Airbag warning light notification staying on.
2014 Chrysler Town and Country airbags problems
severe 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
6crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 60 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Chrysler Town and Country, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Chrysler Town and Country we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 60.
Owners have filed 60 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Town & Country has widespread airbag system failures: active headrests deploy unexpectedly while parked or driving, airbag warning lights stay on persistently despite dealer resets, and airbags sometimes fail to deploy in real collisions. Expect dealer diagnostics to cost $300–$500 and repairs $700–$1200, often outside warranty coverage.
Active head restraints (front driver and passenger headrests) deploy without warning while vehicles are parked, stationary, or being driven at normal speeds. Owners hear a loud "pop" and the headrest springs forward; plastic retaining pins or brackets inside have cracked and failed, allowing the mechanism to release. Deployed headrests trigger SRS warning lights and cannot be reset without replacement. If an occupant is present or nearby, the sudden deployment causes whiplash, neck pain, head injuries, and near-accidents on highways.
The SRS/airbag warning light on the dashboard illuminates intermittently or stays on constantly without a clear pattern—appearing while driving, parked, turning, or braking. Dealers reset the light temporarily, but it returns within days or weeks. When diagnosed, root causes include seatbelt sensor faults, wiring harness issues, or ECU mismatches. Owners report feeling unsafe because they cannot confirm whether airbags will deploy correctly in a crash.
In multiple collision scenarios, airbags fail to deploy entirely despite high-speed impacts and severe vehicle damage. One owner was in a crash at 30 mph with no airbag deployment; the damaged vehicle was later resold with a hidden accident history. Another owner hit a stationary car and trees at highway speed—no deployment occurred, and the driver lost consciousness and suffered seizures.
When airbags do deploy, some malfunction: knee airbags inflate into the driver's legs and feet, blocking access to the brake pedal, and passenger-side airbags have deployed backward into the windshield instead of forward. Owners also report unintended acceleration and brake failure correlated with low-voltage and ECU mismatch codes on the SRS system, suggesting electrical integration problems.
Same Chrysler Town and Country airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Active Head Restraint (AHR) headrest self-deployment
Driver and/or passenger active head restraints deploy unexpectedly without collision or impact while vehicle is parked, stationary, or being driven normally. Owners report plastic retaining pins or brackets cracking/shearing, causing the headrest to spring forward abruptly. Many incidents occur while owner is getting in or out of the vehicle. The deployed headrest cannot be reset and triggers an SRS/airbag warning light.
When: Various mileage; first reported around 2019; some incidents 3-4 years apart; occurs while parked, unoccupied, or while driving at normal speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud 'pop' or explosion sound from headrest; Headrest springs forward into deployed position; Visible plastic bracket, retaining pin, or plastic arms cracked or sheared; SRS/airbag warning light illuminates after deployment; Headrest cannot be closed or reset after deployment; Whiplash, neck pain, or head injuries if deployed while occupant present; Distraction or near-accident if deployed while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement headrest assembly ordered at dealer; costs reported as $700–$1000 out of warranty; owner attempted repair not always completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged issue in at least one case and ordered replacement; no formal recall issued; warranty does not always cover repair
Airbag warning light (SRS) on dashboard—intermittent or constant
SRS/airbag warning indicator illuminates on dashboard, either intermittently (comes on and off without pattern) or stays on constantly. Light does not turn off after reset at dealership and returns within days or weeks. Owners report multiple dealer visits with no lasting resolution. Root causes remain undiagnosed in many cases; when identified, issues include seatbelt sensor, wiring harness, ECU mismatch, or belt tensioner problems. Owners express concern that airbags may not deploy correctly in a collision.
