10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 14 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 18,841 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
We have a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica tourling L-plus that had a recent software update, all recalls have been completed. The van fully stalled while accelerated in the highway between 30-40 miles per hour, for about 5 seconds before re-engaging into gear. It did not feel like it was in between gears when it stalled- as far as we could tell, the engine still had power but temporarily stopped accelerating.
- Temple, TX, USA
I have experienced repeated and worsening problems with my Pacifica shifting very roughly and multiple speeds, to the point where the car jerks and acceleration stalls. I have taken the car in multiple times to the factory dealer and they said the computer is not capturing any error codes, and they can't replicate the issue. This car has had multiple issues starting the day I bought it, and I think the car is just a lemon...would never buy another Chrysler product again! updated 10/18/18
- Celebration, FL, USA
While on cruise control going down some hills the vehicle accelerates to downshift and then slowly comes back down and then jerks into set cruise speed. Have had it where I could not turn the cruise off when the button was pressed. It can be scary, it should not accelerate to slow down. Took it to the dealer but they said there was no fix unless enough people complained about it to Chrysler. Just bought the vehicle and it has been doing it from day one.
- Desoto, MO, USA
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica touring plus with all the latest known software recalls up to date as of 8/22/2018 experienced a full stall while under wide open throttle and attempting to enter a highway on ramp. The stall seemed like a transmission lag, shifting delay or lack of response. The engine from 0-20 mph had plenty of power (RPM's); then when switching gears it seems the power was cut for a full 3-5 seconds while the transmission made a shift and only after letting off the accelerator (even though there were 0 rpms) did it finally kick into motion again and pull out of the stall. The systems auto stop was disabled via the override button on the dashboard when this occurred and the gas tank was 40% full.
- Austin, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V332000 (electrical system, vehicle speed control). The vehicle was repaired by griffin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (961 E U.S. hwy 74, hamlet, nc 28345, 910-582-1200). However, when the cruise control was set at 58 mph, the vehicle accelerated to 70 mph without warning. The contact depressed the brake pedal to disengage the cruise control. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the technician was able to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the cruise control operated properly on an incline. The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
- Peachland, NC, USA
The cruise control is not maintaining a fixed speed on downhills and that causes the vehicle to highly accelerate to a deficit speed of around 20 mph more than the fixed speed selected. This could lead to deadly accidents and need to be fixed as soon as possible by a tag of safety alert. This is happening to me since I purchased the car and I went to dealership to tell them about it, but they didn't like to listen and/or to escalate the issue to manufacturer. NHTSA is my last resort to report this.
- Perris, CA, USA
While pulling up to garage vehicle unexpectedly accelerated causing vehicle to hit the brick wall between my two garages causing $2500 worth of damage.
- White Plains, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact received recall notifications for NHTSA campaign numbers: 17V542000 (seat belts), 18V049000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling), 18V395000 (electrical system, equipment), and 18V332000 (electrical system, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. The dealer (bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge, 21219 northern boulevard, bayside, New York, 11361) confirmed that parts were not available to perform the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 10/19/18
- Huntington Station, NY, USA
Issue 1: adaptive cruise control many times unintentionally accelerates even if it is very clear the front vehicle is slowing down calmly or even stopping; until it is too close the car itself activates emergency auto braking but for a second acceleration being still on before it deactivates (usually acc does this calmly and safely). In some cases I had to do emergency braking since it misses the detection of car infront of you; it will be also very hard to do at a time if car just starts to do very high acceleration. Second issue is that a stationary vehicle is detected or not detected with 50/50 success. Third issue is autobraking, as seen in issue 1, even in normal driving there is no guarantee it will brake; I had several incidents to have emergency brake myself. Fourth issue: When car stops at a certain angle downhill wheels partially turned right. Then immediately if tries to join a main road to the right, but slightly uphill, the car stalls for a 3-5 sec, before it accelerates. This makes it unsafe if there is heavy traffic and joining the road. The dates are multiple so I will put the last incident date here.
- Fremont, CA, USA
2017 Chrysler Pacifica. Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration resulting in more than $4,000 in repairs. The consumer stated the manufacturer was notified, but could not duplicate the failures.
- Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Three separate but related incidents: (1) when driving down a neighborhood street at under 30 mph the van suddenly lost the ability to go forward. Pushing the gas pedal to the floor resulted in nothing. Since the van was going uphill, it began to decelerate at a slow pace. After a few seconds, the van regained the ability to move forward normally. (2) the van was stopped waiting to turn left. Upon pressing the gas forward and moving out into traffic, the van lost it's ability to move forward about halfway through the turn. In addition, a "thud" could be felt that felt like the van had been hit from behind. However, nothing hit the van. The loss of acceleration exposed to oncoming traffic. In 3 to 5 seconds, the van regained normal ability. (3) when driving down a busy street in traffic at around 20mph, the van lost the ability to move forward and a "thud" was felt as if the van had been hit. Again, it hadn't been hit. After 3-5 seconds, the van regained the ability to drive forward. Our suspicion of the cause has been the transmission. This is due to the "thud" feeling and the loss of moving forward. However, on two separate trips to the dealer, the cause has been diagnosed as "ABS module in plant mode". the ABS module has been replaced but it does not fix the problem. It does not feel like the van is trying to brake on its own as the deceleration in speed is extremely gradual. Rather, it feels like a loss of ability to propel/accelerate forward. The van is extremely unsafe to drive as you never know when you will lose the ability to move forward (and thus out of harm's way). These three incidents have occured in less than 150 miles of driving over the past 3 weeks ending 5/30/2018.
