general problems of the 2015 Dodge Durango - part 1

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? passenger and driver seat caught on fire spontaneously, engine or battery has also been dying/ malfunctioning, touch screen also has issues. Yes available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? almost burned by seat of if I didn’t smell a burning smell. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? not yet. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? not yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no.

03/27/2026 driver headrest popped open while I was sitting in the driver's seat in my driveway for no reason. Other than a very load bang and a headache from being struck in the head, nothing else was damaged.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026 my husband was driving our 2015 Dodge Durango when the driver seat head rest popped out unexpectedly. There was no accident, no sudden breaking, no impact of any kind, no hitting bump in the road, etc. There was no serious injury or accident caused by this happening, however the sudden and unexpected occurrence caught my husband by surprise as he was driving and startled him. There were no warning lights or sounds. This was completely unexpected. The disengaged head rest is still in on the driver seat. This makes for a very uncomfortable position for the driver and should there be an accident, it could cause injury to the driver.

While the vehicle was parked and not in operation, the passenger-side active head restraint suddenly deployed forward on its own. There was no collision, no braking event, no external force, and no warning lamps, messages or other systems of the problem or that it was going to occur. The deployment was unexpected and presents a risk of head or neck injury, as the active head restraint is designed to move only during a rear-impact event. This appears to be a known defect, as the manufacturer previously issued warranty extension x88 related to unintended active head restraint deployment on certain 2014–2015 Dodge Durango vehicles. A Dodge dealership refused to repair the defect, stating the warranty extension expired, and quoted over $800 for repair. The dealership did not provide a written denial or repair order. This condition involves a federally required safety system and constitutes a safety defect.

Headrests popped off.

The driver's side head rest deployed while I was driving on the highway without any collision and struck me in the back of the head hard. I did experience some whiplash symptoms for a few days as was confirmed by my chiropractor doctor. Post inspection revealed the plastic retaining brackets failed and the spring force released and deployed the headrest. I contacted Chrysler customer care (reference case #94643848) and was told my vehicle was just past the 10 year warranty period by 3 months and they would not cover the replacement cost. The replacement would be nice but what about the safety aspect? why wasn't this a mandatory recall? like the air bags issue years ago.

Both headrests in front seat deployed while driving causing neck pain and almost caused an accident. I was driving on the highway and it popped and hit my head forcing my head forward and me losing focus. No warning signs. Looked up the issue and it seems to be a known issue for the vehicle. Have not taken to the dealer as I do not have the money to replace them.

The drivers side head rest busted open while driving down the highway. Smacked my head pretty good and startled me while in the roadway.

Walked out to my car and noticed that my passenger seat headrest had deployed and I am not able to get it to reset back into place. The car was not involved in an accident and hasn’t been driven for several days, this just happened on its own. I’m thankful I wasn’t driving and it didn’t happen to the driver seat and even more thankful that it didn’t happen with a passenger in that seat.

My car was parked in a parking lot and the headrest deployed, exploded into my head, I blacked out was taken to hospital with a concusion. I did not or even see a recall or any warning this just happened a few days ago, I have not taken it to dealers. Speaking with lawyers at the moment. There was no accident or movment to cause it to deploy. It was random. It is available if needed to be inspected. No police inspection or insurance inspection.

My system keeps saying my seat needs serviced for airbag system. Something electric is burning and something is happening with my radio system. It keeps changing to different stations or settings while music is playing.

Unknown, my active headrest deployed without an accident. I would think this could cause an accident when I was driving. Lucky it was the passenger headrest.

Active head restraint broke and popped open. The headrest are available for inspection.

Passenger seat active head restraint deployed without warning. Vehicle was not running or involved in an accident at time of deployment.

Passenger side active headrest deployed without warning. No lights/ alarms on dash display.

The driver’s side headrests randomly popped out while I was driving, causing possible whiplash.

Drivers active headrest deployed while driving hitting driver in the head while vehicle was in motion.

Passenger side head rest popped open while my wife was driving my grandson home from school. He (grandson) was leaning slightly forward getting something out of his backpack so it didn't hit his head. After they got home I looked at it (headrest) and noticed broken plastic (see pictures). We bought the SUV in 2016 at a local Dodge car lot and we are the 2nd owner. We haven't had any problems with it since we owned it. There was no accident at the time it popped. We are in our early 70s and concerned that the driver side might do the same and possibly hit our head. My wife said it made a loud noise and sprung out hard.

