Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
1,022 NHTSA complaints about seats:front assembly:head restraint issues across 39 makes and 274 models.
The seats:front assembly:head restraint is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,022 filings from 39 manufacturers and 274 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 92 crashes, 1 fire, 199 injuries, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 90 filings, followed by JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE and DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD F-150 | 90 |
| 2 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 56 |
| 3 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 36 |
| 4 | DODGE DURANGO | 35 |
| 5 | HONDA CIVIC | 25 |
| 6 | BUICK LESABRE | 25 |
| 7 | DODGE AVENGER | 23 |
| 8 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 22 |
| 9 | CHRYSLER 200 | 21 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET S10 | 18 |
| 11 | HONDA ACCORD | 17 |
| 12 | FORD TAURUS | 17 |
| 13 | DODGE JOURNEY | 16 |
| 14 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 15 |
| 15 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 15 |
| 16 | TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA | 12 |
| 17 | FORD EXPLORER | 12 |
| 18 | HONDA PILOT | 9 |
| 19 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 8 |
| 20 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 8 |
| 21 | OLDSMOBILE 88 | 8 |
| 22 | LINCOLN TOWN CAR | 8 |
| 23 | JEEP PATRIOT | 8 |
| 24 | DODGE DAKOTA | 8 |
| 25 | PONTIAC BONNEVILLE | 7 |
| 26 | MERCURY SABLE | 7 |
| 27 | FORD WINDSTAR | 7 |
| 28 | FORD FOCUS | 7 |
| 29 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 7 |
| 30 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 6 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the driver reached the back seat area, and the front driver's seat headrest erroneously exploded.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the center of the steering wheel was protruding outwards, and while attempting to sound the horn, the horn failed to operate. While enteri
The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the front passengerâs side head restraint erroneously deployed. There was a loud popping soun
The contact owned a 2024 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was rear-ended. The front driver's side seat belt r
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side headrest unexpectedly detached. The vehicle was taken to the deal
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while sitting at a stoplight, there was a loud pop on the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection, the contact became aw
The contact owns a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's seat headrest exploded. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that there was a burn hole on the front passengerâs side head restraint. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not c
The contactâs mother owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driverâs side head restraint exploded. The driver had not su
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling in the driveway, the front driver's side headrest deployed unintendedly. The contact did not sustain a
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver's side headrest had deployed without impact. The local dealer
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while making a turn at a slow speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front driverâs side headrest, and the headrest deploye
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the contact's wife sat down in the front passengerâs seat, and several minutes later, the fro
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the front driver-side seat headrest deployed. The contact heard an abnormal sound before the headset deplo
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the driver's side head restraint suddenly deployed from the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer
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 driverâs side head restraint unexpectedly deployed. The co
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the contact noticed an abnormal sound, and the front passenger's side headrest unexpectedly deployed without an imp
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with her son seated in the front passengerâs seat, there was a loud popping sound coming from the pa
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the front passengerâs side headrest erroneously deployed. During the failure, there was a loud explosion
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.