723 of the
10,659 complaints filed about the Chrysler Pacifica
are about the other systems —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
While driving at highway speeds, my 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid suddenly lost all propulsion power. A turtle icon appeared on the dashboard cluster, and the vehicle stalled, creating a severe safety hazard on an active highway. Chrysler Care previously stated my VIN is not included in the 03A recall (NHTSA Campaign 23V010000) for internal transmission short-circuits. However, my vehicle has experienced the exact software limp-mode shutdown and mechanical failure described in that campaign. The manufacturer must expand this recall to cover later 2023 production batches before a fatal accident occurs. My husband and 4 children were stranded in the left lane with no time to move over on a major Chicago highway. The car was towed to a Chrysler mechanical service team. They are claiming that the code is not active and they need it to be active in order to diagnose anything. While driving in the left lane warning that read, " stop safely. Vehicle will shut off soon" a red turtle and a large red triangle with a "!" In the middle. The car was unable to drive leaving them stranded and very scared.
NHTSA complaint #11758354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle was purchased used on 8/5/26 with no problems or recalls. I was driving home from the dealership on the highway about 1.5 hours and the vehicle had a warning light come on telling me to pull over safely and the vehicle would shut off. I did so. The vehicle would not restart. I called for a tow truck and was stranded for 2 hours. I had the vehicle towed to my local dealership service center because I was closer to home versus the dealer I bought it from. The vehicle is still under warranty and will get looked at. This is a huge frustrating situation.
NHTSA complaint #11755398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We took our 2021 Pacifica Hybrid to the dealership for Recall 52D. The first charge at home after the recall melted one of the charging "pins" in the car, and on our home Level 2 charger. Our dealership now says it's the fault of our charger, and we'll have to pay $2000+ for a repair. Our charger handle is still fine, no damage, only the "pin" is melted. For safety reasons, we can't charge the vehicle, and aren't driving it, as it's still at the dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11754395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!
NHTSA complaint #11754197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The franchise dealer is refusing to safely ground a failed vehicle. My van failed the battery test and the dealership is refusing to comply with federal emergency safety recall guidelines for a documented fire hazard. They are refusing to provide a rental car with battery arrival date TBD.
NHTSA complaint #11753753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle is affected by a Chrysler safety recall. When I brought it to an authorized dealership for the recall repair, they informed me that a warning light was illuminated and that they needed to perform a diagnostic inspection before completing the recall. After the inspection, they stated they could not determine the cause of the warning light and refused to complete the recall repair. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The recall involves a safety issue that could put me, my passengers, and others at risk. Because the recall has not been completed, I do not feel safe operating the vehicle. In addition, I have been unable to use the vehicle for work because it has not been repaired. Yes. The authorized Chrysler dealership confirmed that the warning light was present and performed a diagnostic inspection. However, they were unable to identify the cause of the warning light and refused to complete the recall repair. They informed me that the case had been escalated to a Chrysler/Stellantis engineer. es. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Chrysler dealership. The dealership escalated the case to a Chrysler/Stellantis engineer, but after more than three weeks, no solution or repair has been provided. The dealership informed me that a warning light was illuminated and required diagnosis before the recall could be completed. After performing the diagnostic inspection, they were unable to determine the cause of the warning light. The recall repair has been delayed for more than three weeks without any resolution or estimated completion date.
