I found carcomplaints.com through an Internet search today in an effort to see if others are having similar problems with the Chrysler UConnect system as I am having.

I discovered David A. Wood's 7/19/2020 article "Chrysler UConnect Lawsuit Says Systems Malfunction" on the carcomplaints.com and can now confirm my UConnect trouble is not special in any way.

For data gathering purposes and comic relief, I am without a functioning vehicle for going on 34 days. The vehicle, a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica, is still covered under the original manufacturer's warranty.

Mid June 2020, I left the vehicle at my local service center because the UConnect navigation system could not identify the vehicle's location successfully.

By early July 2020, the service center could still not provide an ETA for when the repair would be complete because Chrysler could not/would not report when it would ship the necessary replacement part(s). Because I had a trip planned, I retrieved my vehicle in early July minus the failed "radio", which is apparently much more to a Pacifica than a place to go for traffic and weather. The vehicle was operable when I first brought it in for service. By the time I was ready to collect the not-repaired-but-waiting-with-no-radio vehicle in early July, the battery had stopped working. The service center replaced the battery for me but noted that I would receive a "low charge" warning that was related to the battery replacement and was "normal".

Two days later, the new battery was so dead the tow truck driver had to drive the vehicle with the hood up and the portable charger attached, just to get the vehicle on to the back of his flatbed truck so he could return it to the service center. Prior to its June vacation at the service center, I had not observed any trouble with the battery holding a charge.

The vehicle remains from early July until anybody's guess at the service center. Communication with the service center is not productive, though everyone is very pleasant. (And the service center representative did help me get a loaner vehicle for my trip with a pretty low co-pay.) My understanding, no one knows when Chrysler will send the replacement part (does a replacement part exist?), and the vehicle is inoperable without the replacement part.

David A. Wood's 7/19/2020 article described a class action lawsuit against Chrysler involving others with 2017-2019 model Pacificas and 300s with troubled UConnect navigation systems. I am interested in learning more about this litigation effort.

Thank you.

Update from Aug 19, 2020: Update, 8/19/2020

In the context of pandemic, massive unemployment/underemployment, insufficient supply of affordable housing, systemic racism, brazen authoritarianism at every level of government, rolling blackouts, and now numerous raging wildfires, my concerns with the failed Uconnect system on the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica should be considered nostalgia, as in "Remember when the navigation system on the van stopped working and we took it in for service and then we never saw the van again."

In another era--say 2019--the retelling might raise an eyebrow. Today, well, welcome to 2020. Please consider this report "an observation", no longer a complaint.

Good news. Chrysler has connected me with a conscientious Uconnect case manager. She checks in regularly. Very nice. The Service Department reception team are patient and cheerful when I call. Also very nice.

I am told the replacement part has arrived at the Service Department, though I have no independent verification that "the part is in the house" (or in the van).

Day 64, no van.

"Goodwill is the one and only asset that competition cannot undersell or destroy." ~ Ludwig Börne

Update from Aug 20, 2020: Update, 8/20/2020

Day 65, the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has a new/replaced radio/control panel and a second new battery. The original 3-year/36 mile warranty covered the new radio and replacement of the 2 batteries that were drained by the previous bad radio.

The vehicle is back home. So far, so good.

Two wonky situations with Uconnect Theater:

1. The screen displays the backup camera while driving forward under 16/17 MPH then switches to the blue "X" screen of death above 16/17 MPH. It will flip back and forth depending on the speed driven. The touchscreen is unusable in this condition. Nothing seems to fixes the issue except stopping/turning off the van. No pattern as to why this situation occurs.

2. If a DVD/bluray is playing in the van while parked then the van is started while the movie continues to play, shortly thereafter, the head-unit displays the blue "X" screen of death. Nothing seems to fixes the issue except stopping/turning off the van.

It feels like it's a software issue that can be fixed with an bug fix update. Asked about this with two different dealers and they both give the same shoulder shrug.