general problems of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica - part 2

Repair order date: 11/04/2024 mike perry chrylser/nacogdoches problems: shaking while idling/stop-start not working actions taken: replaced supports and mounts engine support – $105 trans mount – $274 engine mount – $155 parts - $535 labor - $600 total - $1191 repair order date: 10/14/24 - mike perry Chrysler/nacogdoches problems: check engine light on/engine missing actions taken: replaced gasgets, gasget flange, camshaft, thermostat gasget - $250 gasget – $120 gasget exhaust flange - $43 camshaft intake - $572 antifreeze coolant - $53 thermostat - $122 parts - $1014 labor - $3752 total - $5129 repair order date: 10/02/24/southern Chrysler lufkin issue: car wouldn't start actions taken - replaced starter and battery fuse fuse box - $202 labor - $636 total - $855 repair order date: 9/25/24 /mike perry Chrysler /nacogdoches issue: check engine light on actions taken: replaced spark plugs and coils iridium ix - $15 ignition coil set - $274 labor - $300 total - $710 services from 9/25/2024 through 11/04/2024 *approximately 6 weeks total expenses $7,855.

The check engine light recently came on, and there was an issue with starting and idling, so we replaced the battery and the light went off, but would randomly come back on. One day notice the vehicle as overheating, and found the coolant tank to be completely empty. Refilled the tank, and several days later the problem arose again. Checked under the van immediately after refilling, no leaks detected. Took van to the dealership and was told the head gasket was bad, and the coolant was leaking into cylinder 3. Recommended repairs noted are as follows: “head gasket is bad. Leaking on cylinder 3. Needs a new head and gasket to fix issue. Will also need cams, lifters, and rockers due to the ticking coming from the right side of the motor” I’ve seen that apparently, this is a more than common issue specifically with the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. Others have recommended a total engine replacement, as the damage caused thus far is significant enough that replacing only the head and gasket would be, as quoted, “a very expensive bandaid. ” this is the only vehicle we have available for my wife and four small kids, and to see that it’s such a common and, thus far ignored problem is infuriating to say the least. Vehicle was purchased 2 years ago, and has depreciated $21,000 in that short amount of time. Repairs are estimated around $6000. Vehicle value is estimated around negative $12,000, so we’re stuck with a faulty vehicle regardless. With the overwhelming number of complaints regarding this issue, almost verbatim, there is absolutely no reason Chrysler should continue to be allowed to let this go unresolved. The fact that the vehicle depreciated so rapidly in such a short time span should be a testament in and of itself to the known and perceived quality of these vehicles, and if ever I can be rid of it, it’ll be that last Chrysler product I ever own.

2018 Pacifica with multiple similar issues. August 2018 - recall - reprogram powertrain control module may 1019 - recall fixes (power steering and ball joint). July 2021 - start/stop light came on - took to dealership and they replaced the battery for that system. Feb 2022 - recall customer satisfaction notification 1 y65 July 2022 - issues begin - cylinder misfire - and car would not start and was smoking. Van was towed to dealership. The dealership had the van for 2 months and had a difficult time really diagnosing the issue. They ended up replacing the right cylinder head - which is a major part of the engine. Just being over the 60,000 mile mark, we had to fight with Chrysler to honor the warranty on this very expensive fix. Spark plugs were also changed at that time. August 2024 - check engine light is back on, as well as the automatic start/stop button. We took to auto zone and the diagnosis was cylinder 6 misfire. All along we have felt there should have been a recall on this van. Is it an electrical issue that is failing? searching online there are a lot of these complaints about cylinder misfiring issues with this year/model. It also looks like there may have been a class action lawsuit as well. A 4 year old van should not need a major engine repair. Now here we are 2 years later with a 6 year old van and having a similar issue. We are worried it is going to be another costly fix. We have had nothing but issues with this van and it is unacceptable, especially regarding a brand new car. We have all our receipts indicating appropriate and timely oil changes and transmission flushes, etc from the dealer.

I have a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with 50k miles and it is still covered under the powertrain warranty. 1. I had a check engine light with code as "misfire on cylinder 6" in August of 2024. I had all spark plugs and engine coils replaced. 2. I drove the vehicle for one week before the engine light came back on with the same code, and then the vehicle wouldn't start. It was towed to a dealer. 3. A dealer replaced the starter assembly and valve body. 4. I drove the vehicle for 2 days before the engine light came back on with code as misfire to a different cylinder. 5. I am now being told by the dealer that I need to replace both cylinder heads, both cylinder head gaskets, timing cover gaskets, valve cover gaskets, valve cover gaskets and the coil boots (again) because they were ruined the the failure/leaks in the other parts.

