Chrysler Pacifica Complaints
794 consumer complaints on file.
- #11572143February 15, 2024FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While travelling on a controlled-access highway at 70 mph with the Adaptive Cruise Control active, and no other vehicles or objects nearby, the braking system engaged spontaneously (without driver input) and forcefully, for approximately .5 seconds, also engaging the anti-lock brakes. The rapid deceleration was forceful enough to snap my family of 5 all into their seatbelts. The speed of the vehicle slowed approximately 10 mph or more during this incident. My family and I were fortunate enough that no vehicles were behind us, no collision occurred, and I was able to maintain control of the vehicle though I was very much surprised. No warning indicators nor messages appeared. I took the vehicle to a servicing dealer three days after the incident for inspection/diagnosis. I was told be the service agent at the desk that, in order for this to not happen again, I should not use the Adaptive Cruise Control. The technician, who was at the service desk, stated he was unable to reproduce the incident on test drive, and that he recalibrated the Adaptive Cruise Control system and sensor, without further explanation as to what that meant.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11571304February 11, 2024SEATS
2nd and 3rd row seats of the van do not allow for proper installation of children’s car seats due to the non adjustable and non removable headrest. 3rd row headrest folds forward making the issue even worse. Tried multiple car seat manufacturers and per the manufacturer’s installation guide the pacifica seats will not allow for correct and safe installation. Installation instructions show the car seat back must be flush with the vehicle seat. No known problems with other vehicle manufacturers when researching this issue
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11570314February 6, 2024POWER TRAIN
While traveling down the interstate on a family road trip, our Pacifica PHEV alerted us to stop safely because our vehicle would lose power. We almost didn't make it to the shoulder before we completely lost power on the van. The vehicle was not drivable while on the side of the road. The transmission had to be replaced.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11570099February 5, 2024POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
The vehicle stalled on the freeway while traveling 75 mph in the HOV lane. After the engine shut off, I recalled an error message on the dash that stated, "Motive power will stop and pull over quickly.” I needed to take evasive action to bring the vehicle to the side of the 5 freeway. I could not restart the engine in Neutral while the car was in motion. The car showed a charging error on the first and second attempted restart on the side of the road with the transmission in Park. After letting the vehicle sit for a few minutes, I successfully restarted the engine, but the dash continued showing an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). We were traveling at 75 mph in the HOV lane (lane #1) when the vehicle engine cut off without warning. Once the engine was off, I saw a warning on the instrument cluster that the vehicle would lose all motive power (it's a hybrid) and that I should immediately stop it. I needed to take emergency action, cross over 5 lanes of freeway traffic, and then stop on the side of the road. The vehicle did not allow an engine to restart while in Neutral, with the car moving. The vehicle was brought in for the recall of 03A/NHTSA 23V-010. From what I understand, this recall did not fix the problem (reported to be a faulty wiring harness in the transmission). I installed a software update to display the error message that instructed me that all motive power would be lost and that I should stop the vehicle.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11569505February 2, 2024ENGINE
While driving on the expressway at expressway speeds we got a message on the information system stating the engine will shutdown soon, pullover safely as soon as possible (paraphrased). The van started to lose power almost immediately upon receiving the message. We were lucky to pull over on a multi lane expressway since we were already in the right lane. It appears the gas engine did not engage when the battery was almost out of power (1%). On the side of the road, it took two times to turn the van on and off before the gas engine started. We were able to make it home. The next business day we contacted the dealership and had it towed there for service. After evaluation I was told the entire transmission needed to be replaced since a generator for the electric motor is housed there and is apparently the cause of the problem. At this time my vehicle is still with dealership awaiting parts. I did research online and see the message we got was the focus of a recall (to display the message) but the cause of the mechanical\electrical failure was still unknown from Chrysler/Stellantis. This is unacceptable. We could have easily been in a crash due to the issue. If they can't fix the actual problem, the message needs to display much sooner while the battery still has sufficient power such as 10%. I believe we had 1% indicated on the driver display at the time of the message.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11568923January 30, 2024FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle shut down unexpectedly multiple times even AFTER recall update was applied. Allows for minimal time to pull to safe location. Potential for serious incident if safe shoulder is not immediately available such as on a bridge.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11567751January 25, 2024VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield wipers are not synced together causing them to contact each other to the point that the stuck together. As a result, the wipers are no longer functional, and the drivers vision is impaired which increases the likelihood of an accident.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11566526January 19, 2024POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Without any prior warning or predisposing symptoms, my vehicle lost all power when I was driving in the carpool lane at 70 miles per hour. I had to "coast" across 5 lanes of freeway and come to stop in the emergency lane. When I applied the brakes I had no power to brakes which made the car skid violently. I could have lost control because I was not expecting that secondary issue. The traction conrtol may have been triggered causing the car to overreact. The dashboard lights and "d" on my gear shifter were all flashing. I turned the car off and allowed it to sit for a few moments. I turned the car on again and nothing happened. I turned it off a second time and it turned on, went into drive and I was able to drive the remaining 5 miles home without incicent. I have already completed the recall notice for this very issue back in Jan 2023. However, even though the dealer states they completed my recall work the upbove described incident happened on 1/14/24 nearly a year after their recall completion.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11565851January 16, 2024FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Service hybrid electric vehicle system
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11565429January 14, 2024POWER TRAIN
While driving on the highway at 70mph, the dashboard flashed a message saying "Please stop vehicle. Car will automatically stop."