When: Multiple years into ownership (50K–84K miles); complaints span from initial purchase onward
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light on dashboard comes on intermittently or remains constantly illuminated; Light appears while driving, parked, turning, braking, accelerating—no consistent trigger; Light disappears during short drives but reappears later; Light resets at dealership but returns within days/weeks; Intermittent chiming/beeping from SRS alert; Dealership unable to diagnose when light is off
Codes mentioned: B210A (Low Voltage), B2204 (ECU Mismatch—VINs do not match), Driver side belt tensioner issue, Seatbelt assembly/wiring fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostic fee $300–$500; repairs cited include seatbelt assembly replacement ($300–$1200), wiring harness replacement ($500), airbag assembly replacement; owners report refusal to perform repairs due to cost or claims light is not reproducible
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Referred owner to NHTSA; no formal recall; Chrysler referred contact to NHTSA instead of addressing issue
Airbags fail to deploy in collisions
In multiple crash scenarios (head-on collisions, rear-end impacts, high-speed accidents), airbags do not deploy despite significant vehicle damage and impact severity. One owner was in a previous accident (2017) where no airbags deployed; vehicle was repaired (grill, bumper, headlight, fender, door replaced) and later resold with hidden accident history. Owners suffered injuries that might have been mitigated by airbag deployment; one owner lost consciousness and suffered seizures.
When: At time of collision; mileage 84,135 and higher; one prior accident history (2017)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete lack of airbag deployment despite high-impact collision; Severe vehicle damage (front end, multiple sides, windshield damage); Driver and passenger injuries (bruising, abrasions, trauma, loss of consciousness, seizures); Seatbelt failure (fractured or non-functional); Vehicle continued to operate despite collision severity
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not inspected or repaired after failures; prior accident repairs included grill, bumper, headlight, fender, door—no airbag system repairs noted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; prior accident repair not recorded on CARFAX or disclosed to subsequent buyer
Knee airbag deployment causing injury and hindering emergency braking
Driver-side knee airbag deploys during collision, causing extensive bruising and abrasions to legs and feet and physically blocking driver from accessing brake pedal. The airbag occupies the space between driver's feet and brake, preventing emergency braking and allowing vehicle to travel 3–4 car lengths into oncoming lanes before stopping.
When: At time of collision (full vehicle speed impact)
Symptoms owners cite: Knee airbag deploys and inflates into driver's leg/foot area; Extensive abrasions and bruising to both legs from knees down; Bruising to one foot from force of knee airbag; Physical barrier between feet and brake pedal—driver unable to press brake; Vehicle coasts 3–4 car lengths into oncoming lanes before stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle remained drivable after collision
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented
Passenger-side airbag deploys backward and strikes windshield
Passenger-side airbag deploys during collision but deploys backward (toward rear of vehicle) rather than forward, striking and breaking the front windshield instead of protecting passenger.
When: At time of collision
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag deploys during crash; Airbag deploys rearward/backward direction; Front windshield broken by airbag deployment
Vehicle unintended acceleration and brake failure (linked to airbag/SRS electrical issues)
Vehicle experiences unintended acceleration or brake failure (brake pedal goes to floor with no response) during normal driving. One owner suspects connection to airbag/SRS electrical defects (ECU mismatch, low voltage codes detected). Separate complaint describes vehicle spontaneously shutting down while driving—issue undiagnosed despite ECU replacement and multiple mechanic visits. Vehicle codes related to SRS appear (low voltage, ECU mismatch) and disappear when battery cable disconnected, suggesting electrical integration issue.
When: Various mileage; spontaneous shutdowns reported ~4× per week; brake failure at 30 mph on city street; acceleration incident on uphill city street
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor with no response; requires multiple pumps to engage; Unintended acceleration near stop sign; Vehicle spontaneously shuts down while driving; Engine continues running after brake failure; Traction control light comes on after shutdown; No diagnostic codes visible, or codes disappear when battery cable disconnected; Multiple mechanics unable to diagnose root cause
Codes mentioned: B210A (Low Voltage), B2204 (ECU Mismatch)
Repairs/costs cited: ECU replaced; alternator, starter, battery tested and ruled out as cause; no successful repair documented; owner lost wages due to vehicle unreliability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; owner planning to contact Chrysler and attorney
Synthesized from 60 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I bought van used but the red guy with the air bag is on all the time on the dash since I bought it. But reading about it, it's a safety issue in a lot of town and country's this year.
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a meaningful issue. 60 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 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 53,000 and 87,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 53,000; a quarter make it past 87,000. 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/2014/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.