Rear Air Spring Shield Installation Procedure This bulletin involves the installation of a rear spring shield.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbags problems
critical Owners of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 29 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 61,816 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
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Grand Cherokee | 7 |
| 2010 Grand Cherokee | 5 |
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 49 |
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 38 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 29 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 160 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 99 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 10 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 15 |
6crashes
6injuries
1fatality
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 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.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue is spontaneous deployment of active headrest restraints (AHR). Owners describe sudden forward-launching of driver or passenger headrests while parked, backing at low speed, wiping the seat, or cruising normally at highway speeds. The plastic clips or pins that hold the mechanism in place wear out or break, releasing the spring tension. One owner was struck while sitting stationary in her driveway; another while driving 60 mph had her head thrown forward; a third was hit while a passenger and now reports neck and ear pain.
The impact is immediate—loud pop, plastic fragments visible, headrest cannot be reset. Dealers confirm only remedy is full headrest replacement at $600–$900 per unit, and one owner found an extended warranty had expired in June 2023, leaving her responsible for the full cost. Jeep corporate acknowledged the issue as a "known problem" and offered extended warranty coverage, but refused to issue a recall. One corporate investigator contacted an owner but then stated Jeep would not fix the problem.
A secondary but severe concern: in documented accidents (rear-end at 50 mph, side-impact at 30 mph), standard airbags failed to deploy. One rear-end collision resulted in the headrest separating into two pieces instead of airbag activation. Owners also report airbag warning lights and OCR module faults with parts backordered indefinitely.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Active Headrest Restraint (AHR) spontaneous deployment
Driver or passenger headrest deploys without accident, collision, or impact—occurring while driving, parked, or during routine activities like wiping seats or backing slowly. Owners report the plastic clips or pins holding the headrest in place wear out or break, releasing the spring-loaded mechanism.
When: Various speeds from parked/stationary to 60 mph; mileages from 14,000 to 98,000
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest suddenly deploys forward with force or loud pop; Plastic clips or pins inside headrest break or wear out; Headrest strikes occupant's head, neck, or ears; Rattling after partial deployment; Plastic pieces visible or blown apart; Occupant disoriented, startled, or distracted while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships advise only remedy is full headrest replacement, quoted $600–$900. No effective reset possible once plastic components fail. Owners report extended warranty expired (June 2023), leaving repairs out-of-pocket.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep acknowledged the issue as a 'known problem' and offered extended warranty (expired June 2023). Chrysler corporate investigator contacted one owner but refused recall; stated owner must pay for replacement. No official recall issued despite multiple owner reports.
Airbag failure to deploy during collision
In documented accidents (rear-end at 50 mph, side-impact at 30 mph, frontal collision), front or side airbags did not deploy. One accident resulted in headrest separation into two pieces instead of proper airbag deployment.
When: At time of impact; mileages 14,000–15,858
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during side-impact collision; No airbag deployment during rear-end collision; Headrest separated and split rather than airbag activating; Occupants threw forward without restraint cushioning; Vehicle doors pushed in, doors fell off vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was destroyed; another had rear door fall off and was forced to exit via passenger door. One pregnant occupant lost child following collision.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reported Jeep requested special investigation unit inspection; no follow-up occurred after multiple contact attempts. No repairs performed.
Airbag warning indicator illuminated; OCR module failure
Airbag or occupant control restraint (OCR) warning light remains on. Dealer diagnostics confirm OCR module failure or unknown sensor fault, but parts unavailable for repair.
When: Mileages 35,000, 47,500, 98,000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated; Occupant control restraint warning indicator illuminated; No other symptoms reported
Codes mentioned: OCR (Occupant Control Restraint) module fault
Repairs/costs cited: Parts backordered; vehicle not repaired. One owner reports $300+ for passenger seatbelt replacement due to airbag system light.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers informed owners parts unavailable and to continue driving or wait for parts availability. One recall notice (19V813000) issued but manufacturer confirmed no recall parts available.
Takata airbag recall processing delays
Owner received recall notice (15V879000) for Takata airbags but dealer unable to schedule repair within reasonable timeframe due to extended hold and coordination issues.
When: Timeframe measured in months
Symptoms owners cite: No immediate failure reported by owner
Repairs/costs cited: Owner unable to schedule repair appointment for months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V879000 (Takata recall). Parts distribution coordination issues prevented timely repair scheduling.
Headrest detachment without deployment
Headrest becomes detached from backing or support structure but does not fully deploy. One owner reports headrest hanging after detachment with no accident history.
When: Unspecified; no accident history
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest detached and hanging from support; No full deployment documented
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Jeep grand cherokee. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v813000 (air bags). The manufacturer was called and confirmed that there were no recall parts available. In addition, the manufacturer suggested that the contact continue to drive the vehicle and declined a loaner vehicle. An unknown local dealer was contacted and informed that they…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
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 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a serious issue. 29 complaints have been filed, including 6 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 35,000 and 89,000 miles, with the median around 61,816. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 89,000. 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/Jeep/Grand Cherokee.
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.