Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am submitting this letter to formally express my serious concern and dissatisfaction regarding a safety issue that occurred and that, under only slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in a far more dangerous outcome. The situation I experienced was not only unacceptable but indicative of a potential systemic failure that warrants immediate investigation. The incident posed a clear risk to my safety and the safety of others. It is deeply troubling that such a failure was able to occur at all, and even more troubling that-had the conditions been marginally different-it could have led to severe injury or worse. This is precisely the type of preventable hazard that NHTSA exists to identify and address before it results in tragedy. …
The headrest came apart while car was parked and turned off. If the driver was behind the wheel when this happen, there is a good possibality it may have cause the driver to have an accident. The car have been to a service center to check about replacing it. There was no warning before the headrest came apart. It is my understanding that Chrysler knew about the defect but I have not received a recall notice. It seem this part is expensive to replace and I don't see that it is my place to lay out the money. Can Chrysler be held accountable?
The driver's seat headrest went off. The leather front popped off from the backing. Inside you can see where there is plastic broken and we can't push the pieces back together. The pop of it going off was loud and thank goodness I wasn't driving on the highway when it happened. Vehicle was not in motion when it went off. We were cleaning out the van and wiping down the seat when it happened. It was literally a ticking time bomb and I'm afraid that the passenger side is going to do this too.
Driver side headrest deployed (AHR system) while driving at a speed of 55 mph with no accident. Driver bit tongue while driving. I have found many complaints of this issue online. Vehicle hasn't been inspected at this time since it happened a little over a week ago while on vacation. There were no warning signs that it was going to happen. Just purchased this 2016 Chrysler Town and County a little over a month ago and now have this repair to consider of a faulty "safety" system.
Headrest literally exploded open while driving down the highway with my 15 yr old (who has had 3 brain surgeries) was sitting in the seat. The headrest is now split open and will not "close up". I had a Dodge dealership tell me it was a known problem and they said they would order me a new headrest but it's been 6-9 months and now they will not return my phone calls. Is this a broken active headrest restraint? Seems like a safety hazard for my family that I cannot get it fixed.
My son was seated in the front passenger seat on his phone. The car was parked and not on. He was waiti for for me to get in. In his words the "head rest shot out" at him. Sure enough when I entered the van the head rest was deployed. I asked him if he sat down roo hard, was jumping around, anything that the van could have confused as a Collison. He said no, he was sitting like normal waiting for me playing on his phone. And then pow!
Found the front passenger seat headrest activated and separated from the frame after entering the parked vehicle. Unable to reset the headrest. It appears that the plastic frame that holds a silver locking bar broke. There was no rear end damage or known collision from the rear to this vehicle. The car had been parked for approximately 5 hours in 90+ degree weather in Illinois before reentering the vehicle.
The front drivers headrest spontaneously opened up. It was a quick and loud pop. I was not in the seat when it happened but I was getting ready to sit down. If i was sitting down it would have hit the back of my head very hard and could have hurt me. No warning lamps were on at the time and it has not been inspected but I have pictures
I was in my car's passenger seat and my partner was driving when the passenger head rest deployed. We were not in an accident and were traveling slowly in traffic. Had I not been leaning forward my neck may have been injured. I called the dealer and am taking the van in Monday. There were no warning systems activated
The middle seat (driver side) was sitting properly, it clicked into place and wasn't folded for months. It suddenly decided to fold on my child while we were driving. It hurt my child and it took an hour to get him to calm down and even be ok with going back into the van
Related recalls
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured March 16, 2016, to March 17, 2016. The nuts on the third row seatbacks were incorrectly torqued and may become loose.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the third row seatback nuts, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA investigations
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
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…
Seat complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the seats of the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country, 4% of the model year's 527 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › head restraint (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Chrysler Town and Country seat problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-300 (mid/rear assembly, May 16, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Chrysler Town and Country seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.