A Little-Known Defect in Vehicles: Active Headrests

Sometimes, a new product feature does more harm than good. This seems to be the case with the new “active headrests” employed by Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge. Learn more about these problematic headrests and what you can do if you have been injured by one.

What’s Wrong with Active Headrests?

Active headrests, formally known as Active Head Restraints (AHRs), were designed to lessen the impact of whiplash during a rear-end car accident by deploying and extending the headrest to “catch” passengers’ heads. Unfortunately, this design has had unintended consequences.

Some Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge models contain AHRs that deploy even when a rear-end accident has not happened. This deployment strikes passengers in the head unexpectedly, which can be particularly dangerous if the affected passenger is the driver.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received dozens of complaints about AHRs, including reports of deployments in the following situations:

• The AHRs deploy at any speed the car is traveling.
• The AHRs deploy when the car is not moving.
• The AHRs deploy when the car is turned off.
• The AHRs deploy when no one is in the vehicle.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when these headrests erroneously deploy, and no way for passengers to prevent this from happening. This onus, however, should not be on the passengers. It is the responsibility of manufacturers (in this case, Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge) to design and manufacture active headrests that function properly.

Injured by an Active Headrest? We’re Here to Help

If you have been injured by an active headrest or any other auto defect, it can seem overwhelming to bring legal action against an auto manufacturer. With the right team on your side, however, this process doesn’t have to be that complicated. At Kershaw Talley Barlow, our Sacramento personal injury attorneys can sort through the details of your case and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Call Kershaw Talley Barlow at (916) 520-6639 to schedule a free consultation.