While driving on a 4-lane highway, I received a message on the dashboard "vehicle will shut off soon". I had just a few seconds before power to the vehicle was limited. The engine stopped working and another message was displayed: "battery conditioning leave ignition in run. " after that the car would no longer move and I was in the middle of the right lane. Luckily I could get my children out safely. The vehicle was towed to the local Chrysler dealership where it is waiting for repair.

After refueling on a recent road trip the check engine light came on. After driving for a little bit to get to a hotel for the night white smoke started coming out the back of the car. To me the incident seems similar to the recall for other 2018 Chrysler Pacifica's, noted below, but did not apply to my VIN so wasn't completed for my car. The mpg's kept going down because I believe too much fuel was being fed to the engine resulting in the white smoke. When taken to the dealer there was a pending error code to the catalyst. It is currently at the riser Chrysler dealership in hot springs, ar awaiting further diagnostic and repair. Nhtsa campaign 18v740000.

Van currently has a p0303 code for cylinder 3. Have done research and found that this is a common issues with this vehicle. Also the stop/start needs to be service. Which is also know to happen a lot in this type of vehicle.

At low speed 12-18 mph the transmission hard shifts. It slams so hard that you feel like someone rearended you.

I am experiencing premature transmission failure. It is available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and my 3 small children have been put at risk because of the likely potential of transmission failure during our frequent trips on the interstate, that could lead to a deadly accident. This problem as been confirmed by an independent licensed automotive mechanic. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by any other entity, but is available for inspection. The symptoms of the problem started around March of this year, as a sweet burning smell, that lead to a smell of burning rubber. The Chrysler dealership I brought it to would not check the transmission fluid itself due to the "forever system" design of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica, that does not allow for easy access to the transmission fluid, rather is designed to tell you if it is full or not. So the issue was missed during inspection, and was labeled as being in good condition. After I noticed the vehicle beginning to skip between 1st and 2nd gear recently (end of June), I brought it for inspection to an independent mechanic who was able to inspect the fluid which was extremely burned, as well has hook the vehicle up to their reader machine and access that it was in fact in the process of transmission failure. The transmission has not yet completely failed, because I have stopped driving the vehicle for fear of the safety of my children.

2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid, 49,250 miles. Vehicle has had transmission replaced once under warranty a couple of years ago. Last week, dashboard lights lit up and message read "“stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon. " I pulled off the road, shut it off, waited a few minutes, started it up and drove home. We were in-town going in-town speeds, so safety risk was minimal. Earlier that same day the day the hvac fan was intermittently going higher and lower, like it couldn't decide if it should be at 5 or 2 (out of the 7 fan speeds). I don't know if that is related in any way. I made an appointment at the dealership several days later (driving it the whole time but only in town). They say it needs another transmission and have ordered one. Repair will be free.

My car jerks really hard when driving mostly at around 14 to 16 mph when it shifts into 2nd gear. It feels like I have been rear ended. Also occasionally it happens shifting into 3rd gear, but mostly into 2nd. Once in a while it loses power altogether and other times it accelerates on its own. I have had this to the dealer 3 times and they did a diagnostics on it but can't find anything wrong. This is not normal for the transmission to do this. When it loses power I'm afraid of somebody hitting me and when it speeds up on its own, I afraid I will hit somebody.

Vehicle just dies when you brake. This has now happened twice. Once in may 2024 and now oct 2024. You have no steering and cannot be put into neutral or park. Must pull neutral cord to get pushed out of road. No codes pull up other than the neutral cord used. In may 2024 towed to dealer and they replaced starter but could not find anything else. In oct 2024, took it to an independent car place and he could not find anything wrong, just re-boot computer. This is very dangerous; this is a handicap van modified for a wheelchair person to be put in through the back of the van. If I get hit in the back, I can't get my son out of the van. Extremely unsafe! I know the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica's were recalled for this and I believe the powertrain control module software was updated or the chip was replaced. This needs to be recalled for the 2018's also.

Head gasket is leaking coolant into cylinder #5. According to the Chrysler forums, this seems to be a common problem. We are seeking to share this information so that the appropriate steps may be taken to commence a recall in order to service these vehicles. The safety of all drivers/passengers should be the pinnacle of this concern. We have 105, 000 miles on this vehicle and have experienced no other mechanical issues to this point.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on an incline, the vehicle briefly lost motive before jerking forward and then returned to normal functionality. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 42,000.

While driving 45+ mph, a warning message shown stating "stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon", which is followed by loss of power and inability to control the vehicle. No error codes generated. There is an open investigation according to the nhts website, NHTSA action number: rq24004.

The engine overheated and the vehicle became with three children inside on a major new jersey highway. This vehicle was advertised for families with kids, and appears to have a safety defect. The first sign something was wrong was when the check engine light came on; shortly after the vehicle became inoperable on the highway. We took the vehicle to several different mechanic shops, including the dealership, and we were told the vehicle has a major engine defect, either a blown head gasket or a total engine failure. The vehicle is currently at a Chrysler dealership being examined.

