10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,376 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

Get free help with your lemon!
close ad
problem #29

Jun 282022

Pacifica

  • miles
The transmission shifts hard when traveling around 14 mph then will jerk (like being rear ended), slows down then accelerates on its own. I'm afraid it will cause an accident. Chrysler said it is supposed to work like that and nothing is wrong with it. I have had 3 diagnostic tests done it and it shows nothing is wrong.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #28

Nov 112022

Pacifica

  • miles
On three recent, separate occasions, the vehicle has lost acceleration while making a left hand turn from a stop (date listed for this incident is most recent). No visual or aural warning indications have displayed on the dash during or proximate to these incidents, but the car felt like it went out of gear while making a normal left turn. Pushing or releasing the throttle only affected engine RPM, not any acceleration, so it felt like we were only coasting. It lasts longer than a normal shift, more than a few seconds, before power is sent to the wheels again. On two of the occasions there was oncoming traffic approaching the intersection. If the power had died any sooner in the turn I'm not sure I would have cleared the intersection in time with what little speed I had gained, increasing the risk of collision. I am taking the car to the local Chrysler dealership tomorrow for inspection and hopeful diagnosis/repair. I can't replicate the issue on demand, but after 3 separate occasions, it is an unmistakable feeling. Based on the clunky, jerking shifting into gear that sometimes occurs with the vehicle outside the above-described incidents, I believe it might be transmission related, but I can't be sure.

- Batavia, IL, USA

problem #27

Sep 122022

Pacifica

  • miles
Sept. 12, 2022 - Ever since we have owned this vehicle, we have experienced this issue with the cruise control. Speed increases while driving downhill highways and sometimes on pretty level highways. When I decrease the speed on the controller, it sometimes maintains the speed for several seconds (slow to respond) in order to slow down while coming up behind another vehicle. I therefore need to break or turn off the cruise control. Very unpredictable. Also, speed changes a lot which sounds like shifting gears back and forth while going uphill. I had contacted the dealer originally and was told this is normal. This is ongoing. Happens every time when driving on the highway. Safety concern. The other issue we had experienced while driving on a city street, we got some odd sounds, what sounded like it was coming for the transmission. Like shifting sounds. and on another couple of occasions, we got a kind of (clunk) noise. Not sure-€¦hard to explain. Only happened a few times over the last several months. and was brief. This in not ongoing, but a concern for failure and or safety. No warning lamps or messages

- Eureka, CA, USA

problem #26

Feb 082022

Pacifica

  • miles
Vehicle randomly loses all steering power and van completely shuts off while in motion. Has happened twice now without warning. Won't start up til vehicle is in park and has stalled for a minute.. Could be potentially very dangerous on a highway or busy intersection. I have owned this vehicle for less than 1 year. According to consumerreport.org certain pacificas years 2017-2019 had this same issue back in 2019 and approximately 150,000 were recalled at the time. However, currently there is no open recall active. Reference NHTSA campaign number:19V348 Reference FCA recall number:V53

- Brook Park, MN, USA

problem #25

Jul 312021

Pacifica

  • miles
Picked up Vehicle from Bayside Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Annapolis after we were told the problems were addressed. After driving about 50 miles home parking than driving the Van again about 5 miles, In the center lane of the road driving about 45 mph the van said "Shift to P to start". The van wouldn't accelerate forcing my wife to drift to the shoulder of the road. The van was turned off and attempted to turn back on, but the Van would not turn completely on to drive. After about five minutes the van was able to be restarted and turned on. The check engine light came on, the van was driven to Auto zone to have the check engine light read. "Power Train System - P0BFD" & " Secondary DTC".

- Derwood, MD, USA

problem #24

Jun 152021

Pacifica

  • miles
The first thing I would like to address is the shutdown system eco feature has shutdown out of nowhere. An A indicator light is on dash, along with my check engine light. In addition, when I turn the vehicle on the RPM go sky high for about 45 seconds before it adjust to proper rpms. I also believe there are major electrical issue going on with the vehicle. My power doors, and rear door won-€™t open and the lights in the minivan flicker when the vehicle starts. I am worried this is my only family means for transportation. I have only had this vehicle for a little over a year.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #23

