general problems of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica - part 1

While traveling 350 miles from my home with my family of five, the vehicle experienced a sudden 'loss of motive power' event. The dashboard displayed the message: 'stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon. ' I lost the ability to accelerate and had to navigate to the shoulder in high-speed traffic. The vehicle is currently inoperable and the 12v battery has since died because the power inverter module (pim) has stopped maintaining system voltage. This vehicle had recall 03a (NHTSA 23v-010) performed on July 7, 2023, and the more recent recall y40 update performed on March 11, 2026. Despite having the 'latest software remedy' installed less than 30 days ago, the vehicle suffered the exact safety failure the recalls were meant to address. This proves that the software-only remedy is insufficient to prevent the hardware failure (internal transmission wiring short). A formal vehicle scan report performed at lake norman Chrysler (dealer 60945) on 3/30/26 explicitly shows 'distance travelled with light 146 miles' (page 14), documenting a sustained failure of the motive power system. Furthermore, the dealer’s own certified technician (j. Olmstead) provided a written action plan (page 9) recommending a full transmission and power inverter module (pim) replacement. Despite the documented 146-mile failure history and the technician's recommendation for hardware replacement under the xe1 warranty extension, the dealership service management is refusing to perform the repair, claiming they cannot 'replicate' the code as an active fault. I am currently stranded out-of-state with an unsafe vehicle that Chrysler is refusing to repair under the established safety warranty.

As I was leaving the gas station the check engine light flashed on and off then the car was like turning on and off fast and a loud clunk sound and the fuel pump module exploded gas sprayed all over the gas station. Huge fire hazard and the car began to smoke vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic fuel system failure involving fire risk and loss of propulsion. The incident occurred without warning and created a serious safety hazard to occupants and surrounding traffic. This vehicle is a Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. Similar failures involving fuel system and hybrid control logic have been widely reported. The manufacturer was contacted but declined to properly document the safety incident. This failure is not consistent with normal wear and tear and represents a potential safety defect. Key details to include when submitting online: - sudden loss of propulsion - fire risk / fuel involvement - hybrid system interaction - manufacturer declined to document incident.

Vehicle went into limp mode twice. 1st time on 10/28/24, technician found fault for hybrid battery pack, Chrysler technical service bulletin said to clear fault then drive, if fault did not come back release the vehicle work order stated, bring vehicle back if it happens again and replace hybrid battery. 2nd time, 2/06/2026 vehicle went into limp mode again while driving. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk as I was driving on a highway at 65 mph and suddenly without warning and no braking involved went down to 20 mph. A very unsafe maneuver as the following vehicles had no indication I was braking or slowing down. The dealer has confirmed the limp mode incident but so far has been unable reproduce it. The vehicle and components have only been inspected by the dealer. The warning lamps and messages only came on as the event unfolded. A sudden and uncontrollable loss of power. The dealer states that they believe the hybrid battery pack is failing, but Chrysler, stellantis will not replace the hybrid battery pack unless the dealer can reproduce the incident. Extremely dangerous thing to try and recreate.

In at least 3 different drivers experienced the engine shutting off while driving at low speeds. It happened either while stopped at the traffic light, or shortly after being stopped at the traffic. The engine stalled and the message on the dash said to stop the vehicle, turn it off, then turn it back on. Fortunately, we were able to coast to a stop and follow the procedures. We replaced the fuel module and fuel pump, which did not help. I did some research last night and found an article from cbs news dated 01/12/2018 for this issue that recalled some of the Pacifica minivans starting with the 2017 model. Our van is a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. I suspect it was built after the recall, but the software was not fixed when built. I want this fixed under the recall umbrella so I don't get charged for something Chrysler already new was a safety problem.

I was driving and the van suddenly lost all propulsion. Brakes and steering and dash lights functioned, but there was a red turtle icon and error message about a system failure. The accelerator pedal did nothing at all. I was able to coast off the side of the road to a place to pull over, but that could have been a terrible accident if I lost power like that on I-95 or any other major highway. My husband came and we switch cars (kids, car seats, etc) and he was able to get the van to start after half an hour. It had check engine lights on for things, but the dealer said to bring it in because it was drivable again. Despite brining it in as told, with check engine lights on that they saw, they said they could not reproduce it and couldn't find codes for the check engine light (even though I pulled them from my own obd2 diagnostic plug tool and took photos of the codes) and eventually said I have to take the car back, despite no cause or resolution. These cars have known faulty battery issues and a large number have been replaced already, but Chrysler isn't authorizing dealers to do that unless they can reliably reproduce the failure. Very frustrating to see Chrysler not go the route of other manufacturers who sourced their batteries from the same plant and ended up proactively replacing them for consumers. While Chrysler's many recalls for the hybrid battery system software have probably made it detect faults earlier to try to prevent fires, they are still known to happen, but now in addition to a fire risk, we also have a car that has a much higher chance of just losing power while driving due to over sensitive battery monitoring, or a plain old faulty battery that just isn't faulty 'enough' for Chrysler to authorize a replacement. So frustrating and dangerous.

