212 problems related to steering have been reported for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica based on all problems reported for the 2017 Pacifica.
The power steering will intermittently go out when traveling down the roadway and when making right and left hand turns. Once the power steering goes out there is an alert triggered and the alerts the driver the power steering assist is malfunctioning and the steering wheel is very difficult to control or turn and jerks the steering wheel. Also, the power steering will re-engage and return to normal function without warning and then go back out again.
The steering wheel sticks in a slight right and left turns (from about the 11:00 or 1:00 position) when I straighten out the wheel. It does it on highway on and exit ramps, during passing maneuvers and any slight right or left bends in the road. There are no unusual noises associated with this. During these gradual curves the wheel will not self-center to return to straight ahead. Extra force is required to force the steering to respond resulting in the car jerking right or left. This is unexpected and very scary when it first happens because I feel I've temporarily lost control of the steering. My passengers are alarmed as the car is jerked to the side at highway speeds wondering why I'm jerking the car so violently while performing a gradual turn or passing another vehicle. It seems to happen more on long drives (2 to 3 hours) and not so much on short drives. It almost feels temperature related as I don't notice this behavior on short drives around town but mostly at higher speeds on expressways. This has been occurring over the last several years but only noticeable on long road trips.
The steering system is malfunctioning and doesn't return to center naturally while driving at certain speeds and degrees of turns. It can be available for inspection if someone wants to look at it. When operating the vehicle on average between 30-50 miles per hour and making a slight left or slight right turn, the steering wheel gets locked into the turn position and doesn't return to center. Force has to be applied in order to return the vehicle's steering wheel to center and continue driving. No accidents have happened, but I it puts our safety at risk in turning and overcorrecting into another vehicle. No steering components appeared to be damaged when inspected by firestone and pepboys. Tires were showing normal wear and within alignment that didn't indicate another issue ongoing. There are no warning lights, symptoms and shown problems indicating something electrical. This does happen often and it's one incident.
Vehicle lost power, steering, and breaks on the george washington bridge in nyc causing it to roll into the back of another vehicle.
Intermittent power steering issues with steering wheel becoming “stuck” in one position. Also steering wheel gives resistance while turning at slow speeds, becoming jerky at times.
We've had to replace the engine. Twice and the electric power steering quit, working completely. And now they want five thousand dollars to replace it. When it's a known problem.
The vehicle is experiencing multiple serious mechanical failures affecting the brake system, powertrain, and steering/wheel components. The brake system produces a constant hissing sound and appears to have lost braking assist. When the brake pedal is depressed the vehicle continues to roll forward and requires excessive force to stop. The vehicle has rolled forward while braking at intersections, creating a significant safety hazard for both the driver and surrounding traffic. These symptoms were first reported on February 4, 2026. Shortly afterward the vehicle was inspected by a Chrysler dealership, which documented a brake vacuum leak in the braking system. Despite that inspection and documentation, the braking condition has continued to worsen and the vehicle no longer feels safe to operate. The braking performance is inconsistent and stopping distance appears to be increasing. In addition to the braking failure, the vehicle experiences powertrain issues including transmission hesitation, delayed shifting, and loss of power during acceleration and when driving uphill. The vehicle also has severe vibration and instability originating from the front driver-side wheel or steering area while driving, which affects vehicle stability and control. These combined mechanical failures involving braking, drivetrain operation, and steering/wheel stability create a serious safety risk during normal operation, particularly while braking in traffic or attempting to maintain control of the vehicle. The vehicle currently feels unsafe to operate due to these worsening conditions and unresolved mechanical defects.
After purchasing a used 2017 Chrysler Pacifica from massey Cadillac of orlando, a warning light appeared during the initial drive indicating a malfunction in the auto start/stop system (capital letter “a” inside a circle with an exclamation point). The system was disabled and indicated service was required. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Chrysler dealership, which confirmed that the auxiliary ess (engine stop/start) battery was missing, not failed. Installation of the auxiliary battery and associated mounting hardware was required, indicating the component was not present in the vehicle at the time of inspection. The auxiliary ess battery is part of a safety-related system. The servicing dealership advised that operating the vehicle without this battery can result in intermittent loss of power steering assist and potential loss of motive power without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. The condition was confirmed by an authorized dealer and is available for inspection upon request. The warning indicator appeared immediately upon operation of the vehicle following purchase. No collision occurred, but vehicle occupants, including children, were placed at risk due to the missing safety component.
Steering wheel sticks when making gradual turns in curves when around the 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock positions. Living in a state with snow and ice makes driving scary, not knowing if my steering wheel will stick in a curve. Took it to a repair shop, but they said it would need to be looked at by the dealership.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
When going around a curve (several times this has happened), the steering wheel feels like it is sticking which causes me to have to jerk it to get it out of that position to keep from wrecking, however this is dangerous and could cause an accident. It happens every time I drive it. No warning lights and no one knows what’s causing it. I have done research and this seems to be an ongoing issue with this specific vehicle.