Jul 062021

Pacifica

  • miles
This is the third and fourth time we have had this issue with our van. The previous two times were on May 25, 2019 and June 4, 2021. In this incident, my wife was driving our van with our two kids and I down Northwest Highway in Arlington Heights, IL. We were going about 35 miles per hour when several alarms and warnings appeared on the driver-€™s dashboard including 'SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM', a red wrench with a red lightning bolt through it, the orange engine warning light, and red battery warning icon, and a message appeared saying 'SHIFT VEHICLE TO PARK'. (See attached photos.) When my wife pressed the accelerator pedal nothing happened. We were able to coast and turn down a side street. We put the vehicle in park, turned it off and we-€™re able to restart it. We immediately notified the dealership and drove it there. On the way to the dealership, we made a stop. When in a parking lot, my wife pressed the accelerator to drive and the same issue happened with the same warning lights and alarms. Once again, we shifted to park, turned the vehicle off and we-€™re able to restart it. We drove straight to the dealership, informed them of the repeated issue and left the van with them. The dealership indicated there were over twenty software updates. We were told the exact same thing on June 4th the last time this happened. They have not yet been able to tell us why this has happened or continues to happen. The problem has not been reproduced by the dealership but this is the third time this has happened. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer.

- Palatine, IL, USA

problem #22

Jun 042021

Pacifica

  • miles
This is the second time we have had this issue with our van. The first time was May 25, 2019. On June 4, 2021, my wife was driving down the highway with our two kids and as she began to exit toward the off ramp, several alarms and warning appeared on the driver-€™s dashboard including 'SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM', a red wrench with a lightning bolt through it, the orange engine warning light, and a message appeared saying 'SHIFT VEHICLE TO PARK'. The van stalled and when my wife pressed the accelerator, nothing happened. She was able to coast down the exit ramp and pull over to the shoulder. The van was out in park, shut off and we were able to restart it. The orange engine warning light remained on. We immediately drove to the dealership. They ran a diagnostic test and said no issues came up but there were twenty some software updates. The issue has not been reproduced by the dealer but we have had it happen two times. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer.

- Palatine, IL, USA

problem #21

Aug 012019

Pacifica

  • 10,000 miles
We bought the Chrysler van new in 2018. One year (~10,000 miles) later, the van developed rough upshifting. It does not happen every time but it occasionally bangs into gear very violently under slow acceleration at 30 - 35 mph. We took the van to Chrysler mechanics but they could not reproduce the rough shift so they would not do anything about it. Every time it happens, it scares me to death. It feels like a sledgehammer hit the van!

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #20

Mar 042018

Pacifica

  • 1,600 miles
This vehicle with unsafe deadly driving conditions began as a new vehicle at around 1300 miles. Acceleration of Chrysler Pacifica while driving at 55 to 75 miles per hour with the engine of vehicle does not slow down but stays stuck and does not slow down and remains at a high rate of speed. Documented over 350 incidents of this subject Pacifica for 3 years. Often, I could not stop the engine from racing at its highest rate of speed while on freeways and other roads. This vehicles engine does not slow down and begin forced pumping of brakes making the vehicle rise in height and.. II could not stop this Pacifica engine from shutdown racing engine until I place the shift mechanism in neutral to slow it down and keep in from crashing into a forward vehcile object. The engine gets stuck in its former highest rate of speed for 30 to 45 seconds.on a good number of occasions I have taken this subject vehicle to ray lathem dealership in detroit, Michigan. The dealership put thousands of miles on my leased vehicle and stated they did not know what the safety stuck acceleration problem was. Chrysler would not acknowledge any safety acceleration problems and I had my vehicle tested by software engineers and they advised me that the aforementioned Chrysler Pacifica has defective ut modules, powertrain control PCM reprogram module powertrain control. This Pacifica engine continued to stick causing the engine to race a its former highest rate of spped of 55 or 70 miles per hour. During winter weather like rain, snow or ice this vehicle would turn sideways while getting off the freeway service drive. While this is my 4th Chrysler mini van I have placed my family children at high risk of being injured in a car accident. I have written the president of Chrysler and all this stress this cost me over 9,500 additional mileage penalties of.28 cents per mile...

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #19

Feb 042021

Pacifica

  • 31,014 miles
I was driving straight at 40mph. The engine turned off, but electrical maintained. After a couple hundred feet the engine came back on. Without pushing on the gas the engine accelerated the car over a short distance, break was inputted and full control was restored to the physical. We took the vehicle to the dealer, but nothing was done as they couldn't replicate the issue. This vehicle has had numerous electrical issues.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #18

Jan 022021

Pacifica

  • miles
Had a wheel alignment it still pulling to the side.I do think it the control arm lower arm, train axle assembly axle shaft. Radio doesn't work correct or with bluetooth. If I get a call it won't go back to playing the radio or bluetooth. Need to turn off car for awhile and start again! back camera sometimes blackout.

