Power Train Problems of Chrysler Pacifica - part 1

While driving on a highway during rush-hour traffic, my car had an alert that said “ stop safely vehicle will shut off soon” I quickly pulled over on the side of the highway and my vehicle completely stopped working within a minute. This all happened in about 30 seconds. I would step on the gas and it wouldn’t go even though the car was still on and in drive. It was extremely scary to lose driving speed while driving so fast on the highway out of nowhere. I feel very lucky that my children were not in the car considering it’s a minivan and that I was able to get over to the side of the road. I am worried that if this happens to somebody else they might not be as lucky it was extremely scary. It was during rush-hour traffic with semi trucks on the highway. I did not feel safe in my car with the speeds and size of the cars flying by me so I got out of my car and stood on the other side of the guard rail.

See all problems of the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica 🔎.

Vehicle: 2022 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. Approximately 25,300 miles on Saturday 9/12/26 while driving at highway speeds the following message displayed "stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon". When the message displayed the check engine light illuminated as well as the limp mode light. In limp mode the vehicle reduced speed rapidly and would not accelerate above 20 mph. This happened at highway speeds on a multilane highway. We were able to get to the shoulder, but it was very dangerous changing lanes in limp mode. Turning the vehicle on and off several times cleared errors except the check engine light. We were able to get off the highway and get home without the message or limp mode triggering again. The check engine light stayed illuminated for 24 hours and went off when I refueled the vehicle the next day. For the next week I drove at local speeds with no issues. On Saturday 9/19/26 the vehicle would not start. This is a plugin hybrid and was fully charged. The electric motor would not start, and the check engine light illuminated again. I turned the vehicle off/on 3 times to get it to start. I did my errand and returned home. When I returned home, I turned the vehicle off then on again and the check engine light cleared. On Tuesday 9/21/26 I dropped the vehicle off for service, getting there without issue. The dealership stated the transmission will need to be rebuilt. Problem code is p0a43-00. This is the second transmission failure since ownership. I've had the vehicle serviced only at the dealer where purchased. The dealership confirmed the first incident with the same problem code was diagnosed on 1/30/24. The transmission was replaced at this time. The van had 12,134 miles. The 2024 incident also was triggered at highway speeds. If my memory is correct, I believe I reported the first incident to the nthsb at the time.

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All relevant recalls on the vehicle have been previously performed. On 8/25/2026, after starting the vehicle it displayed a warning message to "stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon. " that message was able to be cleared after four cycles of turning the engine off and re-starting. After driving the vehicle for approximately 5 miles, while the car was in motion, the message returned to "stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon. " the van was pulled over and turned off and cycled back on in an attempt to clear the warning as it was less than 2 miles to go until home. The message cleared and was able to be driven the rest of the way home. It currently has a yellow, illuminated powertrain malfunction light. Plan is to have the vehicle towed to Chrysler for diagnosis and repair.

The car rapidly came to a stop as I was starting to press the brake lightly. The check engine light came on, the car made a grinding noise, and the screen said it was turning off cruise control when it had not been engaged.

See all problems of the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica 🔎.

My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica touring l plus is experiencing coolant leaking into a cylinder, diagnosed by. This has rendered the vehicle undrivable. The pentastar 3. 6l v6 engine used in this vehicle has a well-documented pattern of coolant intrusion into cylinders due to head gasket failure across the 2017–2019 Chrysler Pacifica model years, based on extensive owner complaints already on file with NHTSA and reported by consumer advocacy organizations. Despite this known pattern, no recall currently exists covering this specific defect for 2019 model year vehicles. This is a safety concern because coolant intrusion into a cylinder can cause sudden misfires, rough running, loss of power, and potential stalling while driving — creating a hazard in traffic, particularly at highway speeds or during turns/merges. I contacted Chrysler case management regarding this issue. The manufacturer has attempted to attribute responsibility to the dealership rather than acknowledging this as a manufacturer defect in the engine design/manufacturing, despite the well-documented pattern across multiple model years of the same engine. I have also not been provided a rental vehicle despite my vehicle being undrivable.

Head gasket leaking and may cause engine to lock up while driving.