Vehicle lost all internal communications while driving. During this incident propulsion was lost, turn signals, hazards, power brakes, power steering, all electronics except speedometer failed. I was unable to put indicators on during this incident outting others at risk. It appears hazards and turn signals are can communication which is absolutely insane and a severe design flaw.

After safety recall 73b was performed on my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid on 08/25/2025, the vehicle's check engine light illuminated on 09/09/2025. I was inundated with multiple failure lights including; check engine, service electronic throttle control, service hybrid electric vehicle system, blind spot alert, and I felt like I lost power steering. I was unsure if the van was safe to drive, but was able to get it to the dealership. They were able to pull multiple codes. Including the one for the check engine light. They decided that the problem was related to the abs control module. They replaced it and the van has been fine so far. It seems these error codes are widespread after performing recall 73b. Many other customers are complaining of the same thing. I believe these errors are from the testing to the high voltage battery, and their 'software fix'. It's not safe to lose your power steering while driving. It's not safe to have multiple error codes continuously going off while operating the car. It's not safe to have a family car that we have been told twice to not park in the garage, charge, or park near a structure. This is their second attempt at 73b, and overall the second fire recall. My van and high voltage battery are definitely available for inspection.

My vehicle went in for recall 73b at the end of August 2025. Every since the recall it has been back to the dealer for multiple check engine lights, service hybrid system, abs system, battery heater fail, blind spot warning temporary unavailable, service shifter(would not go into gear), parking brake, stability control light, partial loss of power steering while driving, service electronic throttle control, and service airbag messages. The van has been to the dealership 4 times for these messages. They have replaced components, tried to find loose wires and connectors, replaced the 12v battery, and other fixes. The van will drive normally for a few weeks, and then they come back. On the latest visit (4th since 73b recall) it's been at the dealership for 31 days and counting. The dealership is waiting on Chrysler to figure out a fix for the van. The vehicle has over 50 stored messages. This recall was supposed to monitor the hybrid battery for early indications for a fire, but according to the original recall all batteries are assumed to have the manufacturing defect that leads to spontaneous fires. This van is unsafe, and we never know when it will work correctly. The van operated normally before the recall software was installed.

On Thursday, July 3, we were on our way out of town and had just gotten on a highway when I smelled something burning, saw smoke (we thought was steam at the time) coming from the hood and heard the engine making a grinding, or rattling noise so we pulled over immediately. My husband got out of the car to start to take a look when another vehicle who had just passed us backed up and motioned frantically saying “your car is on fire!” so we got out and looked under the front of the car and sure enough, there was liquid spilling onto the ground and fire coming from underneath. So we quickly got away from the car and called 911. Another gentleman who had been going west also stopped to make sure everyone was okay and was also calling 911. Within 10-14 minutes the front of the car was totally engulfed in flames.

Soon after having recall 73b completed on my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica plug in hybrid the check engine illuminated with dtc p0bbe. The vehicle no longer accepts a charge through the charge port and is now indicating there is an error with the high voltage battery. This issue has happened within 147 miles of driving. I can no longer use the vehicle as it is now in limp mode.

User bought 2018 Chrysler Pacifica phev in 2019. User had no issues with the vehicle, all recalls completed, until the completion of NHTSA recall 22v-077 (Chrysler recall 73b). Recall 73b was completed on 13 Feb 2025 with approx. 103,000 miles on the vehicle. The recall included flashing the hv battery pack control module and a "soak" of the hv battery to determine battery health; servicing dealer reported recall successful and battery health test found battery health was good. Approximately 1 week following the recall, the check engine light came on and stayed on for a couple of days and "self cleared". Several weeks later, the same sequence of events as above occurred once again. On 9 April, following a full charge overnight, I started the vehicle and the gas motor immediately started, check engine light illuminated, "turtle mode" icon appeared, and I was notified that "vehicle speed may be limited". After completing the short trip in "limp mode", I restarted the vehicle and only the check engine light was visible, van ran as normal. The following morning, no issues at all. Took the van to be diagnosed and was told an actuator in the dash needed replaced; actuator replaced. Five days later, once again, started the vehicle and the gas motor immediately started, check engine light illuminated, "turtle mode" icon appeared, and I was notified that "vehicle speed may be limited". Took the van to the dealership, at 106,163 miles, for diagnosis and have been told that the hv battery is now dead and must be replaced. Dealership quotes $16,000. 00 to replace hv battery and stellantis (Chrysler parent company) would not deal with me as the battery warranty expired at 100,000 miles. Many other complaints like this following the 73b recall reported to nthsa, this does not seem to be a coincidence. I had zero issues with this van until this recall was completed.

