NHTSA Complaint #11257743 — 2013 CHRYSLER 200

DRIVER SEAT HEADREST DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY SURFACE AT 70MPH MAKING A LARGE NOISE AND HITTING HARD THE BACK OF DRIVER'S HEAD. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS OR INDICATION OF PROBLEMS ON THE DASH BOARD. AFTER I EXAMINED THE HEADREST THE PLASTIC HOLDING THE METAL BAR HAD DETERIORATED SO THAT THE BAR COULD NOT BE PLACED BACK IN ITS ORIGINAL SPOT, AND THE BAR WAS FOUND IN THE CLAMP BELOW. THE CLAMP WAS STILL LOCKED. THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE RESET SINCE THE PLASTIC WAS BROKEN. THE HEADREST IN THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 RECALLS FOR NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT AND ALL HAVE BEEN SERVICED ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS HAD NO REASON TO DEPLOY. THE FORCE WHEN DEPLOYING CAN CAUSE NECK OR HEAD INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT AND THEREFORE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT AND THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE HEADREST AND INSTALL CAME TO $730. AFTER DISCOUNTED WITH A COUPON FOR 12%.