The power steering went out without warning. Turned the vehicle on after getting gas and the could not turn when pulling out, then the light for the power steering came on. Checked 2 of the power steering fuse and found that one was a little unseated. Pushed that in and eas able to drive home. Tried to drive the vehicle the next day and the power steering went out while driving. Was able to make it home, but with great difficulty parked at an angle. When trying to move the vehicle to a more appropriate spot the steering wheel was wiggling itself. The power steering warning light is on again. A mechanic has not looked at it yet. We can not afford that but need the vehicle fixed, so plan to attempt to resolve the problem ourselves.
About once a week while driving, the steering seems to catch or lock up for a moment. This usually happens when the steering wheel is just slightly off center by 15 or 20 degrees and more often to the left side. You can force to turn through it however it maturely free up and cause you to oversteer and weave on the roadway. It is serious enough that my wife refuses to drive the car. I noticed that there was an alert for steering problems for my type of car but when I entered my VIN number it isn’t included. Why not?? it is exhibiting the exact same symptoms as those that many others have reported. Does there need to be a fatal crash before something done about this critical issue?? VIN # [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
We are experiencing steering wheel locking on right or left gradual turns. The steering wheel locks and it has to be jerked back into a straight position. We've experienced this for over a year now. We understand it may be a chronic problem.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the message “service rack and pinion gears” was displayed. The contact stated that it was difficult to turn the steering wheel to the left or right. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the rack and pinion gears and the steering module. The vehicle was repaired; however, after the repair to the steering, the contact experienced a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that while stopped at traffic signals, after depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the engine was running but was vibrating roughly, and then the vehicle jolted forward. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. The contact stated that during another failure, while the engine was running, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission control module needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the shifter module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred, and the contact had the vehicle towed to the same dealer. The dealer had the vehicle for several days and called the contact to pick up the vehicle, and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed again, and the vehicle was no longer able to start the vehicle. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 184,136.
Steering sticks occasionally at 1 and 11 position while traveling at highway speed.
Around October/November 2025, the vehicle began having intermittent steering issues that have progressively worsened. The steering wheel becomes stiff or feels stuck, and at times it jerks on its own before correcting. Other times I must pull harder to get it to respond, causing over?correction and difficulty maintaining my lane. This has happened at various speeds, including 65–70 mph on the interstate, and I nearly collided with another vehicle due to sudden loss of steering control. The vehicle also has ongoing electrical malfunctions. The center screen glitches, causing the heat/air settings to scroll on their own, the radio to constantly scan, and the touchscreen and knobs to stop responding. The navigation system shows incorrect locations, sometimes placing the vehicle in another state or in the ocean. The system has also made random phone calls on its own and has added a second call during an active call without input. During one incident while turning at an intersection, the vehicle lost power and shut off mid?turn. I coasted to the side of the road and restarted. At the same time, the screen blacked out and flickered, and the ignition button malfunctioned. No warning lights appeared. The battery has died multiple times and has been replaced several times, and software resets have not resolved the issues. These problems were intermittent at first, making it difficult to take the vehicle to a dealer, but they have recently become more frequent and severe. While researching possible causes, I discovered that NHTSA has an open investigation involving similar steering and electrical failures in this model. The combination of steering malfunction, electrical instability, uncommanded inputs, and an engine shutdown presents a significant safety risk.
When making long sweeping turns, like highway off ramps, the steering wheel will stick. The driver has jerk the wheel back towards center to get the wheel to turn again. We have owned the car since new. We have expirenced the problem between 15-20 times. The issue seems to come in waves. We will expirence it a few times in a short time then it wont happen agian for an extended period.
My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica touring-l has suffered repeated and dangerous electrical failures since purchase. Shortly after buying it from autonation Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram in valencia, CA, I had to return it twice for electrical repairs that kept it in service several weeks under warranty. About two years later, while still under extended warranty, the engine underwent a complete rebuild for multiple-cylinder misfire codes that were likely caused by intermittent can-bus voltage loss rather than a mechanical defect. Over the past nine months, the vehicle has again developed severe electrical faults while driving: sudden loss of power steering assist, all dashboard lights illuminating, windshield wipers activating spontaneously, and the engine failing to shut off using the start/stop button. The vehicle has also stalled without warning while driving in traffic or idling at red lights, restarting only after 5–10 minutes and blocking traffic lanes, placing me and surrounding drivers at significant risk. Two major repairs in the last two weeks failed to resolve the defects: (1) repair of the can-bus system after the vehicle would not start and acted erratically while driving, and a week later (2) replacement of the brake-booster vacuum pump, which was shorted internally and caused can-bus shutdown, complete steering loss, sudden braking, and no engine power. The vehicle is currently at dependable Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram, canoga park, CA, awaiting further diagnosis despite repeated repair attempts. These symptoms match Chrysler tsbs 08-007-17 and 08-033-21 concerning body control module water intrusion and communication faults. This ongoing electrical defect has caused steering loss, random stalling, ignition failure, and unpredictable vehicle behavior—issues widely reported by Pacifica owners. It poses a serious safety hazard and warrants immediate investigation and recall.