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11563061January 2, 2024UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving on the highway, warning came on to pull over safely that car would be shutting off. I had approximately 20 seconds to coast to side of the 3 lane highway an park on shoulder, as acceleration did not work. Car then shut down completely.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11563058January 2, 2024UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving on the highway, warning came on to pull over safely that car would be shutting off. I had approximately 20 seconds to coast to side of the 3 lane highway an park on shoulder, as acceleration did not work. Car then shut down completely.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11562171December 27, 2023STEERING, WHEELS
Car would make a grinding noise over 5mph. We looked under the vehicle to find a loose bolt to the left of the left tire.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11561344December 21, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Front park sensor will intermittently go off like it is detecting an object when vehicle is at stopped, but there's no object, went to Chrysler Dealership for warranty 7 Times, Last time dealer service confirm and recreate the problem but can not replace because NO FAIL CODE as me open case with Chrysler. When park sensor fault read when I was at stop I need to get out of the car to inspect to make sure no object is in the front, this is very UNSAFE sometime I have get out of the car in the middle on the road.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11561038December 20, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving early in morning on local highway (70mph speed limit), car flashed "Service Charging System" shut off the engine and power to the vehicle including acceleration, and check engline light illuminated. Thankfully early hours made it possible to drift to side of road to put car in park. Engine light illuminated dash and dash flashed "shift to P to start." Car would not shut off after pressing the start button nor depressing the break either (hazards were engaged at this point). Hazards had to be shut off in order to completely shut off the vehicle to restart it. Dangerous on major highway with no lights or hazards on side of road. 25 degrees outside. This is the Second time this has occurred to this vehicle. The last time occurred on 1/20/2023 the exact same way shutting off power and engine of the car on the same local highway with similar cold temperature (always issues with this car in the cold, hybrid battery system fails in cold below 40 or temperatures higher than 90). Last time a grounding issue was found in the transmission and was replaced. I will be contacting the dealership for repair today will update if it is still grounding issues or something new causing same problem. As i made in my last nhtsa report in january on this vehicle, the fact this car shuts down while in motion and you have no control over the car is dangerous and can cost people their lives. As a hybrid system, the van should automatically switch to gas only and bypass the hybrid charging system to continue functioning as any car would. By shutting down the engine and everything you are jeopardizing the lives of everyone on the roads. Both incidents of mine occurred on a highway at high speeds. I am just thankful I was not on a bridge at the time it failed as it would have caused an accident. I heard nothing about or from my last nhtsa report. Please for the safety of everyone look into these hybrids. Look into this car history and you'll see the constant repairs it has had.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11557475November 29, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
My new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivan was repaired under the 03a recall on 3/2023. It had another loss of motive power, the same issue that was supposed to be fixed under the 03a recall. The car warned me that it would shutoff soon in the visual display and to move to a safe area. It did shut down immediately. I attempted to restart it several times. After many times it did start and the transmission light remained illuminated. I was driving on the highway at the time and blocking traffic. It's unsafe for the car to shut off randomly. This is unacceptable and unsafe. I paid for a brand new, safe, functioning car. This is a serious problem and is dangerous for my family. I feel unsafe driving a car that will shut off at random times. This has already been repaired once and remains a problem. I need a solution.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11556914November 27, 2023ENGINE
Chrysler calls for the oil filter housing to be tightened to 18 ft/lbs. Google shows many people online claiming that this is too much; that hand tight or 11-12 ft/lbs is sufficient, and that the oil filter housing is likely to break if tightened to the factory specs. I figure the manufacturer knows best, and tightened the oil filter housing to 18 ft/lbs. The housing is under the intake manifold, and the trough in the V of the engine plus the shields under the car hid the resulting leak until I was on the highway. When I got on the highway, I found I was laying down a smokescreen that obscured every lane of eastbound I-44. The generator light came on as oil caused the belts to slip; I am very lucky that the car did not catch fire. I left a solid line of oil on the road to the nearest repair shop. The resulting repairs cost me $1,198.37. ***** Clearly Chrysler needs to develop a metal oil filter housing which will last the life of the engine. The plastic one they have now endangers the public through the risk of fires, and pollutes the environment through the loss of oil. Here's 3rd party confirmation of the problem affecting all Chrysler Pentastar engines: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11556742November 25, 2023ENGINE
My vehicle stopped while driving. I was able to pull of the road and get towed to the dealer 11/1/23. They performed the recall, I left the dealer 11/21/23 and while driving my van back to the house, I had the same thing happen. The error message lit up and the car slowed down til it would no longer move. I do not feel safe in this vehicle, as this is the second time it has happened in a month, and the recall was taken care of the day I picked it up.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11555993November 20, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
The mirror on the passenger side of the vehicle "exploded".
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11555774November 18, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
While driving 70 mph on the highway with my three children in the car, my engine suddenly and without warning, shut off. I had to coast over to the shoulder and wait for help. The dash displayed the warning "service charging system" and would not let me put the car in drive. I was VERY lucky that there weren't any cars around me when my acceleration suddenly stopped so I was able to get over on the highway. The car stalled in an unsafe place and left my children and me at risk of being hit from behind while waiting for help. I got the car to the dealer and they have informed me that this was caused by total transmission failure. This was a HIGHLY unsafe situation and it could have ended much worse for my family, and those in vehicles around us!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0