general problems of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica - part 2

The vehicle randomly but regularly experiences a grabbing in the steering when turning and requires a pulling on the steering wheel that then seems to overcorrect momentarily. This vehicle could be available for inspection upon request. I've taken it to my regular mechanic and he reproduced the problem and believes it is due to the steering rack or the electronic controls therein. No warning lamps or messages have ever displayed. I'm afraid that the overcorrection and/or lack of steering control could put the driver of our van and/or others nearby at risk.

Steering felt slightly stiff/stuck while driving on wide turns and straight on interstate. Going slower and making more frequent turns in town, steering felt normal but going fast there was a power steering concern. Not enough to make me jerk but I am worried that it will decline and force a hard jerk and possible swerving while going higher speeds. This is under investigation currently NHTSA campaign number: pe25009. Please please recall!! this was terrifying I have young children.

When making steering corrections while driving over 55 miles an hour, the steering sticks and suddenly over corrects. This is especially troublesome when driving on winding two lane country roads. It feels like the vehicle might go into the oncoming traffic or off into the ditch.

Vehicle: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica limited gas (VIN: [xxx]) component: steering / electrical power steering (eps) gear rack incident description: I am filing this report in relation to active NHTSA preliminary evaluation pe25009 regarding the intermittent loss of electric power steering assist. While driving on curved roads, the steering system exhibits a distinct "sticky" or binding sensation during gradual, sustained turns. This mechanical resistance is highly localized and most noticeable when holding the steering wheel slightly off-center, specifically near the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions. When attempting to exit a curve, the steering wheel fails to smoothly return to center on its own. It requires a deliberate, manual "nudge" or extra physical driver effort to break past the sticky threshold. Once this resistance is overcome, the electric power steering (eps) assist suddenly reactivates, creating a brief oversteer condition that requires immediate correction to keep the vehicle tracking safely in its lane. The behavior feels heavily tied to an internal electronic fault within the steering gear module rather than standard lane-keep assistance intervention, as the binding sensation persists even with safety features deactivated. This creates an unpredictable driving dynamic, particularly at highway speeds where subtle, precise inputs are required. Additionally, this vehicle has an extensive history of rapid battery failure, requiring multiple complete replacements of both the main and auxiliary batteries within consecutive 12-month periods. I suspect a systemic voltage drop or a compromised electrical ground circuit (potentially related to Chrysler recall v53 / NHTSA 19v-348) may be concurrently affecting or accelerating the failure of the highly voltage-sensitive eps rack assembly. The temporary binding of the steering infrastructure represents a clear, progressive safety defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The steering is very sticky. Especially at higher speeds in curves. It is sticky most at the 11:00 and 1:00 spots on the steering wheel. It takes some strength to drive the car through mountains as it is difficult to make sure the wheel is moving correctly through the turn.

Steering wheel sticks at lower speeds between 11-1 o’clock position (approximately) and requires extra force to turn the wheel. I came across number pe25009 which seems to clearly line up with what I am experiencing, so decided to report.

I have a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan and I am experiencing intermittent steering wheel sticking issue. While driving at highway speeds, the electric power steering exhibits a distinct 'sticking' or 'catching' sensation when trying to make minor lane corrections. Extra physical effort is required to 'break' the wheel free from the center position, which causes the vehicle to over-correct and jerk into the lane. This creates an immediate risk of losing control or drifting out of the lane. The steering wheel catches and requires excessive manual force to unstick, leading to unsafe over-correction and lane drifting. This is a severe, recurring safety hazard.

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and while driving 70 mph on a toll road, the steering wheel unintendedly pulled to the right, nearly causing the vehicle to drift out of the intended lane. The contact was able to pull the steering wheel back to center after each failure, and the steering wheel was moderately difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was test-driven, but the failure could not be reproduced; however, the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

Electric power steering sticking while navigating an curve or turn in the road. Whether at slow speeds or fast speeds seems like my steering sticks everytime now. I've had my front end replaced previously for maintenance at 100000 when this originally started. And it seemed to help some but the batteries seem to fail atleast twice a year the aux battery and the main battery and then the steering goes off and over corrects "kicks back on" when you have to pry it out of getting "stuck".