NHTSA complaint #11751696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11750765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We purchased this 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid about a year ago from a dealership in Florida, and the vehicle is now located in [XXX]. The issues involve a malfunctioning high‑voltage hybrid charging system/battery and a possible steering or suspension component failure. For now, the vehicle has been under dealer inspection since XXX. Our family’s safety is at risk due to a charging failure in which the vehicle consistently stops charging after reaching 2–3 bars when plugged. I must unplug and reconnect the charger multiple times to resume charging, and this behavior occurs every time the vehicle is charged now. Last week, when the vehicle was fully or nearly fully charged, a “rotten egg” odor entered the cabin, especially in the middle and rear seat area. The smell consistently appeared only after charging and was concentrated near the area where the high‑voltage battery is located. Prior to these failures, the only warning was an intermittent Check Engine Light. Another issue, we also experience a metallic spring‑like noise during hard turns in both forward while parking. As of the dealer’s initial observation on XXX, their notes state: “Electrical System – replace battery. Repair – Found battery is the incorrect one installed in the vehicle for an EV system. On the van not charging fully. Chrysler corporation is aware of the issue and is working on a technical service bulletin/possible recall by the end of the year. That needs to be complete first before tech would advise that the customer’s charging cable is not working properly.” As i understand, we need to change other small battery with right specifications. Although there are currently no open recalls on our specific vehicle, the electrical burning odor has left us extremely concerned for our safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11749554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle intermittently displays a "Stop Safely – Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" warning message accompanied by a turtle icon while driving, most often at highway speeds above approximately 50 mph. There is no consistent pattern or condition that triggers the warning. When the warning appears, I must immediately attempt to pull off the roadway because the vehicle indicates it will shut down. This creates a significant safety hazard, especially on interstate highways or roads without a safe shoulder. If the vehicle is turned off and restarted, the warning message disappears, but the check engine light remains illuminated. After the next ignition cycle, the check engine light also disappears, leaving no visible indication of the problem. The issue began occurring approximately once per year but has become progressively more frequent. It now occurs almost daily. During a recent 300-mile trip, the warning appeared four separate times. It also commonly occurs twice during a 60-mile drive. The increasing frequency has made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate on highways. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized Chrysler dealership. However, the dealer stated they cannot diagnose or repair the problem unless the warning is actively displayed when the vehicle arrives. Because the warning clears after restarting the vehicle, the dealer has been unable or unwilling to identify the cause or perform a repair. I also contacted Chrysler customer service. I was informed that because there is no recall related to this issue, they could only refer me back to the dealership for diagnosis under any applicable warranty coverage. This defect poses a serious safety risk because the vehicle may lose propulsion while traveling at highway speeds, requiring an emergency maneuver to reach the shoulder while surrounded by fast-moving traffic. I am concerned that this could result in a rear-end collision or other serious crash if the warning occurs where there is no safe place
NHTSA complaint #11749513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle caught fire earlier morning of 7/9/2026. It was sitting in front of house unoccupied. The alarm went off twice which pressing the key fob shut it off until the third time when the alarm would continue until it died down. I went to my door to check and noticed the car was on fire.
NHTSA complaint #11749405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving, the rear passenger interior trim cup holder heats up to an unsafe temperature. The vehicle was in the shop for 4 weeks and I was told this is normal and it was because of radiant heat from the axel/wheel well. After driving approximately 100 miles, I used a temperature gun to screen the area. The hotspot was 126 degrees, with temperatures around in ranging from 77-85 degrees. Outside wheel well temperatures ranged from 94 - 97 degrees. the driver side rear trim area was also checked for comparison and ranged from 78-82 degrees. which would indicate it is not radiant heat from the wheel well and axel. Children sit in the 3rd row next to this and can be burned. No warning lights are present, vehicle can be inspected if required.
NHTSA complaint #11748559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Our hybrid vehicle has been recalled per the Chrysler Pacifica battery recall. The letter says this is a dangerous fire hazard, needs to be repaired immediately, and we must stop charging our battery until fixed. The dealership has told us it will take 3 days to repair, but is only providing a replacement vehicle for one day. Surely this is not appropriate.
NHTSA complaint #11748337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Chrysler Pacifica was parked in my driveway, and I went out and heard a large boom and my panoramic sunroof shattered. This is a known problem with panoramic sunroofs especially Chrysler. The weather was warm and sunny. This is a no impact incident and a safety related glass failure. I have several photos and am waiting for the Dealer and Chrysler customer care to open today.
