2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee seats problems

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Seats · FL

In approximately early to mid-August 2026, I was driving my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee at approximately 40 mph when the passenger-side Active Head Restraint (AHR) suddenly deployed without any collision, rear impact, or other event that should have caused it to deploy. There was no passenger in the seat at the time, so fortunately no one was struck or injured. The vehicle had approximately 55,179 miles at the time of the incident. Its current mileage is 55,279 miles. Following the unexpected deployment, the passenger-side head restraint developed a persistent rattling condition. I brought the vehicle to Naples Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for inspection. The dealer advised that the head restraint would need to be replaced and provided an estimate of approximately $1,001.95, including parts and labor. I subsequently contacted Jeep Customer Care regarding the problem. My case was assigned Case Number 97938645 and was initially characterized as a high-priority Repair Cost Assistance matter. I was later advised that Goodwill assistance was not available for my 2018 vehicle. I am submitting this complaint because the Active Head Restraint is a safety device, and it spontaneously deployed while the vehicle was traveling approximately 40 mph, without a collision or rear impact. I am concerned that an inadvertent deployment of this safety device could strike and injure an occupant or potentially create a dangerous distraction or loss-of-control situation if it occurs while the vehicle is moving. I understand that certain 2014–2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles have been subject to FCA warranty-related action concerning Active Head Restraint inadvertent deployment. I am not asserting that my particular VIN qualifies for that coverage; I am reporting the actual safety event and asking the federal safety agency to consider it in evaluating this potential safety issue.

Filed Jun 10, 2026 · Airbags, Seats · FL

While driving my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x2, the driver side Active Head Restraint deployed without any collision, rear impact, crash, or other triggering event. There was a sudden loud bang directly behind my head, which startled me and created an immediate safety distraction while the vehicle was in motion. I did not know what had happened at the time. The head restraint remains deployed/open and cannot be reset. The vehicle was not involved in a crash, there was no rear impact, and there was no airbag deployment. FCA/Stellantis has issued an X88 Active Head Restraint warranty extension for certain Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles involving inadvertent deployment of the front Active Head Restraint where it cannot be reset due to internal damage. My vehicle appears to have experienced the same failure mode, but Jeep/Stellantis has advised that my VIN does not qualify for X88 coverage, apparently because the vehicle was built after the selected warranty extension population. My vehicle build date is January 2018, with MDH 011623. I am filing this complaint because this was a safety related head restraint failure that occurred while driving without a collision. The sudden deployment caused a loud impact immediately behind my head and created a dangerous distraction. I am concerned that vehicles outside the current X88 warranty population may still be experiencing the same inadvertent Active Head Restraint failure. The vehicle was factory ordered and delivered in February 2018, which may explain the later January 2018 build date, but it is still a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee and appears to have experienced the same inadvertent Active Head Restraint failure mode described in FCA’s X88 warranty extension.

Filed May 22, 2026 · Airbags, Seats · TX

The active head restraint on my driver seat deployed and pushed my head forward suddenly. I could not push my head back into position. This happened while driving on the evening of May 3. I have a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. I was not able to reset the head rest position. I took the vehicle to the dealership. They said that the whole headrest needed to be replaced. It could not be reset because the molded plastic piece was degraded. From a search online this appears to be common in the 2014-2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with active head restraints. Even though this is a failure of the equipment, and other Jeep Grand Cherokees from 2014 -2018 received a 10-year extension on their head restraints, the dealership and Jeep Customer Care said that my vehicle is not covered. Nor will they let me buy a seat from them that does not use the active head restraint. They said that because My vehicle's VIN specifies a vehicle with active head restraints, they cannot sell me otherwise. I will not be comfortable driving this vehicle again with an active head restraint that could randomly fail and punch my head forward while I am in rush hour traffic. I believe this is a safety risk as it is disorienting to not know why your head is suddenly pushed down and forward while you are driving at 45 mph. Distracting the driver in such a way endangers the driver, passengers, and other vehicles' occupants on the same roadway. It throws off your view of the roadway and your mirrors. There were no warnings ahead of time.

