2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA Complaints

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.

Lots of power going up steep hills. Especially while AC is on. Almost complete loss of power yesterday with vehicle behind me.

Electrical glitches, where speedometer screen will go out of focus, glitch. Also transmission is going. Loud hum, catching as it changes gears and hesitates when trying to accelerated into the highway.

Yes, the problem has been reproduced by the technician. When you put the car in reverse, it would start to go in reverse and as soon as you let off the throttle or the gas pedal, it would go forward at 15 to 20 mile an hour as you slammed your other foot on the break that’s without you even touching the gas pedal. I was sitting in a stoplight and all of a sudden the car wanted to go 55 mile an hour. And I had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting other cars. Right immediately after that when I was trying to find a place to pull off the highway the car by itself decided to slam on the brakes or at least that’s the feeling that it gave because while I was trying to go to the car come to an abrupt stop right in the middle of the highway. Through all these different scenarios the thing that happened happened while I was not touching the gas pedal. This is why I feel like it’s a major safety concern not only for me and my family but other families that are out there driving also for everyone else that has bought this car and has the potential for the same thing to happen to them and they may or may not know what to do in that situation . We had the vehicle towed to Shottenkirk Chrysler dealership, where between Chrysler and the dealership we have not been able to come to a resolution on this vehicle!

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. This created a serious safety hazard in traffic. The issue is consistent with the condition described in Safety Recall U01 for 2017 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles involving the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). However, this vehicle's VIN is not included in the recall despite exhibiting the same symptoms.

Steering capability malfunctions regularly and it is available for inspection upon request. When driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel will "jump" and turn slightly. It will also vibrate when held still while driving. This occurs whether staying in a lane or changing lanes. It does not matter if the road is smooth or uneven. No, the problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or service center. The vehicle has been inspected, but the issue was not reproduced. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to 50,000. Around December 2023, it initially appeared at 50,000 miles, but it was intermittent and not able to be reproduced when test driven. After 70,000 miles, the shaking and jumping occurred regularly at highway speeds over 65mph. After 75,000 miles, the steering wheel will stick after it "jumps" over 65 mph and requires control to adjust it.

The steering wheel is physically sticking at the 11:00 and 1:00 positions during gradual turns, requiring extra effort to return to center, very scary with my kids in the car. Please investigate, dealership acting like I’m making things up.

I bought my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Touring van in February 2018 brand new from Burlington Chrysler, Burlington, NJ. In May 2026 the check engine light came on and I brought the van to my mechanic. The code he pulled was for #5 cylinder. I had the repair done. A month later in June of 2026 the che ck engine light came back on and this time the code was for the catalytic converter. On July 21, 2026 I brought the van back to my mechanic for an oil change and replacement of catalytic converter. When they put the van up, it was discovered that coolant had leaked all through the exhaust system and my mechanic suspected there was a crack in the head gasket. He searched through the Pacifica Forum online and found many, many complaints about this same issue. My mechanic completed the oil change and filled the car with coolant because it had none and advised me to bring the car to the dealership which I did. On July 22, 2026 Chrysler called and advised I need an entirely new motor. I now have to pay out-of-pocket $14,098 + tax for a new motor and catalytic converter. Chrysler advised there is nothing else they could do for me because the car is out of warranty. However, the car is only 8 years old with 76,000 miles and has had all the regular maintenance and oil changes required. It should not need to have the motor replaced at this point unless there's a major defect with these engines. I feel this is a MAJOR safety issue as this head gasket crack occurred without any warning other than the codes for #5 cylinder and catalytic converter failures. Without coolant, the car would have overheated at some point and caused engine failure and power loss. As I drive mainly on highways, this defect had the potential to cause a very bad accident. Due to the overwhelming number of complaints about this issue, I feel this warrants an investigation by your organization.

My 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has developed a progressively worsening creaking noise from the front left suspension. It began two years ago occurring only occasionally when accelerating from a full stop or exiting a driveway, and has since become constant under most normal driving conditions including acceleration, deceleration, and slow turns in either direction. The vehicle has approximately 35,000 miles and has been driven exclusively on regular paved roads with no off-road or unusual use. The pattern of gradual degradation on a low mileage vehicle suggests a corroding or deteriorating structural component rather than impact damage. An authorized Chrysler dealership recommended replacing both lower control arms at approximately $3,300, framing this as necessary to continue diagnostics rather than a confirmed repair. No specific component was isolated as the cause. This is directly relevant to Recall V15 (NHTSA 19V143000), issued for right front lower control arm ball joint separation on 2018 Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles, which could cause loss of directional control without prior warning. My vehicle was excluded from that recall despite exhibiting similar symptoms on the left side. Two documented owner reports establish safety relevance. A mechanic warned an owner that their left ball joint should be replaced or risk failure while driving, leaving them unable to steer ([XXX]). Separately, an owner reported control arm bolts falling out causing the vehicle to steer itself in random directions ([XXX]). I request NHTSA investigate whether Recall V15 should be expanded to include the left front lower control arm. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine only stalls out when stopped on roadway while driving. Vehicle also does not start up after it has been driven and is parked. It takes 10 minutes or longer to get the vehicle to start again. Check engine light comes on every time when these two situations happen, which it happens periodically. Sometimes it's 2-3 times a day, sometimes, once every two days. Once it starts back up the engine light turns off. I've taken it to 2 reputable shops and neither of them found any issues as they could not replicate the issue, the engine light is not on, and there are no codes displayed. I now have a date for a inspection which includes a test drive with the dealership.