Warranty Bulletin D-21-15 (X98) Driver and Passenger Sliding Door Power Lock Actuators - 2015 - 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan (RT) and 2015 - 2016 Chrysler Town & Country (RT)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 21 airbags complaints filed for the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Among the 10 model years of Dodge Grand Caravan in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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
Owners consistently report that the front-seat active head restraints deploy without warning while parked, during slow-speed driving, and at highway speeds—with no collision, impact, or triggering event. The passenger-side unit is most commonly affected, though driver-side deployments also occur. Deployment happens during normal parking-lot speeds (5 mph), at red lights, or while a vehicle sits unoccupied in a driveway. When deployed, the headrest strikes occupants in the back of the head with force, causing neck injuries and psychological distress. The mechanism of failure is consistent: thin plastic mounting brackets inside the unit fracture or shatter under prolonged spring tension, releasing the metal pin and allowing the headrest to eject.
Multiple owners report both driver and passenger units deploying in the same vehicle, sometimes sequentially. One owner's vehicle deployed the passenger unit while parked, then the driver unit while sitting at a red light—despite Dodge's claim they could not confirm whether both sides were at risk. Dealers quote roughly $900 per headrest replacement and uniformly deny warranty coverage. Chrysler has refused repair responsibility and in one case demanded the owner sign a liability waiver before addressing the vehicle. Owners report this same defect occurred across hundreds of vehicles and model years, with at least two law firms pursuing class-action suits. One owner noted a similar recall for approximately 880,000 vehicles in 2013 for the identical issue. Rather than pay for replacement or risk repeated failure, multiple owners have resorted to zip-tying headrests together to prevent deployment.
Same Dodge Grand Caravan airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Active Head Restraint (AHR) spontaneous deployment — parked vehicle
The front-seat active head restraints deploy without cause while the vehicle is stationary and unoccupied or during low-speed parking maneuvers. In multiple cases, owners report the passenger-side or driver-side AHR 'exploded' or 'burst' in the driveway or parking lot with no collision, accident, or impact preceding the event. The plastic mounting brackets inside the headrest unit fracture or shatter under spring tension, releasing the metal pin and causing the headrest to eject.
When: Parked in driveway or parking lot; also reported at very low speeds (2–5 mph) pulling into driveways or exiting parking lots. One case at 58,640 miles; another at unspecified mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest suddenly deploys with loud bang (described as gunshot-like); Plastic brackets or prongs crack, shatter, or separate completely inside unit; Metal pin no longer held in place after plastic failure; Headrest cannot be reset after deployment; Unable to determine trigger — no collision or impact preceding event
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote ~$900 per replacement headrest unit. Owners report Dodge/Chrysler refuses warranty coverage or repair responsibility. One dealer offered to cover 50% of cost (~$450) as a courtesy but declined the repair due to loss of confidence in the system. Multiple owners resort to zip-tying headrests to prevent further deployment rather than replace them.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler and Dodge deny responsibility and refuse to repair under warranty. In one case, Chrysler's legal team demanded the owner sign a liability waiver before repairing the vehicle. Owners report a similar recall was issued for ~880,000 vehicles in 2013 for the same issue. Multiple lawsuits are reportedly pending.
Active Head Restraint spontaneous deployment — while driving
The front-seat active head restraints deploy unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion at highway speeds or low speeds, striking the occupant in the back of the head. These deployments occur without collision, impact, or triggering event. In multiple reports, both driver and passenger AHR units have deployed sequentially or together.
When: During highway driving, slow parking-lot speeds (5–40 mph), and at red lights. One case at 114,000 miles; another at 95,000 miles; another at 128,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest suddenly deploys while occupant is seated, striking them in back of head with force; No collision, impact, or warning lights preceding deployment; Both driver and passenger AHR units deploy in same incident; Driver momentarily loses control or nearly causes accident due to distraction or impact; Occupant sustains neck injury, head injury, or psychological fear of further deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis in one case identified detached headrest air bag. Vehicle towed to dealer but not repaired in several reports. One owner mentions independent mechanic diagnosis of detached headrest air bag. No repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler informed one owner that repair was unofficially agreed to cover cost; however, most owners report Dodge/Chrysler denying responsibility and refusing to repair. One dealer's communication described as 'horrible' with no resolution provided.
