2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA Complaints

I have written about repeated issues with Auto Start/Stop on this vehicle. Prior dealers have not been able to isolate the problem. Some of the problems seem to mimic a much earlier issue that went to court but did not happen during the timeframe of the class action suit. The prior submission to NHTSA was with this tracking number: 11681967 . I am now submitting repair information that aligns with my complaint of the Auto/Start stop on this vehicle. I am submitting this because it helps to support my earlier submission. Thank you

Mid February 2025, while driving through a university campus 25 mph the vehicle died. All dash indicators went out, lost engine power, no warnings or indicators displayed on instrument panel. I held onto the steering wheel until stopped in the street without hitting college students or cars. Shifted to Park. Turned off and tried to start but the dash remained out and no engine start. Turned engine off again. Removed key fob. Got out of vehicle and waved traffic to go around. Got back in and started with success. Days later dash displayed hybrid charging maintenance required. Took vehicle to dealer and reported problems. I reported the issue on Chrysler web page. Dealer told me that the problem is a failed hybrid battery. Waiting for under warranty hybrid battery repairs.

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.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at speeds above 30 MPH, after making a slight turn to the right, the steering wheel became sticky, and added force was required to turn the steering wheel back to center. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed of the NHTSA Action Number: PE25009 (STEERING). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the investigation. The failure mileage was 114,000.

The steering occasionally makes noises and sticks while turning. I feel that if this happens at the wrong time it could potentially cause an accident.

When negotiating some turns the steering wheel "sticks" and resists turning back out of the turn a little. It makes slight corrections jerky.

The vehicle jerks or hesitates to shift into gear when I get near 35 mph. It is forceful and loud. Somewhat like initial jerk pulling off from a roller coaster. My safety and the safety of my children have been at risk because slow moving vehicles are a hinderance to the flow of traffic. I have almost been rear-ended several times as the speed limit has increased in an area and I can't increase my speed as quickly as others behind me. Also, the delayed acceleration with the force of the jerk causes me to move forward too fast. This seems to be a transmission problem that all of the dealers in the area try to ignore. They claim they cannot reproduce the error but it happens each time I drive it. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, nor insurance representatives as I have not YET had an accident from this safety issue. There were no warning signs when the issue first appeared. I first noticed it the day after purchasing it from Westgate Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, 6421 Old Westgate Rd, Raleigh, NC 27617. I reported the issue to them within days of noticing and brought the vehicle in several times for troubleshooting. I have since switched servicing over to Crossroads Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Henderson. They recognized that my batteries were both dying and replaced both of those. That never stopped the jerking/hesitating, it just made it less intense. I brought it into that dealership as well for this issue several times and they cannot reproduce the issue either. I have searched online for solutions and on a Pacifica forum online, many other owners note this issue with low mileage on their vehicle. This is indeed a manufacturer issue that it seems the manufacturer wants to cover up and dealers have no solution for it because of this.

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.

The contact owns 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving and making a slight left turn on several occasions, the steering wheel became stuck and failed to return to the center. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel was forcefully returned to center to straighten the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

while driving on I40 east of Ashville, the power steering became sluggish. like turning in molasses. I had to manhandle the steering wheel to complete the turns (at 70 mpg). My wife also drove on I40 and felt the same thing I was feeling. The next 3 days it did not do it again, I was driving in town. Later I felt it while going on a curve at about 62 mph. This also happened to be going up an incline. Earlier on i40 it did not mapper if going up hill or down hill.