general problems of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica - part 1

The van has just approx 55000 miles. While driving on highway, it suddenly lost power and from 60mph it came down to 20 miles in a matter of few seconds after few violent jerks. I was lucky that no vehicle was behind me. After that I pulled a side and then again started. It kept jerking and loosing power. Very carefully I got it to a mechanic. They are checking but they say looks like transmission issues. Engine light also came on. This happened few months ago however it was not this bad and my mechanic looked and he could not find anything. That problem went away after that incident. Kindly advise what to do in this situation. Chrysler Pacifica 2018 this van has lots of problems in other crucial area also like air fender switch, oil hose and cover that went bad as they are made of plastic. Then the trans mounts broke. It costed me dearly. Please advice what to do? best regards [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

2018 Chrysler Pacifica phev subject to safety recall 73b (NHTSA 24v-536) for hv battery fire risk. Following the recall repair at fremont cdjr (newark, CA) in January-February 2025, this vehicle has experienced systematic cascading hybrid drivetrain failures across 5 repair visits totaling 57 days out of service: (1) can bus star connector failure — 10 modules with fault codes u0103/u0001; (2) hybrid control processor failure — required 14 flash attempts to program; (3) $1,786. 67 repair failed within 23 miles — cel and brake warning light appeared simultaneously; (4) complete transmission removal required to replace auxiliary transmission fluid pump (dtc p2797-00); (5) power inverter module replacement still pending. Vehicle also disabled itself completely while driving prior to March 2026, requiring 30 minutes rest before it could be driven. All failed components are part of the integrated hybrid drivetrain disturbed during the recall repair. Request investigation into whether recall 73b repairs are being performed correctly at authorized fca dealers and whether other owners are experiencing similar post-recall failures.

While I was driving the car started beeping and all dashboard lights started flickering. Transmission started stuttering and engine rpm fluctuating wildly. Fortunately I was in my neighborhood and was only going about 15 mph and was able to pull to a stop. The issue is with a faulty star bus connection near the glove box. After watching a you tube on the same issue, I learned to hit the area near the glove box to reset the star bus connection. This has happened before but usually on startup. Dealer not able to repair after $1600 charge. This is the first time it happened while in motion. Again. Seems to be a common enough issue that there are several you tube videos with thousands of views.

Have lost power steering intermittently while driving.

While driving vehicle suddenly, and randomly, has a loss of engine response whole pressing the accelerator. Engine randomly shuts off while parked or at a traffic light, and can be difficult to restart after causing a traffic hazard.

Engine experienced premature valvetrain failure (camshaft/lifter issue) at approximately 145,000. Vehicle developed ticking noise, misfire, and loss of power. Diagnosis confirmed camshaft/lifter damage requiring major repair. This appears to be a known issue with the 3. 6l pentastar engine and is documented in Chrysler star case s2309000013. Failure creates potential safety concern due to loss of power while driving. Vehicle is out of warranty, and manufacturer has not provided consistent support for repair despite known pattern failures.

Chrysler Pacifica 2018 about 56000 miles. Transmission seal is leaking that’s manufacturing defect. Chrysler is denying the warranty as this vehicle in not in recall for repair. Please advice thanks [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

The contact owned a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while in reverse(r) and reversing into a parking spot, it was difficult to accelerate over a patch of ice. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle accelerated quickly and failed to stop while depressing the brake pedal and the vehicle drove through a fence and crashed into a brick building and stopped. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the u-connect phone feature disconnected independently. The failure had never occurred before. The contact stated that the u-connect failure might have been linked to the unintended acceleration failure. No injuries were sustained. A police report was not filed. The fence and a side of the brick building were damaged during the crash. The vehicle was initially towed to the residence before being towed to a collision center, where the vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

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.

At 48,445 miles, the vehicle's engine experienced a catastrophic internal failure involving cylinders 4 and 6. The failure resulted in a sudden loss of motive power and engine misfires while the vehicle was in operation, creating a severe safety hazard and risk of stalling in active traffic. A certified mechanic performed a cylinder leak-down and compression test, confirming internal engine failure consistent with the known 3. 6l pentastar cylinder head/gasket manufacturing defects. The vehicle is now unsafe to operate. This failure occurred well before the expected useful life of the powertrain and appears consistent with the defects alleged in the class action maugain et al. V. Fca us llc. No warning lights illuminated prior to the immediate failure.