I was dropping my kids off at school this morning and we had been in the car only 2 mins and just before I get to the school I hear a loud noise and I get whacked in the back of the head with the driver headrest. We had not hit anything, no wreck,nothing it just busted open. -driver headrest -no one was hurt but it could have hurt me. -we have seen others post online with same issue -it has not yet been inspected from us im writing tis first them going to the dealership. -there were not any warnings, or messages or symptoms it just busted open while drving 15 miles in hour.

Passenger headrest deployed.

The active head restraint deployed without a crash or rear impact. The plastic part that holds a metal pin has broken.

Passenger headrest active restraint system activated while the vehicle was parked. In the driveway. Upon inspection it looks as tho a plastic retainer that holds a metal rod broke. Deploying the headrest. There was no impact to the vehicle nor any other active restraint systems activated. While searching for a replacement part. I've found multiple reports of the same problem on forums. With Dodge saying that with the vehicle warranty being expired. That it's a customer issue.

2015 doge Durango, front passenger seat headrest malfunction "active head restraint" and deployed while not in an accident. Headrest is available for inspection if requested. This occurred while the vehicle was being operated and caused a violent distraction. This could cause an accident as a result which would affect all in the vehicle. Additionally a direct impact/blow to the head from this defective headrest could lead to a head injury and/or cause an accident to occur. This has been reproduced in the same way by numerous consumers and third parties. Currently the defective headrest in question has not been inspected but communication with the manufacturer in progress. In regards to warning signs prior to the malfunction. There were no visible and/or audible signs this was about to occur. The headrest has received normal use which is very minimum. Research about this issue has shown this issue is documented and is present in multiple versions of the 2015 Dodge Durango but is not limited to just that year. Please investigate this issue as this is literally an accident waiting to happen.

Active headrest deployed while driving, hitting me in the back of the head. Tried to adjust headrest, but it seems to be stuck.

While driving the driver side headrest deployed without any warning.

I was coming back from lunch with my wife and kids when all of the sudden the passenger headset deployed without warning on my 2015 Dodge Durango pushing my wife's head forward. The vehicle has no waring or emergency lights on in the dash board. We are terrified for this to occur while on our daily commute's to work or school drop offs and pick ups, we don't want to have an accident or create one in any manner. Not sure how to proceed due to the fact that there is not recall on this and I really don't have the money to pay the dealership for the this. Since I don't have extended warranty the problem is not covered and the dealership wants to charge me 1,000 to 1,200 to fix and change out part.

Active headrest suddenly engaged. Headrest propelled forward. Active headrest is now inactive. Headrest is broken and open.

I was driving down the road with my wife in the front passenger seat when I heard a loud bang, thinking something stuck the rear passenger side of the vehicle. There was nothing there, but I noticed that the active head restraint had deployed. Fortunately, my wife was leaning forward at the time. I tried to reset, but the plastic brackets holding the steel pin were broken thus not allowing me to reset.

I was leaning against my driver seat to grab my son from out the backseat when the driver seat headrest popped open.

While driving to work this morning, I was suddenly hit so hard in the back of the head, my face almost hit the steering wheel. The hit to my head caused me to swerve almost hitting two cars in the lane next to me. I thought I had just been in a car accident! once it was safe for me to pull over I saw that the driver side headrest deployed. There were no signs or warnings this was about to happen and we have never had problems with the seats. I have not taken it to the dealer or had the seat inspected by anyone as it just happened this morning.

The driver side headreast randomly deployed.

Seat heats don't work properly when remote starts. Sometimes when you manually start they work. Back track light some how got water inside and now the whole track light is not working along with license plate light.

I own a 2015 Dodge Durango and the passenger seat head rest exploded out of no where, we were parked at church on 12/20/20 at approximately 11 am.

The headrests deployed randomly even though there was no accident to cause it. This puts others at risk as it can potentially lead to minor head injuries if the driver and passenger are driving. Problem was never accessed by dealer or insurance, but other owners of Chrysler made products have reported this issue. There has been no warnings anywhere, just a mechanical issue in the headrest.

The head rest to the passenger front seat ejected. It's cushion is broken apart from what holds the component. While on park and the seat was empty.