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As I pulled up to stop, in electric mode, at a stop light, the display screen pulled up a message to pull over safely because the engine would stop soon, within about 10 seconds the screen showed the engine stopped. I was still at the light. I tried restarting the vehicle, moving the shifter from drive to park and back, pressing the park button several times with no success. With cars honking behind me, I got out of the car, told them my car had died and asked them to drive around me. I got back in the car, repeated the actions a few times and the car started in electric mode. I drove home (about 5 miles) without incident. Check engine light was on. I pulled 2 codes u0412 and u029a. I have had the u0412 code a few times before with only the check engine light coming on. It would go away in a day or two (no check engine light and no code). U029a is new.

When driving on freeway the vehicle overheated and engine warning light flashed and had to come to stop at side of freeway. The vehicle had lost its coolant from a rear heater hose connection. The car was towed to dealer and the repair comment was that a part was deformed from mis-assembly (or words to that effect) - rear heater core fitting clip distorted causing hose come of the core. This was an early life failure.

The vehicle was purchased used on 8/5/26 with no problems or recalls. I was driving home from the dealership on the highway about 1. 5 hours and the vehicle had a warning light come on telling me to pull over safely and the vehicle would shut off. I did so. The vehicle would not restart. I called for a tow truck and was stranded for 2 hours. I had the vehicle towed to my local dealership service center because I was closer to home versus the dealer I bought it from. The vehicle is still under warranty and will get looked at. This is a huge frustrating situation.

See all problems of the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica 🔎.

The vehicle has experienced three separate incidents involving a sudden, unexpected loss of motive power at speed accompanied by a warning message ("please pull off the road safely, vehicle will shut off soon") and a turtle icon ("red turtle of death") on the instrument cluster. Two of these incidents occurred on major highways at speeds exceeding 60 mph. Incident history: February 2026 (heavy melting snow, boston, MA): vehicle experienced complete loss of propulsion while driving on a city street. Dealership (mcgovern Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram) held the vehicle for nearly a month under diagnostic trouble code p167b ("controlled system shutdown"). Replaced occupant restraint module, which did not resolve the issue. Vehicle eventually resumed operating on its own. Recent incident (heavy rain spray, highway >60 mph): sudden loss of motive power on high-speed road. Instrument panel displayed turtle icon and forced an emergency pull-off. After cycling ignition, drive capability returned. Obd-ii scanner returned code p0000 (generic placeholder concealing proprietary Chrysler hybrid/bpcm/pim isolation fault codes). Two days later (dry conditions, highway >60 mph): third sudden loss of motive power at 60+ mph, forcing an immediate pull-off into traffic shoulder. Check engine light remained on with code p0000. Safety risk & technical context: unexpected loss of motive power at highway speeds creates a critical safety hazard for vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. These symptoms closely align with high-voltage isolation faults and internal short-circuiting documented in NHTSA recall 23v-010 / pe22-008 (eflite transmission internal connector wiring harness short). The vehicle presents a recurring hazard where moisture or intermittent electrical shorts trigger a high-voltage system shutoff, leaving the driver with limited or no propulsion without warning.

My car is a part of NHTSA campaign no. 26v362 / manufacturer recall 52d and on July 30th, 2026 it suffered a fatal transmission error and stopped on the highway. I am unable to drive it and it officially needs its entire transmission rebuilt. My wife was driving back from work and the car shutdown in the middle of the highway and she had to risk her life to get it to an emergency zone. The turtle symbol came on the dash and the dealer confirmed the transmission needs to be rebuilt because of a manufacturer defect.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver, and the vehicle stalled. The message "power train" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the auxiliary battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

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The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power while driving in active traffic due to a severe hybrid powertrain malfunction. Immediately prior to the failure, the dashboard displayed a critical warning message: "stop safely – vehicle will shut off soon. " the vehicle then lost all propulsion, leaving it completely disabled and forcing an emergency maneuver to the shoulder. This dangerous stalling event occurred twice. The safety of my family was put at extreme risk as we were trapped in a dead vehicle in active traffic lanes, creating a severe rear-end collision hazard. The malfunctioning system involves the hybrid propulsion system, specifically the hybrid control module (hcpm) or internal transaxle wiring. This issue began immediately after a dealership performed the mandatory 44d emissions recall software flash repair. The vehicle is currently with dealership for more than a week for diagnosis. The problem has not yet been permanently repaired by the manufacturer, but diagnostic trouble codes should be stored in the vehicle's computer modules.