Head gasket blew at 102,000 miles which caused windows to fog up on freeway.

Vehicle was put into reverse and did not stop, it hit a pole. Then the driver tried to put in drive to get it off of the pole and it accelerated quickly and the driver could not stop the vehicle. There was little time to react as it hit the side of a building and airbags deployed. Driver stated that the car accelerated on it's own once it was put into gear.

This letter concerns repeated and life-threatening failures involving the transmission system in my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid (CA license plate: 8cef638, VIN: 2c4rc1n79jr172609), covered under your lifetime transmission warranty for this model. Following two confirmed incidents resulting in unexpected engine shutdowns and critical transmission faults, I am formally demanding a full replacement of the faulty transmission assembly as required under California lemon laws and the issued lifetime warranty extension. Summary of incidents & reference to NHTSA action NHTSA action number: rq24004 pertains specifically to transmission wiring defects, resulting in short circuits and loss of motive power. The recall remedy under campaign number 23v-010 has proven inadequate for many 2017–2023 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Nhtsa’s current recall query documents continued transmission failures after owner reports and software updates. Case number: xxx was opened with Chrysler in response to my experiences, and reflects ongoing safety risks with this transmission. Incident 1 date/location: Sunday, September 1, 2025, 5:00 pm — southbound I-5 near downey, CA. Description: sudden vehicle shutoff at highway speeds. Immediate hazard required emergency calls and intervention. Exhibit 1: call log to Chrysler downey at 5:07 pm included. Incident 2 date/location: Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 2:20 pm — northbound I-5, via DE lavalle exit off-ramp. Description: dashboard warning ("stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon") and loss of motive power. Towing, police, and emergency assistance required. Exhibit 2: image of dashboard warning. Exhibit 3: phone log of aaa towing, delmar police, and sheriff calls, confirming duration and response. Warranty information as a California owner of a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid, your published material and user communications confirm a lifetime warranty for the transmission on this specific model, following nhsta rq24004.

The vehicle stalls while driving without any notice. This van has a start/stop function and it malfunctions. There are two separate batteries that control this function and both of them have been replaced. The entire steering rack and steering column have had to be replaced. The front suspension has also had to be replaced because the tires wear out very quickly. The alternator, radiator, and motor mounts have also had to be replaced. The van is available for inspection. At the moment the vehicle will not start and I have been advised that it needs a new starter. This vehicle is a safety risk and it puts others at risk as well. These problems have been diagnosed and confirmed by at least three different service centers including a Chrysler dealership. I generally do not get any warning lamps, messages, or symptoms when the van stalls.

While driving, the Pacifica lost all engine power in the middle of an intersection while traveling at 34 mph. All the dash lights blinked and sounded alerts. The car then showed u1267 and u0416 diagnostic codes.

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.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed low speeds, the electric power steering stopped functioning properly after the contact heard an abnormal crunching sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jerked and jolted during acceleration as if the transmission was slamming into gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for regular maintenance service, and the contact was informed that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle failures were not diagnosed during regular maintenance service. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,000.

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.

When beginning to move from a stop, the transmission occasionally does not engage for a few seconds and allows the vehicle to drift unexpectedly before it slips in gear and moves. Also, occasionally when shifting gears once moving, the transmission “pops” into gear, which feels as if I have been rear-ended. This has been happening for a few years and has been at the dealership 5 or so times with no resolution.

The transmission kicks into 2nd gear at times and it feels like I've been rear ended. Also sometimes when that happens the car will accelerate on it's own, I am surprised that I haven't hit anything or anybody when that happens. And other times it will cut out altogether and loses power. This is definitely a safety issue. I can't understand why Chrysler will not do anything about this issue. It can be very dangerous. This has been going on for the 4 years that I have had the van.

While attempting to accelerate experiencing a loss of power, an/or hard shifting. Pulling out from parking lot or street from a stop, there is a delay in getting the car to move. Moves slowly but then gradually builds up. Also at times there appears to be shifting issue, when attempting to accelerate the vehicle will do a hard jolt forward. In reviewing online this jolting is a common theme with the pacific but yet there has been no further action taken by Chrysler. Told my two different mechanics that Pacifica's are known to have issues with their transmissions and that I should not expect any type of recall for this due to the potential cost.

