Takata recall. I want a timely remedy to this situation!
2014 Jeep Patriot airbags problems
critical 140 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
140
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
19crashes
22injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 140 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Jeep Patriot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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 10 model years of Jeep Patriot we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 140.
Owners have filed 140 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
The 2014 Patriot shows three distinct airbag and restraint failures that owners have documented repeatedly.
Active Head Restraint (AHR) spontaneous deployment occurs with the driver and passenger headrests firing without any impact or collision. Owners report finding headrests deployed while the vehicle was parked overnight or sitting in a lot. The root cause is a faulty plastic clip that splits in half, preventing the release pin from staying in place. When this happens while driving, owners describe it as a serious hazard—the deployed headrest can strike the occupant at the base of the skull or in the face. Replacement headrests cost around $1,400 per side and dealers report 9+ month wait times for parts. The broken clip prevents manual reset, trapping the headrest in the deployed position.
Loss of airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability stems from a shorting condition in the front impact sensor wires that sends a negative voltage transient to the occupant restraint controller (ORC). This disables airbag and pretensioner function during certain crashes. Multiple owners report crashes at 20 to 50+ mph where no airbags deployed despite significant impacts. One fatal crash occurred with no front airbag deployment. This defect is tied to NHTSA Recall 16V668000 (S61), issued September 2016, requiring ORC replacement—but remedy parts remained unavailable for 12+ months, leaving owners unable to get repairs completed.
Seat belt pretensioner and latch failures include driver and passenger side belt latches unlatching during normal driving, belt webbing not tightening during braking events, and buckles fracturing on impact. These failures coincide with the ORC defect and recall delays.
Same Jeep Patriot airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Active Head Restraint (AHR) spontaneous deployment
Driver and/or passenger headrests deploy without any impact or collision event, typically while vehicle is parked. Caused by a faulty plastic clip holding the release pin that cracks or splits in half. Deployed headrest cannot be reset manually due to broken clip, trapping mechanism in active state.
When: While parked overnight or at rest; low mileage (under 40,000 miles reported in some cases)
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest suddenly deployed while parked; Loud noise accompanying deployment; Headrest cannot be manually reset; Forward head position when deployed, reducing driver visibility; Plastic clip visibly cracked or split in half
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement headrest approximately $1,400 per side; dealers report 9+ month parts wait times. Broken plastic clip prevents reset.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs cited for AHR spontaneous deployment; dealers advised some owners to keep headrests deployed to avoid replacement costs
Loss of airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment (ORC shorting defect)
Occupant restraint controller (ORC) experiences a shorting condition via front impact sensor wires, creating a negative voltage transient that disables airbag and pretensioner deployment capability during crashes. Multiple owners report complete airbag failure-to-deploy events in significant impacts ranging from 20 mph to 50+ mph collisions.
When: Evident during crash events; defect present in vehicles prior to September 2016 recall notice
Symptoms owners cite: No airbags deployed during 20–50+ mph crashes; No seat belt pretensioner activation during impacts; Airbag warning light illuminated intermittently or continuously; Vehicle felt impact but no restraint system response
Codes mentioned: 16V668000 (NHTSA Recall S61)
Repairs/costs cited: Occupant restraint controller (ORC) replacement required per recall remedy; one fatality reported due to non-deployed front airbag in head-on collision. Repair parts unavailable for 12+ months following recall notice (Sept 2016 through mid-2017 and beyond).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V668000 (S61) issued September 13, 2016; remedy parts unavailable for over one year; dealers informed owners parts were being 'rationed out' and no estimated delivery date could be provided; one dealer noted replacement part may cause more damage than the defect itself; recall incomplete status continued for 12+ months
Seat belt pretensioner and latch failures
Driver and passenger side seat belt latches fail to secure occupants, with belts unlatching during normal driving or failing to tighten during braking events. Buckles may fracture on impact. Failures coincide with the ORC shorting defect that disables pretensioner deployment.
When: During normal driving and braking (35 mph reported); at approximately 45,000 and 70,000 miles in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt latch opens or unlatches while driving without occupant input; Belt does not tighten during braking events; Belt buckle fractures during impact; Loose connection between belt and mounting point
Codes mentioned: 16V668000 (NHTSA Recall S61)
Repairs/costs cited: Pretensioner failure tied to ORC defect; unable to replicate in dealer diagnostic tests in some cases; no repair completed due to unavailable recall parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V668000 (S61) includes seat belt pretensioner remedy; parts distribution disconnect prevented timely repairs for 12+ months
Front impact sensor and clock spring wiring issues
Front position impact sensor fails, requiring replacement. Wiring harness and main computer also failed in at least one case. Airbag warning indicator illuminated intermittently or persistently despite multiple part replacements.
When: Approximately 35,890 miles; issue persisted after repair attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator illuminated intermittently or constantly; Failure recurred numerous times after initial repair
Repairs/costs cited: Front position sensor, wiring harness, and main computer replaced; failure recurred after all component replacements; vehicle still being repaired per owner report
Takata airbag installation malfunction
During recall repair for Takata airbag (S61 recall), newly installed replacement airbag malfunctioned and deployed all airbags in the vehicle, destroying interior components including roof, seats, console, steering wheel, and seat belts. Vehicle was not in motion and had no impact.
When: During dealership repair for recall remedy (April 2018)
Symptoms owners cite: All airbags deployed during stationary repair work; Vehicle mistakenly thought it had rolled over; Interior damage to roof, seats, front console, steering wheel, seat belts
Codes mentioned: 16V668000 (NHTSA Recall S61 / Takata)
Repairs/costs cited: Newly installed recall remedy part malfunctioned; dealer delayed repairs for 5+ weeks without removing old airbags or installing new ones
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V668000 (S61 / Takata); dealer stated they would repair interior damage; manufacturer and dealer both notified; delayed completion raised concerns about faulty replacement parts
Synthesized from 140 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Jeep has failed to fix the items associated with the recall in a reasonable time period.
Recall incomplete for more than 1 year. NHTSA recall number: 16v-668 recall date: september 13, 2016 manufacturer recall number: s61 summary: the vehicles may experience loss of air bag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability in certain crash events due to a shorting condition resulting in a negative voltage transient that travels to the occupant restraint controller via the…
Recall incomplete for more than 1 year. NHTSA recall number: 16v-668 recall date: september 13, 2016 manufacturer recall number: s61 summary: the vehicles may experience loss of air bag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability in certain crash events due to a shorting condition resulting in a negative voltage transient that travels to the occupant restraint controller via the…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Jeep patriot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the parts do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact was concerned that the parts would not be available until march or june of 2017. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Jeep patriot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
The contact owned a 2014 Jeep Patriot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while a family member was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle…
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Jeep Patriot?
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 Jeep Patriot?
It's a serious issue. 140 complaints have been filed, including 19 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 45 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 20,000 and 60,250 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 60,250. 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/Jeep/Patriot.
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.