general problems of the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan

The active head restraint on the front passenger side headrest failed. The headrest thrust forward at a high velocity, injuring the occupant of the seat. The car was stationary at the time of the incident.

2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. Driver active headrest deployed without warning while sitting in garage and unoccupied. The loud noise and force of the defect could easily harm a passenger or cause a wreck. There are thousands of complaints on-line or through class action suits. I contacted the Chrysler care group by phone on 10/22/2025. Their rep acknowledged, after asking if anyone was hurt, that this is a "known problem and a safety issue". After dealer inspection, Chrysler would provide a replacement even though it was after the extended warranty. The dealer performed the inspection on 10/24/2025. I notified the care group at this time. Weeks later the company has reneged on this commitment, refused to provide a replacement, and closed the case.

While in a parked gear, my 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan front passenger headrest deployed/exploded. There wasn't a collision nor accident.

Passenger front seat headrest deployed while vehicle was parked. The plastic housing supporting a small metal bar broke causing it to open. I had no idea this could happen when I bought the car. I have kept this van longer than any I have owned as my Chrysler dealer closed and the van is no longer made! a new one form Chrysler is about $6-800! I was able to find a lightly used replacement headrest on ebay and using a youtube video swapped it out myself. I have since learned Chrysler extended the warrantee 10 years, but my car is older than that. It only has about 65,500 miles on it. I am going to try and zip-tie the driver's side headrest so I do not get it in the back of the head when driving!! I presume the passenger side will remain intact for a while.

This morning the headrest on the passenger side was deployed the van was parked in driveway overnight. Not sure how this happened. I feel this is a safety issue. If I was driving and someone was sitting in that sit that could have hurt them. This is a default on your vehicle . Please contact me.

On July 28, 2024 I was getting ready to go to work. I got into my driver seat and sat down and the headrest deployed. Hitting me quite hard in the back of the head there was no accident or bumping of the vehicle, which would cause this. I had to go to work, but had a headache the entire evening due to this and woke up the next day being today still with a headache from the injury caused by the van headrest exploding.

I was driving down the road and the drivers side head rest popped off and hit me in the back of the head/neck. There were no warning signs and has not been taken anywhere to be inspected as of today. Will be looking into that.

While I was driving, the passenger seat headrest exploded forward. Chrysler calls this the "front seat active head restraint. " this is a safety mechanism supposed to be triggered in a crash, but the plastic holding back the force of the strong springs gave out and the plastic broke. This is a known issue that has caused others concussions, neck injuries, etc. As of yet the person who was sitting in the seat has not shown adverse symptoms, but his safety was put at risk. Chrysler is aware of this issue and had sent out a letter extending the warranty to 10 years, but this vehicle is just past the 10-year mark. No dealer, police, or insurance representatives have inspected this specific incident. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure.

The driver side headrest was deployed (I was heading to work when I opened the door to get in the van, I noticed the headrest was deployed). The vehicle was parked in my driveway all night and had not been in any type of accident. It is available to be inspected. Had I been driving when it deployed, there’s a strong possibility it would have caused an unsafe driving condition and/or an accident. I have searched for a recall, but there isn’t one. However, other Dodge caravan drivers have reported similar incidents with their headrest deploying for no reason. The component has not been inspected yet, as it occurred just today. No warning lights or signs were present before the deployment (the night before when I parked it).

The driver's seat headrest came apart like it is supposed to in the event of an accident. However, my vehicle was not in an accident; it was sitting in the driveway. The plastic tabs that hold the headrest together broke apart. It is available for inspection. If this had happened while driving, my head would have been hit and pushed forward suddenly, which could have resulted in an accident/loss of control. This has been a problem on different models, and extended warranties have been offered. However, the dealership says mine is not one of the covered vehicles.

Today, 6/17/23, I went to costco. When I got back to my van I noticed that the passenger head rest had popped open. I first thought that it was some hidden compartment feature that I didn't know about but upon getting out of my van and going around to look closer that there were a lot of what looked like electrical components inside. I thought that was weird, why did a head rest have all that inside it? I tried to close it and could not. When I got home I had my son look at it and he said that he could see a little plastic pin or other had broken, he could tell something had broken, but also could not get it to close or figure out any solution, and he's very good with car problems. I did a bit of research and found a lot of information and news stories about the head rests spontaneously popping open, I was not in any kind of accident, just went to costco and back to my van at approximately 4:30pm. One of the news stories mentioned NHTSA and here I am reporting this, I have not received any notification on any recalls and I see on your site that there have been three recalls regarding my van.

The active headrest deployment activated but our vehicle did not experience any collision that should have activated this feature. This happened while the vehicle was stopped.

The contact owned a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at 25-35 mph with someone in the front passenger seat a semi truck crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle spun seven times and continuously hit the concrete barriers on each side of the highway. The contact stated that body of the vehicle shifted 5 inches away from the frame. The air bags deployed but were deflated. The contact became unconscious temporarily and upon regaining consciousness, he noticed that he was laying flat in the front driver's seat as the seat had fractured into two. The contact also noticed that the driver's seatbelt had snapped. The contact was able to exit the vehicle with the assistance of emergency units and the fire department. The contact was transported to the hospital by emergency units. The contact sustained consistent middle back pain that would sometimes cause him to crawl instead of walking, numbness on both legs, consistent headaches, impaired vision. The other passenger sustained a seatbelt mark and trauma. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was totaled. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 13v291000 (air bags). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Unknown. Went to grab something in the passenger front seat and had my hand on the headrest and it popped open and won’t close back up because the plastic brackets holding metal pole broke. My wrist hurt from the force.

The driver seat headrest deployed without any notice. The plastic is broken where they pin is supposed to sit.

The headrest deployed while the vehicle was parked and occupied. The driver was sitting in the seat and hit by the headrest. If he had been leaning back, it was likely forceful enough to cause a head or neck injury. If we had been driving it was distracting and startling. It easily could have caused a crash. I have reported this to mopar, and I will be taking it to a Dodge repair shop for inspection and replacement. They stated they were aware of the issue and they sent out letters. They were aware I never received one, they said due to not having my address, though I have received other communication from Dodge. I know of 2 other Dodge owners whose vehicles are in the affected group according to mopar, and neither has received notification of this potential malfunction. There was absolutely no indication there was anything wrong with the headrest prior to smacking the driver in the head.

One day, I found my drivers seat head rest had come opened. When looking to see what caused this, it said that you were rear ended? I was not rear ended! now my air bag light is on? I had ask a Dodge dealer about it , and he said that it would cost a thousand dollars to fix it? when reading about the recalls on it, I read where the clips are breaking. Making the head rest to come open, and the air bags not working? please can you help me with this problems? I don't feel that it is my fault? thank you lori beebe.

2013 Dodge caravan driver side head test deployed for no reason while stopped at a red light on the morning of September 8th, 2019. My vehicle was stationary. No accident or rear collision occurred. Photos of front and back of vehicle will prove no damage. It appears the plastic retainer which holds the component together failed and snapped on its own accord. This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed by Dodge/Chrysler.

While driving down the interstate the passenger side head rest deployed. There was a passenger in the seat at the time but was not hit by the head rest.

Air bag light goes on and off like ther is someone in passenger seat when empty,car turns air bag on and off by weight. Doesnt work properly. In 2011 recall on same vehicle for bad havac causing leak. This stops heating systom from working properly and air bag not to work . My 2013 doing same but know recall. Does all the time.