- Franklin, TN, USA
We have had this van for a year and it's only got 6800 miles on it. During the last few months I have noted while using the cruise control that it will accelerate from the set point without being reset and it does it as if I had set it much higher. It shifts down and accelerates moderately hard. I note the current recall that the cc cannot be canceled and I can cancel this unwarranted acceleration without a problem. I will also take the van in for the current recall, just in case. This acceleration problem just came up in the last couple of months and has happened a total of about 4 times now.
- Prescott Valley, AZ, USA
The van accelerated on me cause a crash in my garage. I was pulling into the garage and all of a sudden the van took off by itself and crashed into the the bench that supports the hot water heater for the house.
- Newnan, GA, USA
At a stop light in the turn lane I lifted my foot off the brake to drive as the light turned green. I hit the gas and nothing happened. I looked and the screen said to put the car in park. I put the car in park and then the screen said that I needed to stop/start restart the car. I turned the car off and tried turning it back on. There was a clicking noise, the engine would not start but everything else powered back on. I did this a couple of times and every time I tried starting the car there was just clicking and it would not start. I turned the car off again, opened the car door so that everything would power off. I then closed the door and it started back up.
- Minooka, IL, USA
While idling at a light and pressing pedal to go. My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica failed. Lights started. Flashing in dust cycling through check ABS, check tire pressure, etc... car was in drive and was rolling backwards with breaks and steering not working. This resulted in an accident rolling into the vechical behind us. The nice individual the we crashed into was able to catch the failure on his dash cam. We have brought in the van on other occasions to have it looked at for transmission wanting to launch forward when going from idle. They still can not figure it out and told use no record in service reports with other having any problems. After a 10 second search we found others have had similar problems with same make and model. These. Can be found on consumers reports. With. Out a guarantee the breaks and steering will not go out again I do not want the car back. I. just. Want my money back. The sell this thing as a safe family vehicle, but loosing breaks and steering is not what I want my family in. They still can not figure out way it happens.
- Plainfield, IL, USA
Engine shuts off and prompts to put car into park to restart while driving
- West Point, NY, USA
The option to stop engine at a light or stop sign does not work at least 1/2 of the time. The engine revs up and wants to push us into traffic.
- Olney, IL, USA
On Thursday Feb. 15, 2018 in harlingen, tx I entered the expressway then planned to immediately get off as this bypasses a twisty frontage road. When we (my wife and another couple) got to the top of the ramp and on the exit lane, we could see that down the expressway there was an accident and all three lanes were filled with stopped traffic. As we approached the exit, the car suddenly started to accelerate at a rapid rate. I applied the brake and it would not work. I tried several times to try to stop the car, but couldn't. it continued to rapidly accelerate. We went from 20 mph to very fast in a matter of feet. We had nowhere to go. We hit a tan car on the left back side which in turn flipped our car. It rolled several times then came to a stop on its left side up against the cement barrier. The car filled with a toxic smoke. It turned out to be what was in the air bags. We could hear people outside trying to break the windshield to get us out, but it wouldn't break. Several men reached up and held the door open which was on top now. They reached in and pulled my wife out. She was ok. The men opened the back hatch and got the rest out that way. We were taken to the hospital by ambulance. I refused treatment as I was fine. My wife was in a head brace as she said my neck was a bit sore. It turned out that she had a cervical strain and some bruising on her leg, arm and stomach. Our friend had some chest contusions, but was ok. His wife however, was in a lot of pain. Her stomach was swelling and she had bruising from the seat belt. She also had a compressed # L12 vertebrae. She was admitted and spent the night in the icu. The next day her husband said she was still in a lot of pain, but was out of the icu. She was released from the hospital wed. Feb. 21, 2018 to await placement in a rehab hospital.
- Harlingen, TX, USA
On long trips (generally greater than1 hour) the acc/fcw (adaptive cruise control/front collision warning system) system fails intermittantly (with or without the cruise actually being active) and the dash displays "acc/fcw unavailable service required". once having failed, the system cannot be reset while continuing to drive, but turning the engine off and restarting will reset it. Losing these system presents a safety hazard as the fcw is not only a warning system but can actually stop the car in an emergency setting. Losing the acc (adaptive cruise control) actually means losing all cruise control, which is not only annoying but can easily lead to exceeding speed limits and/or constantly checking the speedometer setting resulting in reduced driver situational awareness. The biggest problem is that the failure throws no codes that code readers at autozone or Chrysler can see and Chrysler service says there is no fix without a code. Inability to diagnose and fix this important enhanced safety system is a safety failure at Chrysler. Note that the failure has occurred in a variety of situations--day/night/sun/rain/cloud/snow/dirty/clean/fast/slow.
- Ithaca, NY, USA
- Temple, TX, USA