Filed Apr 21, 2026 · Electrical, Seats · NC

Electrical goes crazy when driving and parked , radio comes on, switches from AC to heat , on its own , calls people in my contact list , calls 911, screens goes blank at times , flashes on and off , heated seat on driver side gets way to hot , passenger seat ok so far , headlight keeps going out on passenger side fails to get it off heated seats at times or it freezes, it jumps from defrost to vent to floor , heat to AC , have to turn on AC when it rains to keep windows from fogging up. Hard to drive when it’s lighting up like a Christmas tree , radio won’t stay on same station , jumps from station to station , when on speaker phone it mutes the calls, or hangs up the person you are talking to. Navigation won’t work most of the time freezes up also.

Filed Mar 1, 2026 · Seats · FL

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a serious safety defect regarding the Active Head Restraint (AHR) system in my vehicle. On 11/28/25 the headrest deployed spontaneously while I was operating the vehicle. Incident Details: • No Collision: There was no impact, collision, or sudden braking event that would trigger a safety deployment. • Safety Risk: The forceful deployment occurred without warning, striking me in the back of the head. • System Failure: The internal plastic bracket responsible for holding the spring-loaded mechanism failed—a documented issue in many similar Stellantis vehicles. I contacted a certified Jeep dealership and Stellantis customer service regarding this failure. They have declined to provide a remedy, repair or reimbursement the component under any "goodwill" or extended warranty program, stating that my specific VIN is not included in existing service bulletins or recalls. Request for Action: The "VIN-specific" limitation is arbitrary when the mechanical failure is identical to those in recalled units. A safety component that deploys violently without an accident is a defect, regardless of whether the manufacturer has acknowledged that specific production batch yet. I request that the federal safety agency investigate this failure as part of an expansion of existing inquiries into Stellantis AHR systems. I have attached photos/repair quote of the deployed unit for your records. Sincerely,

Filed Nov 18, 2025 · Seats · FL

While driving on I-95 on 11/14/25, the passenger headrest suddenly and unexpectedly exploded forward with great force while I was sitting in the seat. We were not in an accident or collision. The headrest is now push so far forward that it pushes my face down toward my chest. We cannot reset the head rest to its original position and there is some broken plastic inside the headrest mechanism. A warranty extension has been issued for this known problem with 2014-2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. When I called my dealership, I was told that my vehicle model was NOT included in this warranty extension.

Filed Oct 27, 2025 · Airbags, Seats · UT

My passenger headrest is coming apart spontaneously. It has an active airbag system. Apparently my vin is just outside a known recall range. I have called Jeep and the dealership, both stated i needed to report to the federal safety agency. The Jeep will be serviced tomorrow at the dealership for diagnosis and repairs.

Filed Oct 21, 2025 · Electrical, Seats · OR

I have videos, but my cars electrical system keeps glitching, It will turn my heated seats on to the pint they burn me, it connects to my phone and will randomly call anyone in my contacts, it changes radio stations, messes with my automatic start, took my traction control off and does this on a regular basis. I had this system fixed in March of 2023 just after I bought the car but it’s already doing it again. It also will randomly just cut off when I’m driving and then will be fine very randomly. - I will have to send you the videos I took it says they are too large to upload here

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Seats · 70,000 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while sitting at a stoplight, there was a loud pop on the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection, the contact became aware that the front passenger’s side seat active head restraint had deployed unintendedly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the active head restraint. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Seats · KY

Drivers head rest has a whiplash protection, the headrest exploded and there was no impact, accident, literally just pulling into the target parking lot. The front of the headrest hit the back of my head while I was driving which was unsafe and painful. The noise it made was also extremely loud and occurred right in my ear which was frightening. I have not sought out for help on this issue or had it looked at, but online i was checking for a recall and I saw many others have had this happen. This is available for inspection though. There was no warning, lights, etc. but this happened completely unprovoked.