2,402 of the
10,659 complaints filed about the Chrysler Pacifica
are about the engine —
23% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
This report is for a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with 90,100 miles. The check engine light came on in July 2026. It was a cylinder 5 misfire. The spark plugs and ignition coil were replaced. The check engine light came on again about 2 weeks later (cylinder 5 misfire again), was dismissed and reset by the shop, and came on again about 2 weeks later. This time, the shop diagnosed cylinder 5 misfire due to "cylinder 5 is leaking coolant into the cylinders." They quoted $12,000 for engine replacement. Went for 2nd opinion at a Chrysler dealership. They confirmed cylinder 5 misfire due to coolant leaking into cylinder 5. Cylinder 5 had low compression. Tech recommended replacing cylinder head for $6200. My research shows that this issue is common for the Pacificas, so I reached out to both Chrysler and the dealer for goodwill assistance with the repair. It was declined due to the van being older than 2019. I cannot continue to drive it with this issue, due to the safety risk of engine failure while operating.
NHTSA complaint #11758848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L Plus is experiencing coolant leaking into a cylinder, diagnosed by. This has rendered the vehicle undrivable. The Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine used in this vehicle has a well-documented pattern of coolant intrusion into cylinders due to head gasket failure across the 2017–2019 Chrysler Pacifica model years, based on extensive owner complaints already on file with NHTSA and reported by consumer advocacy organizations. Despite this known pattern, no recall currently exists covering this specific defect for 2019 model year vehicles. This is a safety concern because coolant intrusion into a cylinder can cause sudden misfires, rough running, loss of power, and potential stalling while driving — creating a hazard in traffic, particularly at highway speeds or during turns/merges. I contacted Chrysler Case Management regarding this issue. The manufacturer has attempted to attribute responsibility to the dealership rather than acknowledging this as a manufacturer defect in the engine design/manufacturing, despite the well-documented pattern across multiple model years of the same engine. I have also not been provided a rental vehicle despite my vehicle being undrivable.
NHTSA complaint #11758412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Failed head gasket that put vehicle in compromised working condition on the roadway - check engine light flash, poor and inconsistent engine running. First indications were 5-10 seconds of rough idle after startup when sitting overnight, then p0303 check engine code for cylinder three misfire as well as loss of coolant. Independent shop confirmed issue and replaced head gasket. Problem appears to have re-occurred after 2 years and 20000 miles with similar indications. Same shop advised likely engine block or cylinder head defect or damage and would not do any tear down or repair short of engine replacement.
NHTSA complaint #11756708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that coolant was leaking into cylinder #3, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle warranty had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
As I pulled up to stop, in electric mode, at a stop light, the display screen pulled up a message to pull over safely because the engine would stop soon, within about 10 seconds the screen showed the engine stopped. I was still at the light. I tried restarting the vehicle, moving the shifter from drive to park and back, pressing the park button several times with no success. With cars honking behind me, I got out of the car, told them my car had died and asked them to drive around me. I got back in the car, repeated the actions a few times and the car started in electric mode. I drove home (about 5 miles) without incident. Check engine light was on. I pulled 2 codes U0412 and U029a. I have had the U0412 code a few times before with only the check engine light coming on. It would go away in a day or two (no check engine light and no code). U029a is new.
NHTSA complaint #11756324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the vehicle began to sputter and the check engine light illuminated. A scan at a franchised dealership showed a stored code for a cylinder 4 misfire. Further diagnosis found coolant intrusion into cylinder 4, indicating internal failure of the left cylinder head and/or head gasket, allowing coolant into the combustion chamber. Upon removing the left valve cover and camshafts, the technician found a broken head gasket and a warped left cylinder head. The dealership replaced the left cylinder head, head gasket, cylinder head cover gasket, and oxygen sensor, refilled coolant, and replaced the PCV valve as a maintenance item. After repair, the vehicle was test driven and no further misfire was detected. This failure occurred at approximately 72,000 miles, low mileage for a major internal engine component, shortly after the factory powertrain warranty expired, leaving the owner responsible for the full repair cost. A misfire caused by coolant entering a cylinder can cause sudden, unexpected loss of engine power and rough running while driving, a safety concern in traffic, on highways, or when merging and passing, since reduced power can make it hard to maintain speed or accelerate out of a hazardous situation. Continued driving with undiagnosed coolant intrusion can also cause secondary engine damage, including hydrolock. The failed cylinder head and gasket were not retained by the owner; the dealership performed the repair as part of the invoiced order. The manufacturer has not independently inspected the vehicle beyond the dealership's diagnosis, photographs, and repair documentation, available on request. This appears to be a recurring issue on this engine platform, as similar cylinder head/gasket coolant intrusion failures, with matching misfire codes, have been reported by other owners of similar model-year minivans with the same engine, typically presenting in the 60,000-85,000 mile range, shortly after the factory powertrain warranty expires.
NHTSA complaint #11755670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle is currently being recalled for the recall 52D, I have reached out twice in a thirty day span asking about a fix and been told both times there are no parts for this fix. The risk of this recall includes fire, while charging or while parked and off.
