10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 8 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 21,001 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I purchased my 2017 in 2023. Within a few months, problems began. When we brought the van back to the Chrysler dealer to have it checked with their OBD2 code reader, multiple codes pulled up-?? First thing -??needing-?? to be replaced was the hood sensor because the display said the hood was open (even though I was simply stopped at a red light). The auto start/stop light was also coming on and staying on. The dealer said that would go away after replacing the sensor. That repair was done (I believe) in April of 2024 at the Chrysler dealer (and the auto start/stop light came back on a week later, both batteries testing fine independently of one another). Next thing -??needing-?? to be replaced was the accelerator pedal module because my van would start shaking, not accelerate, and go into (what I now know is) limp mode with all warning lights displaying on almost every right hand turn. This absolutely puts my safety and the safety of my four children at risk when it suddenly decides to not accelerate!! That repair was done in June 2024 at the Chrysler dealer. Next thing to happen is the check engine light illuminating. We checked the coolant and it was almost empty! This should NOT be happening! We filled with coolant, but have to do this every few days now. The check engine light has come back on and is still producing many codes, the worst of which is p0303. This code has pulled up every single time we-??ve had the van scanned at the dealer. The dealer has had my vehicle on MULTIPLE occasions for MULTIPLE days each time and NEVER ONCE told me the severity of this problem. Their words: We just go down the list, starting at the top. P0303 was not at the top, and now I have to pay the price for their incompetency! My van would not start and had to be towed to the dealer yesterday, 7.17.2024. I-??m waiting to hear from them, but I can guarantee this is a head gasket/engine failure issue. Who can afford to just replace an engine?! This is infuriating and beyond frustrating!!
- Palm Coast, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the transmission position indicator started blinking while in drive(D), after which the vehicle lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 40 MPH. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle however, the failed to restart. The contact stated that the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not yet to diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
- Inkster, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that on the second attempt to start the vehicle, the brake pedal was stuck on the floorboard and failed to return to its normal position. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be jumpstarted. An independent mechanic was contacted and advised the contact to depress the brake pedal harder to start the vehicle. The contact stated that a friend assisted in depressing the brake pedal harder, and the vehicle started; however, the windshield wipers engaged independently, Additionally, the steering wheel made an abnormal sound and became difficult to turn. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle on another occasion, the rotary gear shift dial lights failed to illuminate, and the message "Service Shifter" was displayed. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V348000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,270.
- Rockport, TX, USA
Cylinder head damage at 101,000 miles. Valve guides and seals degraded to where it misfires. Problem confirmed via code scanner and leak-down test with a local mechanic.
- Bowling Green, KY, USA
I was pulling into a parking lot and had my foot on the gas. The gas pedal suddenly stopped allowing me to accelerate. The dashboard read "place car in park" I lost power of the vehicle. I was able to pull safely into a parking space and then I put the van in park and turned it off. I started it up and it started without issue. This was a very scary situation as I almost hit a shopping cart where I was forced to pull in as I had no power and was coasting in a parking lot full of cars.
- Land O Lakes, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate, and the transmission experienced hard shifting. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine misfired. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission was faulty and engine coolant was present inside cylinders number 1,3 and 5. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, the driver-??s and passenger-??s side sliding doors malfunctioned and erroneously opened after being closed. The doors were reprogrammed, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that after a cold start the brake pedal extended to the floor. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.
- Westmont, IL, USA
Blown head gasket at 64000 miles. Leaking coolant into the cylinders. Mechanic says the gasket has been repaired before.
- El Cajon, CA, USA
Multiple events (over 5) have occured from December 2023 thru March 2024 involving the transmission clunk/jerk/bang with near total loss of speed when accelerating from a stop or low speed. Also several events with loss of acceleration (no reponse from the gas pedel). This happened with me turning left at a light and trying to clear an intersection. Van is available for inspection. Safety was put at risk by van stopping in moving traffic, and with being nearly rear ended several times. Also nearly being hit head on by not being able to complete the left hand turn thru the interesction timely. Vehicle has not been inspected by any dealer or law enforcement. There have never been any warning light given during these events. Dealer said by phone that without warning lights they would have nothing to trace the problem with. I have listed only the last event time below in Additional Details.
