What is an Active Headrest and How Does It Work?
An Active Head Restraint (AHR) system is designed to lessen the impact of whiplash and is located in the front and passenger headrests. The AHR system protects against whiplash by deploying and extending the front half of the headrest forward during a rear end collision to ‘catch’ the occupant’s head.
Injuries and Risks of harm in Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Active Headrests
Some Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge model vehicles include an AHR system that is defective and deploys spontaneously. When these active headrests deploy, they often strike drivers or passengers in the back of the head unexpectedly. These defective headrests are particularly dangerous because they can deploy at any time. There have been over 150 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of spontaneous deployments, including:
- While people are driving their cars at any speed, from 10 miles per hour in a parking lot, to 70 miles per hour on the highway.
- While the car is not moving, and the active headrest deploys at a stop sign or stoplight.
- While the passenger or driver is getting into or out of the car while the car is parked, even when the engine is turned off, and
- While nobody is in the car, and people find their car with their headrest deployed from the night before or earlier in the day.
Many people have reported injuries from the unexpected deployment of Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge active headrests. The force of the deployment is fast and strong enough to cause serious concussions and potentially cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The unexpected deployment is also sometimes accompanied by a loud and startling gunshot-like sound.
When the headrest deploys, the headrest itself splits in two and cannot be put back together. Instead, the deployed headrest must be replaced with a new headrest. These replacement costs run from $600-$800. In most cases, dealerships have refused to pay for the cost of replacing the deployed headrests as not being covered under warranty. Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge are aware of this issue, yet have refused to recall the affected vehicles.
Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Active Headrest Defects
Specifically, the plastic pin and hinge pieces that keep the headrest from deploying when there is not a rear-end collision will break and shatter under prolonged tension, causing the headrest to deploy suddenly and unexpectantly. In many cases when the active headrest deploys unexpectedly, plastic debris from the pin and hinge pieces are found around the deployed headrest. The defective design and manufacture of these internal plastic pieces are believed to cause the spontaneous deployments of the Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge active headrests.
Products Liability Lawyers Serving Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Owners Nationwide
Our products liability lawyers at Kershaw Talley Barlow are currently representing Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge owners nationwide in cases involving defective active headrests and have extensive experience in successfully representing individuals in cases involving vehicle and other product defects. If you, or a loved one, have a Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge vehicle and have experienced injuries or other issues, you (or they) are potentially eligible to file a lawsuit.
You don’t have to suffer alone when a defectively designed and manufactured product threatens your life, health, and finances. Our national product liability attorneys are here to help you obtain a fair outcome and work to hold automobile manufacturers accountable for the harm they have caused you. We handle cases like this all over the United States.
Call (916) 520-6639 today to speak to a member of our team or contact us online to schedule your complimentary consultation.