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2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Airbags Problems

28 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

28
Complaints
6
Crashes
Jan 2026Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (28)

criticalAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: Jan 2026

Your son was in a serious head-on collision, and the driver's side airbag failed to fully deploy, resulting in injuries. The airbag should have inflated completely during the crash but did not.

NHTSA #: 11709362
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Aug 2024

Passenger seat headrest exploded and hit my wife in the head/ear/neck and now she is in a lot of pain. This is the most random thing I have ever seen. My wife and daughter were driving through a parking lot going 4mph and the headrest just exploded. The plastic pieces holding the springs back broke and let the headrest fly forward into my wife’s head/ear/neck

NHTSA #: 11609705
mediumAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2024

I don't know if the headrest is part of the airbag deployment system or it's own entity. It is available for inspection. I was pulling into my driveway when the front passenger headrest exploded/deployed. I had just dropped my sister, who had been sitting there, and would have been injured by the force. I took my car to the dealership and was told that the 'involuntary deployment' was a known problem to Jeep and they had extended the warranty for the problem but it had expired in June 2023 so it would cost me $900 to fix. I contacted Jeep and was told they could not extend an extended warranty so repair was on me. There were no warning lamps or messages. This happened on 12/22.

NHTSA #: 11564089
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Nov 2023

Headset active air bags deployed when just sitting in driveway. I had no knowledge of the “warranty period “ to get it replaced otherwise i would’ve and my car has never been in an accident

NHTSA #: 11555936
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Sep 2023

Driver side, headrest deployed without collision. Parked when airbag deployed.

NHTSA #: 11543953
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Aug 2023

4 days ago, while backing out of a parking spot, the passenger Active Head Restraint (AHR) deployed and struck my girlfriend in the head. There was no interaction with another vehicle and there was no accident. The AHR simply deployed on its own and struck my girlfriend in the head. I have not reset the AHR and left it as is. Please let me know what my next step should be. Thank you [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #: 11540026
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2022

My driver's-side headrest/"airbag" deployed without a collision. I was wiping down my drivers seat after getting the seat dirty and when I wiped over the headrest it popped against my hand and I heard a tinkling noise of something bouncing around inside my vehicle. Further inspection showed that my headrest had popped out like it had deployed in a crash, etc. I was parked in my driveway and was not pushing hard on the headrest. I looked inside the headrest, and also googled this incident, and there are plastic clips inside the headrest that hold it in place. Those plastic clips wore out and broke off, causing the headrest restraint to deploy. I googled this situation and discovered that other people experienced this same thing as well - I got lucky because I wasn't driving when it happened!! But also, after further research, I found out that this is a thing that is happening and nobody is doing a recall about it. It will cost $600+ to get a new headrest inserted BUT there's no guarantee that my next one won't do the same exact thing! I haven't spent the money to get it fixed yet, because of that, but I have to have my seat and lumbar support adjusted ridiculously so that I can ride comfortably without my neck sticking out like a turtle.

NHTSA #: 11480448
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Apr 2021

WHILE CAR WAS BEING SWEPT OUT AT CAR WASH, DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A PART OF THE HEADREST BROKE RELEASING IT.

NHTSA #: 11406395
mediumAIR BAGS,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2020

VEHICLE WILL NOT START EVERYTIME AND ONCE IT'S JUMPERED TO ANOTHER CAR IT STARTS NO PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT WILL START THEN IMMEDIATELY JUST DIE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I BOUGHT IT DEC 2019 W/ 102K, IT NOW HAS 120K I DRIVE 400 MI/WK FOR WORK. I HAD TO BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE MILES AND THE WARRANTY CO. IS SAYING THEY WON'T FIX THIS AIR BAG MODULE AND SEAT BELT ISSUE AS WELL. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE BOUGHT BACK BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS ALL PAPERWORK BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR.

