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 2014 Dodge Avenger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the driver's side headrest deployed and pushed her head forward. The contact stated that the impact was like being rear-ended. The contact had a major headache from the impact of the headrest deployment. The contact inspected the headrest and became aware that the headrest spring had fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH, the occupant restraint controller in the driver's seat activated inadvertently, and the head restraint deployed. The contact stated that her daughter was struck in the back of the head by the head restraint. The contact stated that her daughter had not observed the warning light before or after the failure. The contact's daughter had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was unknown.
My driver side head rest was fine the night before. When I came out to my car the next morning, the AHR had defected and the padded part had "popped". No damage had occurred on the exterior of my vehicle.
Important note : my wife's vehicle was never involved in an accident. The active head restraint on the vehicle decided to spontaneously deploy. We are not sure when it happened, but thank god it wasn't while she was driving with the vehicle in motion. The force of the headrest opening appears to have broken some plastic retainer pieces, and now we are faced with replacing the headrest. I called the dealership to be sure there were no safety recalls, and was informed there were not. I asked if they would replace a faulty safety device that decided to malfunction and was told that the only warranty we had on the vehicle was for powertrain and therefore, this would not be a covered issue. We were then told the cost to replace the defective headrest would be $625 plus tax for the part alone! …
I was leaving work on Friday, March 19,2021 around 4:05 p.m...stopped, my car was not in motion, I was waiting for on coming traffic to clear, when I heard what I believed to be gun shots or either a car had crashed into the back of me at a high rate of speed, there were no vehicles behind me, I was so scared, I went to my mechanic, and he discovered the horrible noise was my head rest had exploded. It is cut in half and has started rattling. My mechanic advised I call Dodge dealer on Monday morning 3/22/2021. I called this morning at 9:11 a.m. (eastern time). …
Head rest has separated while not driving. Since the time it separated the airbag light in my car will not go off. I have not been able to reset it on my own and seems that it was not part of a recall that was an airbag issue with the Dodge Avenger identified in 2016. My car has not been in an accident, in good condition, but I have an airbag light on constantly and my headrest is "popped". This is not safe to have happening in ordinary driving conditions. This part should be recalled by Dodge. There are many complaints about this all over the internet for 2014 avengers. People could get hurt. I have not had the part repaired by Dodge, but have been quoted upwards of $500 to fix a headrest! The headrest is what is setting my airbag light off and not knowing if my passenger will be protected is not comforting. Dodge needs to fix this issue. …
Both of my headrests deployed without any type of collision. The first happened a few months ago, my passenger side deployed overnight when the car was parked in the carport. The plastic clips were broken. Then on 7/15/2020, the drivers side headrest deployed at some point during the 8 hours my car was parked at work. Thankfully no one was in the seat either time because that would have resulted in injury. I have researched and found that there was a recall on the 2011-2013 Avenger models, but apparently they decided not to change anything for the 2014 model, there are tons of complaints, some with injury, most with ridiculous repair bills and all this is due to faulty cheap plastic clips that apparently just snap during normal use. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the headrest deployed and the head restraint that was supposed to prevent whiplash in a rear end collision popped off the seat. The contact was not injured. The dealer (shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 200 liberty blvd, canton, ga 30114, [phone]) was called and denied any knowledge of the failure even though there were past incidents reported on the internet. The manufacturer informed the contact to go to another dealer and pay the deductible since the vehicle was under an extended warranty, which could possibly cover the repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000. Consumer stated corporate office is aware of the problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the passenger side headrest padding separated and pushed forward. The contact pushed the padding back, but it did not latch back to the frame. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer (jt's Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler in lexington, sc: [phone]). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Also, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V668000 (seat belts, air bags). The failure mileage was approximately 25,200. Parts distribution disconnect.
While driving down interstate 75 s @70 MPH driver side headrest detached from the back. Making it very difficult and dangerous to drive. Purchased brand new off the lot in 2014. No accidents with the car past or recent. No bumper damage. Pulled over and could not get the front to reset back into the frame. Called the dealership, because the VIN is out of the range of a previous recall Dodge won't fix it. We haven't gotten a quote yet for what out of pocket expense will be.
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 Avenger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2014 Dodge Avenger?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the seats of the 2014 Dodge Avenger, 12% of the model year's 205 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › head restraint (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Dodge Avenger seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2014 Dodge Avenger, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Dodge Avenger seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.