So I took the headrest apart (which was not easy, those plastic tabs that hold that thing together are tough), and found the issue: the headrest pivots on the steel supports, and there's a ratchet inside, that is actuated by a plastic piece, which is then connected to cabling. The plastic piece internally broke (it's actually unbelievably small for the application, the engineers/bean counters should be ashamed of themselves). I'm going to guess 1/8" diameter, maximum, snapped right at the ratchet mechanism. So, looks like I'll be buying a new headrest for a 2018 minivan. Ridiculous, Chrysler...

 

For posterity's sake, I'm posting some pictures of the discovery that I made, and making a couple more notes:

1.) Regulars on this forum probably already know this, but I missed this detail when removing the headrest assembly: there is a lock washer on the headrest post opposite the post that contains the cabling for actuating the headrest release. I fought getting the headrest out of the seat for a good 5-10 minutes before I started looking through the YouTube comments to see that 2018 vans have this (although, seems some people have it, others don't, so YMMV).

2.) If you look at the pictures that I'm attaching, you'll see the issue that I found. The mechanism, while clever, uses a plastic that WILL ABSOLUTELY SNAP if you use your second row Stow N Go with any frequency greater than once or twice a year, and even then, I wouldn't guarantee that it won't snap soon even with low usage frequency. A short piece of steel cabling like they use for the rest of the assembly would actually work much better than the little plastic stalk that broke.

3.) My quick search of the local Chrysler dealer shows that one can buy the headrest assembly for $107 (black leather headrest). Since all I need is a $0.10 piece of plastic, I'm loathe to buy that whole assembly. I'm going to report this to the NHTSA in hopes that enough other people do the same and a recall is eventually issued. I don't actually need two headrests at the moment, as our youngest is ready to face forward and I was going to have to remove that headrest anyway. It's certainly not a life or death design issue, but if the weak plastic does happen to let loose in an accident, that headrest is going to flop forward and will not provide the head support that it's supposedly designed to provide.

4.) I know Chrysler Cares people read this forum. Just to let you know, our family is in the market for another vehicle, and my wife was strongly favoring a new Jeep Cherokee L. This is just the latest silly issue with this van that is making us seriously consider other brands instead.

 

Wow, No wonder it broke. That part is not designed properly for the job. Very bad engineering.

 

@MyDirtIsRed,
Hello Jake,
Thank you for bring this to our attention, we'll be sure to keep an eye out for the concern going forward.

Lamar
Chrysler Cares

 

@MyDirtIsRed,
Hello Jake,
Thank you for bring this to our attention, we'll be sure to keep an eye out for the concern going forward.

Lamar
Chrysler Cares

my van seat has the exact same problem, what do we do to fix it without buying a whole new headrest?

 

@Snorkel Van,

It would be best to speak with your servicing dealer as they're in the best position to determine the next steps.

Lamar
Chrysler Cares

 

Mine broke too! I was actually doing a search on how to fix this when I came across this post. Now I know I can’t and am not happy. I also will be reporting this in order to possibly assist in a recall status. My van is used to cart around many family members and I cannot and will not risk injury to one of them.

 

I have the same behavior of my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L. I stowed both captains chairs to help someone move. It wasn't that big of a deal as I was replacing child seats back after use over a year ago. Now my kids are growing and the permanent tilt in the headrests will render the captain chairs useless for their in-between size. For my youngest I can pull the headrest and put in the carseat (per what I see on forums). For my oldest that has come out of his car seat in the last 3 weeks, he has had to move to the back row. What can be done by Chrysler to help us out?

 

I tried a few things, but this was my favorite. I replaced the spaghetti pasta with a rubber hose. The hose adds some elasticity to it which I found to work better than a ridged pipe. Getting the length right takes a bit of finesse. If it's too long it won't unlatch. Too short it won't latch. The hose over the barb keeps the barb straight and in place.

 

This is what I did to repair this poorly designed part. It is more robust than the original and should last the life of the vehicle ( I hope) Just $2.00 in parts and a little hot glue to keep the nut from backing off.

