2024 CHRYSLER PACIFICA Complaints

On a brand new vehicle with less than a few hundred miles, the electronic parking brake engaged and would not disengage until the battery was disconnected. This left an error code and the dealership replaced brake actuator. Then, the SafeHold feature started to randomly activate when vehicle started to move from a stop light or stop sign. An error message would display on the screen, the vehicle shifted itself into park and activated the parking brake. The message indicated the vehicle had to be turned off and restarted. After restarting, the parking brake would disengage and the transmission could be shifted back into drive. This happened in the middle of traffic. This did not leave any kind of computer error code and therefore the dealership was not able to address it. Separately, the parking brake would refuse to disengage after repeated attempts, again without an error code, and the dealership was not able to address it. The vehicle has currently been under inspection for over forty days in total, and over twenty days since the last incident. The "SafeHold" safety feature is an accident waiting to happen.

I purchased a 2024 Pacifica hybrid new off the lot (~1200 miles on it at time of purchase). Two weeks into ownership I was exiting the highway and I heard a clunk and lost all engine power on the vehicle and a warning screen came up telling me to pull over. I was able to pull over in a "safe" location where cars were able to see me and pull around me. I could not move anywhere else as the car has no power when I hit the accelerator pedal. I sat in the car for a few minutes and after a google search it told me to try turning it back on to regain power to limp it home and that worked (Check engine light still on). I took it to the nearest dealer and they told me that the code went into a stored state and they couldn't do anything and for me to just keep driving it and keep an eye on it. Two days later I had it happen again and i just barely made it to the shoulder but almost got rear ended. I took it into the dealer and told them they have to fix it as I don't feel safe in this car nor do I feel safe having my wife drive my children in it. They said this was a common issue with the transmission that was supposedly fixed in the 2024 but from what they are seeing it looked to be the same issues as prior years which requires a new transmission. They told me Chrysler wouldn't warranty it until they could replicate the issue with their computer attached. They have put 1000 miles on the car but haven't been able to replicate it. I have called Chrysler multiple times and they have a case file open but aren't taking action until the dealer can recreate this issue. This is a huge safety risk and could cause a major accident if it happened in a construction zone or somewhere where we couldn't pull off safely! This needs to be addressed and force Chrysler to fix these issues because I know I'm not the only one with this issue (according to many online forums).

I was driving the vehicle and exiting the highway when the transmission disengaged and i lost all engine power to the vehicle. Luckily i was able to pull over safely out of the way of traffic but was very lucky it didnt happen 5 minutes earlier as i was in a work zone on the highway with no pull off or it could have been a major issue and potential caused an accident. I took it to the dealer and they said the transmission error went into a stored state and there was nothing they could do but i should keep an eye on it. 2 days later it did it again and i almost got rear ended trying to get over to the shoulder safely. I took it to the dealer and told them i didnt want the car back until it was fixed because its a huge safety concern and i didnt feel safe with me or my family in the vehicle. They have put over 1000 miles on it since and havent been able to recreate the issue and crysler wont let them warranty the transmission. This was a known issue on models prior to 2024 and the dealer has a high confidence its the transmission that needs to be replaced but they aren't allowed to replace it until they can replicate it with their computer attached.

We purchased a new 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (the “Vehicle”) on [XXX]. At the time of purchase, the Vehicle had 15 miles on it. On [XXX], while driving on [XXX] with my wife and three children in the Vehicle, the Vehicle engine shut off. The first notice I had of a problem was the Vehicle engine shutting off while, at the same time, the dashboard indicated that the Vehicle would shut off in two minutes. The Vehicle did not allow me any time to get safely off of the highway; it just shut off, i.e., the warning did not actually give me two minutes’ warning. In light of the Vehicle engine shutting off unexpectedly, and because of the volume of traffic, I had to coast to a stop on the left shoulder. I was then stranded in the Vehicle in the left shoulder of [XXX] on a busy weekend morning, with other cars speeding by, with my entire family in the car. For approximately 15 to 25 minutes, my family and I sat in the shoulder of [XXX]. Eventually, after having tried numerous times to restart the Vehicle, it restarted. We drove the Vehicle to the nearest Chrysler service department. An employee identified a code, P0A78, which he indicated might be an issue, but he could not be sure without further diagnostics. He indicated that the error code did not create a concern that driving the Vehicle would damage its engine. We got back in the Vehicle and resumed our trip. About half an hour later, the Vehicle engine again shut off. Again, the dashboard did not give advance warning before shutting off, such that I had to again coast the Vehicle to a stop in the shoulder. After about 5 or 10 minutes, I was able to get the Vehicle started again, and I was able to drive it back to the service department. The service department let me know it believed that the Vehicle’s transmission needed to be replaced. Chrysler has since approved a buy-back of the Vehicle. This seems very similar to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V010000, though the Vehicle is a 2024 model. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5

