general problems of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica - part 1

The steering wheel gets stuck when doing gentle turns at moderate speeds (30-50mph). This is a safety issue because you have to fight hard to return the steering to neutral, leading to the possible to overcorrect. The problem seems to get worse when the vehicle is hotter, or after driving for several minutes. The problem has happened for several years and is getting worse and more frequent. Changing brakes and tires has not fixed it. The dealer has been unable to diagnose and fix it and I have paid for several diagnoses out of pocket now.

Sticking steering during gradual turning from 30-70mph.

Positions during small steering corrections, especially at highway speeds and during straight-line driving. Condition feels like temporary increased steering effort or intermittent reduction of electric power steering assist. Additional force is required to move the steering wheel past the sticking point 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock. Once resistance releases, steering may suddenly move farther than intended, causing brief overcorrection or oversteer. Issue occurs repeatedly during lane correction maneuvers and creates a safety concern because steering input is not smooth, consistent, or predictable. Problem appears to be worsening over time. No warning lights were present when symptom occurred. Vehicle mileage at onset: 80,000. Current mileage: 82,500. This complaint appears related to NHTSA investigation pe25009 involving sticky steering and increased steering effort in 2017–2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles.

I am experiencing the exact issues identified in nhts campaign number: pe25009. The steering system on my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica exhibits a sticking sensation during gradual turns, particularly when the steering wheel is positioned near the 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock position. It is most prevalent at speeds over 60mph. The safety of everyone in the van has been put at risk by requiring increased steering force in the opposite direction that could easily be overcompensated for by the driver. The first time it occurred, I overcompensated which easily could have caused a crash into a guardrail or vehicle. Fortunately, it did not and I was aware of the issue and how to react when it continued during the drive. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other indicators that there's a problem with the van. After parking the vehicle, I saw online that it could be possible to reset the steering sensors by turning the wheel all the way in each direction several times. Not sure if it was a coincidence, but I did not experience the same sticking for the remainder of the drive even with reaching the same speed and taking similar, gradual turns. A service center inspection will come next.

My 2018 Pacifica hybrid suffered a catastrophic suspension separation while driving—the exact failure described in safety recall v15. The driver fortunately arrived at home safely only seeing smoke coming out form the tire rubbing against the wheel hood. Although my VIN isn't showing as 'active,' this is clearly a safety defect. I would like to open a case for a goodwill repair or a 'special policy' adjustment because this is a known dangerous failure.

When turning slightly right or left, the lower steering column makes a clicking sound while staying stuck and you have to forcefully move the steering wheel in the opposite direction to get the steering unstuck. A safety hazard of possible over correction could send someone into oncoming traffic.

As I am driving a warning pops up on the dash and says “ power steering unavailable service required “ while that shows up the steering wheel locks up. It goes away abruptly but it causes me to over turn.

The steering gets stuck trying to return wheel to center after going around a curve or slight turn. It usually happens at 10/11 and 1/2 o'clock positions. It gets stuck and then I have to either slow down and turn the wheel again a little farther, then try to turn it back to center to get it unstuck. This has been replicated by an independent service center. This has been going on for the past 6-7 months. Prior to this, the only thing that was noticed was when reversing and turning at the same time the wheel would shake like something was loose. If on a gravel road it can sometimes feel like the steering is shaky or loose and like there isn't full control. I took this to an independent service center for repair and they explained my whole power steering gear assembly would need to be replaced.

Vehicle experienced intermittent and sudden loss of power steering assist while driving. Steering becomes extremely heavy without warning, creating a risk of loss of control. This is the same symptom addressed by recall v53 (power steering assist loss). The recall was previously marked as completed, but the defect has returned, indicating an ineffective recall remedy. Issue occurs during normal driving and is reproducible. Chrysler claims safety recalls have a warranty and will not repair or reinspect it.

When we are driving around small curves as well as straight, the steering locks up. I am reporting as I was told to because this happens in all of these vehicles. If I move the wheel a little bit it comes out of it. This is our main vehicle and it just did it on the interstate going 80. It is a complete safety concern and extremely dangerous to be dealing with it especially when you have your children with you. It has been doing it since I had gotten the car back in March and it is making me nervous.

Have lost power steering intermittently while driving.

When driving steering at a slight angle to the right it feels like it sticks when corrected with a slight turn to the left.

When encountering a long gradual curve on the highway, the steering sticks and does not return to center unless a conscious effort is made to turn the steering wheel back. If this is not done the vehicle would continue into a state of over-steer. Although this typically happens at highway speeds (55-75 mph), it has occasionally occurred at slower speeds (35-45 mph). This has been reported to two different Chrysler dealers numerous times since I purchased it in February 2018 and neither acknowledged the condition. Each time both said that I am the only owner to report the incident. This has occurred in virtually every state along the i95 corridor from massachusetts to florida. The current odometer reading is 101,386.

While driving the yellow eps (electrical power steering) light came on. Steering felt more stiff than usual. After parking the vehicle and turning the engine off to make a stop and coming back to turn it on (approx. 5 minutes later) the light was now red. Power steering had completely failed and would not work at all.