My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica steering wheel started locking in place at approximately 10 a 2 o'clock the other day as we were on a couple hundred-mile trip over the memorial day weekend. We looked up the symptoms, it said there was a recall for the power steering assist v53/NHTSA 19v-348. I drove the car slowly the entire way home and set up an appointment at cdjr of morgantown for the next day may25th at 8am. After arriving at the dealership, I was informed that this particular recall was closed, although its description fit exactly what my car had been doing the previous day. I informed them that my main battery ibs had been broken for nearly a year and wondered if that could have been the problem also. They took the car at 8am and at 9 am the man at the desk that had been helping me came to the waiting room and informed me that urse Dodge (where I bought the vehicle in 2017) showed record of performing the recall check " that's a lie" I replied! none the less, at 10 am they reported to me that the auxiliary battery had 0 cca and needed replaced and that the ibs would also need replaced, all of which would run me nearly 1000 dollars. I asked when they could get the ibs and the parts department said 5 days, I asked the gentleman that had originally been helping me if they checked the ground wire from the original recall and he said yes, and it was fine. I changed the auxiliary battery and the ibs myself at advance auto yesterday and after I had the main battery hot lead off it also cleared all the codes that the dealership said was on the vehicle (electrical codes). I drove the vehicle yesterday and I can't say for sure that it did it, although I believe it stuck lightly a couple of times. The ibs and the auxiliary battery are my fault, I should have addressed them sooner. The bigger issue here is that urse Dodge in fairmont never called me, I never received a recall notice.

While driving my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, the vehicle experienced a sudden, severe malfunction of the electric power steering (eps) system. The dashboard illuminated a "service power steering" warning light, which was accompanied by an immediate, complete loss of power steering assist. The steering wheel became extremely stiff and heavy. It required immense physical force to steer. This failure occurred suddenly without warning, creating an immediate and severe crash hazard by making the vehicle uncontrollable. The vehicle also suddenly restored power assist while I was using the extra force which made driving very dangerous. I use my minivan to drive my kids to school every day and this hazard could have resulted in tragic loss of life especially with an infant and three toddlers in my car. I just noticed that the safety probe pe25009 has been opened last year with no recalls yet. Please help us resolve this ASAP as this is a critical, life-threatening, safety issue.

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with no warning. Warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated failure, and during the inspection, the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a failed rack and pinion steering assembly that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The VIN was not available.

While driving at highway speeds, steering wheel sticks at 11 and 1 o'clock position requiring extra input from the driver to return to zero or 12 o'clock position. This causes a jerky motion when the wheel finally unsticks or an oversteer condition which is unsafe when driving in busy windy roads with opposing traffic.

Steering wheel sticking at 11 and 1 o clock position, has become very difficult to turn and feels like overcorrecting to keep vehicle in center of lane.

Steering wheel binds up wile making right truns around the 1 o'clock position.

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 vehicle has an unresolved electrical/propulsion failure involving sudden shutdowns while driving and can c bus/lost-communication faults. Since the high-voltage battery was replaced through a recall-related repair, the vehicle has had repeated shutdown/loss-of-communication events, occurring dozens of times. In the most serious incidents, while driving at speed, the dash flickered, windshield wipers activated unexpectedly, headlights turned off, turn signals would not work, and steering locked or became difficult to control. The vehicle then completely shut off while still moving. After shutdown, the hazard lights would not work. One documented incident occurred on the interstate at about 70 mph. This puts occupants and others at risk because the vehicle can suddenly lose motive power and critical electrical/control functions at the same time, including lighting, signals, hazards, instrument display, and steering/control assistance. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by a Chrysler dealership. Dealer records documented multiple modules losing communication on the can c bus. The dealer replaced the shifter module as a possible contributor, but the problem continued. The dealer later corrected loose pin tension at a communication/star connector, but the vehicle continued to shut down and later scan reports still showed widespread active/stored can and lost-communication faults across powertrain, hybrid control, body control, braking/abs, steering, and shifter-related systems. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by dealer scan reports and repair records, but the root cause remains unresolved. The manufacturer has been contacted through customer care and repair/scan documentation was submitted. The exact root cause is unknown, but dealer findings indicate an unresolved major electrical/can communication problem possibly involving the harness, connector network, or communication system.

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.

I’ve noticed within the last couple months that every once in a while the steering seems to stick. It will happen randomly, we will be driving and if turning the steering wheel to the 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock position it feels like it sticks. We really feel it sticking at random times when we are traveling at slower speeds and turning sharply, it will stick and then all of a sudden let lose and slightly jerk back to position.

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.

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was displayed on the instrument panel soon after the vehicle was purchased. An independent mechanic replaced the evap purge valve, but after the repair, the power steering assist failed, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. A mobile mechanic attempted to clear the codes, but the power steering failure persisted. The vehicle was then towed back to the independent mechanic, where a diagnostic test provided several fault codes, including electrical, abs, brakes, traction control, rack and pinion, and the check engine warning light was displayed. The vehicle remained with the mechanic unrepaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 107,000.

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.