10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 10,409 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
Countless episodes when on slippery conditions and using regenerative braking, usually going down a hill trying to maintain speed with steady moderate break pedal pressure. When I encounter these slippery conditions the regenerative brakes rapidly decrease their force (or entirely loose braking) for about 1 second. If I am on a longer stretch of slippery conditions (packed snow, ice) then this repeats at about 1 second intervals. This has occurred at speeds ranging from 10-35 mph. If I press harder the ABS kicks in, because the occurs on steep hills, instead of maintaining speed or slowing down, the effect of gravity leads to an acceleration.
- Waterbury, VT, USA
My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica has begun shuttering at stops. The vehicle has just over 12,000 miles and is only 18 months old. I took it the dealership and was told that the pads are fine but the rotors are completely rusted and must be replaced. I was told the vehicle is no longer safe to drive long distances. Information published by Chrysler indicates that rotors should last 40,000 to 80,000 miles. This car has been kept in a garage the entire time I have owned it when it was not being driven. I think it is clear that the rotors were made of defective material. Although the dealership told me the car is no longer safe to drive long distances, yet I cannot afford to pay $1,000 out of pocket to have the rotors and pads replaced. I am reporting this so an investigation can be done into the materials Chrysler used to produce these rotors. A recall may need to be considered.
- Rochester, MI, USA
On numerous occasions the van has lost brake function. I can slowly be coming to a stop and press brakes all the way to the floor and I'm still coasting. Very scary. However today took the cake. I was leaving a steep driveway and it happened, I panicked and tried to apply the parking break but it did not help. Praise the lord a car wasnt coming bc I coasted right on into the road. We will likely have to get it in shop bc this is getting very dangerous and we have 4 kids in tow. Please recall this
- Philadelphia, TN, USA
As I was driving on a city street and applied the brakes the car suddenly stopped and completely shut off the engine and shut down. Unable to start the car after a few attempts it finally started again, went a few more feet and then completely shut down and the vehicle turned off again, in the middle of the road. The car began to smoke from the front and there was a strong smell of gas. A pedestrian came over and told me not to attempt to start the car again because there was gasoline leaking from the bottom of the car. I had my children in the car with me at the time and so we all had to hop out in a panic and I went inside a nearby coffee shop to call the police, insurance co and a towing service. As I mentioned the car was in the middle of the road, which was a danger to drivers passing by and to myself, all I could see was gasoline pouring out of the car. When the tow truck took the vehicle to a Chrysler dealership service, they informed me that the clamp from the fuel line somehow came off and this was "a one in a million chance of happening to anyone". they offered me no explanation as to why this occurred and offered me nothing to ease my worry of this happening again in the future. I would like to point out that we purchased this as a new vehicle and it was still under warranty. Nonetheless a concerning issue as this could have caused a fire or explosion with me and my 3 children in the van. Thank you for taking the time to read this, please see attachments fo the documentation from the dealership.
- Norfolk, VA, USA
I can step on the brake at a stop light and then the brakes push back at me and make a hissing sound as it happens. Then I try to push it back down and it won't allow me to and it starts to move. It has happened several times so every time is happens I just have to put the car in park until the light turns green.
- Miami, FL, USA
When driving and I press on the brakes there is a 'air ' sound and it does not brake right away. If I'm in a bit of a hill and I have the brakes pressed it will give out and start rolling back and I have to press it all the way in which makes an ugly sound and it stops after a bit. If I have to suddenly stop to not hit a child and I press on the brakes it will still go on for a while. I took it to get brakes checked and was told the brakes are good, almost new. I have four kids and this is extremely scary. I need help this has been going on for about 2 weeks. What could possibly be wrong?