Vehicle engine shuts off while driving down the road. Will start up after a few minutes. Traction control light and auto start stop light will come on. Random right wheel noise will come and go. Have had multiple mechanic shops check vehicle with no findings. Vehicle loses all power when shuts down.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shifted into gear very hard. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

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.

Power steering went out and can’t back on.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 30-35 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal beeping sound. The message "stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart, and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed. The contact's husband was able to pull to the side of the road, and the vehicle was able to restart after an extended period. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed as a low voltage failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA action number: pe22008 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,692.

The car shifts really hard going into 2nd gear, it feels like I've been rear-ended. It is awful. Also sometimes it loses power then accelerates on its own. Both issues are safety issues. This happens several times a weeks for the last 3 years.

The vehicle randomly stalls, goes dead and becomes unresponsive. This has happened numerous times at lights, stop signs and in the middle of the road.

On [xxx], my vehicle produced a large red wrench and a turtle warning on a busy highway and I was forced to pull to the side with my [xxx] son in the car, as the vehicle lost motive power. It was towed to the dealer and after several days, they told me the issue was due to normal wear and tear in the transmission. I had to escalate to a service manager to even get a diagnosis after 5 days in the shop. I believe my transmission issue is due to a failure of the fix implemented in the 03a/NHTSA 23v-010 recall. It has been documented that the software update did not fix the issue. My vehicle experienced the exact series of failures described in the recall. Chrysler is refusing to fix my vehicle, even though they had extended the warranty on my Pacifica to unlimited miles/unlimited years because of all of the transmission issues the model has experienced. I would appreciate it if someone could look into this and Chrysler's unwillingness to stand behind their products and provide fixes for their recalls that work. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

[xxx] [xxx] [xxx] national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) office of defects investigation 1200 new jersey avenue se washington, DC 20590 subject: complaint regarding recurrent mechanical issues and potential safety concerns with 2018 Chrysler Pacifica dear NHTSA office of defects investigation, I am writing to formally report repeated mechanical issues with my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica (VIN [xxx] ), which have raised significant concerns regarding the vehicle’s reliability and safety. In 2023, my vehicle initially experienced a persistent ticking noise in the engine, leading to extensive repairs. These included replacing the tappets, rockers, and timing chain tensioner on the right bank of the engine. Following these repairs, the vehicle exhibited low oil pressure, ultimately requiring a complete long block replacement. These issues left the vehicle out of service for nearly two months, significantly disrupting our daily lives. Despite these major repairs, my Pacifica has recently developed overheating issues, necessitating the replacement of the radiator at an estimated cost of over $2,000. The vehicle has less than 60,000 miles, and I find it deeply concerning that such critical mechanical issues are occurring at such low mileage. These repeated failures suggest a potential underlying defect in the design or manufacturing of this vehicle, which could present a safety risk. An overheating engine, for instance, poses a potential hazard both to the occupants and to other road users. As a police officer and parent of three young children, I rely on this vehicle for my family’s safety and transportation. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate whether these issues are indicative of a broader defect in 2018 Chrysler Pacifica models. I believe an investigation could help identify potential safety risks to other owners and encourage Chrysler to address these problems proactively information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I left work one day and I stopped at walmart once I was done there, I got into my car to leave when I attempted to start my car all of the dash board lights illuminated although my car turned over it would not engage into gear. I did notice that all the dashboard lights illuminated simultaneously, which was quite alarming. This happened not once, but twice both times when I went to start the car however the second time I immediately drove it to the dealer for service. This left me concerned about what might be causing the issue. Only for the dealer to tell me it is my transmission and it would cost me $10,000. 00 to fix it as a blue collar worker I have absolutely know idea what I am going to do. I then began to research the car only to find out that this year, make & model has a recall on the transmission describing the exact symptoms I am having. Please help!!!!!! my lively hood depends on me being able to get to work!.

An engine fault code for p0303 has become active on my 2018 Pacifica. This code was confirmed by an independent service center and confirmed that the code is active. The service center ran a compression test and showed that cylinder three is low on compression. They then ran a hydrocarbon test and confirmed exhaust in the coolant. This diagnosis points to the common issue related to a bad head gasket potentially due to a warped head/block. The car has never overheated and all service maintained.