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
44110 miles. NO leaks, oil change every 2500 miles, all fluids are full and well maintained. Hard shift sometimes while in drive and accelerating. Engine light just came on yesterday with wife and 4 kids in vehicle, then engine light flashing. Pacifica felt sluggish and engine was rough. This happened driving on busy FREEWAY! Quickly pulled over at off ramp. Called tow and Mechanic neighbor pulled trouble code from ODB port using scanner P0306 which is engine misfire in cylinder 6. Car runs like crap and is unsafe to drive. Now need to tow to dealer for very expensive repair, just outside of 5 year warranty.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
I purchased this Chrysler Pacifica from advantage auto sales in new Kensington pa. Making payments obviously but I have had nothing but issues since we got it. Now it-??s up at #1 Cochran and they did a exam and they sent me a video and the transmission is bad, (which when I got the vehicle I been saying something is wrong with the transmission, took it to the garage they kept telling me to take to for now 3rd gear to be grinded out. Head gaskets went in it as well they kept it for over 2 months to not even put parts back together properly, axle is bad. Leaking oil somewhere where still, this fan flapper thingy in the front is bad and been since day 1 there is a bad sensor on it which they told me they fixed and clearly didn-??t. I have had nothing but issues on this vehicle since I got it. It sees more garages than it does outside. I have 4 kids. Making a lot of trips to doctor appointments and such.. so I need a vehicle, they don-??t care. I went to the dealer yesterday and they just told me to take it to another place to get the transmission rebuild or whatever but I feel that isn-??t going to fix it and I-??m just gonna have more issues in the long run. Can you guys help me at all ?! I need something done. My warrenty is up soon and they only cover 8,000 of the tranny and it-??s a 10,000 tranny.
- Arnold, PA, USA
Hard shifting when stopping or driving at speeds under 30 mph
- Castle Dale , UT, USA
every time I drive my Crystler, the transmission slams while pulling hills or even on a straight stretch the transmission you can feel it almost wind up and then slam into position and it's getting more consistent as I own the vehicle.
- Corning, CA, USA
After smelling a burning smell when driving, an independent service center diagnosed that the engine oil cooler had failed causing the engine oil and antifreeze coolant levels to drop low enough that continued driving could seize the engine. The sparkplugs were damaged and a head gasket could be required as well. If not for the burning smell, the van could have stopped suddenly in busy traffic on the highway with my kids inside. The vehicle can be inspected anytime. I have not yet contacted the manufacturer. No warning lights went on. The only indication was a burning smell that I first thought was the new rear brakes I had installed.
- Boulder, CO, USA
Engine loose power because coolant is entering the cylinders due to a defective head gasket. Failed at 110,000 miles. Need engine replacement $6000 for a used engine
- Schaumburg , IL, USA
The vehicle first malfunctioned 09/2022. All the signals on the dashboard came on including the wipers. Then the vehicle wouldn-??t accelerate and stopped while driving in the middle of the road. I got it towed to a Chrysler dealership and they had it for 4 four months and couldn-??t maintain power within the van. After 4 fours I received the van back and it was driving good. Recently, while out of town on 12/16/2023 the van began to run hot for the first time and I parked it. The next day it wouldn-??t start and I got it towed to a nearby shop on 12/18/23 and I was told it was my starter. I replaced the starter and the shop said it was something with my engine due to white smoke coming out the exhaust pipes. I got it towed again to a nearby Chrysler dealership on 12/19/23 and they confirmed after doing the diagnostic, the service shop said I needed a new engine because the coolant leaked into the cylinder heads blowing the gaskets. I asked what caused this issue and they stated overheating. The vehicle has never shown signs of overheating such as smoking or the gauges going up until that night which was a brief 5 minutes because I parked the van. I have researched and seen multiple cases like mine in both circumstances with this same kind of vehicle and not1 recall has been placed. I maintenance the vehicle as required and believe this is a manufacturing issue.
- Allen, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop sign the vehicle downshifted and idled abnormally high. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a second gear ratio failure, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
The car's lithium batteries caught fire to the point of smoldering. This happened at the end of the charge cycle. The car was parked in our garage and if the fire department did not come to help, the fire could have intensified and burned down our whole house. We are very thankful we caught it so quickly. No warnings or issues were apparent with the vehicle when it was parked and put on the charger.
- Kildeer, IL, USA
It got a check engine light for a cylinder 3 miss fire. It has been found to be caused by a faulty head and gasket by Jamie-??s Auto Service in Noblesville IN. This issue is also on many forums with tons of people suffering from this.
- Noblesville, IN, USA
Transmission appears to not know what gear to go into, or misses a gear shift altogether. Creating a period of higher rpms with no power to the wheels. This is a safety concern as it has happened when pulling out into travel lanes.
- Greensboro, NC, USA
- Tacoma, WA, USA