2023 Chrysler Pacifica transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11755509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11754273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11751925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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

NHTSA complaint #11749572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11745819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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)

NHTSA complaint #11742833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

High voltage battery pack, Power Inverter Module (PIM), and HV charging system. PIM replaced twice (p/n 68381781AD, 8/4/25 and 8/18/25) after being found melted with arcing damage at HV connections. Battery pack has active BPCM fault codes and a recorded cell voltage excursion. Vehicle available for inspection. Vehicle lost all motive power without warning at highway speed on multiple occasions, requiring the driver to pull over. This occurred on a platform subject to recall 24V-536 (HV battery fire risk). A melted inverter and arcing at HV connections were found on a vehicle still being driven daily. BPCM data shows Cell 79 recorded a voltage excursion to 1,526 mV — less than half minimum safe operating voltage — stored in permanent memory. Yes. Lawless Inc. (Woburn, MA), authorized Chrysler dealer, confirmed fault codes PA121-00 and P0A43-00 on 8/4/25 and replaced the PIM. Vehicle returned 8/18/25 with same failure — dealer confirmed arcing damage and melted inverter. Three visits total; defect unresolved after two repair attempts on the same component. All three visits performed by authorized Chrysler dealer under 10-year/100,000-mile HV battery warranty. Stellantis warranty claim opened each visit. No police or insurance involvement. Red warning "Will Lose All Power" appeared on instrument cluster before each shutdown. Battery range has displayed erratically since 2/28/25 (~17,788 miles), when nonlinear discharge was first reported and dismissed. Active BPCM Level 2 safety fault (L2/L1 CELL MAX V CMP_FLT) remains present today.

NHTSA complaint #11740603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving on the highway, the dashboard alerted that the engine would lose power, then the engine cut off and I had to coast the van to the shoulder of the highway. I was able to avoid hitting other cars, but there was no power steering or engine during this time. The vehicle has since been towed to our driveway, but it does not run. There was no warning lamp or messaging more than a few seconds before the engine quit.

NHTSA complaint #11740045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I was slowing down to turn left and felt a stutter, like when antilock brakes activate. Then a red triangle appeared on the display on the dash that said something like "pull over safely vehicle will turn off soon." I came to a stop to wait for oncoming traffic. When I hit the gas again it had barely any power and the power steering had disengaged. I was able to get through the left turn at about 3-5 mph. Shortly after I was out of the intersection (maybe 100 feet) the accelerator stopped giving any power. The vehicle was still able to turn on and I could use things like power windows, radio, and gear shifter (to go into neutral to push it to a better place to wait for a tow) but no thrust since. The mechanic said it seemed to be a problem with the hybrid battery and we towed it to the dealership since that was still under warranty. The dealership says it's the transmission and is in the process of figuring out which version of repairing it works for the warranty coverage.

NHTSA complaint #11738257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle randomly shuts off in EV or ICE mode usually when driving on highway at 60-70 mph; warning comes of “vehicle will shut off soon” check engine light and limp mode; eventually power goes off and steering also stiffens ; this happed multiple times, but the check engine like didn’t stay on long enough for the dealership to be able to read it! So I was give the vehicle back then the same thing happed over again! Very unsafe to drive, not feeling comfortable to drive!

NHTSA complaint #11734451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I purchased this car new on December 31, 2024. I have owned it for less than 16 months, and in that time, we have had an issue occur at least 5 times where we get an alert on the screen that says, "Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon". Less than 20 seconds later, the car completely dies. On each of the 5 instances, we were lucky to be going relatively slow and were in a safe place with a shoulder to pull over on. The vehicle was able to be turned back on within a few minutes. The check engine light came on momentarily, but would shut off before we were able to get the codes read. We brought this to the attention of Herb Chambers Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT of Danvers (not where we bought the car, but the closest Chrysler dealership for maintenance) and they were unable to provide any help. They said they have never seen this, and since they couldn't get any codes, they didn't know what was going on. My research informs me that this is a known issue, so I'm disappointed that they didn't know about this. I am also terrified to drive my young children in this car, in fear that this will happen again when we aren't able to safety stop. I will provide details for the most recent time that this occurred, but I haven't previously reported the other occurrences.

NHTSA complaint #11733073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Lost power. System said to pull over immediately. Error code P0A43.

NHTSA complaint #11732213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Several times (6) received a "pull over safely" message while on interstate at 60-75 mph. In addition check engine light comes on. Have taken to dealership for service and after 7 weeks they still have not be able to fix. Vehicle is completely inoperable at this point and am getting no support from Chrysler.