When traveling at interstate speeds, the van suddenly went into limp mode going from 75 mph to less than 30 mph in seconds. It then told me I needed to get off the road and power down the vehicle or it would be done for me. I had to put in the flashers and take the van across 6 lanes of traffic. I had a letter from Chrysler from last summer stating was a possibility, but they just said to come in if it happened. There was no preventative measure offered. My van had to be towed to the dealer.

On 10/04/2022 I brought my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica to matt bowers for some warranty work and to check a front end creaking noise that was most prominent and unstable feeling while in reverse with the wheel turned. They performed the warranty work and notified me that the noise I was hearing was from the cv axles and that they didn't need to be replaced immediately but would need replacement if they got worse and noted that it was very low mileage for this issue. (around 40,000 miles) the noise continued but has gotten worse lately and has felt much more unsettling in reverse so I brought it to a local mechanic to confirm it was in fact the cv axles. He confirmed the axles need to be replaced and also told me he thought there was a recall relating to cv axles on the Pacifica. I looked it up and found safety recall u80 / NHTSA 18v-493 front halfshaft which covers Chrysler Pacificas manufactured between 2/22/2018 to 6/11/2018 with mdh of 022205 through 061111. My Pacifica's manufacture date is June of 2018 and has a mdh of 061105 which falls within the scope of the recall. I called the fca recall center on 02/28/2024 at 1-800-853-1403 and was told I wasn't covered under the recall. I have no service lights on but have cv axles that are severely prematurely worn on my vehicle which only has about 60,000 miles affecting the overall safety and performance. My vehicle falls under the listed recall and Chrysler has failed to make this issue right.

The transmission gives out and loses power to the wheels. This is very unsafe!! was taking a left turn and lost all power and was almost hit. This happens all the time but the other day was almost my last…….

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 check engine light came on and the vehicle experienced a slight loss of power. Later the start/stop indicator light cam on with a message saying it has malfunctioned. Upon driving the van continues to have issues going up hills and accelerating from a stopped position. The check engine light remains steady without blinking.

I am writing to formally report ongoing and unresolved electrical issues with my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. Despite replacing both the main and auxiliary batteries, several components continue to fail, including: •the third-row power seats, which do not function at all or operate intermittently, rendering them impossible to stow or adjust. There is no manual override, which is a serious design flaw for families. •the rear liftgate, which starts to open and then immediately closes without completing its cycle. •the passenger-side rear entertainment screen, which is completely non-functional while the driver’s side screen works normally. These issues have severely impacted the usability and reliability of the vehicle. The third-row seat and tailgate problems, in particular, compromise safety and convenience—especially for families with children. The third-row power seat design lacks a manual fallback, which could leave passengers stuck in emergency situations. The liftgate’s failure to open fully and the battery system’s unreliability and constant need for replacement (around every 1. 5/2 years) has left my stranded countless times. These electrical issues need recalls and solutions.

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.

Initial symptoms: auto-start/stop failed/tripped, plus excessive white exhaust smoke continuously exits (will not stop). Stopped driving vehicle ~26nov2023. Problem 1: p0303 solution 1: ignition coil and spark plug replacements @ $905. 17 (15dec2023) not fixed: error code is gone but white smoke persists. Problem 2: Chrysler tech found low coolant, traced to egr cooler. Solution 2: replaced egr cooler @ $1,319. 00 (05jan2024) not fixed: excessive white smoke still exits tailpipe and does not stop. Neither solution fixed the root cause. There is also an engine smoke smell in the cabin (we don't smoke). Potential root cause: failed head gasket forcing coolant into the engine then burning out as white exhaust.

When driving slow or even coasting, between 5 to 20 mph, the transmission slams, kicks, clunks with speed up little bet . You don't even have to have your foot on the gas, it just does it. It's also happened when accelerating from a low speed, like from 10 mph to 30 mph. And happen at the freeway when leaving the gas to lower the speed will kicks and speed ??up a little and one time in crossroads my foot over the break the engine was off then I released my foot the engine start I couldn't take left because the light came red so I put it on reverse didn't move then forward same the transmission doesn't respond then I put it on parking and wait then put it reverse and moved that's I was blocking one line of my left to right side. (( its look like with all incident the transmission shut off and on or shift it self to n then return back d )).

Failed cylinder head (misfire p0304). Need to have engine rebuilt or replaced. Also had oil cooler failure, losing coolant and oil. 71k miles, just over the 60k power train warranty. Need dealer to help fix but they are booked for next 3 months. Car initially cut out on the road in traffic after auto start stop, was scary and safety risk with family including kids onboard. Confirmed with independent mechanic, but also going to dealer as it is specialty work for that engine.