 

In one of my posts, I had suggested some of that steel cabling, but this solution looks interesting. If I'm interpreting this picture correctly, the zip tie performs the 'pull' function and the rubber hose performs the 'push' function? Am I correct that you drilled a little hole in the plastic arm that transfers the motion from the steel cable? I might try this when it's time to re-install the headrest...

 

In one of my posts, I had suggested some of that steel cabling, but this solution looks interesting. If I'm interpreting this picture correctly, the zip tie performs the 'pull' function and the rubber hose performs the 'push' function? Am I correct that you drilled a little hole in the plastic arm that transfers the motion from the steel cable? I might try this when it's time to re-install the headrest...

This is exactly right. Pushing with some elasticity is required to get it to latch. I tried a bunch of rigid things and nothing worked. I think this is the flaw with the original design. If they upscaled the spaghetti, it would not flow correctly. But with it's current size, it bends too much during the latching process and can break. I think it is probably fairly relaxed once fully latched. I wish dorman or one of the aftermarket folks would sell just the plastic piece. But I think a headrest is part of the seatbelt safety system and probably nobody wants to touch it.

 

Ugh..found the passenger side head reset is stuck in the down position. I was actually able to get the head reset back up a couple of months ago but don't even know how I did it. Now it is down again and won't go back up.

 

I have same problem - headrest stuck folded down. Dealer is quoting +$1,000 repair to replace rear seat frame to fix. This doesn’t seem right to me. Losing trust in Chrysler…

 

Now I’m being told it’s the cable to the headrest connected to the seat frame. Chrysler doesn’t sell the cable separately requiring the entire seat frame to be replaced. Again, it seems like such a simple thing for the head rest to stay upright. How can this be a +$1000 repair?????

 

Im looking to buy and test drove 2 pacificas and 2 voyagers all 2021s and 2 of the 4 had this exact problem. I would like best measures to prevent this from occurring ike everyone here to avoid a costly repair.

 

@MyDirtIsRed, Hello Jake, Thank you for bring this to our attention, we'll be sure to keep an eye out for the concern going forward. Lamar Chrysler Cares

We are having the same issue now. Our son is ready for a regular booster seat, but we can’t install it because the headrest is folded forward behind his head and is unsafe… and it would be just as unsafe to remove it entirely. It will not lock no matter what we try.

 

I have a 2019 Pacifica and the same thing has happened. Headrest is flopped forward so the seat cannot be used. Dealership said it would be $1000+ and we would have to leave the van with them for two days with no loaner vehicle. We are a one vehicle family and cannot go without transportation for two days. Chrysler needs to make this right.

 

Can't go for 2 days? There 6 people in my house, and was without 52 days with no loaner or rental with full warranties and an extended Mopar warranty still active. At least your vehicle is running/usable and not completely disabled burning through batteries.

Electric Coolant Heater Replacement, Electrical Problems Updated 06/17/23 A Lesson of Careless Work. 06/27/23 P2BE0 07/24/23 P2B28 07/27/23 P2B28 A/C | 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Minivan Forums (pacificaforums.com)

 

I am having the same issue. We purchase it used a few months ago. The headrest worked. Seriously used the seats stowed but one time up and it worked. Next time no go. Will not lock into place. Since others are complaining, what can we go as a group to have Chrysler acknowledge and repair this issue?

 

Went to dealership and tech stated I need a new headrest. Contacted Chrysler as this is not just an inconvenience but a safety hazard. I purchased this vehicle to be able to transport my very young grandchildren. Which I cannot use. Thought the van would be good for Chrysler's name but this is quite disturbing. To have headrest replaced and labor was close to 600.00! I have seen enough replies to know this is not an isolated case. What is one of my concerns would be could it flop forward if there is an accident? There needs to be an investigation on this faulty engineering.

 

The thing is that every two months or so, we should do that again and again and so forth to have an usefull headrest, and as i read, you need to pay a range from $105 to +$1000 dollars, just for fixing a manifacture error, I think that that's not fair

 

I have a 2022 Pacifica S and the same thing has happened. Headrest is flopped forward so the seat cannot be used. Dealership said it would be $1160+. I was actually doing a search on how to fix this when I came across this post. Now I know I can’t and am not happy. I also will be reporting this in order to possibly assist in a recall status. My van is used to cart around many family members and I cannot and will not risk injury to one of them. I am very upset and disappointed in Chrysler and their dealers.