Airbag system malfunction after roof-rack installation — improper drilling
Aftermarket roof-rack installation involving drilling into the roof and inserting screws near or into airbag and wiring circuits. The owner's manual explicitly warns against drilling into the roof, yet the dealer installed a stow-away rack using 14 screws drilled into the roof. This risks premature or failed deployment of the airbag system. The owner reports no documentation or warranty card from the installer and cannot obtain written confirmation from Dodge that the vehicle is safe.
When: Discovered at time of new vehicle purchase (2015 model). No failure or deployment reported yet.
Symptoms owners cite: 14 screws drilled into roof in proximity to airbag wiring; Owner's manual prohibits drilling into roof or installing roof racks requiring bolts/screws; No documentation or installer warranty provided
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted. Owner sought written confirmation of vehicle safety from Dodge and dealership; requests went unanswered. Mopar technician (supplier of stow-away racks) stated racks can only be installed at factory, not by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge customer care and dealership declined to provide written confirmation of safety. No formal response to owner's concerns.
Airbag system over-deployment in minor collision
In a minor rear-end collision at low speed (vehicle backing into driver at slow rate of forward speed), all front airbags deployed, including an undisclosed knee airbag. Insurance adjusters and estimators noted shock that all bags deployed given the minor nature of the accident. The knee airbag cover and casing ejected with force, striking the driver's shins and legs.
When: During minor collision at slow speed. Mileage not stated.
Symptoms owners cite: All front airbags deployed in response to minor impact; Knee airbag deployed with enough force to eject cover/casing; Sharp edges or casing fragments struck driver's shins and legs, causing lacerations and bruising
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle went to insurance auto auction for repair. Owner treated at ER for wound cleaning; injuries still healing weeks later.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None reported.
Headrest detachment during normal driving
Front-seat headrest detaches from its base and strikes the occupant in the back of the head during normal driving at low speed. The air bag does not deploy, only the physical headrest separates.
When: While driving at 15 mph. Mileage approximately 114,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest detaches from base; Strikes occupant in back of head with force; No airbag deployment, no warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to independent mechanic, diagnosed as detached headrest air bag. Owner advised to take vehicle to dealer; no repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of the failure.
Airbag deployment immediately after service — evaporator repair
Both driver and passenger head-restraint airbags deployed within minutes of picking up the vehicle from dealership service. The vehicle had been brought in for air-conditioning repair (front and rear evaporators replaced). The deployment occurred while driving at 30 mph on a major highway, striking the driver in the back of the head. This is a converted mobility/wheelchair van.
When: Within 10 minutes of leaving dealer after A/C service, at 30 mph on highway. Mileage not stated.
Symptoms owners cite: Both driver and passenger AHR units deployed; Deployment occurred immediately after service visit; Struck driver in back of head while driving on major highway; Nearly caused accident; Air conditioning unit also made whistling noise after being serviced
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed back to dealer. No repair outcome documented. Owner forced to use non-wheelchair-accessible rental vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None reported.
Rear-wheel airbag deployment in mobility vehicle
Driver-side rear-wheel airbag deployed while vehicle was in motion at undisclosed speed in a 2015 Grand Caravan that had been converted into a mobility vehicle by Compacity Trucks.
When: During driving at undisclosed speed. Mileage approximately 95,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear-wheel airbag deployed during driving
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle driven to residence. No repair performed by independent mechanic or dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and unofficially agreed to cover repair cost.
Passenger-side airbag warning light illumination
Passenger-side airbag warning light illuminates during normal driving, indicating a fault in the system. Dealer diagnosis determined the airbag unit needs replacement.
When: At approximately 93,164 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag warning light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed need for passenger-side airbag replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and advised contact to file complaint with NHTSA Hotline.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The driver's side headrest deployed unexpectedly. My vehicle was parked in my garage. The car was stationary, not running and had not been in any kind of collision. When I inspected the inside of the headrest, the plastic brackets that hold the metal pin were compromised. The metal pin is still in place, but the plastic prongs that were supposed to hold onto the pin to keep the headrest in place…
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan?
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 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 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 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 55,000 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 82,111. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 110,000. 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/2015/Dodge/Grand Caravan.
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.