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 ↗2017 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
4injuries
What stands out
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
2017 Dodge Grand Caravan owners are reporting two distinct categories of airbag problems: unwanted deployments and warning light/sensor failures.
Headrest airbags are deploying without collision. Owners describe incidents where the active head restraints fired while the vehicle was parked, during normal driving, or when getting into the vehicle—in every case with no impact involved. The plastic mechanism that holds the metal rod under tension inside the headrest is breaking, causing the airbag to deploy. One owner reported both driver and passenger headrests popping out at different times; another said the noise from the passenger headrest deploying scared them badly when it struck their daughter in the back of the head.
The airbag warning light cycles on and off intermittently or stays lit continuously, often accompanied by an audible chime. Owners are concerned the system won't deploy in a real crash or will deploy unexpectedly. A dealer reported finding code B1C27-13 (driver-side wiring harness fault) and said the replacement part wouldn't be available for at least a year. One owner cited code P066DD triggering the check engine light alongside the airbag warning.
One collision report describes a passenger front airbag that exploded rather than deploying properly, and a curtain airbag that failed to deploy in a 55 mph head-on crash—the passenger hit the window and sustained head injuries that might have been prevented by proper restraint function.
Same Dodge Grand Caravan airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Active headrest spontaneous deployment
Passenger or driver-side active head restraints (airbag-equipped headrests) deploy suddenly without any collision or impact, often from the plastic tension-holding mechanism breaking internally.
When: Parked, while driving normally, or while entering vehicle; reported at 71,501 miles and other mileages not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest pops out violently without warning; Loud noise from deployment; Plastic rod holder inside headrest breaks, leaving headrest in deployed position; Occurs with zero impact or accident
Repairs/costs cited: Owners had to pay out of pocket after warranty expired; exact repair costs not stated in narratives
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag system warning light illuminates and stays on, cycles intermittently, or comes on and off unpredictably, often with audible chime; concerns about whether airbags will deploy in a real crash.
When: 46,000 miles and around 47,000 miles noted; has occurred over 6-month periods
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light stays on for days or cycles on and off; Audible chime/bell accompanying light; Intermittent illumination over extended period; Owner concern that airbags will not deploy in accident or deploy unexpectedly
Codes mentioned: B1C27-13, P066DD
Repairs/costs cited: Code B1C27-13 indicates driver-side wiring harness replacement needed; dealer reported part unavailable for at least one year; no other repair costs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner no recalls available and advised to contact NHTSA
Airbag deployment failure in collision
In a reported 55 mph head-on collision, passenger curtain airbag failed to deploy and passenger front airbag deployed abnormally (described as 'exploded'), contributing to passenger head injury.
When: During head-on collision; vehicle mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Curtain airbag did not deploy on passenger side; Passenger front airbag deployed abnormally ('exploded'); Passenger side seat belt also failed; Passenger struck window causing head injuries
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted; case under insurance investigation
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Airbag sensor light turns on and off intermittently. I have tried to figure ot what is causing this but cant seem to find anything. Its happened alot over the last 6 months. Nervous the airbags might deploy for no reason.
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan?
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 57,834 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.
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/2017/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.