Front Outboard Seat Belts May Not Retract Properly - X90 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting both of the front seat belt retractor D-rings for cracks, whitening or witness marks on the plastic overmolds. Customers may comment on one or more of the following:The front driver and or passenger seat belts may not retract properly. A front seat belt D-ring plastic is cracked.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 99 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 70,000 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
99
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 49 |
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 38 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee | 29 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 160 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 99 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 10 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 15 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee | 23 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 11 |
12crashes
19injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 99 airbags complaints filed for the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 99 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 20 model years of Jeep Grand Cherokee in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
Front Outboard Seat Belts May Not Retract Properly - X90 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting both of the front seat belt retractor D-rings for cracks, whitening or witness marks on the plastic overmolds. Customers may comment on one or more of the following:The front driver and or passenger seat belts may not retract properly. A front seat belt D-ring plastic is cracked.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Front Outboard Seat Belts May Not Retract Properly - X90 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting both of the front seat belt retractor D-rings for cracks, whitening or witness marks on the plastic overmolds. Customers may comment on one or more of the following:The front driver and or passenger seat belts may not retract properly. A front seat belt D-ring plastic is cracked.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗(Rev. A) Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) Illuminated. Service Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System ? See Dealer Soon Message on Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) Along With Possible Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P241D - SCR Inducement - Forced Engine Shutdown.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Transmission Oil Pan, Heater (TMU), Tube or O-ring Applies to vehicles equipped with 8 speed transmissions only; if you have a leak that appears to be at the pan the use of proper leak detection is recommended. The fluid in the 8 speeds can be detected with a black light and there are aftermarket spray on leak detection materials to help ensure that the leak is properly diagnosed and not from another location such as cooler lines, heater tubes, or case porosity. Please note that the transmission pan gasket is available for many of the 8 speed applications FCA offers. Please review the available quick connect and transfer tube parts, as replacement of the TMU may not be required. If a TOC lin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Active headrest restraints on driver and passenger seats spontaneously deploy during normal driving or even while parked, striking occupants in the back of the head with enough force to cause migraines, swerving, or near-accidents. No collision, impact, or warning precedes deployment. Owners consistently report the plastic locking clips or retainer mechanism deteriorates and fractures, releasing the headrest spring forward. Once deployed, the headrest cannot be reset and requires complete replacement at $700–$846, with some post-warranty claims denied after April 2025.
Separately, multiple owners report that frontal airbags—driver, passenger, or knee bolsters—have failed to deploy during moderate to severe crashes at speeds of 15–65 mph, leaving occupants to strike steering wheels and dashboards, resulting in serious injuries including broken ribs, fractured vertebrae, and facial lacerations. No pre-crash warning lights appeared in these cases. One owner's side curtain airbag deployed alone while driver and knee bolster airbags remained dormant during a rollover.
In one instance, a driver side knee airbag cover ruptured inside a sealed panel after seven years, causing partial expansion and bulging—a $1,419 repair denied under warranty. A safety recall for the ORC module went uncompleted because the dealership turned away an owner and Chrysler lacked software; the owner later crashed with that recall unresolved. Replacement parts for airbag system components are unavailable in the U.S. market as of January 2026, stranding owners with inoperative systems.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Active headrest restraint spontaneous deployment
Front driver or passenger headrest deploys without collision, impact, or any triggering event. Plastic locking clips or retainer mechanism fractures or deteriorates, causing the headrest to spring forward with force. Owners report the plastic housing cracks, breaks, or crumbles over time.