About 3 months into our ownership of the new vehicle, and only 2K km on it, while driving the vehicle, we received a notification on the instrument screen to 'pull over because engine will be shutting down'. After waiting several minutes, we started the vehicle again, drove further along the road, and again it happened. This happened four times until we finally made it to the dealership. Dealership kept the vehicle for 1.5 months, changing various components and still getting the same issue. We wrote to headoffice, and next day we were told the vehicle was good to go. Two weeks later the same issue happened. It is not at the dealership again and we are being told it is a transmission issue. I believe this is the same defect as the previous Pacifica models which have a recall on them (we had a previous Pacifica).

While traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle cut the engine and displayed a message that the vehicle would shut-down in 2 min. The message was inaccurate, as the vehicle immediately cut the engine. The first time it happened, the vehicle coasted to a stop in the middle of HOV lane. The second time it happened, I was in the right lane and the vehicle was able to coast to the shoulder.

Two children and I were put in a very dangerous situation when our Avis rental car (2024 Chrysler Pacifica) stopped suddenly, with hardly any notice, while in motion. As the driver, mid Uturn off a busy offramp near [XXX] in CA, I had a moment's notice before I lost all power to the vehicle. The engine light, battery light both went on and I lost all ability to move the car despite having 1/2 tank of gas. The car ended up in a precarious angle across a lane of traffic and put us at very serious risk of being hit from behind by other cars moving at high speed. The responding CHP officer stated in no uncertain terms was that vehicle to be driven on the freeway more that day. The tow truck operator remarked that I was the second driver of a Chrysler Pacifica that he picked up that week to report the exact same problem with the car stopping while in motion and leaving the driver with little time/space to maneuver the car to a safe position. It is commonly reported that these vehicles "reset" often soon after, with all warning lights back to normal, and so the next unsuspecting rental car customer would have no idea that they are at serious risk of rear end collision at high speeds if they are driving on the freeway in one of these vehicles. Please recall the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica to avoid serious injuries or fatalities. Repair techs should believe customers when they report this dangerous spontaneous shut down, regardless of how the car later presents at a maintenance visit. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving on highway a vehicle alert “STOP SAFELY…VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF SOON” displayed. A few seconds later, vehicle shutdown, slowed and came to a stop in heavy traffic. Vehicle could not be pushed out of the driving lane and was locked in the “Park” position. After about twenty minutes and multiple attempts to restart vehicle, it started with the Amber engine light displaying. After driving about one mile the “STOP SAFELY … VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF SOON” again displayed and again vehicle almost immediately shut off and came to a stop. Again after several minutes and multiple tries, I was able to restart with the Amber Engine alert displayed. Was able to drive about three miles and make it home. Next day vehicle started and I was able to dive vehicle to dealership where it is currently being evaluated. Only a few months old and 3400 miles.

We were driving on a 2 lane stretch of highway under construction. There were concrete barriers at the edge of the left and right lanes. There were no shoulder pull off areas or highway exits. We had been driving at highway speeds for 30 minutes. For about the next 10 minutes, there was heavy traffic congestion. Traffic was periodically stopped in both lanes and generally moving at less than 30 MPH. We were in the left lane when we got an audible chime followed by a dash board message, “Stop Safely - Vehicle will Shut Off Soon”. I was hoping the warning would give me enough time to get off the highway. I used my turn signal to change lanes but the traffic in the right lane would not let me in. I pushed on the gas and there was no engine response and the check engine light was on. I put my hazard lights on and rolled to a stop. The vehicle was blocking the entire left lane and there was no where else to go. We needed a tow. Roadside assistance instructed us to call 911. The vehicle is being repaired under warranty. The engine and transmission are available for inspection upon request to the rental car owner. My family and the other highway drivers safety was put at risk. It is my understanding that over 60,000 HEV Pacifica vehicles were recalled between 2017-2023 for this issue. The corrective action was not to mechanically engineer the problem out of the vehicle but to install a software update to provide the dash board audible and verbal warnings. The 2024 models come with the software mod and so there is no current recall for this years model. I would argue the recall fix is inadequate. There are many roadways where it is not possible with the warning time provided to “Drive to a safe location” and safety continues to be compromised. Verbally filed with NHTSA, ID11598224 due to not having a VIN for the web site entry. My intent is not to duplicate the report, but to provide a more accurate 1st hand account with this submission.

The contact rented a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH on a two-way highway in traffic in a construction zone, the vehicle stalled in the passing lane. The message drive to a safe location, the engine would shut off soon message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a truck stop. The vehicle was then towed by the rental company. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000. The VIN was not available.