 

If they are quoting a price that high to you, I would bet that they are including a new pillow/whatever you want to call it for covering the assembly. You probably don't need that. Unfortunately, when I looked at doing this myself, you could only buy the whole kit. I would recommend finding one through a local junkyard and having someone other than the dealer install it. I've been putting off fixing mine because I have no need to at the moment with a car seat in place, but I'll be doing that very thing at some point in the future.

 

How can we have this addressed by Chrysler? Please let me know as I am so disappointed.

 

How can we have this addressed by Chrysler? Please let me know as I am so disappointed.

You can try to start a conversation here with @ChryslerCares . But they are going to tell you to go to your dealer before they can do anything. If you are still within warranty, it should get fixed at no charge to you.

I am having the same issue. We purchase it used a few months ago. The headrest worked. Seriously used the seats stowed but one time up and it worked. Next time no go. Will not lock into place. Since others are complaining, what can we go as a group to have Chrysler acknowledge and repair this issue?

This one thread with few users is not indicating it is an issue for most Pacifica owners. So this small group is not going to have much power to make any changes to the way Chrysler deals with this. When you purchased the van, did you get any warranty with it? Check with your seller to see if they will fix it for you.

 

I am very upset with this issue of the headrest flopped forward. Where can we try and get a recall status going?

 

Report to NHTSA. However, I doubt a recall will be issued for this as it is not a safety issue with the operation of the vehicle. A TSB issued for something like this would be more reasonable.

 

I'm having the same issue. Both my headrests failed. I had a friend create a drawing and had it 3D printed. After a couple of revisions, it was better to make the piece with 2 different materials (PLA & ABS). The ABS is flexible so we used that as the spring portion.

 

Hey, I have a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and my driver side back seat headrest in the middle row has messed up. I saw where you had a friend make the part. I was wondering if I could get your friend to make the part for me to purchase. Let me know if that’s something they might would be interested in. Thank you

 

I wish I had a person who could do that. Chrysler is being vague about it. Of course they want me to go to a dealership. But I am saying this is a safety matter. If someone is in the car and it all of a sudden misfunctions they have been contacted by others. I am in a real tight squeeze financially right now. How do we get others to contact Chrysler to get a group going on this or see if this could be some sort of recall issue?

 

The reason they're being vague about it is that it's willfully poor engineering destined to get you in to spend ~500 or so to fix the damned thing.

 

This is not a reply, but thinking the same thing. I am very interested. This guy maybe on to something.

 

After a few weeks of heavy use, the narrow piece broke. We are trying a different material or a possible "s" shape in-between both printed pieces. Stay tuned.

 

What is a shame is that Chrysler isn't trying to do something about this after multiple posts.

 

My 2017 Pacifica 3rd row headrest won’t lock in the upright position. So frustrating because no one can sit there comfortably or safely. I believe it truly is a safety concern and I’m enraged that this isn’t recalled. My dealership won’t fix it without charging an outrageous amount of money. Shame on you, Chrysler!

 

Please contact Chryler.

 

My 2017 Pacifica 3rd row headrest won’t lock in the upright position. So frustrating because no one can sit there comfortably or safely. I believe it truly is a safety concern and I’m enraged that this isn’t recalled. My dealership won’t fix it without charging an outrageous amount of money. Shame on you, Chrysler!

So you've owned this 2017, since new, and it's been like this the whole time and you're just now complaining about it 7+ years later?

Please contact Chryler.

It's a 2017, warranty is long gone. They're on their own

 

So you've owned this 2017, since new, and it's been like this the whole time and you're just now complaining about it 7+ years later?


It's a 2017, warranty is long gone. They're on their own

Doesn't sound like it has been like this since 2017, but I maybe wrong. It is a potential safety issue but Chrysler is a good company so you may have some help.