When: Reported from 15 mph city driving to 70 mph highway speeds; occurs while driving, parked, or while entering vehicle; mileage ranging from 22,000 to 87,000
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosive noise or 'pop' sound; Headrest strikes occupant in back of head; Headrest springs forward uncontrollably; Plastic components visible inside or broken around locking mechanism; Headrest cannot be manually reset after deployment; No warning lights or sensor indication of malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Requires complete headrest replacement; owners cite costs of $700–$846 plus labor; some covered under recall service bulletin initially, later claims denied post-warranty (April 2025 expiration); dealers report known issue but decline full replacement of both headrests
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial recall service bulletin (mentioned in complaint #3) covered first replacement at no cost; later deployments denied coverage after warranty expiration; Stellantis declined responsibility in some cases; one dealer offered to split cost (~$350) but only for single headrest, not both
Driver or passenger airbag failure to deploy in impact events
During moderate to severe collisions, frontal driver airbag, passenger airbag, knee bolster, or side curtain airbag fails to deploy, leaving occupants unprotected. One complaint mentions only side curtain deployed while driver and knee bolsters did not. Multiple complaints cite airbag warning light illumination post-accident with no pre-accident warning.
When: Reported at 15–65 mph impact speeds; mileage from 12,200 to 37,000 and higher
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during collision; Occupant impacts steering wheel, dashboard, or interior surfaces; Injuries sustained: broken ribs, compressed lung, fractured vertebrae, facial lacerations, knee injuries; Airbag warning light illuminated post-accident on dashboard; No warning lights or indication prior to accident; Only partial airbag deployment (side curtain only, not frontal or knee)
Codes mentioned: Open circuit in airbag module (mentioned in complaint #20)
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag module replacement required; replacement parts unavailable in U.S. as of January 2026 (5+ months post-accident in one case); insurance companies delayed or refused to authorize repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases; vehicle not under warranty at time of failure; no recall identified by dealers for airbag non-deployment; one case (complaint #2) involved unperformed safety recall for ORC module due to pending software from Chrysler
Knee airbag cover tear and spontaneous expansion
Driver side knee airbag cover inside sealed knee blocker panel ruptures, causing the airbag to partially expand and bulge the panel outward. Owner concerns focus on how a sealed component can degrade and whether it indicates broader design/material defect.
When: At 7 years ownership (complaint #1 only detailed example)
Symptoms owners cite: Knee blocker panel bulges outward; Visible expansion of airbag behind panel; No impact event triggering deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repair cost: $1,419; requires knee blocker assembly replacement; not covered under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered under warranty; Jeep Case #83266298 opened per owner; no recall mentioned
Airbag sensor and seatbelt sensor malfunction
Airbag warning lights illuminate on dashboard indicating sensor or module fault. Seatbelt sensors falsely indicate seatbelts are not fastened even when occupied, which can prevent airbag deployment in a crash. One case involved a recent battery replacement correlated with sensor activation.
When: Within 2 weeks of vehicle purchase (used car with ~79,000 miles, complaint #6)
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning light illuminated; Seatbelt warning light illuminated; Seatbelt sensor reads 'not on' despite being fastened; Airbag system diagnostic message on display
Codes mentioned: Open circuit in airbag module
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attributed to recent battery replacement; no repair completed in complaint #6; one complaint (#20) cites need for airbag module replacement at unspecified cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not under warranty in complaint #20; manufacturer declined to cover in other cases
Recall non-completion and parts unavailability
Safety recalls issued (Takata airbag recall NHTSA Campaign 16V240000, ORC module recall) but not completed due to parts unavailability or dealership scheduling failures. In one case, customer turned away and later had accident with unresolved recall. In another, replacement parts for seatbelt-airbag module unavailable in U.S. market 5+ months post-accident.
When: Recalls issued but repair delayed months; accident in complaint #5 occurred 12 days after failed recall appointment; accident in complaint #4 occurred August 2025, parts still unavailable January 2026
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms until accident occurs; Airbag warning light present post-accident
Repairs/costs cited: Takata airbag recall parts unavailable; ORC module software pending from Chrysler; seatbelt-airbag module parts unavailable in U.S. as of January 2026
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued (NHTSA 16V240000, R05 code); Chrysler unable to supply software or parts; vehicles driven with open recalls
Synthesized from 99 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The panel that holds in the knee airbags under the steering wheel came open for no reason and exposed the air bag. The vehicle was not involved in a crash and appears to be a manufacture workmanship issue.
Passenger seat head rest airbag deployed while vehicle was stopped at a light
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 99 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 49 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 51,000 and 82,000 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 82,000. 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/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.