NHTSA complaint #11719830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle went into limp mode three times while driving on the highway, forcing us to pull over to the shoulder. Luckily there was a safe place to pull over but created a major safety concern. It triggered code P0A43-00. The dealer initially couldn't recreate the code on 12/18/25 at which point they cleared the code and returned the car to us. It happened again on 12/30/25 at which point the dealer followed Chrysler instructions to conduct pin drag test but no problem was found. Dealer drove 60 mile test and didn't recreate the fault and returned car to us. The same issue again occurred on 1/9/26 at which point Chrysler authorized invasive transmission repairs. This issue directly aligns with recall 23V-010 and NHTSA ODI investigation RQ24004

NHTSA complaint #11711592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving at approximately 65 mph on I-35 in moderate traffic, my vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of motive power. I was positioned in the far-left passing lane at the time of the incident. A vague notification message appeared on the dashboard screen; however, there was no accompanying audible warning tone to alert me to the severity of the issue before power was lost. The failure was identified as a malfunction in the hybrid drive motor system, specifically triggering Diagnostic Trouble Code P0A43 (Drive Motor "A" Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent). This sensor circuit failure caused the high-voltage system to shut down unexpectedly. This created a severe safety hazard, as the vehicle was rendered unable to accelerate. I was forced to navigate from the far-left lane across multiple lanes of traffic to reach the exit while the vehicle was effectively crippled, moving at speeds under 10 mph amidst highway-speed traffic. The problem has been confirmed via the retrieval of the P0A43 code. There were no warning lamps, messages, or drivability symptoms prior to the immediate failure; the visual notification appeared simultaneously with the loss of power.

NHTSA complaint #11704845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Car turns off suddenly while driving on the freeway at freeway speeds.

NHTSA complaint #11702538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle experienced multiple incidents of sudden power loss while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11690952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving in the carpool lane on the freeway, the vehicle displayed “Stop Safely. Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon” and lost all power. I am pregnant and had four children (ages [XXX] , [XXX] , [XXX] , and [XXX] ) in the vehicle. The outside temperature was over 100°F, and we were two hours from home. The car was completely disabled in heavy traffic, creating an extreme safety risk for my family. After waiting about 15–20 minutes, the vehicle restarted and we were able to continue. A code scan showed P0A78 – Drive Motor “A” Inverter Performance. This is a serious safety concern, and I am requesting immediate inspection and repair under warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11684189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle has been at the dealership multiple times for transmission issues, and the most recent time slammed into park while driving slowly on a side road. It is a known hybrid transmission issue and the dealership just let me know that the manufacturer will not replace the transmission, only rebuild per TSB 21-025-25. I am concerned based on research of others with this issue that the rebuild will not fix the issue and the transmission will shift to park on the highway with my wife driving.

NHTSA complaint #11678678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My vehicle suddenly experienced a loss of power while driving, starting at 62000 miles per hour. Sometimes the same problem occurs again after driving for several hundred miles per hour, and sometimes even after driving for tens of miles per hour. When this problem occurs, the vehicle cannot continue to drive and can only rely on inertia to slide. It must be parked on the side of the road, the engine must be turned off for one minute, and the vehicle can start again to drive normally. My car has now driven at 89000 miles per hour, and this problem has occurred countless times. At first, it occurred about once every 2-3 days, but now it occurs twice a day.

NHTSA complaint #11676024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

[XXX] First “Red Turtle” Breakdown on Freeway After about an hour of freeway driving, car went into “red turtle mode” (“limp mode”) on the freeway, alerting us that the engine would shut down shortly and that we needed to get to a safe place to stop. The car wouldn’t accelerate fully, putting us in danger on the freeway, where cars were speeding all around us. June 2025: Dealership’s First Attempt to Fix The dealership showed stored error codes P0A43 Drive Mode Code A Position Sensor Intermittent. But, the tech said they were unable to replicate the error. They kept it in the shop for a couple days, then sent the car home with us with no fix. They told us to restart the car a few times and it should go away. [XXX]: Second Breakdown on Freeway On [XXX], with all three kids in the car, we drove the car from Sacramento to San Rafael. On the way there–the first long car trip with the van since the [XXX] incident, the Red Turtle Alert appeared again. We were going uphill and unable to fully accelerate on the freeway, again putting our entire family in danger. We were luckily able to pull off of the freeway, restart the car several times, and continue driving–wondering the entire time whether the vehicle would again lose power, and sure enough it did. [XXX]: Third breakdown on freeway Later that same day, on our way home, the Red Turtle alert appeared again, the vehicle was unable to fully accelerate, and the message warned us that the car was about to shut itself down. This time, we were on the freeway with no exit available to us. We had to pull over onto an unprotected shoulder, with cars speeding by us on both sides. It would have been unsafe for any of us–but especially my toddlers–to exit the vehicle. We sat on the side of the freeway, restarting the car repeatedly, waiting to see if the Alert would clear and the vehicle would become drivable again. Eventually, it did. We brought the car to the dealership again. Spent over a week there INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)

NHTSA complaint #11674387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving on interstate, red turtle indicator came on and engine shut down.

