Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hard, front collision with deer, spun several times before rolling over a couple times down a small hill. Side air bags deployed but front did not deploy resulting in severer and additional driver injuries including but not limited to chest contusions, spleen hematoma and concussion. He was hospitalized and has a long road ahead. Car was totaled and towed. Insurance company has it now. They and responders are aware front air bags did not deploy. Consumer stated husband had severe injuries.
My fairly new teen driver drove the car to the gym and the headrest basically "exploded" onto the back of his head with a swift blow. He had a very bad headache and was really freaked out. There were no lights, no notice, no impact. Just out of the blue drivers side. Called local dealership to see what it could be and apparently the pin can break or the plastic holding the pin and the airbag restraint type system in the headrest will just explode open as if in an accident. He said no recalls and out of warranty. How can this NOT be a serious safety issue??? My inexperienced teen driver could have been so stunned he caused an accident! Anyways they said it would be roughly $1100 to replace entire headrest because there is no option to repair it once deployed. Can we still drive it? If we don't have that $ now
The headrest deployed under normal driving conditions. A quick google search shows I'm not the only one with this issue. Some have described this issue as the headrest "exploding" since it disengages in a very quick and forceful manner. Some Dodge Durango Models from 2011 - 2018 fall under recall "(X88) Active Head Restraint" but for some reason I'm being told my 2012 Dodge Durango does not fall under this same recall.
Headrest exploded while I was driving. Hit me in the head. Gave me a concussion. Dealership says there is no recall. I have to pay out of pocket. This is a safety feature. I am not paying for the repairs.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 30 MPH during inclement weather, the vehicle slid on ice, into an embankment, went airborne, and crashed into a tree. The brakes were applied with force, but failed to stop the vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained a fractured back in two places and a ruptured left breast implant, which required medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company to a facility and a yard, but was not investigated by the insurance company or a dealer. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V115000 (electrical system), 17V435000 (electrical system), and 17V572000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic). The repairs had not been completed. The manufacturer was contacted after the crash to inquire about the air bags not deploying. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the her daughter was driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle in front made a sudden stop, as a result the daughter was unable to brake in time to afford a rear end collision. The driver and passenger frontal air bags failed to deploy. Causing the driver to receive chest contusion while the contact the front seat passenger sustained a whiplash that required medical attention. The contact stated that the vehicle sustained extreme front end damage. The contact's insurance company towed the vehicle to a local auto body repair facility and deemed it a total loss however, the contact was having the vehicle towed to her residence. The manufacturer was not contacted. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 155,000.
On nov 28 2020 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in my 2012 Dodge Durango. I was traveling about 45 MPH on a dry 2 way road, when another vehicle pulled out in front of me and I was unable to avoid a collision. The accident was bad enough to flip the other vehicle and cause their airbags to deploy but the airbags in my vehicle did not deploy. This caused me and my passenger to have no protection, other than the safety restraints. Both have suffered head, neck and back injuries. In this accident due to the amount of front end damage, the airbags should have deployed. Not sure if there was a faulty sensor or if my vehicle should have been apart of the air bag recall list, like my 2 others. But lives were at stake and could have been lost.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the vehicle crashed into trees and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v1540000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was 25,000.
Driving down the highway battery light came on. Replaced battery. Resumed trip, started smelling something burning. Bluetooth turned off, radio shut off, A/C shut off (all as I'm trying to get off highway), smoke begins pouring out of air vents, everything shuts off. Had to get vehicle towed. It is sitting, as I am trying to find out if it is included in t36 recall.
A fire started in the battery compartment under the passenger seat. While the car was parked in the garge and turned off. No one was in the vehicle. About 45 minutes after the fire was extinguished, the passenger seat airbag deployed.
Airbag complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Dodge Durango, 4% of the model year's 640 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Durango airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2012 Dodge Durango, though it has 10 recalls 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 2012 Dodge Durango airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 2 fires and 12 injuries to air bags 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.