I brought my vehicle to the dealer for safety recall 52d more than three weeks ago. They will not return the vehicle to me because they say the battery can explode. They have not offered enough money to cover the base model rental car. (I have since rented a slightly better car at my own expense. The allowance would not have covered the cheapest car, though. ) no parts have been ordered. The dealer is not returning phone calls to Chrysler customer care. The dealer claims Chrysler technicians won't return their calls. No timeline for repair has been made. I do not believe they intend to return or repair my vehicle.

See all problems of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica 🔎.

On Saturday July 25th, while driving at 70 mph on the highway, my van lost the ability to accelerate or maintain velocity. There was no warning or indication that this was going to happen. There was a beep and the screen flashed to a screen that said to pull over immediately and safely. Surprised and scared, I had to cut across 3 lanes of traffic while losing velocity cutting off a tractor trailer because my velocity dropped quickly. After restarting, the vehicle ran normally. I drove in the slow lane for a mile an it happened again. I was able to get the vehicle off the highway and drive slowly and safely on backroads to get the van to a ourisman Chrysler in clarksville, MD. The check engine light was on when I arrived at the dealer. Immediately upon arrival I was told by a service representative that it will most likely need a new transmission. On Tuesday he told me a tech verified it needs a new transmission. He told me the vehicle was classified as vor (vehicle off road) meaning it was unsafe or unable to be driven on the road and that parts were ordered and expedited. I did not hear back from the dealership until Friday at which point they surprisingly told me my vehicle was ready to pick up. In an email I was told: "what was found was a stored fault code p0a43-00 drive motor "a" position sensor circuit intermittent. There is a TSB 21-037-26 for that fault code and vehicle going into limp mode and the repair is a rebuild kit for the transmission. " despite this they also said in an email: "cleared codes and perform test drive. Code never came back and it states in the procedure you must verify the problem meaning it happened or is happening via active fault code which it is not. " they refuse to fix the problem, despite acknowledging it happened. I was told to take the vehicle back and drive it as normal until it happens again, which I refused due to safety concerns. The vehicle currently has a bumper-to-bumper warranty.

See all problems of the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica 🔎.

This 2021 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid has a severe and recurring history of catastrophic high-voltage hybrid powertrain and transmission failures that cause a sudden loss of motive power while driving, presenting an immediate safety hazard. The vehicle has already required two full automatic transmission (eflite evt) replacements under factory warranty due to internal failures. It has experienced multiple high-voltage component repairs, including software modules for the power inverter. The vehicle is currently experiencing a recurring failure and is displaying active diagnostic trouble code p0a78 (drive motor "a" inverter performance), indicating a critical fault in the high-voltage hybrid propulsion system. Prior to the current failure, the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle experienced propulsion system degradation. This failure mode risks a sudden shutdown of the hybrid drive system at highway speeds, creating a severe risk of rear-end collisions or being stranded in active traffic. The recurring nature of these transmission and inverter failures indicates a systemic safety defect in the hybrid propulsion system. The issue and the active p0a78 code have been pulled, reproduced, and confirmed by an authorized dealership (diehl automotive of robinson), where the vehicle is currently held and available for inspection. The manufacturer has been notified via an open corporate case (#97399722).

While driving, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off without warning. The engine stalled while the vehicle was in motion, causing an immediate loss of acceleration and power and creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. This vehicle previously received the safety recall u01 repair in January 2018, but the same engine stall condition has returned. The recall remedy does not appear to have permanently corrected the problem.

