NHTSA Complaint #10966138 — 2014 DODGE DURANGO

ON 3/6/17 THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT ACTIVE HEAD REST DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE OR CRASH. WHEN DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST TETHERED TO THE SEAT SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HEAD REST. ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THIS AND OR FIND THE CAUSE AT THE DODGE AUTONATION DEALER LOCATED AT 21027 I-45 NORTH, SPRING, TX 77388 (877-791-6569) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED MET WITH A DECLINED REPAIR DUE TO THE DAMAGE WAS LISTED AS "TRIM". AT THE TIME THE AHR DEPLOYED A PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME BUT WAS NOT INJURED DUE TO THE "TETHERS" HELD THE FRONT FACE OF THE HEAD REST FROM PROJECTING OUTWARD/FORWARD. I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE DIRECTOR AT THE DODGE DEALER FRANKIE FREEZE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND HE HAS PERSONALLY SEEN THIS TYPE OF DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT CAUSE. IN THE SERVICE MANUAL IN THE EVENT THE AHR DEPLOYS THERE IS A "RESET" PROCESS. DUE TO THE HIGH VELOCITY OF THE HEAD REST DEPLOYMENT THE UNIT ITSELF WAS DAMAGED TO INCLUDE THE HEAD REST COVER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE "RESET". NO VISIBLE DAMAGE IS APPARENT TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF (CRASH), AND NO VISIBLE CODES OR WARNING LIGHT (I.E. AIRBAG LIGHT) ARE DISPLAYED. AT THIS TIME I HAVE DISPUTED THE CLAIM BY DODGE THAT THIS IS A "TRIM" ISSUE AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN NOT DETERMINE WHY THE HEAD REST DEPLOYED AND REFERRED THE ISSUE AND DEPLOYMENT TO A INVESTIGATOR. I SUSPECT BUT HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE HEAD REST WAS CAUSED BY THE RIGHT REAR REAR PASSENGER OPENING THE FACTORY INSTALLED VIDEO SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM). IT IS POSSIBLE THE BACK OF THE FLIP OPEN MONITOR PLASTIC SHROUD STRUCK THE BACK OF THE HEAD REST WHEN OPENED CAUSING IT TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION IN NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH LITTLE TO NO LIGHTING IN THE VEHICLE. A DISTINCT AND LOUD POP WAS HEARD FROM THE SEAT.