NHTSA #: 11366287
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Sep 2020

THE AIRBAG IN OUR HEADREST HAS BECOME DETACHED AND IS JUST HANGING NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA #: 11355593
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2020

DRIVER SIDE ACTIVE RESTRAINT HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. NO ACCIDENT OR IMPACT TOOK PLACE TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA #: 11328802
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Jun 2020

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST DEPLOYED UNPROVOKED AND WITHOUT WARNING, STRIKING THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO SUDDEN STOP, JUST NORMAL DRIVING AT APPROX. 40 MPH. THE PLASTIC PIECES THAT HOLD THE HEADREST HAVE FAILED CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA #: 11327021
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V813000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL PARTS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DECLINED A LOANER VEHICLE. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THE PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED DUE TO HER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND IT COULD RESULT INTO A CRASH AS SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL SAFETY RISK. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHICH SPECIFIC WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 11291539
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROMANO CHRYSLER JEEP (LOCATED AT 215 W GENESEE ST, FAYETTEVILLE, NY 13066, (315) 637-3101) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA #: 11203434
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Feb 2019

THE ACTIVE HEADREST RESTRAINT DEPLOYED DESPITE NOT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISIONS, EVER. IT APPEARS THAT THE PLASTIC, THAT HOLDS IN A PIN, FAILED. THE PIN IS STILL STUCK WITHIN THE LATCH IN THE BACK OF THE HEADREST. AND THE HEADREST CANNOT HE RESET, AS THE PLASTIC IS BLOWN APART. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED THAT THE ONLY REPAIR TO THIS PROBLEM IS A NEW HEADREST.

NHTSA #: 11182843
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,500.

NHTSA #: 11089913
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE OCCUPANT CONTROL RESTRAINT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARNETT KIA JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE (3610 HWY 61 N, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110, (651) 429-3391) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE OCR MODULE; HOWEVER, THE PART TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA #: 11064097
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2017

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I WAS HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BUT I LOOKED AROUND AND THERE WAS NO CARS AROUND. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT MY HEADREST AND IT EXPLODED AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD. I CALLED AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO JEEP WHO SAID IT WAS THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT AND IT IS SET TO GO OFF DURING AN ACCIDENT. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENT. I THEN CALLED JEEP DIRECTLY WHO TOLD ME THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND THAT I SHOULD LEAVE MY CAR AT JEEP. THAT WAS 3 WEEK AGO. ALL OF MY ATTEMPT TO CONTACT JEEP TO HAVE THEM RECTIFY THE ISSUE AND REPLACE MY HEADREST HAVE GONE NO WHERE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CALL BACKS AND EVERY TIME I CALL THEM THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO EXCEPT WAIT UNTIL I AM CONTACTED BY JEEP. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS I COULD HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD AN CRASHED.

NHTSA #: 11010437
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Filed: Jul 2017

I BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. THE CAR IS A 2013. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY INFORMED ME THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS RIDICULOUS CONSIDEING THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. I ENDED UP HAIGB TO PAY OVER $300 FOR A NEW PASSENGER SEAT BELT INCLUDING INSTALLATION. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT? WHY IS SUCH A NEW SEAT BELT FAILING? SHOULD I WORRY THAT MY DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL FAIL AS WELL? IT DOESN'T SEEM THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING ON SUCH A NEW CAR. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE REPAIR RECEIPTS AS REQUESTED.

NHTSA #: 11005092
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V879000 (AIR BAGS) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER PLACED THE CONTACT ON AN EXTENDED HOLD SEVERAL TIMES, SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 10958528
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Dec 2016

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY HEADREST DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, FRIGHTENING ME AND DISTRACTING ME FROM DRIVING. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT DURING OR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. INCIDENT OCCURRED SATURDAY AFTERNOON , NOVEMBER 5, 2016. *TR

