Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Dodge journey. While driving 45 MPH at night, the contact drove over a large tree branch that was not visible at the time. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree that was lying in the road and then crashed into a brick mail box. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured, but she visited the chiropractor for soreness. Medical attention was not…
2013 Dodge Journey airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Dodge Journey have filed 38 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 86,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Journey | 90 |
| 2010 Journey | 25 |
| 2011 Journey | 8 |
| 2012 Journey | 22 |
| 2013 Journey (this page) | 38 |
| 2014 Journey | 35 |
| 2015 Journey | 57 |
| 2016 Journey | 25 |
| 2017 Journey | 20 |
11crashes
1fire
13injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 38 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Dodge Journey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 38 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 11 model years of Dodge Journey in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Dodge Journeys describe two major airbag problems: complete system failure during crashes and unexplained spontaneous headrest deployment.
Non-deployment crashes. At least seven owners describe collisions—rear impacts at 15–45 mph, frontal crashes, T-bone hits—where front, side, or seat belt restraints never activated despite high-impact damage. One involved a law enforcement crash reconstructionist who downloaded vehicle data showing deployment *should* have occurred. Victims sustained head, neck, spine, knee, and chest injuries requiring hospitalization. Vehicles were totaled. Dealers could not explain why systems failed.
Spontaneous headrest deployment. Multiple owners report active headrests deploying violently while parked, at traffic lights, or during normal driving—with zero impact trigger. Owners struck in the back of the head experienced bruising, neck burns, disorientation, and fear. Some discovered deployed headrests days after parking. One deployed when the driver closed the door after remote start.
Headrest structural breakdown. Owners describe plastic locking pins cracking inside headrests, making reset impossible and requiring full replacement. The plastic connector points fail without apparent cause.
Warning light issues. Several owners report persistent or intermittent airbag warning lights, sometimes accompanied by beeping, which can disable deployment. One owner's vehicle was repaired under a recall but the warning light recurred at 160,000 miles.
NHTSA Campaigns 17V432000 and 16V047000 addressed airbag failures, yet complaints spanned the vehicle's lifetime.
Same Dodge Journey airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Front, side, and seat belt restraints fail to activate during collisions ranging from 15 mph parking impacts to 65 mph highway crashes, despite data suggesting deployment should occur.
When: During or immediately after collision; mileage range 24,000 to 200,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy on frontal impact; Side curtain airbags do not deploy on T-bone collision; Seat belts fail to tighten or restrain; Occupants strike steering wheel, dashboard, or receive head/neck/spine injuries; Vehicle data download shows deployment should have occurred
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled or towed to salvage; no repair documented; crash reconstruction data reviewed in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V432000 (Air Bags) referenced in several complaints; dealer unable to explain failures; manufacturer made aware in some cases but provided no assistance
Active headrest unintended deployment
Headrest airbags deploy spontaneously while vehicle is parked, stationary, or during normal highway driving with no impact or collision trigger.
When: While parked (overnight, in driveway, at traffic light, at work); during normal driving; mileage range 75,000 to 132,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest suddenly deploys, hitting occupant in back of head; Deployment occurs with vehicle stationary and engine off or remote-started; Causes bruising, neck burns, abrasions, disorientation, or surprise strikes; No external impact or collision precedes deployment; Owner discovers deployed headrest when entering parked vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement headrest quoted at $192 labor; owners report reluctance to replace due to design defect concern
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned for headrest deployment; manufacturer not made aware in multiple cases
Active headrest structural failure
Plastic locking pins or attachment points inside active headrests break or fail, causing headrest to deploy violently or become stuck in deployed position, rendering reset impossible.
When: Various; mileage range 81,455 to 85,000 miles; some discovered after prolonged parking
Symptoms owners cite: Silver locking pin becomes loose; Small plastic components holding pin in place crack or shatter; Headrest cannot be reset after deployment; Plastic connector points visibly broken inside mechanism; Headrest appears partially deployed or unstable
Repairs/costs cited: Requires full replacement; parts cost described as high; repair quoted at $192 labor only
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response or recall documented for structural failures
Airbag warning light illumination
Dashboard airbag warning indicator lights up persistently or intermittently, indicating system malfunction that may disable airbag deployment.
When: Reported from 77,174 to 160,000 miles; can occur at any time while driving or stationary
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates continuously or intermittently while driving; Warning light stays on, then turns off and repeats; Beeping sound accompanies warning light; Light appears when making turns; Owner concerned airbags may not deploy in crash
Repairs/costs cited: Repair performed at dealer per NHTSA Campaign 16V047000 in one case; failure recurred at 160,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V047000 (Air Bags) issued; NHTSA Campaign 17V432000 referenced; dealer notified but repairs did not permanently resolve issue
Curtain airbag self-deployment at door closure
Driver-side curtain airbag deploys spontaneously when vehicle door is closed after remote start, with vehicle stationary and engine in ready state.
When: Immediately upon closing driver-side door after remote start; vehicle at standstill
Symptoms owners cite: Curtain airbag deploys when door latches; Left arm bruising and neck burns result; Deep abrasion across driver's left neck; No external impact or collision; Vehicle parked with parking brake engaged and in Park
Synthesized from 38 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Driver headrest deployed while driving.
My wife was t-boned on the passenger side, by a vehicle supposedly traveling 25 MPH, with my son in the passenger seat and the side airbags did not deploy. She was crossing an intersection when the collision happened.
Was in an accident. Went off the side of the road, though a yard and over an embankment resting against a tree. Front end damage, and damage to both sides of the vehicle. No airbags deployed. Vehicle was traveling at approximately 58-60 MPH at the time of the crash. This was on a state rural route.
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Dodge Journey?
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 Dodge Journey?
It's a meaningful issue. 38 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 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 60,000 and 127,000 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 127,000. 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/Dodge/Journey.
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.