NHTSA complaint #11673206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On June 3, 2025, my 2023 Chrysler Pacific Hybrid gave me a warning message that it was about to shut down. This included a "red turtle" icon that I later learned is called "limp home mode." I was traveling on the interstate at highway speed at the time. I was able to pull over to the shoulder and turn the vehicle off. The risk of a car shutting down on the highway is a huge a safety risk to myself and other vehicles. Stopping on the shoulder of a highway, particularly given that it was early morning and not yet fully light out also felt very risky with other cars passing by. After turning the car back on, the limp home mode turned off, but the engine warning light was still on. I was able to re-enter traffic, which was also a safety issue having to deal with. When the dealership opened, I contacted them. They were familiar with the problem and were able to state over the phone that it was likely a transmission issue. After inspecting it that afternoon, they determined it would need a transmission rebuild. As of June 27, 2025, they still have the vehicle and have not yet made the repairs.

NHTSA complaint #11669779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The van did not transition from electric to gas engine when driving and battery for the electrical engine was depleted. The dash board displayed a red turtle and said slow on dashboard. But it would not drive forward. I was on a hill and the van backed down the hill in reverse. I did this multiple times - turn off van, restart van and try to go up hill, reverse it down hill again. At some point, there was enough electricity for the electrical engine to kick in and I was able to drive home. After the van set for a while, it restarted and I was able to drive it to my ultimate destination 147 miles away. I researched online and found there is a recall for this very thing, but it does not include my car. Why is my life so hard? Its a new van to me.

NHTSA complaint #11669213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I have pulled out to go across road and it was like the car wouldn't go. It would be like it was coasting. And then it would kick in hardand fast. Very very dangerous. Have you had any other people say that.? It's done it about 5 times.. where I almost got hit and or ran off road when it did go.

NHTSA complaint #11669051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle displayed "stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon" followed by a complete lack of power. We managed to get to the side of the highway safely. Vehicle would not turn back on until about 45 minutes later. Before we turned off the vehicle it said service charge port. Check engine light is on, even after we managed to get it started. Currently at the shop, waiting for information on why.

NHTSA complaint #11668258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Driving at highway speed (70 mph) the vehicle repeatedly has flashed a warning : Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon The engine cuts power and the vehicle must be pulled over and turned off and cannot keep driving. It leads to very unsafe conditions at highway speed. The vehicle was repaired once for the defect by Chrysler but it still continues to occur and is now being repaired again.

NHTSA complaint #11667612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While exiting an interstate, the van felt like it had popped out of gear and lost power, and the instrument cluster had the message "Stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon." I was in the middle of three lanes on the ramp, and due to traffic and no shoulder I was unable to stop off the side of the road. The van died at the top of the ramp at the traffic light, causing a risk of being rear-ended by approaching traffic. I had my two children in the van at the time. After attempting to cycle the ignition several times and stepping out to wave traffic around as the traffic light cycled several times (causing a traffic backup), the van started and drove normally albeit with the Check Engine Light on. I have not had the time to take the van to a dealership for diagnoses, but looking online this is not an unknown problem and is related to the Pacifica Hybrid's transmission. Just wanting to make NHTSA aware of another event of this fault occurring.

NHTSA complaint #11667312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

After driving 15miles home from work, stopped at a traffic light to turn left. When attempting to proceed forward van stopped with an error code that indicated "Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon". The van shut down, and could not move even though it was blocking the intersection. Law enforcement had to be called as it was a safety hazard, and a tow truck had to be dispatched to remove the van from the intersection and tow to dealership for warranty service. The dealer provided warranty service as per Chrysler direction, which was a software update and reseating electrical connections. However, as per the notes from the dealer, "possible a loose connection was issue but still could be internal to power inverter module." As the repair was not a definite resolution for the issue, I contact Chrysler corporate to request a more definite repair. Their stance was that they considered the car repaired under warranty, and that they would not authorize any further work. Chrysler stated that they will not do anymore work until the issue happens again. The issue is that the condition that results is that the van shuts down - and it can happen anywhere, the middle of an intersection or on the freeway at highway speeds. Basically Chrysler has told me that even though they are not sure that the fix applied may not have remedied the issue that caused the van to shut off, they will not do what is required to ensure that it does not happen again. Chrysler has put the safety of my family second to their bottom line - by refusing to authorize the expensive work that it would take to remedy the problem, and ensure that my faily does not face a dangerous situation when driving our van.

NHTSA complaint #11666901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

A clicking sound was heard and the dealer determined that the front axle nuts that hold the wheel hubs to the axle loosened. Dealer re-torqued to 120 ft. Lbs. and added Locktite, however problem reoccurs. Chrysler issued a Technical Service Bulletin (03-008-24) to torque the axle nuts to 228 ft. lbs. After this was done at the dealer, clicking sound was heard again in just 3 weeks. Several attempts by the dealer to correct the problem at the 120 ft. lbs. spec. and once at the 228 ft. lbs. spec. have not worked following Chrysler's instructions. Risk of hub and wheel coming loose while driving. Dealer has attempted repair/correction six (6) times.

NHTSA complaint #11654913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.