR deployment for ten years / unlimited mileage from the vehicle's in-service date. PE19014 is closed with the FCA extended warranty program.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. To review a complete closing summary, please the attached closing report. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).ODI requested certain detailed information from FCA related to the following subject vehicles: MY 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger 200, MY 2010-2014 Dodge Calber, MY 2010-2014 Chrysler Sebring, MY 2013-2015 Ram Tradesman, MY 2012 Ram Van, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, MY 2010-2016 Chrysler Town and Country, MY 2010-2017 Jeep Compass, MY 2011-2020 Dodge Durango, MY 2011-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Journey, MY 2010-2012 Jeep Liberty, MY 2010-2011 Jeep Nitro, and MY 2010-2011 Jeep Patriot vehicles.On December 2, 2019, ODI received a response from FCA that included vehicle production data, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, production changes, and other data related to the alleged defect from the start of production (2010) through September 24, 2019.On January 27, 2020, ODI received an update to the December 2, 2019, IR response from FCA.On September 22, 2020, ODI requested additional subject vehicle AHR information from FCA.ODI received FCA's response on October 21, 2020.ODI subsequently received an update to FCA's October 21, 2020, response on February 16, 2021.During the investigation, ODI requested updates to certain IR questions on two occasions.FCA provided updates to question #2 on March 5, 2021, and questions #2 and #5 on May 26, 2023. FCA’s IR response data identified approximately 7.5 million subject vehicles (with approximately 15 million AHR assemblies).Due to the large number of vehicles and failure reports, ODI focused its analysis on the FCA vehicle model with the highest failure rate to represent the worst-case scenario.For this purpose, ODI focused on MY 2012-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for its analysis.This population includes 710,890 vehicles that FCA manufactured between August 19, 2011, and August 8, 2015.ODI identified 2,839 alleged AHR failures within this limited population.ODI identified 263 alleged injuries that were caused by AHR failures in MY 2012-2015 Grand Cherokees vehicles.Of these alleged injuries, ODI categorized them as eighty-two (82) soft tissue (neck/whiplash, bruise) injuries, four (4) concussions, fifty-nine (59) headaches, and one hundred eighteen (118) without a specific injury description.Although complainants have alleged injuries, ODI has been unable to obtain evidence to substantiate or validate any injuries where medical treatment was required.Consumer outreach was conducted by ODI, where sixty-three (63) FCA complainants with alleged injuries were contacted.Twelve of the sixty-three FCA consumers responded and were interviewed by ODI.ODI requested medical records, however, only one response was provided. Attorneys representing the responding complainant provided a synopsis that indicated they had experienced prior neck-related injuries dating to the mid-1990s.ODI also contacted one hundred (100) consumers who submitted Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) in an attempt to validate alleged injuries. Despite the efforts of ODI, the office has been unsuccessful at obtaining substantive documentation/evidence supporting complaints that allege serious injuries (where pre-existing medical conditions did not already exist). In addition to the low severity of alleged injuries caused by AHR deployments, there have been eleven alleged crashes and two alleged lane departures within the entire subject vehicle population that has been in the field up to sixteen years (with over 8,500 AHR inadvertent deployments).ODI was not able to validate that the alleged crashes were the result of inadvertent head rest deployments, and the crashes were minor in nature. ODI has conducted a thorough investigation of the alleged safety defect and with up to sixteen years of exposure for some vehicles and over 8,500 inadvertent AHR deployments, no serious crashes or injuries could be validated in the sub-population of focus.The lack of serious injuries validated by ODI with such large period of field exposure is consistent with thework done by NHTSA’s Human Injury Research Division and the Biodynamic Research Corporation, which support that an inadvertent AHR deployment is not likely to cause serious injury.In addition to the low risk of injury, FCA released an extended warranty program that covers inadvertent AHR deployment for ten years / unlimited mileage from the vehicle's in-service date. PE19014 is closed with the FCA extended warranty program.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. To review a complete closing summary, please the attached closing report. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Illustration