NHTSA Complaint #11704136 — 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

On November 6, 2025 at 11:59 AM, the active head restraint on my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited deployed without impact as I adjusted the driver’s seat into an upright position. This was a spontaneous mechanical deployment inside the cabin of a stationary vehicle. The dealership confirmed this as a known failure involving the internal plastic retaining clip that holds the deployment pin. This defect was previously covered under a 10-year extended warranty that expired in November 2024. At the time of the incident, I was alone in the vehicle. I later sought medical evaluation for head, neck, shoulder, and lower back pain and was diagnosed with a cervical strain. Because this failure occurs without collision, it presents a serious risk of injury to drivers and passengers. I regularly spend time with elderly individuals in personal, non-commercial contexts and occasionally transport others in my personal vehicle. In such a population, an in-cabin mechanical deployment of this force could cause catastrophic injury. The manufacturer and warranty programs have declined to assist with repair due to expiration despite acknowledging this as a known defect. Estimated repair cost is approximately $1,000. I am submitting this report for documentation, safety tracking, and defect pattern analysis. Submitted by: [XXX] REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)