Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2018 | 21 | 9% | 76,000 miles |
| 2017 | 11 | 5% | 180,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 3% | 56,000 miles |
| 2015 | 91 | 18% | 68,000 miles |
| 2014 | 164 | 21% | 70,000 miles |
| 2013 | 76 | 12% | 92,000 miles |
| 2012 | 8 | 1% | 52,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 6% | 145,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% | 55,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 0% | 113,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 0% | 105,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 0% | 186,000 miles |
| 2003 | 8 | 2% | 40,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% | 125,000 miles |
| 2001 | 28 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 2000 | 32 | 3% | 80,000 miles |
| 1999 | 31 | 2% | 57,000 miles |
| 1998 | 43 | 4% | 126,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the headrest air bag inadvertently deployed and hit her on the back of the head. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she continued to drive the vehicle and made a stop when she exited the highway. The contact sustained whiplash but did not seek medical assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
On the morning of 10/09/2024, I started my 2019 Dodge Durango and exited the vehicle, after 2 minutes the entire interior of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The drivers side seat warmer appears to have malfunctioned causing the vehicle to set of fire, including glass break, paint peeling and interior burning
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while stopped in a Drive-Thru, there was an abnormally loud sound before the driver's side head restraint unexpectedly deployed. The contact's head was pushed forward with force and struck the steering wheel. There was no injury reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the head restraint's unintended deployment. The contact was informed that the driver's side headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,800.
The contact's wife owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the headrest deployed inadvertently and struck the contact in the back of the head. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road for a moment. There was no injury sustained. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist since the VIN was not included in an unknown recall and the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,050.
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the driver's side headrest unexpectedly exploded. The contact stated that it felt like being struck by a ball in the back of the head. The contact had a mild headache and treated the headache with painkillers. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
On [redacted] 2024 my wife, son, and I were sitting at a stop light on [redacted] at approximately 16:40 hours when we heard a loud pop in the vehicle and my wife's head was pushed forward by the passenger side seat head rest, causing pain to my wife's head and neck, and shoulder muscles. Upon inspection of the head rest, it had become separated in the middle (pictures attached). Vehicle is equipped with the active head restraint system. My wife has not received medical attention yet but is quite sore this morning. We will contact our dealer to replace the head rest (and the driver's side head rest) and request the defective head rest be returned to us so it is available for NHTSA inspection. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance rep, or others yet. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. …
On August 6, 2026, at approximately 6:00 a.m., I was driving my 2016 Dodge Durango northbound to work at approximately 60 mph. It was dark and the roadway was slightly wet from overnight rain. While traveling in the left lane under normal driving conditions, I suddenly heard a loud pop and the driver's Active Head Restraint/headrest sprung forward, striking me hard in the back of the head. The impact caused my head to be thrown forward and caused me to swerve. I immediately pulled over to determine what had happened. After exiting the vehicle, I discovered that the driver's headrest had sprung open and forward. There had been no collision or other impact immediately before the headrest deployed. I continued to work after the incident and developed a mild headache. Later that day, I began experiencing soreness in my neck. …
My wife was driving down the road when out of no where her headrest just deployed slamming into the back of her head. After examining the headrest it was clear that a plastic piece had deteriorated causing the headrest to release.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Durango years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (164), 2015 (91), 2013 (76), 1998 (43) and 2000 (32) model years. Seat complaints make up 21% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for Dodge Durango seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for any Dodge Durango model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Dodge Durango seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles; 19% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › head restraint (40 mentions), followed by the front assembly › power adjust (18).
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.