NHTSA #: 10934157
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Oct 2016

WHILE DRIVING APROX. 40 MPH ON A REGULAR CITY STREET IN MY 2013" JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, MY PASSENGER SEAT HEAD REST EJECTED AND THE SPRING ACTION LUNGED IT FORWARD CAUSING MY ENTIRE SEATS AIR BAG SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. I WAS INFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION, MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO PAY THOUSANDS TO REPLACE IT. ALSO THAT THE SEAT WILL NEVER GO BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AND THE INNARDS WILL ALWAYS SHOW UNLESS I PAY TO FIX IT. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN, NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HAPPENED. IT JUST WENT OFF ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH BECAUSE OF THE VERY LOUD POP CAUSING ME TO REACT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVERS SEAT HAS THE SAME SYSTEM AND BASICALLY BE CAUTIONS WHILE DRIVING. I INFORMED JEEP CORP. THEY SENT A PRIVATE CORPORATE INVESTIGATOR. I WAS INFORMED VIA FORMAL LETTER THAT THEY WILL NOT BE FIXING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE 4TH. DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION MY VEHICLE HAS HAD. #TIMES PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A NATION WIDE RECALL THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF. I FEAR I WILL BE DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONS AND WE WILL CRASH AS A RESULT OF THIS RANDOM MALFUNCTION. IF I CRASH NOT ONLY IS MINE AND MY FAMILIES LIVES IN DANGER BUT ALSO ALL OF THOSE IN THE VEHICLES AROUND ME.

NHTSA #: 10914077
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
CrashFiled: May 2016

MY JEEP WAS REAR ENDED AT 50 MPH WHILE AT A STANDSTILL. I WAS READY TO TURN LEFT IN IN THE LEFT LANE. VEHICLE CAME UP BEHIND ME IN THE WRONG LANE AND DID NOT SLOW AND HIT ME FULL SPEED. . AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HEADRESTS CAME APART AND SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES THROWING MY HEAD AND BODY FORWARD. I WAS THE DRIVER. BACK END OF CARWAS HIT SO HARD IT WAS PUSHED UNDER THE CAR. ACCIDENT WAS ON 5/20/15

NHTSA #: 10865208
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2016

ON 3/31/2016 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR. UNEXPECTEDLY MY HEAD WAS THROWN FORWARD. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. I DISCOVERED THE DRIVERS HEADREST SEPARATED FROM THE HEADREST BACKING BY AT LEAST 3". (SEE PICTURES) I TOOK IT TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT/REAR ACCIDENT. I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND CAN VERIFY IT WAS NOT IN A FRONT OR REAR ACCIDENT. THEY EXPLAINED THE HEADREST IS DESIGNED TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT TO PREVENT WHIPLASH. THEY ATTEMPTED TO RESET IT WITH NO SUCCESS AND INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL JEEP (800-992-1997). AFTER THEIR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE HEADREST RATTLES WHILE DRIVING - QUITE DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. JEEP HAS FAILED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HEADREST AND HAS FAILED TO RETURN MY CALLS FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THEIR COMMUNICATION DIRECTED ME TO ATTEMPT TO RE-SET THE HEADREST ON MY OWN - WHICH I HAD THE SAME RESULTS AS THE DEALERSHIP, UNSUCCESSFUL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENT OF A HEADREST WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE THIS SITUATION CORRECTED AS I AM NOW DRIVING WITH A DEPLOYED HEADREST FORCING MY HEAD FORWARD AND RATTLING.

NHTSA #: 10862167
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Apr 2016

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON AN ACCIDENT IN THE SIDE AND FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOP BEFORE BEING HIT

NHTSA #: 10860846
mediumAIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V154000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/03/14*LJ UPDATED 05/12/2015 *JS

NHTSA #: 10631152
mediumAIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jun 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE BRANCH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE BUMPER WAS DAMAGED BUT THERE WERE NO PERSONS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE BUMPER WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,200.

NHTSA #: 10604849
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS PUSHED IN AND THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT A REQUEST WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED. SHE MADE MORE THAN FIVE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND NO ONE RETURNED HER CALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO HER LEG. THE CONTACT WAS PREGNANT AND LOST HER CHILD AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,858.

NHTSA #: 10575125

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