On 7/16/26 vehicle would not start; high-pitched noise heard near engine during no-start diagnosis. Towed to goldy Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram, huntington wv. Per dealer invoice #27136: blown 500-amp main battery fuse found; after jumping past fuse, white smoke from exhaust and no coolant in system, diagnosed as blown head gasket. Repair: both-side head gasket replacement plus fuse assembly. Vehicle in shop 7+ weeks, returned 9/4/26 with new unresolved issue: strong smell of burned electronics and antifreeze in cabin. All failed components available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: head gasket failure/coolant intrusion caused engine hydrolock, a sudden uncommanded loss of engine power that can occur without warning, including while driving in traffic. Burned-electronics smell raises electrical/fire risk; antifreeze odor raises cabin fume exposure and window-fogging visibility concerns. Confirmed by dealer: yes. Goldy diagnosed and documented the fuse failure, coolant loss, and head gasket failure in writing, and performed the repair. Manufacturer/police/insurance inspection: not by police or insurance. Spoke by phone with a Chrysler hq rep 5 times (8/13-9/1/26) who was informed; no confirmed independent physical inspection by manufacturer beyond dealer's own diagnosis. Warning signs: p0304 misfire on cylinder 3 appeared first, progressing to complete no-start with high-pitched noise, prompting the tow-in and hydrolock diagnosis.

Vehicle repeatedly entered limp mode / lost power at highway speed a few days after the dealer performing the remedy for NHTSA recall 23v- 010 (fca recall 03a, transmission internal wiring connector short). The recall remedy did not correct the defect. Prior to the recall work, the van entered limp mode on 2 other occasions. Timeline: on 7/10/26, park Chrysler Jeep in burnsville, mn performed the open recall remedy (recall 03a / NHTSA 23v-010) on our vehicle. We informed the dealer we were departing on a multi-week interstate family road trip, and the dealer released the vehicle as repaired. On [xxx], about 40 minutes into our trip, the vehicle entered limp mode with a severe loss of motive power while driving at highway speed on [xxx] between northfield, mn and [xxx]. We were able to reach the shoulder safely. After multiple restart attempts, the vehicle resumed operation. On [xxx], the vehicle entered limp mode 2 additional times under the same conditions on [xxx] in IL, and on [xxx] in in, again at highway speed and with heavy tra?c present. In one case there was barely enough shoulder to pull over safely. Each event created a sudden, significant speed differential with surrounding tra?c. On 7/16/26 the vehicle was taken to bob chandler Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram in columbus, OH. The dealer's diagnosis is that the transmission must be replaced. The repair order id is [xxx]. The vehicle is at that dealership awaiting parts. Safety concern: the vehicle lost motive power at highway speeds 3 times in two days after the recall remedy was performed and the vehicle was returned to us as repaired. Occupants at the time included 2 adults and 3 children. No crash, injury, or fire occurred, but each event presented a serious collision risk from sudden deceleration in tra?c. This experience is consistent with the concern in NHTSA's reopened investigation that the software-only recall remedy does not address the underlying hardware defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(.

2024 Chrysler Pacifica completely shutdown during a left turn. Engine died all electrical stopped functioning. Had to restart the vehicle to move the vehicle. This condition happened twice last week, but has not happened since. Fortunately it was a low speed situation rather than at highway speeds. Highway speed could have been a very serious situation with the potential of being rear-ended from high speed traffic. Vehicle has 27,500 miles on the odometer and was driving normally prior to the shutdowns. Chrysler dealer has been notified of the situation, but an appointment is 7-10 days out. No warning lights or messages were noticed.

I had my cylinder heads, valves and head gasket replaced over a year ago and drove 15k miles and I am having the same issues again. The dealer is trying there very best not to honor my valid powertrain parts warranty like saying the head gasket is only covered for 12 months and denying my claim but my cylinder heads and top end have a 3 year 100k mile warranty since they were installed not to long ago and they are trying to deny my claim using the head gasket. I have seen and read online that these engines all have similar problems with the head gaskets.