My 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has confirmed internal engine damage—scoring in the cylinder wall—diagnosed by an authorized Chrysler dealer. This occurred with no abuse or neglect, and the failure is consistent with many documented reports involving the 3. 6l pentastar engine. Chrysler is aware of premature failures in this engine across various models, but has denied goodwill assistance in my case despite providing it in others. I have involved the washington state attorney general’s office (file #[xxx]), and I believe this should be part of a broader investigation into systemic engine defects that pose safety and financial risks to consumers. Mileage at failure: 77,000 diagnosed renton Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram (wa) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My transmission went out at 108,000 miles. 6 out of 9 gears went bad. Had it replaced and it went out again 2 weeks later. The transmission dropped while I was driving but luckily I was pulling into a parking spot. Had to have another transmission installed. This scared me because my kid was in the car and was on the expressway a couple of minutes before it dropped. Also, the oil filter housing was cracked and I know this is a common problem because it is made of plastic.

Our vehicle is always kept in a garage and rarely parked outside for extended periods of time (not a vehicle used for transportation to and from work on a daily basis). We had our check engine light come on. This resulted in us using our second vehicle for several days before determining days later that the check engine light was still on. We took it in and they said the stored code was for a small evap leak and said it was likely due to cold temperatures and ice build up around the edge of the vent that blocked the flap from opening. As mentioned, this vehicle was in a garage for several days leading up to the check engine light appearing and for several days after the initial appearance. When I asked the dealership doing the repair what we could do to prevent this from happening again they suggested we avoid having the vehicle parked outside in the cold. This seems to be an issue that should be handled by Chrysler as opposed to me as the consumer and causing me to pay $217. 31!.

Had check engine code p1c5e and vehicle would not charge. Dealership has confirmed that the lithium battery has failed and needs to be replaced. They communicated with Chrysler, opened a star case, and are in process of replacing the battery.

I bought my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica limited about two years ago. It’s been the worst decision I’ve ever made. I have just about a 3% rate and with the amount of issues these things have I’m so far upside down it’s not even funny. This car with all of it's known issues is depreciating faster than I can pay for it. I currently have about 129,000 miles on it. I couldn’t get rid of this thing if I tried. The Chrysler dealership I service it with said they would give me 4000. 00 if they were willing to buy it back. The engine build company my mechanic uses says they won't even build these engines at all because of how many issues they have. So no option other than to buy the exact same engine is has now through Chrysler and know it will do it again. I’m having stalling/accelerating issues (shop can’t figure it out, kids cry when it stalls in traffic. . I've been in for it about 9 times to two different place) oil cooler housing unit replaced last year (taken it back in a few times for ongoing leak, now need a head gasket) head gasket batteries galore ongoing start stop issues my ac went out the month I bought it (leak in the lines near the rear) 3000k to fix the shop says it needs lifters, cam shafts and rockers (might as well do the engine if I had the extra money after paying off the rest of the repairs) my heated and cooled seats have stopped working numerous times dash comes on and off when it wants back up camera stays on the screen while I drive as much as it doesnt my rear washer fluid sprays inside the car onto my kids rear power seats stopped working multiple times now get in to head to work and it just won’t start…. Have to basically play a video game with the controls and key fob to miraculously start it up starting to rust already we have owned 2 durango’s, 2 Dodge rams, a Chrysler sebring and now this. Clearly we support Chrysler but after this my husband switched to a Ford truck and I will be going back as soon as I can if this isn't resolved.

Had vehicle towed to orange coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge and ram 11/4/24 due to vehicle being unable to start. Error message in vehicle indicated "service hybrid system"" and "service charging system" vehicle was left at dealership pending inspection. 12/5/24 I contacted dealer asking for update and was told Chrysler star case was opened for vehicle for hybrid battery. No further information was provided. 1/5/25 I contacted dealer again for update. Was told Chrysler engineer had attempted diagnosis/ repair of vehicle including application of current recall 73b (NHTSA recall id 22v-077) but was unsuccessful. Was told another Chrysler engineer must be brought in to assess/ repair vehicle.