- El Paso, TX, USA
The vehicle would not stop whenever I pressed the brake pedal. It felt hard and did not respond. Much like other complaints on this website, the pedal made a hissing sound whenever it came up. The power brake system is being looked at and is a common problem. A recall on this system clearly needs to occur before someone dies. Could not stop at stoplight without pumping brakes and could not stop in driveway without hitting my other vehicle entirely. Highly recommend a different vehicle until this system is recalled because of how often this occurs
- Azle, TX, USA
The power brake booster leaks, which causes the brakes to become inoperable. This despite the vehicle only being one year old. This defect has been discussed on numerous Chrysler Pacifica messaging boards and could present a serious danger to unknowing drivers. We experienced a brake failing while going approximately 40 miles per hour on a street. The brakes became extremely hard, forcing driver to put all her weight down to stop the vehicle. The vehicle is being repaired at a cost of $442, though the replacement part is on backorder and will not be received for three weeks after taking the car in for inspection.
- Pickerington, OH, USA
Purchased 2019 Chrysler Pacifica limited in July 2020 with just over 30,000 miles on it. Last week the master cylinder for the braking system started to act up. When sitting at a stop light/sign the brakes start to make a loud hissing sound and push back against my foot forcing me to push the peddle all the way to the floor with more force then should be needed. This causes the breaks to disengage and the van rolls. I am forced to put the van in park at stop lights so I will not roll into traffic or vehicles in front of me when I am supposed to be stopped. Sometimes I am on a decline or even just sitting on a straight away waiting at a stoplight/sign. This is a major safety issue as I have my kids in the vehicle 90% of the time. I am not the only person with this same issue that I have seen on the forums and NHTSA this needs to be addressed.
- Kennewick, WA, USA
Ever since I have had this car the brakes have been an issue. I can step on the brake at a stop light and then the brakes push back at me and make a hissing sound as it happens. Then I try to push it back down and it won't allow me to and it starts to move. It has happened several times so every time is happens I just have to put the car in park until the light turns green.
- Tacoma, WA, USA
The vehicle suffered from lack of brake power both at high speed and low speed. The brake pedal felt very hard (almost like it was at a hard stop) but did not go to the floor, the brake effectiveness seemed to be very low. At high speed the vehicle hardly seemed to slow, at low speed the vehicle rolled past a stop sign. Noticed a loud hissing noise from underneath the dash when pedal was pressed past a certain point. Took vehicle to dealer in fort collins - they told me the brake booster needed replacing. This was out of stock and rather surprisingly I was told I could drive the vehicle until the part arrived (expected in 7-10 days). I was very surprised that the vehicle would be released back to me with this defect. I declined saying I thought the fault was serious since it affected braking efficiency.
- Fort Collins, CO, USA
Tried stopping for a red light and brakes did not respond. I was in the right lane. Van seamed to speed up. Got into right turn lane and van slowed down but still not stopping. Hit car in front, luckily no damage to either vehicle.
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that on various occasions, the vehicle accelerated independently when the brake pedal was depressed. The failure occurred intermittently without warning. The brake pedal was disengaged and then re-engaged to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that an abnormal sound emitted from underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that several electrical features including the radio operated independently. The vehicle was taken to falls motor city (4100 state rd, cuyahoga falls, oh 44223) however, no additional assistance was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 900.
- Parma Heights, OH, USA
Master cylinder failed with approximately 4,300 miles on the car (purchased in April 2019, failed September 2019). Dealer reported it was a "known issue" but no service bulletin or recall has been issued. No brake warning light or code thrown. Only discovered because owner suspected concern with brakes.
- Alexandria, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. While driving various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to schumacher Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of delray (2102 federal hwy suite a, delray beach, fl 33483, (561) 935-4210) where it was diagnosed that the braking system needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 10,000.
- Delray Beach, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. While driving 73 mph, the "stop safely, the vehicle will shut off soon" warning message appeared. The contact parked the vehicle on the side of the road before the ignition turned off. The vehicle was unable to be driven and was towed to jimmy britt Chevrolet Buick GMC (located at 1011 town creek blvd, greensboro, ga 30642, (706) 453-2500) where it was diagnosed that the ABS control module and transmission needed to be replaced. There were also 113 error codes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 730.
- Richmond Hill, GA, USA
- East Stroudsburg , PA, USA