1) while in a gradual turn, with the steering wheel in the 10 or 11 o'clock position, and/or in the 1 or 2 o'clock position, the steering gets stuck and requires to over correct. This happens pretty much all the time and it is very scary at the moment. It feels like you need to yank the wheel so much that you might hit a car next to you. Apparently this is a very known problem with this 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. At the dealership, we have just been brushed off and told they cannot re-create the problem, but yet you can google search and see how many people have this problem. The vehicle is available for inspection. There are no warning lamps or messages when this happens. This has been happening since we bought the car in 2018. 2) loss of power while in a turn. Quite a few times I have been making a left hand turn at an intersection and during the time I am accelerating, there is a couple second period where it feels as though I have lost power and am just coasting, but then the power kicks back in. I'm not sure if the car is not getting fuel to it, or if its power steering. It just feels dead, but there are no warning lights, messages or symptoms prior or during. I have not had this inspected yet, and it has happened a couple of times in the last couple of months.

Electronic stability control light came on and car shook. States I need to service it.

The steering becomes stiff or seems to get stuck when between 10 or 11 o'clock position. It appears to be slowly deteriorating. It has not been reported yet and no warning lights showing. It does not yet stop the vehicle from being in control. It has been noticed over last year and not always as severe as other times.

Intermittent sticking sensation at 11 and 1 o’clock.

Steering sometimes catches momentarily at the 1 o'clock and 11 o'clock positions. Seems most common during turns at highway speeds. Been monitoring intermittent occurrences for about a year. On 11/26/2025, it occurred several times in close succession while making gradual turns going 35 to 40 mph.

At slow speeds while turning, the steering column shudders and vibrates. At higher speeds the steering seems to get tight and needs to be forced back in to the correct direction. This has been occurring for approximately 6 months. My car is out of warranty. It could become a dangerous situation.

Power steering impaired while going about 35-40 mph around gentle curves. Carplay will no longer work with the usb port wired to phone.

When taking turns the steering "sticks" amd it takes extra physical force to "unstick" the car. While unsticking by turning the steering wheel harder than normal, it either crosses into uncoming traffic or runs off the shoulder. It unsticks but with the extra physical force, it generally causes you to over correct and/or swerve/veer all over the roadway. 2018 with 72k miles.

Steering has been sticking when making turns.

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.

Pe25009 - my van has a fault in alignment with this investigation. On long turns with the wheel between 11 and 1 the steering feels heavy then it feels like the system overcorrects. It has done this intermittently for a few months now.

The steering has been sticking causing oversteering at different speeds. This has been getting progressively worse as time has gone on. This is a serious issue as the oversteering to get the car back in a lane is going to cause a serious accident especially at higher rates of speed on the interstates.

Absolutely, jenna — here’s a more natural, human-sounding version of your NHTSA report draft: --- vehicle issue report: Chrysler Pacifica I’m reporting ongoing issues with my Chrysler Pacifica that I believe could be safety-related: clunking sound: the vehicle makes a clunking noise when shifting gears. Steering stickiness: the steering doesn’t always respond smoothly — it occasionally sticks when turning. This makes the car go wider than intended during turns and lane changes, which feels unsafe. I’m concerned they may point to a larger mechanical issue and could affect driver control. I’d appreciate it if NHTSA could look into whether this is part of a known defect or something that needs further investigation.

Over the past two weeks, on three occasions, the steering "stuck" momentarily (for about a second each time) during low-speed small turns at around 15 mph. Once, a "service power steering" message appeared for approximately 2 seconds, then disappeared; we did not see this message again. Yesterday, the steering locked completely when moving the vehicle from a parking space. We were unable to steer at all while trying to move the vehicle forwards or backwards out of the space at about 5 mph. Turning the vehicle off and on again did not resolve the issue. A "steering wheel and exclamation point" warning light appeared on console. Vehicle was towed. Dealer's service department will investigate.

Problem: steering wheel sticking in turns. I own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The issue am facing with my car is that the steering wheel is sticking while trying to turn. This issue seems to be happening to so many Chrysler Pacifica owners.

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.

Report is related to the probe into a sticking sensation on gradual turns. Particularly when at the 1 and 11 o clock position.

The steering sticks when when turning in curve left and right turns causing me to sometimes over correct.

Often when making a gradual turn such as exiting an interstate onto the off ramp, the steering wheel will stick/lock at the 3 o clock position. This requires considerable force to return the wheel to the 12 o clock and straight position. I took it into the dealership and they found nothing wrong but it seems like an issue with the steering rack. I've heard numerous reports of others encountering this as well and I want it to be known this is a common issue. There is no grinding, scraping or noise indicating something is broken but seems to be a manufacturing defect. It is extremely dangerous and can sometimes be rather difficult to correct the wheel.

Steering experiences sticking during gradual curves in the road. It requires some effort to return the steering wheel from the stuck position and I’m worried that it won’t someday and cause a collision.

The steering periodicall locks up. This doesn't happen offten and only lasts a second or two but at high speeds does give a scare to the driver. Also when turning the steering in a tight turn like in a parking lot, the steering jerks/wabbles.