Returning from [xxx] to [xxx] area wed. Xxx, traveling at ~75 mph on [xxx], I experienced a loss of power on a mild incline and an associated “stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon” instrument cluster message. I had to move hazardously in traffic while coasting to a stop on the right shoulder. This occurred with ~24,810 total miles on the vehicle since I purchased it new. I turned off the vehicle, waited a few minutes and then restarted it. I continued the drive with the vehicle acting normally until it happened again at 24,897 odometer miles, same message with same behavior. Traveling ~75 mph, I again had to move hazardously in traffic to coast to the right shoulder. Except now I notice the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) is illuminated. I again turned the vehicle off, waited a few minutes and then restarted it. I was able to drive normally to the Chrysler dealership (autonation in katy TX) where I spoke to a service representative. He recorded my VIN and took some notes as I explained what happened, but would not plug in a code reader as I requested. Instead he said I would need to leave the vehicle there for at least 24 hours or bring it back later. Since I was still ~55 miles from home, had my wife and cargo still in the vehicle and wanted to know what malfunction code(s) were present, we elected to drive the vehicle home. On the way home, I stopped at both an advance auto and an autozone where both read the only code present as p0a43, see attachment. I also noted that the emission ready status was showing "no". I then drove the vehicle less than a mile to our home where it has remained in my driveway. Mileage is now 24972 on the odometer. I plugged in and charged the vehicle to 100% high voltage battery state. Two days later on xxx, I started the vehicle and the mil is no longer illuminated, still at 24972 odometer. The dealer promised me that the code would remain and could be read later, but it did not and nobody erased it. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C.

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly experienced reduced power and hard shifting. Additionally, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn while driving. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.

While I was driving to drop my kids to school my Chrysler Pacifica phev dashboard chimed, the check engine light made an appearance, and the screen in my gauge cluster showed a large warning message. “stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon. ” I kept my foot in it and guided the Pacifica hybrid through the off-ramp and into the rest stop’s parking lot and turned off the ignition and engine for 5 minutes and I started the engine and car allowed me to drive back home . The power tram warning got away that evening when I started my engine . The same problem came back again many times since then. I googled it and found that this is very serious problem which may lead fire . I would like to report this issue now.

While driving the vehicle the minivan will lose all acceleration. There is usually a preceding error displayed on the dashboard to pull over immediately. The dealership has thus far been unable to fix it.

The contact owns a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The failure had occurred with two minor children seated in the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the turtle icon was displayed, and the adaptive cruise control was deactivated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was scheduled for diagnostic testing. Additionally, there was an unknown recall with a similar failure to be repaired at the scheduled appointment. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the shifter module warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a shifter module failure. The contact was informed that the shifter module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the following day, the vehicle was started; however, the gear shifter failed to shift as needed. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the battery was replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that the failure was possibly caused by the wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were discontinued. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle went into limp mode, shuddered, and then stalled. The message to "stop - pull over safely" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was an intermittent drive motor position sensor failure inside the transmission, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Powertrain: harsh, jerky shifting, violent, lurching gear changes, pause before engaging and high revving and lack of acceleration, mostly noticed at 50-60mph steering pe25009 - catching or sticking when making minor or gradual turns in either direction when the steering wheel is positioned near the 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock positions. It requires extra force to break free and jerks the steering.

On June 14, 2026, one day after purchase, while driving through the mojave desert on I-15 in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees fahrenheit, the check engine light illuminated and remained on through southern California. The vehicle required a jump start after being parked in a covered multi-level parking structure for 5 days in long beach California after which the check engine light cleared. On June 19, 2026, six days after purchase, during the return trip the high voltage hybrid traction battery failed completely without warning in active las vegas highway traffic. The vehicle lost all motive power and coasted to the roadside. Three minor passengers were aboard, the youngest age 13. The occupants were stranded in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for approximately two hours awaiting a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Chrysler dealership where the high voltage traction battery was confirmed failed and replaced under warranty. A valley pan oil leak was also discovered and hybrid software update were also performed. An outstanding curtain airbag safety recall had never been remedied prior to the breakdown. The towing company reported they had been towing multiple Pacifica hybrids with similar failures during the same las vegas heat wave, suggesting a systemic issue with the high voltage battery thermal management system in extreme heat. The vehicle had been purchased six days prior with fewer than 1,000 miles of ownership at time of failure.

While driving at highway speed, my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica phev suddenly entered limp mode, displaying a red turtle warning light and red battery icon, and lost propulsion. My family was forced to pull onto the shoulder of a busy expressway, creating an immediate safety risk to occupants and other drivers. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Chrysler dealership where it has remained for nearly four weeks. A witech scan confirmed the battery pack control module is showing as unprogrammed. A second scan three weeks later confirmed the bpcm remains unprogrammed and three active dtcs are present. The dealership has confirmed these findings but is attempting to release the vehicle in this condition. Records show recall 03a for loss of motive power was previously performed on this vehicle. The same symptoms have recurred, suggesting the recall remedy may not have been effective. The dealership is denying warranty coverage while refusing to program the bpcm that would confirm or deny that coverage. Stellantis customer care has closed my case twice without resolution. I have formally refused pickup on safety grounds.

