SHIELD, Seat For concern of driver side seat shield is broken/cracked. Before replacing this part send an email to FCA Redacted Content; With the dealer address and a picture of the part. If no response in 15 minutes, proceed with repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Dodge Journey airbags problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
1fire
7injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 airbags complaints filed for the 2017 Dodge Journey, 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
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 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.
SHIELD, Seat For concern of driver side seat shield is broken/cracked. Before replacing this part send an email to FCA Redacted Content; With the dealer address and a picture of the part. If no response in 15 minutes, proceed with repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report four distinct airbag problems on the 2017 Dodge Journey. Most critical are non-deployment failures during crashes: multiple owners hit other vehicles or objects at 20–45 mph with significant front-end damage, yet front and side airbags did not deploy. Occupants sustained chest, head, neck, and back injuries. At 8,500 miles, one owner lost control, hit a tree at 25 mph, airbags didn't deploy, and flames appeared under the vehicle ten minutes later.
Owners also describe airbag warning light illuminating randomly or staying on continuously, starting as early as 8,500 miles and as late as 138,000 miles. One owner within one month of purchase found a faulty airbag wiring harness under the driver's seat; a dealer quoted $800 for replacement and said the part wasn't warranty-covered. The wiring harness was on backorder in at least one case.
Separately, two owners report headrests deploying unprompted—once while the vehicle was parked, another while driving. One owner found broken plastic inside the headrest. Finally, one owner reports airbag light, traction light, ABS light, and cruise control failure all at once, with no diagnostic codes returned by a mechanic's scanner.
Same Dodge Journey airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags fail to deploy in collision
Front and/or side airbags do not deploy during crashes with significant impact and vehicle damage, leaving occupants unprotected and sustaining injuries.
When: During crashes at various speeds (20–45 mph); mileages ranging 78,000–80,000
Symptoms owners cite: No front airbag deployment on head-on or front-end collisions; No side curtain airbag deployment during rollover accident; Occupant impact injuries (chest, head, neck, back, shoulders) without airbag cushioning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles involved in crashes were destroyed or totaled; no repair information available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer and dealers notified in some cases; cause of failure undetermined in police/dealer reports
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently
Airbag system warning light comes on and off randomly or stays on continuously without a clear crash event or accident history, indicating an electrical or sensor fault.
When: Ranges from 8,500 to 138,718 miles; some occur within one month of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light comes on and off randomly while driving; Light illuminates with audible tone; Light remains on continuously; Occurrence does not correlate with driving conditions (straight, curves, turns)
Repairs/costs cited: Faulty airbag wiring harness under driver's front seat identified by dealer; replacement cost quoted at $800; wiring harness not covered under warranty; part reported on backorder in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer notified in multiple cases; no recalls or TSBs mentioned; wiring harness declared out of warranty
Headrest unexpectedly deploys
Passenger-side or driver-side headrest deploys without crash, collision, or user action, sometimes with broken internal plastic components.
When: While driving at undisclosed speed; one instance while vehicle in park; one during passenger leaning on seat from middle row
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest deploys while driving without collision; Broken plastic piece inside headrest; Headrest separates from seat while vehicle in park; No warning prior to deployment; Risk of whiplash injury if occupant present
Repairs/costs cited: Owner retained broken plastic piece; no repair information provided; described as common occurrence and manufacturer defect
Airbag warning light with concurrent electrical faults
Airbag warning light illuminates alongside other electrical system faults (traction, ABS, cruise control), with no diagnostic codes showing up.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light on; Traction light on; ABS light on; Cruise control non-functional; No diagnostic codes detected by mechanic scanner
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic checked codes but nothing displayed
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owned a 2017 Dodge journey. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle sustained damage. The air bags did not deploy. Approximately ten minutes after the crash, flames were present under the rear of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was…
Fianc leaning on seat from middle row and driver seat headrest deployed and separated, while vehicle was in park
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 Dodge Journey?
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 Journey?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 10,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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/2017/Dodge/Journey.
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.