Have noticed intermittent sticking sensation when driving. No particular direction. Just sometimes happens going around curves. Have to perk steering wheel in opposite direction to free up.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and turning the steering wheel to the left or the right, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The power steering engaged and jerked the wheel to the left or the right of center. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,000.
Power steering sticks while making gradual turns in either direction. Most commonly noted on highway entrance/exit ramps, but also slight curves in the road. Some force is needed to return the steering wheel to the correct position which has led to over correction. This is a repeated issue, not an isolated incident.
When driving on the freeway, at around 65-75 mph, and on a gentle right bend, the steering wheel gets stuck. We can move it, but it jerks the car a little. It initially occurred rarely and was not easily reproduced. My dealer could not reproduce it. It is now becoming more common and a nuisance on road trips. It is also getting more stuck, resulting in more significance movements. I nearly left my lane when getting the steering unstuck this past weekend. We are going to see if our dealer can reproduce it.
Steering seems to stick momentarily during turns. Especially on ramps.
The steering on my 2017 Chrysler pacific sticks at the 11 and 1 position. It causes me to over steer while driving down the road or on the interstate and then it feels like the vehicle is swerving and I have to hold the steering wheel tight. Usually before this the service electronic stability control will come on and lately the service airbag light has been coming on all at the same time. All the notifications will go off when I turn the vehicle off and come on randomly while driving. It is very scary and dangerous causing tense driving on the steering wheel because you never know when it will happen.
Steering system can feel "sticky" during gradual turns, particularly when the steering wheel is held in specific positions (around the 11 or 1 o'clock position). This can be followed by a sudden, forceful return of power steering assistance, which could lead to oversteering. This is a reoccurring issue.
Steering sticks especially when going around turns. This is an inconsistent issue, and the car does not self-correct steering as normal and needs to be pulled back to neutral. There are no lights or warnings that this is going to happen. The car has been taken to a dealer who simply drove it around the block and said it is fine. It is not fine and if something happens to my elderly parents driving this car, this will be a much bigger issue. This becomes a higher risk when driving in high traffic areas as there is no warning that the steering is going to change. The safety risk is that the car cannot always be controlled well, and we are afraid this problem will worsen, and a manual override will not be enough. My father has been complaining about this for some time, today I drove them into the city for an appointment, almost 2 hours behind the wheel of this van, and felt first-hand how scary that is to happen when driving. I am happy to have someone come take this car for a drive and get this fixed before someone get hurt.
When the wheel gets turned to the right to go around a curve, the steering wheel gets "stuck". The car continues to turn when exiting the turn, and will only return back to center by having to pull hard on the steering wheel.
When turning to the right, around 35-45mph on a sharp turn, the steering will stick. Yesterday the sticking was so bad it almost caused me to lose control in the middle of the curb. It does not stick when taking sharp turns to the left. The mechanic has not been able to locate the issue.
Steering has jerking sensation at higher speeds going around turns. Causing me to almost overcorrect. Safety of my children involved.
When turning the steering wheel it will feel like it gets stuck for a split seconds. It happens alot.
While turning, my steering wheel will get stuck, sometimes causing me to over correct while trying to fix it. It has been happening for quite some time and seems to be an ongoing issue. It typically occurs when I'm going around a curve, not when I'm doing a complete turn. I am afraid this could cause an accident at some point.
The vehicle will randomly shut itself off while it is operating causing the dashboard to flicker on and off before shutting down fully. The steering wheel gets stuck at the 1:00 position.
The steering on my 2017 Chrysler pacific sticks at the 11 and 1 position. It cause us over steer while driving down the road or on the interstate. It is very scary.
Mine has a looseness feeling yet on inspection everything like tie rod ends are good. Definitely at the 11 o clock position I can get a shudder or shimmy even at low speeds. Despite it feeling loose it’s tracking excellent on the highway like everything is tight. I also get a rattle like the tie rods are loose at speeds below 30. There is no looseness anywhere on inspection. If the wheel is shaken on a drive on lift you can feel the noise in the rack mostly on the left side. Happens every day.