2008 Chrysler Pacifica fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The car runs out of gas when there is gas in it - the fuel system doesn't recognize the fuel. It is a known problem with this vehicle/fuel system (you can google it). It is difficult to add fuel to the car, as a vapor lock is created and causes the stations pump to shut off. I need to hold the nozzle 1/2 way out of the tank and dribble it in for the tank to fill. 1) this allow more gas fumes in the air 2) creates the danger of spilled fuel 3) makes it impossible to gas up the car in states that have the vapor covers. The gas gauge gets to 1/2 a tank, then drops to 0 immediately. Even with monitoring the mileage, the car 'ran out of gas' long before it should have. After being stranded and calling AAA, they brought me 2 gals. I went immediately to the gas station to fill up, and the tank was overfilliing and spilling on the ground after only putting 10 gallons in it (the vehicle has a 23 gal tank) The fuel system has a maufacturers defect, the fix for which should be the responsibility of the manufacturer. I have had my mechanic check it and he cannot figure out the problem other than replacing the whole faulty system. This is the car my teenage daugher drives. It is dangerous for her to be stranded on the side of the road. It is dangerous to have fuel spilling at the gas pump, It is

NHTSA complaint #11536273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE SHOWS INACCURATE READING. I FILLED THE TANK HALFWAY AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO THE GAUGE DROPS TO AN 1/8 TANK WHILE DRIVING. AFTER I SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES IT WILL GO BACK UP SOMETIMES HIGHER SOMETIMES LOWER. IT'S HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND WOULD HATE FOR IT TO LEAVE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #11089739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FUEL TANK HALF FULL, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR SUDDENLY DECREASED TO EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA complaint #10893440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE BEEN HAVING POWER SHUT DOWN EVERY DAY, AROUND 5 TIMES A DAY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND OTHER CERTIFIED MECHANICS, AND THE SCANNER CAN NOT DIAGNOSE, OR DETECT ANY CODE. IN MY LAST ISSUE, THE CAR TURN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. IT WAS SCARY, AND IT IS HAPPENING VERY OFTEN. I HAVE CHANGED MOST PARTS, ALL SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED (REPLACED BY ORIGINAL PARTS), AND IT KEEPS TURNING OFF. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING THOUGHT THE INTERNET, AND THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS A LOT OF COMPLAINING, A LOT OF CHRYSLER PACIFICA ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE, WHILE THEY FEEL FRUSTRATED. THIS IS A LIFE RISK ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10577968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INCORRECT FUEL LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10564069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CAR WILL NOT TAKE GAS. GAS PUMP BETWEEN TANKS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY TO MOVE THE FUEL FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, CAUSING YOU TO RUN OUT OF GAS FREQUENTLY. IT ALSO IS CAUSING THE MILEAGE/COMPUTER/GAS GAUGE TO INDICATE YOU HAVE A HALF TANK AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DROP TO E AND RUN OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MERCEDES DESIGNED FUEL TANK AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A STANDARD DESIGN. WHEN ON E YOUR CAR WILL NOT TAKE GAS. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD TO IDLE AT THE PUMP FOR 2-5 MINUTES...NOW AT 10 MINUTES, MY CAR WILL NOT TAKE GAS AND TAKES ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES TO TRY TO FILL IT. VERY FRUSTRATED.

NHTSA complaint #10534032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, FUEL SPEWED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INCORRECT FUEL LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10532649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS GAUGE READS 1/2 FULL AND SLOWLY DECLINES TILL IT HITS ABOUT 1/3 FULL THEN DROPS TO EMPTY. IF YOU DON'T GET GAS YOU WILL RUN OUT IN MINUTES. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT AND ON THE WAY HOME IT DID THE SAME THING. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO HELP US ON THIS ONE. I'M STUCK WITH A CITY CAR THAT I NEED TO USE ON LONG DISTANCES.

NHTSA complaint #10504717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS GAUGE SHOWED 1/3 FULL & IT SUDDENLY DROPPED TO EMPTY. "MILESTO EMPTY" WENT FROM 142 TO 14, THEN 6. UPON STARTING THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 1/3 FULL THEN DROPPED TO EMPTY AGAIN. "MILES TO EMPTY" SHOWED 2. I DROVE 8 MILES THEN ADDED 14 GALLONS OF GAS TO FILL THE 23 GALLON TANK. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE THEN. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING AS IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE. ANOTHER TOLD ME THE CAR ACTUALLY HAS TWO GAS TANKS & THE FUEL PUMP VACUUM WAS PROBABLY NOT PICKING UP THE FUEL FROM THE SECOND TANK PROPERLY. HE SAID THE DEALERSHIP FIXED A 2005 PACIFICA WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10465691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.