NHTSA complaint #11755693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine fail with less than106000 miles. Replace brand new engine November 2025. Steering rack has intermittent power issues. It started having steering issue around July 2026. It makes the steering hard to turn during highway speeds.
NHTSA complaint #11755581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While I was driving to drop my kids to school My Chrysler Pacifica PHEV dashboard chimed, the check engine light made an appearance, and the screen in my gauge cluster showed a large warning message. “Stop Safely, Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon.” I kept my foot in it and guided the Pacifica Hybrid through the off-ramp and into the rest stop’s parking lot And turned off the ignition and engine for 5 minutes and I started the engine and car allowed me to drive back home . The power tram warning got away that evening when I started my engine . The same problem came back again many times since then. I googled it and found that this is very serious problem which may lead fire .i would like to report this issue now.
NHTSA complaint #11755549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that several unknown software updates were completed. The failure reoccurred three months later. The contact stated that the failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #11754728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11754346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is what I wrote to Stellantis. Dear Stellantis Customer Care, My vehicle has now stalled five separate times while I was making a left turn through an intersection. When this happens, the engine shuts off unexpectedly, the vehicle shifts into park and I must attempt to restart it while sitting in the roadway. During the most recent incident, the vehicle would not restart on the first attempt and required a second attempt before it would run again. This creates an extremely dangerous situation. Losing power in the middle of a left turn places me, my passengers and other motorist at risk of a serious accident. The vehicle has approximately 43,000 miles and has been taken to my Chrysler dealership for diagnosis. Unfortunately, I have repeatedly been told that they cannot duplicate the problem and therefore cannot repair it. Despite those visits, the dangerous condition continues to occur. I am requesting that Stellantis immediately: • Open a formal case regarding the safety issue. • Assign a regional field engineer, or star technical specialist to inspect and diagnose my vehicle. • Work directly with my dealership to determine the cause of this intermittent stalling condition. • Advise me whether the vehicle is safe to drive while this issue remains unresolved. I have been a responsible owner and have sought assistance through the dealership, but I cannot continue driving a vehicle that unexpectedly shuts off in the middle of an intersection. I am asking Stellantis to take this matter seriously, and provide a timely resolution before someone is seriously injured. Please contact me as soon as possible regarding the next steps. I would appreciate receiving a case number and the name of the representative assigned to assist with this matter. I intend to file a safety complaint with NHTSA regarding this matter. Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11754028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving on the interstate at high speed, when check engine light comes on, warning message - Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off - and red turtle warning indicator (limp mode). After a short time, vehicle will no longer accelerate. I pulled over to the shoulder, stopped and shut off engine. Restarted after a few minutes and everything appeared to work fine, with check engine light on. About 15 minutes later, it happened again. The dealership serviced the vehicle. Found error code P0A78 for driver moteo "A" inverter performance. Used Stellantis Technical Service Bulletin 08-253-24 to diagnose (both modules were out of date) and complete the indicated updates. This is a known issue that has affected many vehicles (per internet forums and that Stellantis has created a TSB. It is an extremely dangerous situation causing the vehicle to enter "limp mode" and requiring the driver to stop in a matter of minutes. Stellantis should recall all potentially affected vehicles to update the modules proactively.
NHTSA complaint #11753704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 and creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. This vehicle previously received the Safety Recall U01 repair in January 2018, but the same engine stall condition has returned. The recall remedy does not appear to have permanently corrected the problem.
NHTSA complaint #11753606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11753607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the engine stalled and produced a cranking noise. Subsequently, the display screen turned black. Currently, I am experiencing a problem where I cannot turn off the vehicle or shift gears, rendering it immobilized. I have taken the vehicle to a Chrysler dealership, and they have been unable to identify any faults. However, I believe the vehicle is not safe to drive.
NHTSA complaint #11752093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11752030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On July 19, 2026, I was driving my 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid on E-470 at approximately 75 mph. Without warning, the dashboard displayed "Stop Safely. Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon," and the amber check engine light illuminated. At the same time, the vehicle immediately lost all motor power, began slowing, and did not respond to accelerator input. There were six occupants in the vehicle, including four young children. I was traveling on a busy six-lane highway with little to no shoulder. I had to maneuver across traffic without motor power to reach the side of the road, placing all six occupants at immediate risk. After turning the vehicle off for about five minutes, I restarted it. Only the check engine light remained illuminated, and the vehicle appeared to have normal power. We continued driving at 55–65 mph to reach a safer location. About 10 minutes later, the same warning appeared and the vehicle again lost all motor power. This time we were on a steep, busy exit ramp and had to immediately pull off as the vehicle rapidly lost speed, again placing all six occupants at risk. After waiting about five minutes, we restarted the vehicle, drove it to a safe location, and had it towed to a dealership. The dealership was closed, so the cause of the failure has not yet been determined. This incident created an extremely dangerous situation, and we narrowly avoided a collision on the interstate. A sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds without warning is a serious safety hazard that warrants investigation and consideration for a recall.
NHTSA complaint #11751440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.