12 complaints reported

2018 Dodge Journey Seats

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
12
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2026

The drivers side active headrest deployed while the vehicle was unoccupied. It is not electronically controlled, so no warning lamps were illuminated. This appears to be a known issue with FCA but they offer no assistance with correcting the known safety defect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2026
Nov 2025

I was driving home in the dark and I heard a loud bang pop! It scared me at first I didn't see anything wrong but when I got home to looked I notice the passenger head rest popped out! I am happy that no one was sitting next to me. That could have been so scary. I have uploaded a picture of it not extended out. I was driving 70 mph going home on the interstate. No accident nothing. Just came out of no where. This was scary.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Nov 2025
Nov 2025

Owner was driving about 40 mph when the headrest popped open. There were no collisions or issues when this happened.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2025
Jul 2025

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING,THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADREST EXPLODED, HIT MY WIFE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND SNAPPED HER NECK FORWARD, ALMOST KNOCKED HER OUT. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS EXPLODED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (I'LL BET THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT WAS OVERLOOKED). I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE...I ADVISED THEM TO DO SOME ONLINE RESEARCH...IT HAS HAPPENED THOUSANDS OF TIMES! THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT COST ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE (TIMES TWO FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL). NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEADREST WILL EXPLODE! AS FOR THIS BEING A SAFETY FEATURE TO PROTECT AGAINST A REAR END COLLISION, IT IS NOT, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF SOMEONE HITTING THE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC I KNOW AND HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jul 2025
Jul 2025

The passengers side head rest came apart. It came apart so fast it was like it exploded. It was almost like it had an air bag on the inside of it. I just started the unit in our drive way, went to back out, and it came apart. I tried to reset the head rest but the plastic locking tabs on the inside no longer work. This needs to be a recall!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jul 2025
May 2025

I was entering a highway on the entrance ramp when I was hit in the back of the head by the headrest, with no warning it just burst apart and caused dizziness. I pulled over as I literally felt like I was in a car accident. I continued to feel dizzy and experienced neck and lower back pain. I spoke with my Doctor this morning, and contacted the local Dodge, Chrysler dealer and have an appointment on 5/22.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: May 2025
Oct 2024

While care was parked, daughter (11yo) leaned around passenger seat with her forearm against the left side of the head rest to talk to her mother. Randomly and suddenly the head rest safety mechanism deployed. No one was seriously injured but it did leave a mark on my daughter's arm. Looks like the plastic inside is cracked on the right side where the pin holds the restraining pin that keeps the headrest from deploying. Have not taken yet to the dealer. There were no warning signs prior to deployment. Potentially could've been worse if someone was sitting in the seat when it occurred.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2024
Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the passenger’s side headrest detached. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Sep 2024
Jun 2023

Went out to my Dodge Journey 2018 to go run errands and noticed the passenger side head rest was apart. The vehicle had been sitting for two days Feel this should be a recall issue Fortunately this didn’t happen while the car was in use Contacted dodge dealer and FCA And was advised there is no recall or warranty coverage This is a safety issue and should be covered

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jun 2023
Jun 2022

Passenger side head rest exploded while driving down the road. This is a huge safety issue and could have caused sever damage. Now I’m afraid the driver side will do the same thing while I’m driving down the road

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jun 2022
May 2019

WHEN SECOND ROW SEATS ARE FOLDED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND SLID FORWARD. THEY DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE SEAT SLAMS FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BEFORE CAUSING A SEVERE INJURY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: May 2019
Dec 2018

I HAVE A 2018 DODGE JOURNEY I HAD THE DRIVER SEST RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK TO VACUUM. I LIFT THE HANDLE TO PUT SEAT UP AND IT FLEW FORWARD HARD. AFTER TURNING ON VEHICLE NOTICED AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. TOOK TO DODGE THEY SAID ITS THE DRIVER HEADREST THE WIRES WERE PULLED OUT AND ACTIVATED AIRBAG LIGHT. THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE WIRES GOT RIPPED OFF FROM SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY PULLING THE SEAT OFF. THE SEATS ARE DANGEROUS AS FAST AS THEY FLIP FORWARD. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IF THE WIRES GOT UNATTACHED FROM JUST IT SWINGING FORWARD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 DODGE JOURNEY, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Dec 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Dodge Journey has 12 Seats complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.