Upon attempting to charge the vehicle with factory supplied level 1 charger, a dashboard message appeared stating "service charging system" and the vehicle would not charge. Took the vehicle to a service station and scanned the vehicle. Listed error code is p0d27-00. The code could not be cleared and the vehicle was unable to be charged. Vehicle had to be taken to a Chrysler dealer for the code to be cleared in order to charging capability to be restored. This was considered a "software" issue and not covered under the vehicles warranty - despite it directly affecting the fuel/hybrid propulsion system. This defect and inability to clear the code means the vehicle cannot be charged, reducing its range and fuel economy, and increasing emissions. This is a critical issue and should not incur customer expense to have the code cleared.

While stopped at a traffic light on a downhill slope, my 2023 Chrysler Pacifica suddenly applied the brakes by itself and shifted into park as I began to accelerate through the intersection. I did not touch the shifter. The vehicle locked up abruptly in the middle of the intersection. There were no warning lights, alerts, or messages before or after the incident. I had no idea as to what was happening. I was scared the car behind me was going to run into me. I was fortunate that she didn't this behavior is extremely dangerous and could have caused a collision. I have since learned that the 2023 Pacifica has numerous electrical?system technical service bulletins, and this appears to be an unintended auto?park activation caused by an electrical or sensor fault. Vehicle details: 2023 Chrysler Pacifica, VIN [xxx]. I am submitting this complaint so this issue can be investigated as a potential safety defect affecting other vehicles as well. This incident scared me badly, and I no longer feel confident that the vehicle will behave predictably in traffic. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

2018 Chrysler Pacifica with the 3. 6l v6 engine had a check engine light turn. At same time a vibration started, which was most noticable when the car was in idle. Also, a foggy exhaust started at the same time. No temperature or other warnings were occuring. After driving it to the repair facility the car was not able to be turned on. The findings are that there is a headgasket leak and radiator failure that resulted in coolant entering into the cylinder. That resulted in either hydrolock or engine overheating, causing engine failure. Again no temperature warning or other indication of a major issue was provided. The likely repair is a full engine and radiator replacement. It appears that many other Chrysler Pacifica vehicles have reported similar issues with the 3. 6l pentastar engine. No recall is currently available for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica for this issue, however, it looks like the older versions (~2011-2013) have had a recall for similar issues. I have reached out to Chrysler corporate and requested support on this repair.

Vehicle suffered sudden loss of motive power due to diagnostic trouble code p0a43 (drive motor a position sensor circuit intermittent). The failure is caused by thermal and chemical degradation of the internal transmission wiring harness, resulting in an internal electrical short submerged in transmission fluid. The vehicle is able to be powered on again and driving can be continued however certain speeds trigger the issue. The check engine light appears and remains for a short period. The vehicle was purchased through carmax of naperville, IL [xxx]. The vehicle began to experience the defined issue the last week of may 2026. The vehicle was brought to carmax [xxx]. Carmax transferred the repair of the vehicle to castle Chrysler of naperville/stellantis IL, and they conducted the initial repair. Stellantis attempted to mask this hardware failure via software recalibrations under NHTSA recall 03a (23v-010) rather than replacing physical parts. The vehicle was returned and appeared to be repaired. [xxx] the same issue occurred while on a cross country road trip. The vehicle was able to be driven but under specific speed conditions as not to activate the transmission failure. [xxx] the vehicle was brought to an independent technician at stephens automotive in palatine, IL and they were able to verify the issue and documented it. The vehicle was then brought to castle Chrysler on [xxx], and the vehicle has been there since. Stellantis later acknowledged the true physical failure via warranty extension xe1 and TSB 21-014-26, requiring electric rebuild kit #68729719ab. The vehicle has been continuously grounded at castle Chrysler since [xxx] (>30 cumulative days) because part #68729719ab is on indefinite backorder. Stellantis's failure to supply hardware repairs leaves the vehicle inoperable and creates a severe safety hazard on public roads. Stellantis case #[xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).