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 2013 Dodge Journey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard a loud explosion and was struck in the back of the head. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, and the contact observed that the driver's side headrest had unintendedly deployed. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while her husband was driving out of the driveway, the passenger's side headrest abruptly exploded. No injuries were reported. The contact related to the failure with the Extended Warranty Program: Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment- X88 Warranty Extension. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, it was confirmed that the vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty extension. The contact received notification of the communication. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the front passenger's side headrest air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no reported injuries. The contact called the local dealer who informed her that the repair was not covered under warranty. The dealer referred her to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
As I was driving to pick my son up from work at 10pm, I started to drive my 2013 dodge journey sxt and noticed my head position didn't feel right. I got to my sons job and as we were making our way to the gas station to get gas before we headed home my headrest hit me in the back of the head randomly. The active headrest sprung forward hitting me in the back of the head. Luckily I was not driving at that moment or it could have caused me to crash, being that it was night time and raining. I got home where I could get my flash light out and give it a good looking over and realized that it the clips on the inside of the active headrest broke. I tried to reset the headrest to dee if there was some other mechanism that would let it re-clip back in place and it just keeps springing forward. I have not taken it to get it looked at yet as I am writing you on the same night of the incident. …
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, the driver's side headrest, part of my 2013 Dodge Journey's AHR (Active Head Restraint) system suddenly exploded for no apparent reason. I was alone in the vehicle, waiting to make a left turn. The sudden loud, sharp sound and impact to the back of my head startled and stunned me; I felt as if I had been rear ended. I looked back but there was no one behind me. Not knowing what had happened, I felt scared and light headed. I was still able to complete my turn but I pulled over to compose myself and ensure that I was okay. I didn't become aware of the failure of the headrest until I returned home and my husband inspected the vehicle. As I write this incident report 24 hours after it occurred, I am experiencing soreness and discomfort in my neck and plan to seek a medical assessment. …
On November 2nd, 2022, while driving home with my teenage son in the passenger seat with his head leaning back on the headrest, the headrest spontaneously sprang/deployed and thrust his head forward toward the front of the car. When we got home, I looked into the headrest and found the latching pin broke away from the housing and deployed the headrest. This is available for inspection as I cannot put the broken headrest back into my vehicle. Fortunately, my son was not injured as far as we know. We will be having the local dealership look at the headrest tomorrow 11/5/22
My headrest on my passenger seat employed during the night. My wife noticed it in the morning when she went to turn the car on for work. My safety or whoever would be sitting in the passenger could be compromised if the headrest would've went off while driving. We are worried now that our driver seat might activate for no apparent reason. That would put myself or anyone else on the road in danger.
My headrest randomly deployed/opened. I have contacted the dealership, and spoke directly, with Dodge; still no success. I have been trying to get this issue fixed for over a year; I still have a broken headrest that hurts my neck and makes it uncomfortable to drive. Please RECALL the headrest for 2013 Dodge Journey! This is my second form and NOTHING has been done yet!!
We were going thru the park we did not hit anything nor where we going fast we were only going 14/15 mph . I was sitting in the pasenger seat and all of a sudden we heard what sounded like a loud pop and my head was hit by the head rest for no reason . We were not in an accident or anthing to cause it to just all of a sudden deploy.
There was no damage to my headrest when I parked my car on the evening of: June 29, 2024. On Sunday morning; June 30, 2024. When I entered my vehicle. I learned that the driver seat headrest; airbag deployed/busted open for no apparent reason. My children travel with me in this vehicle. This is very, very dangerous!
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 Journey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2013 Dodge Journey?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the seats of the 2013 Dodge Journey, 16% of the model year's 353 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › head restraint (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Dodge Journey seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2013 Dodge Journey, though it has 4 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 2013 Dodge Journey seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 8 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.