10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,900 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #189

Jul 162023

Pacifica

  • miles
P0303 code. Ended up being a blown head gasket and required entire engine replacement from damage caused. Refused warranty as it was brought into dealership in Aug 5 2023 but warranty ended July 25 2023. All maintenance had been performed

- Saint James, MO, USA

problem #188

Aug 082023

Pacifica

  • miles
Van just unexpected shutdown no warming light nothing ! This is a handicap van rear entrance !!! On Tuesday August 8 2023, Daughter and handicapped granddaughter riding in van it just stopped she had to coast in the middle turn lanes until help arrived Did get daughter out in wheelchair push across 3 lanes traffic to safe very hot that day... On the NHTSA says as of January 17,2023 compaints on 2018 Chrysler Pacifica With inspected engine shutdown..

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #187

Aug 142023

Pacifica

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact stated that she shifted to park(P) and turned off the vehicle and the vehicle failed to restart. A local mechanic met the contact at the scene and assisted in restarting the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer several times; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure started to occur after the head gasket was replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist because the dealer had not performed a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Michie, TN, USA

problem #186

Jul 202023

Pacifica

  • miles
Cylinder 3 misfire, combustion gases in coolant, coolant consumption but no leak, probable failed head gasket

- Saint James, MO, USA

problem #185

Aug 082023

Pacifica

  • miles
A blown head gasket (and possibly warped head) were causing a cylinder 3 misfire. The vehicle has only 70,000 miles and has had regular maintenance performed. It appears the motor design is faulty, likely causing a build up of heat in the engine compartment or internal to the motor resulting in blown head gaskets. This is apparently a common problem and Chrysler should develop a solution to handle the issue.

- Savage, MN, USA

problem #184

Jul 262023

Pacifica

  • miles
Cylinder head inside the engine has a Crack with antifreeze leaking into the engine. I had been driving the car prior to being able to make an appointment at the dealership. Luckily there was not a crash due to this.

- Batavia, IL, USA

problem #183

Jul 232023

Pacifica

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke came from underneath the hood; however, the contact turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for the smoke to settle before restarting the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle for a short distance, and then the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed due to extensive melted engine parts. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #182

Jul 232023

Pacifica

  • miles
The engine is failing due to poor design and parts. Coolant has leaked into the motor causing a misfire and likely a ruined engine. With this damage, the engine can stop at anytime risking all occupants especially if driving at higher speeds. This is a minivan intended to safely transport families. It has not been to the shop yet. There was first a fuel pressure sensor check engine code and then after that was fixed we scanned the stats few weeks later and now there is a misfire. This is all a far too common issue for Chrysler Pacifica with the 3.6 L Pentastar motor.

- Holland, MI, USA

problem #181

Jul 182023

Pacifica

  • miles
Currently have 62,254 miles on my car and the head gasket is now faulty requiring a repair that-??s almost $4,000. Check engine light came on prompting it to be looked at and head gasket was root cause. Appears to be a very common issue with Pacifica-??s but no service bulletins or recalls associated with this issue yet.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #180

Jul 152023

Pacifica

  • miles
My car won't start it says that the engine or accessory is on when it isn't. I had this same problem last year during covid so I replaced both the batteries last year. Now it's doing it again. This time how ever the light is flickering on the drivers side. The doors when I first got it and sometimes says still that there not enough power to operate sliding doors.

- Bronson, KS, USA

problem #179

Jul 022023

Pacifica

  • miles
- The car still has open recall Z11 ( RU PHEV hybrid traction battery fire). - The car had open recall XE1 RU PHEV transmission open. - The car became stranded refusing to put the transmission into gear. - Had to tow the car to the dealership. The dealer stated the traction battery fuse was blown. The dealer could not pinpoint the root cause of the issue, nor did chrysler have parts readily available to fix. The car still shows there's an open short. - The dealer could not complete diagnosis because of the Z11 recall. They stated that the traction battery can not complete self check procedure. - Chrysler is unresponsive in following up on the issue.

- Fort Lee, NJ, USA

problem #178

Nov 122022

Pacifica

  • miles
In November 2022, roughly 2 weeks before Thanksgiving our 2018 pacifica showed an engine code on the way home, it read to be a misfire. We were already enroute and near home so we cotinued driving. The low coolant light came on briefly as we were pulling into the driveway and the engine became hot. When I looked under hood I could hear a gurgling noise and noted th coolant resovoir to be empty. The next morning I added coolant and used a Gasket leak detection kit to confirm a blown head gasket. Vehicle was dropped off on a Monday and was in the shop for nearly a month waiting on parts. We were very fortunate to be so close to home. Failure occured under warranty but upon research found that the issue was fairly common among vehicles with this engine, some failures as low as 40k on the engine.

- Saint Leonard, Md 20685, MD, USA

problem #177

Jun 052023

Pacifica

  • miles
Got a check engine light for misfire cylinder 4. Take it to a dealer and told its blown a head gasket at 76k miles. They act like this has never happened. Start reading all the forums and it-??s a widely known issue that the manufacturer won-??t correct. Could have an accident or catastrophic failure caused by their negligence.

- Wentzville, MO, USA

problem #176

May 222023

Pacifica

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle Certified Used from a Chrysler dealership 2/2020 and it did well until about 1 month ago. The motor was running "rough'' and sometimes losing power. Diagnostic code P0303 came up and I am told by our mechanic that the 3rd cylinder is ''blown''. Most likely due to dropped valve guide and / or warped head. When I began to look up reasons for this problem online, MANY problems just like this for the 3.6L V6 Pentastar motor. I was told not to drive it any more than I absolutely have to as it could / will lose power without warning. I don't know if this has been confirmed by dealer or ISC but it is on many forums and subject to class action lawsuit. There has been no other inspection besides my local mechanic. Engine light did come on when problem first began about 1 month ago.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #175

Jun 012023

Pacifica

  • miles
Rough idle when starting cold. Cylinder 3 misfire. Loss of coolant. Jolt when accelerating.

- West Nyack , NY, USA

problem #174

May 292023

Pacifica

  • miles
Engine noise and rattling as well as coolant levels dropping dramatically. Mechanic advised head gasket repair and upon further inspection a NEW ENGINE on a 2018 vehicle. With more research, I see this has affected other Pacifica owners.

- Willow Spring, NC, USA

problem #173

May 012023

Pacifica

  • miles
Pacifica 2018 Model. The engine light started coming on. The car started shaking strongly at start but gets normal after some minutes. Took it to dealership. Dealership said same problem you are discussing. Coolant was gone. Head gasket gone. The cylinder 5 misfiring. The engine needs to be replaced. This problem is affecting just too many owners. Request Chrysler to acknowledge that it is a problem.

- Grayson , GA, USA

problem #172

Apr 302023

Pacifica

  • miles
Head Gasket Failure

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #171

May 012023

Pacifica

  • miles
Check engine light came on. Came back with a misfire in the 5th cyslinder. confirmed by the dealer and the head gasket replaced. issue remains

- Mokena, IL, USA

problem #170

May 172023

Pacifica

  • miles
Warped cylinder head (right side) causing cylinder misfires and loss of power; loss of coolant. Engine could have hydrolocked while driving. Check engine/P0303 code shown 17May2023 Dealer inspected 18May2023 and found warped cylinder head. Engine: 3.6L V6 24V VVT Engine with ESS; engine origin Mexico. 2018 vehicle with 69,000 miles odometer.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

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