While driving a message came across the dash to "service charging system" and then a second message appeared that said "speeds limited" and the vehicle slowed to 44mph entirely out of my control.

Piston number 3 is misfiring which is the from an error code. Replaced the piston 3 twice and now coolant is leaking into the engine which cause the coolant to leak into the engine. This is a safety risk since the car does not give a warning until there is no more coolant in the car which can cause a fire while driving. The issue was shown twice and confirmed by 2 independent mechanics and the dealership. The vehicle has been inspected and checked out by 2 independent mechanics and the dealership. It first appeared Feb 16 2024 when the check engine light came on and the next Monday the car lost coolant. The car also shook violently when it was started.

The #5 cylinder keeps having a misfire sometimes causing failure of the vehicle to get up and move when needed in an emergency situation this being a family van make even putting children in danger at times. After inspection by myself a mechanic that even taught college automotive repair, I have also taught jet engine repair I find this concerning. Is what is happening is the head gasket is leaking coolant into the #5 cylinder and we all know water will not admit a spark. Rust can be seen on the valves and top of piston cylinder upon inspection. This is a well know issue across the united states and Chrysler dealers and manufacturers, their mechanics, parts and service departments also know this. This is poor workmanship inferior parts. But the most concerning is not being able to get a response out of the vehicle to get out of the way in an emergency situation and that the owners of Chrysler corporation do not care. With the cost the consumers paid for these vehicles it should not have to fall on them due to the inferior parts and workmanship of the manufacturing company. The average consumer cannot afford to fix this issue, and some are still paying for their Pacifica's immediate action should be taken with this problem as many babies, children and adult lives are being put at risk. I would recommend to stop driving these vehicles immediately until the problem is resolved. Accident waiting to happen possibly causing bodily harm.

My vehicle lost the ability to accelerate when driving on a busy two-lane street. I was able to coast to the side of the road, but the vehicle would not move forward or backward even though the engine was running. This was the fifth time this condition has occurred, and I had the 03a loss of motive power recall service performed during summer 2023. The vehicle had to be towed - luckily nobody was directly behind us so an accident did not occur. The vehicle is currently being evaluated by the dealership for further repair. The check engine light is illuminated, but no other warning lights are illuminated at this time.

While traveling for holidays, the cel came on. We stopped at an auto shop to confirm the error code, before driving the car back home, to ensure safety. Error code p0e15-00 "hybrid/ev battery pack coolant heater "a" control performance" was the issue. This will be the 3rd-4th time that we have had an issue with the hybrid system on this vehicle. Thankfully, we purchased an extended warranty. However, we're sure that we are not the only ones experiencing so many problems with this and the hybrid system should be recognized as being faulty.

Our engine has stalled while driving the vehicle at least four times since July 1. The engine begins to shudder, and the car will not accelerate, and then the engine completely dies. After it happened today, it was not possible to restart the engine or put it in gear. My and my family's safety was put at risk because the vehicle was inoperable. Three times this happened on major interstates with traffic moving at high speeds. I had to move my children and their car seats into another vehicle while traffic passed. We have had the vehicle in for service at least three times, at least twice at Chrysler dealers. The problem has not been reproduced (yet) but this latest time it completely disabled the vehicle so expect they will see more of the problem now. After the engine cuts out, we get an electrical warning light that flashes briefly, plus a check engine light, and a message that instructs to move the gear shift to p to start the vehicle and another that warns that the start/stop system needs service. We have had these all serviced, the fuel pump and battery replaced, and have been told the problem is resolved and yet it keeps happening.

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.

We began having major issues with our van in October 2022. There were numerous incidents of loss of power and sudden increase in temperature gage. We kept fluids checked. Kept oil changed on time. We reported this to the dealership multiple times before they agreed to fix under warranty. Even after fixing factory recall (which we were charged for by the dealership) and then replacing batteries, we continued having issues with loss of power and surge in temperature gage. July 8th of 2023 engine light came on and temperature gage shot up, van stalled at the intersection. I had my self and five kids in the car. This was accompanied by a sudden loss of fluids. We had the van taken to another repair shop who then told us the head gasket was blown. This happened just 4 miles after our warranty lapsed. We had to have the entire motor replaced out of pocket. More than $8,000 in repair costs so far and the van I still making noises and not driving correctly.