- Cuero, TX, USA

problem #17

Nov 062020

Pacifica

  • 29,000 miles
My 2018 Chrysler Pacifica continues to stall while the car is in motion on the street. The last two occurrences happened when the car was moving at 25mph or higher with my foot on the gas pedal. This problem occurred prior to the fca V53 recall being issued, and has persisted even after taking the car in to be fixed under the recall. It seems to happen most often in the first 15 minutes of operating the car, and especially if I have gone above 30 miles an hour and then decelerate (like approaching a light). The car will lurch, shut off, all the indicator lights will come on, and then 'start/stop required' will appear on the dashboard. The car always shuts off while in the "drive" position. Sometimes I am able to remedy the stalling quickly, and sometimes it takes more than three tries. One or more functions of the vehicle is always "unavailable" after this occurs. The sudden stopping has always been terrifying and unexpected. On the last two occasions (within a week of one another), I have come very close to being rear-ended with three babies in the back seat of my car. I have tried reaching out to Chrysler customer service to no avail. The reps have stated that I must return the car to the dealership where the V53 recall was performed but that dealership has gone out of business and I am left without a remedy. I am also concerned that Chrysler is well aware of this problem persisting even after the recall and has not remedied the situation. I am terrified that a very bad accident will occur due to this problem that Chrysler continues to ignore.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #16

Nov 062020

Pacifica

  • miles
Number of incidents pertaining to stop and start system. My wife was driving our kids to the store when coming to a stop (stationary) the start and stop system cut off dead stopping (stationary) us resulting in almost getting into an accident. Second time we were coming home and stopped (motion to stationery) as normal and the system jerked and stopped would not re start, turning the van on and off van started again and the car behind us was traveling regular speed luckily swerved and missed up and this happened a few more time during the period from owing this vehicle till now. (less than a year) total of 6 or more times all the events that have happened the van was in motion coming to a stop then stationary at a stoplight.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #15

Sep 052020

Pacifica

  • 69,800 miles
On even minor declines, the van gains speed well past acceptable limits while cruise control is engaged. I have had to brake to disengage the cruise control when it passes 10 mph over the set speed. My 2011 Chrysler Town & Country did not have this problem, so not sure why a newer model vehicle does. It does not explicitly accelerate but it does not brake to maintain cruising speeds on even slightly graded downhill slopes. The longer the slope, the worse the effect.

- Etowah, TN, USA

problem #14

Feb 042020

Pacifica

  • 3,200 miles
While backing out of my driveway I applied power and the vehicle seemed to accelerate rapidly rearward...I stomped on the brake pedal with my left foot but the brake was unable to slow or stop the car. The car sped across 4 lanes of traffic backwards barely missing on coming cars and went about 150 to 200 feet down opposite traffic lanes backwards very fast. It finally stopped facing on coming traffic and they allowed me to slowly to come against them and turn into a driveway off the street. I narrowly missed other cars on the street as it was a high traffic period time of the day...about 5 pm. I've driven it about 3 to 5 miles a day since with no problems since then with much more care than usual. I don't know how fast it was going as I was trying to steer.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #13

Jul 172019

Pacifica

  • 28,000 miles
I purchased my vehicle 10/29/18 and its been a great vehicle til about July 2019. I have taken it to the dealership for them to fix a clicking noise in the front left side and everytime they change a bunch of parts but dont fix it. Now its a loud squeeking noise everytime I back out my driveway or pull off in drive. Ive taken 3 times and they cant figure out what it is. Ive have to rent a vehicle and the dealer also let me use a 2 door loaner knowing I have 4 kids. They keep saying bring it back Monday. Well thats only 1 problem. 3 times already when I put my car in reverse my backup camera comes on but dont go off when I put it in drive. So while im driving down the road my backup camera is on and is very distracting and dangerous. This past weekend my husband was driving while we were going somewhere, well we were in traffic on a very steep hill so he had to stop. When he went to step on the gas to go the car wouldnt go. It was like the car wasnt getting signal that the car was in drive. It was very scary. So many problems with this vehicle and the reason I purchase the 2018 Pacifica was because I heard it was a good car and dependable as I have 4 children that I have to get to and from school, doctors and sports. I really hope someone there at Chrysler can help me out.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #12

Aug 112019

Pacifica

  • 40,500 miles
I've had it happen twice now where the cruise control was set to around 64 mph, and when going downhill, the transmission down shifted. However, the car then accelerated beyond 70 mph both times, and didn't let go of the accelerator until I turned the cruise control off.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #11

Jul 182019

Pacifica

  • miles
Car stops and sometimes it doesn't turn

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #10

Jan 282019

Pacifica

  • 25,000 miles
While using the park assist feature to park perpendicular my van started to backup too fast and backed me into a parked car prior to being able to hit the brakes in time. It resulted in damages to both my van and the parked car that it was attempting to park me next to.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

Read the next 9 complaints »