2016 Chrysler Town and Country airbags problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Active headrests on this van deploy unexpectedly without accidents, ranging from parked-and-off to normal highway speeds, causing injuries and owner distress. Critical frontal airbags failed in two serious collisions documented here, raising questions about overall airbag system reliability.
Owners report two distinct trouble spots: active headrests deploying without cause, and airbag system failures during real crashes.
The headrest problem hits hardest. Drivers report active headrests—both driver and passenger—suddenly deploying while the van is parked and off, or during normal highway driving at speeds like 55 mph. One owner's passenger-side headrest deployed while the vehicle sat on the street with the engine off. Another driver's deployed while sitting stationary in the parking lot waiting in the front seat. Owners report no impact, no accident, no warning before deployment. One owner injured his tongue during such an event. Chrysler dealerships have replaced driver-side headrests in some cases but refused to replace passenger-side units until they fail during the warranty window—effectively asking owners to live with a component they believe is faulty and dangerous.
The airbag failure problem is more serious. One owner was struck in a side-impact collision at 45 mph—serious enough to total the vehicle—and no airbags deployed; he suffered fractured ribs and clavicle requiring emergency care. Another owner reported a rollover crash where steering wheel and dash airbags failed to deploy despite severe frontal/rollover damage; the driver ended up in ICU with face fractures, broken ribs, and broken leg.
One owner also reported a passenger-side airbag deployed 100 feet after pulling out of a parking spot with no impact. Owners document airbag warning lights staying on continuously and one report linking an illuminated airbag light to a locked rear passenger door.
Same Chrysler Town and Country airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Active headrest deployment while parked or at low speed
Active headrests (driver and passenger side) deploy without accident or collision. Incidents occur while vehicle is parked and turned off, while driving at normal speeds, or after minor driving events with no impact. Owners report the headrest suddenly 'pops' or 'shoots out' without warning.
When: Parked with engine off; while driving at 55 mph with no accident; after purchase within 1-2 months; multiple instances reported across mileage range
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest deploys unexpectedly; No accident or collision preceding deployment; Owner injury (tongue bitten, driver distracted); Repeated complaints online suggesting pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replacement attempted on driver side; dealership refused to replace passenger side until it deploys; lengthy repair delays reported (7+ months)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; Chrysler dealership stated passenger headrest would only be replaced if it deploys during extended warranty period
Front and dash airbags failed to deploy in frontal/rollover collision
In a documented rollover crash with frontal impact (vehicle drove straight off turn, hit ditch and trees), the steering wheel and dash airbags did not deploy. Side curtain and seat airbags did deploy. Driver sustained serious injury (face fractures, broken ribs, broken leg) and was in ICU; passenger had fractured ribs.
When: Frontal/rollover accident
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag did not deploy; Dashboard airbag did not deploy; Side curtain airbags deployed; Seat airbags deployed; Severe injury to driver and passenger
Front airbags failed to deploy in side-impact collision at 45 mph
Vehicle struck on driver's side by another vehicle at approximately 45 mph. No airbags deployed. Driver sustained fractured clavicle and fractured rib 2, requiring emergency room transport by ambulance. Vehicle was totaled.
When: 45 mph side impact collision
Symptoms owners cite: No airbags deployed during side-impact crash; Severe driver injury requiring trauma center care; Fractured clavicle and rib fracture
Passenger side airbag deployed after minimal driving with no impact
Passenger side airbag (not front, but side of van) deployed 100-125 feet after vehicle pulled out of parking spot onto street. No collision, no other vehicle damage, no impact reported. Vehicle died momentarily then restarted.
When: Immediately after pulling out of parking space onto street (100-125 feet of driving)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed unexpectedly; No collision or impact; Vehicle temporarily died and restarted
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed; available for inspection
Airbag indicator light stays on continuously
Airbag warning light remains on during all driving. Issue began at 50,000 miles and persisted. Dealership unable to resolve.
When: Starting at 50,000 miles; ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator light illuminated continuously while driving; No diagnostic clarity provided by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to provide solution
Airbag light on; rear passenger door locked
Airbag light illuminated and will not turn off. Rear passenger sliding door is locked down and cannot be opened. Both issues appeared simultaneously or in connection.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator light on and will not turn off; Rear passenger sliding door locked and inoperable
Broken headrest retaining plastic
Passenger front active headrest retaining plastic broken, allowing headrest to spring forward. Specific deployment status unclear from brief narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Retaining plastic for active headrest broken; Headrest springing forward
VIN not recognized in Takata recall database
Owner attempted to check if vehicle was subject to Takata recall by entering valid VIN on recall check sites. VIN was rejected as invalid on both NHTSA and airbagrecall.com despite being valid according to Indiana state title.
Symptoms owners cite: Valid VIN rejected as invalid on recall databases; Unable to verify recall eligibility
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall potentially applicable but verification blocked due to VIN recognition issue
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 75,224 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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.