Pull into garage with <1% hybrid battery. Pressed the power button and the Pacifica threw an error about servicing the transmission and it would not disconnect the power to shut off the vehicle. Opened the hood and disconnected the 12v battery to complete remove electric from the system. The van completed a shutdown. Reconnected the 12v battery and closed the hood. Car returned to working conditions.

Loss of power, multiple times, most serious @ 70mph freeway, baby on board, 500 miles away from home. No tow, no rental, no way to get home. Previously reported to dealerships, won’t fix issue, quotes for $7k of service, issue still persist.

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.

While driving on the highway at 70 mph with children in the car, my screen system shut off quickly and then rebooted. Was concerned something worse could happen. Randomly, my car will start fine and will drive to my location, when leaving and trying to start my push/start button it will not start. I attempt many times to start the vehicle until the battery has no power. It doesn't take much to jump the battery. I've been stranded at grocery stores, work, or other places with my children. I was driving and stopped at a stop light, and my car shut off with no noticed. Had to get jumped at an intersection. When driving my car will stall when accelerating and continue driving both batteries have recently been changed out. I believe when reading about this its the powertrain control module. This has not been confirmed by the dealership, no engine light is on, the van drives great but I am afraid that it will not start after I've turned it off or will lock up and shut off when I am driving with my children in the vehicle. The no starts were farther in between with issues but has recently become more frequent. There are no prior issues to the vehicle. My safety and my children's safety is put at risk , hot weather when car won't start having to wait, stopping at an intersection and the van shuts off with my kids in the car , driving on highway and electronics on vehicle shuts off, possibility of losing control of vehicle. Last occurance was at a grocery store tried to turn on vehicle and it wouldn't start. Acted like it wanted too but couldn't turn over. 7/14/24 7/7/24 driving on the highway incident at 70 mph and computer system went out. Issues have been happening for about a year now , just lately has been progressing.

Engine misfire was reported and did all the normal maintenance to correct from a certified mechanic. Misfire was still happening so I took it to a dealership and they couldn't find the issue. They wanted 2400 just to break the engine down to find the issue. A local mechanic did a coolant test and read the engine code to see that it was a coolant leak in the oil. Blown head gasket is the culprit. He suggest while you have it apart you should actually do both sides.

- the car still has open recall z11 ( ru phev hybrid traction battery fire). - the car had open recall xe1 ru phev transmission open. - the car became stranded refusing to put the transmission into gear. - had to tow the car to the dealership. The dealer stated the traction battery fuse was blown. The dealer could not pinpoint the root cause of the issue, nor did Chrysler have parts readily available to fix. The car still shows there's an open short. - the dealer could not complete diagnosis because of the z11 recall. They stated that the traction battery can not complete self check procedure. - Chrysler is unresponsive in following up on the issue.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - the dealer / manufacturer is unable to determine the root cause. The car shut down while I was driving on the highway. It does not start, meaning no engine turnover to operate / drive the vehicle. The only known issue was the recall for the electrical component failure. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - yes, both myself and others on the highway were at great risk. As my car shut down, I lost control of the vehicle - no power steering or ability to use the accelerator. My vehicle slowed to 40mph in the right lane, while other vehicles including trucks were still traveling at high speeds and quickly approached my vehicle. They did not see the hazard lights until they were only 20 feet away. This was very close to a fatal accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - no. There is no solve to the issue. They claim, however, that they are replacing the *entire* transmission and think that this will fix the car. Yet, this seems to be an entirely separate, unrelated issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - no were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - yes, I received an error message 1 day prior. See attachment photo of dashboard. I was instructed by the dealer to drive it into the dealership the very next day - the day the car shut down on the highway.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle transmission shifted to park with the start/stop system warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where an unknown repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the gear shifter module needed to be replaced. About a year later, the contact stated that the start/stop warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a misfire in cylinder #6 was found. The dealer flushed the engine, replaced the ignition coils, and replaced the spark plug in cylinder#6. Despite the repairs, the contact became aware of a slight engine rattle at start up. The contact continued to drive the vehicle however, the check engine and start/stop warning lights returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the failure might be linked to a blown head gasket but could not determine the failure without an official diagnostic test. While the contact's husband was driving from the dealer, the engine started to overheat. The vehicle was driven to the residence and then towed to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with head gasket failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle towed back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and remained in the dealer possession. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

The check engine light came on after 2 weeks of owning the car. It threw a code p0303. We replaced the coils on 1-3-5 and spark plugs on all cylinders and the check engine light came back on after 1 week. It finally would not start. Our mechanic has removed the head and gasket and discovered the cylinder 3 was full of water and water and oil in the oil pan creating a gooey sludge. This is apparently an ongoing problem with this engine to the point that gaskets to replace the head gasket are very hard to find.