[BonLor]

*

 

[John Y.]

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. View attachment 47527 View attachment 47528

Good day to you. My vehicle has the same issue.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

Hello,

I had stowed one of the seats in the second row a couple of weeks ago. When I pulled the seat out of the floor and set it back up, I could not get the headrest to stay in the upright, locked position. I took the leather cover and cushion off, started playing with it, and it locked. My hope at the time was that it was just a snagged cable somewhere in the seat and that it had fixed itself when I started playing with it. However, yesterday it again flipped forward at some point and will not lock. I haven't played around with it yet, as I'd like to get some feedback from people on this forum for other places within the seat to look for issues. I presume a cable has either come out of a guide somewhere, or maybe a spring has broken? Anyone know where I can get some drawings of the seats for the 2018 vans in order to assist in the troubleshooting effort? I've been to dealer now twice in the last couple of weeks (one for a very premature AC compressor failure), and I'd rather not spend exorbitant dealer fees to fix something that's probably very simple.

Cheers and thanks in advance,
Jake

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?

 

[Espum4]

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

 

[Cabanes]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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

 

[peterweb]

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.

 

[MyDirtIsRed]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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 really do consider it a safety feature. Since this means it is unusable and if you remove the headrest it is a safety hazard. Chrysler should warrant this since it is a common complaint. If they are to back their products this should be addressed. I would like to know how to go further with this. I do not personally care if just a few have reported it. This is a manufacture error and needs to be addressed. What if it flops forward with someone seating in it? They cannot guarantee it won't. This could break someone's neck!!!!!

 

[Keith63]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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?

 

[Chgray]

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. View attachment 56492

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

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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

 

[Keith63]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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.

 

[SharBear#2Care]

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.

What does TSB mean?

 

[jenmarlow]

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!