Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Chrysler town and country. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact crashed into a deer on the front driver side of the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed but hesitated to stop the vehicle. The seat belt pretensioner failed. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained injuries to lower back, neck and legs that…
2013 Chrysler Town and Country airbags problems
severe 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 41 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 41 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 6 model years of Chrysler Town and Country in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Town & Country has a documented pattern of airbag and active head restraint defects: headrests deploy without warning even when parked, airbag warning lights stay on with no clear fix, and in some crashes airbags fail to deploy at all. Get a full airbag system inspection and ask if any recalls have been completed before buying.
The 2013 Chrysler Town & Country has a cluster of airbag system failures across multiple failure modes. Most striking: the active head restraint system deploys with force when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, striking occupants in the back of the head. Owners describe plastic retainer clips breaking under stress, allowing the headrest springs to propel forward. Once deployed, the headrests cannot be reset because the plastic is fractured. These events occur with no collision or triggering event—some happen in the driveway, others during routine highway driving. Occupants report headaches and neck strain.
Separate from the active headrest issue, the airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or stays on continuously across different mileages. Dealers diagnose fractured wiring harnesses under the seat, touching wires, failed sensor mats, and open circuits. Many vehicles leave the shop unrepaired because the failure cannot be duplicated or the cost is prohibitive.
Critically, some owners experienced airbag non-deployment during actual crashes—head-on collisions, T-bone impacts, and rollover events—resulting in severe injuries. One owner's vehicle VIN was listed in NHTSA recall campaign 13V291000 but had never been serviced.
The manufacturer (Fiat Chrysler/Stellantis) has not issued a recall for the involuntary headrest deployment despite documented patterns and class-action litigation online. Repair costs reported include $600 for sensor replacement and $1,000 for headrest repair. Warranty coverage has been denied after the vehicle leaves the factory coverage period.
Same Chrysler Town and Country airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Involuntary Deployment
The active head restraint system deploys with force when the vehicle is stationary or moving at low speed, with no accident or triggering event. Owners report the plastic retainer struts or clips holding the metal latch pin fracture under stress, allowing the coil springs to propel the headrest forward into the back of the driver's or passenger's head. In some cases, both headrests deploy simultaneously.
When: Stationary (driveway, garage, while parked), or during routine driving at speeds 20–70 mph. One report at 18,000 miles; others span the vehicle's lifespan.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop or explosive sound from headrest; Forceful strike to back of head; Plastic clip or retainer struts broken or fractured; Headrest cannot be reset to original position; Headrest front propels forward with significant force; Headaches and neck strain reported by occupants
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealerships unable to identify root cause; headrests severely damaged and cannot be relocked. One owner cited $1,000 repair cost. Repairs required 3+ weeks vehicle downtime.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V291000 addressed airbag issues; some owners with VINs in recall did not receive or complete service. One owner received replacement part under recall in December 2023, but deployed again.
Airbag Warning Light—Intermittent or Persistent Illumination
The airbag warning light illuminates on the instrument panel, either intermittently or continuously, while driving or when stationary. Dealers diagnose wiring issues (fractured harness, touching wires), sensor failures (passenger seat air bag sensor mat), or open circuits to airbag modules. In some cases, the failure cannot be replicated or diagnosed.
When: Can occur any time the engine runs, at various speeds (20–70 mph) or while parked. Reported at mileages from 17,000 to 120,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or continuously; Light may flash and recur multiple times; Seat belt warning light may also illuminate; Some failures cannot be duplicated by dealer; Light may turn off then return within minutes or hours
Codes mentioned: Open circuit to air bag module, Wiring harness fractured underneath seat, Touching wires (seat belt and airbag wiring), Passenger seat air bag sensor mat failure
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement, wire repositioning, sensor mat replacement, air bag module repair, and oil pressure control switch replacement reported. One owner cited $125 diagnosis fee; another $600 for sensor replacement. Many vehicles left unrepaired due to cost or lack of diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases but provided no assistance. One owner reported Chrysler agreed to work with them after diagnosis. NHTSA Campaign 13V291000 mentioned; some vehicles with this VIN not included in recall.
Airbag Non-Deployment in Crashes
Front or side curtain airbags fail to deploy during actual vehicle crashes, including head-on collisions, T-bone impacts, and rollovers. Occupants sustain injuries that could have been mitigated by functioning restraints. In one case with recall campaign 13V291000 on file, the vehicle had not been serviced for the recall.
When: During collision events at speeds from 45 mph to 70+ mph. One case at approximately 8,700 miles; another at 34,000 miles; another at 90,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during impact; Vehicle crash into building, ditch, other vehicle, or deer; Occupants suffer severe injuries (back, neck, legs, spine, knees); Seat belt pretensioner also failed in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were totaled or destroyed. No repair details provided by owners. One vehicle was towed to collision center.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V291000 (Airbags) referenced; one owner's VIN was included but vehicle had not been serviced. Manufacturer not notified in other cases.
Passenger Seat Airbag Sensor Mat Failure
The passenger seat air bag sensor mat fails, triggering the airbag warning light. Replacement of the mat does not resolve the issue; the warning light persists.
When: At approximately 17,000 miles on one reported vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Warning light remains on after sensor mat replacement; Failure continues after repair attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger seat air bag sensor mat replaced; failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no further details provided.
Clock Spring Failure—Disconnected Driver Airbag
The clock spring (the spiral conductor in the steering column) breaks and disconnects the driver's airbag circuit. This also disables the cruise control. One owner notes this is a common problem cited on the internet.
When: Mileage and timing not specified in complaint.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Cruise control stops working; Clock spring broken and disconnected
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement required; one owner mentioned airbag light was on even during prior dealer visit when cruise control failure was addressed.
Open Circuit in Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment Control
An open circuit develops in the seat belt pretensioner deployment control system while the vehicle is stationary, causing loss of communication with impact acceleration sensors and the seat belt warning light.
When: Vehicle was stationary when issue detected.
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt light illumination; Open circuit in pretensioner deployment control; Lost communication with right B-pillar impact acceleration sensor; Lost communication with right door track impact acceleration sensor
Codes mentioned: Passenger seatbelt buckle pretensioner deployment control circuit open
Unintended Passenger-Side Airbag Deployment
Passenger-side airbags (headrest and/or side curtain) deploy without collision or impact event, while vehicle is moving at low speed on a city street or highway. Police report filed in one case noted no vehicle damage and no apparent reason for deployment.
When: While driving on city streets at approximately 25–50 mph; one case at slow speed on school/residential street while turning.
Symptoms owners cite: All passenger-side airbags deploy; Airbag strikes passenger or is unoccupied; No collision, rear-end impact, or vehicle damage; No warning signs prior to deployment
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Airbag light is on always
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Chrysler Town and Country?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a meaningful issue. 41 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 33,000 and 98,000 miles, with the median around 64,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,000; a quarter make it past 98,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Chrysler/Town and Country.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.