I have been contacted multiple times by dealerships and Chrysler that my vehicle needs the z11 (NHTSA 22v-077) recall performed and that it is urgent for me and my family's safety. I have been trying to get the z11 recall performed since February 2023. I have contacted 3 local dealerships to do the job but scheduling was difficult and there is no loaner cars available. The first dealer (autonation cdjr of katy texas) who has done all my previous recalls just wanted me to bring the car in to sit for 3 days while not performing the recall. The second was inexperienced and unqualified. After a week delay, I took my car into the third dealer (big star Dodge in webster texas) on 3/13/2023, but after two days they told me they were having trouble with equipment and gave me the vehicle back on 3/15/2023. They rescheduled for 3/27/2023 and I took it in again. The first attempt to perform the recall procedure failed as a mistake was made. The recall procedure should take 2 days but it has been there for a week. The recall procedure was written poorly by Chrysler/fca/stellantis and confuses the technicians so the test is not performed as it should be and has to be repeated multiple times. The extra manipulation and time at the dealership increases the probability that my vehicle will be messed up or damaged. Chrysler/fca/stellantis bears the responsibility for the delays and poor performance of the recall causing the unnecessary loss of my vehicle's use and delays the recall performance, increasing my risk described by the recall. Performance of the recall has not been timely or done correctly yet.

The car starts blowing out white smoke when started. Mechanic thinks it could be a blown gasket or crack in engine block. The cable fuse blown as well. The vehicle did not start so it was towed to the mechanic.

Coolant leak as well as the other problems that I reported.

The dealership failed to correctly implement the z11 recall after I informed them that I had doubts that the recall was performed properly. The first time that the recall was attempted, they returned the vehicle with 0% charge on the batteries. This indicated that they did not fully perform the recall per the instruction. The second time they attempted the recall, they were not able to charge the vehicle. When they informed me that the vehicle was ready I was skeptical that the recall was fully performed since the amount of time between the failure to charge and it being ready was far too short to perform the recall properly. Today I was informed by Chrysler that the recall was indeed improperly performed. Chrysler put my family and home at risk through their ineptitude and carelessness when performing their own recall.

I was driving on the highway when the check engine light came on and it started running rough. I pulled off the highway and into a parking lot. When I slowed down, I heard a clanging that sounded like metal on metal. After parking, smoke started pouring out from under the hood and it erupted in flames. The vehicle was destroyed.

2018 Pacifica wheelchair accessible van has on several occasions without warning, decelerated and stalled. Displays place into park and restart. Van starts sputtering & decelerates. After pulling over, waiting a few minutes it does start again. We've had the van over a year without any issues until now. We did have it at a dealership for a week. They were unable to find anything wrong with it. Very frustrating as we use this van to transport our disabled daughter. Recently we received notice of class action lawsuit for this problem. Doesn't help me right now.

While driving an a well paved road, I received a check hybrid system alert on my dashboard. Then several lights bean to flash including the blind spot alerts on the side view mirrors and several other alert system. Adaptive cruise control and lane change failure alerts also went off. I was only two miles from home and managed to get back. The engine did not cut out. The next morning, it started up but just a few miles into testing it out, the same alerts and light appeared, but this time the engine died along with the power steering. I coasted to roadside, turned off the car, and waited for 5 to 10 minutes. I started it up and drove it home. The engine remained on but the lights and warning continued to flash. The emergency lights also cut out periodically. I managed to drive the car to a Chrysler dealership I've visited in the past. The diagnostic alert on the mopar app said there was a problem with the electronic throttle control (etc) and the service person that looked over the diagnostic saw several system failure and alerts when he viewed the diagnostic record. At this point, the dealership has had my car for the week and the problems persist and now it won't go into gear. They still cannot determine the source of the problem. I contacted the Chrysler support line to ask them to escalate the problem. There is an open recall on this vehicle, but the parts are still not available to fix it. It only has 101,000 miles on it. I've found several complaints from Pacifica hybrid owners related to the same etc alert.

Phev fire risk recall has not been completed in a timely manner. Vehicle is potentially unsafe, stellantis does not appear to understand the underlying problem or the risk to the consumer. Is our family and home at risk from a fire? when will this be remedied? it's been over 6 months and have had only silence from stellantis.

We own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 22v077000 (hybrid propulsion system) however, after 5 months, the part to do the recall repair is not yet available. The manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. We have not experienced a failure, however we cannot charge the car and are instructed to park it away from other structures and vehicles. The car is almost useless and likely has lost all value. The VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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.