NHTSA complaint #11744093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In HybridVIN Number: [XXX] Current Mileage: 51,607 miles Incident Summary: While attempting to bring the vehicle to a complete stop in front of a Subway restaurant in Old Town, the vehicle failed to decelerate upon braking. Instead, it lunged forward unexpectedly without driver input and collided with the building structure. The check engine light did not illuminate until after the collision occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11743677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am a full-time power wheelchair user with Multiple Sclerosis and rely on this 2024 Chrysler Pacifica wheelchair-accessible van as my primary means of transportation. Since purchase, the vehicle has repeatedly experienced dangerous loss-of-power events while being driven. Immediately before the failure occurs, warning beeps sound and multiple warning lights illuminate, including Check Engine, ETC, Park Brake, FCW, ESC, and MIL. After these warnings appear, the vehicle loses acceleration and enters a reduced-power/limp-mode condition. Pressing the accelerator does not result in normal acceleration, creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. Most recently, on June 4, 2026, this occurred approximately six times during a single trip. During one incident, the warning lights illuminated, the vehicle lost acceleration, and we were forced to pull over with emergency flashers activated in a dangerous location. A police officer came upon us, stopped to assist, and advised that the location was extremely dangerous. Because I use a power wheelchair, I cannot safely transfer into a standard vehicle, taxi, rideshare, or other transportation. We explained to the officer that if the van were to be towed, I would effectively be stranded because there was no practical way to transport me in my power wheelchair. The condition later cleared and we were able to continue. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by Chrysler service departments and DriveMaster, the local mobility provider working with Freedom Motors. The problem has been reported repeatedly but is intermittent and has not been reproduced during inspections. Despite multiple repair attempts, the problem persists. The vehicle is available for inspection. These recurring loss-of-power events create a serious safety risk for myself, my family, and other motorists.
NHTSA complaint #11742297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid experienced a serious charging system failure during routine overnight charging using a standard Level 2 home charger that had previously worked without issue. In the morning, the charging connector was physically trapped in the vehicle charge port and could not be removed despite repeated normal troubleshooting attempts, including repeated unlock cycles, charger power cycling, breaker reset, and reseating attempts. Because the Pacifica Hybrid disables operation while a charging connector is detected, the vehicle became completely undrivable and required towing. Multiple AAA tow operators were unable to move the vehicle normally. We ultimately had to personally research and guide the tow operators through the manual neutral override procedure in order to get the vehicle into neutral and onto the tow truck. The dealership has suggested that the connector may have fused or arced together during charging and is attempting to characterize the situation as “not the vehicle’s fault.” Regardless of the precise electrical mechanism, this event occurred during ordinary intended use of the vehicle’s charging system. The end result was that the vehicle trapped the connector, immobilized itself, and stranded the owner without any meaningful owner-accessible recovery method. This is not ordinary wear and tear or a cosmetic inconvenience. This was a charging-system immobilization event involving a vehicle platform that already has a documented history of charging-system recalls and software-related charging concerns. The vehicle was being used exactly as intended. No misuse, modification, or improper operation occurred. A vehicle shouldn't become completely inoperable during routine charging. I am requesting review of this matter as a significant charging-system failure and requesting goodwill assistance regarding the substantial diagnostic and repair costs now being imposed on the customer for an event that occurred during normal operation.
NHTSA complaint #11739553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to formally express my concern and frustration regarding the unresolved recall on my vehicle. It has now been over a year since the recall was issued, and my point of purchase dealer still has not received the necessary parts to complete the repair. This extended delay has moved beyond inconvenience and has become a genuine safety issue. I rely on my vehicle daily, and continuing to drive it under an open recall, especially one involving safety components is unacceptable. I have been patient for more than a year, but the lack of progress and communication has left me with serious concerns. I expect prompt attention to this matter and a concrete plan to resolve the recall as soon as possible.
NHTSA complaint #11738496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We were stopped for fuel. Prior to fueling we turned off the engine and opened the fuel door, inserting the gas nozzle and then began to pump fuel. While the nozzle was running, a passenger opened the sliding door by pressing the auto open button - and the door slid into the hand of the individual holding the fuel nozzle, crushing his hand between the door and the nozzle - causing the nozzle to dislodge from the filling neck , releasing gasoline all over the driver and j hiring his hand. There is no interlock preventing the door from auto opening while the fuel tank is open - which is a critical design flaw, that can result in injury to the individual fueling and hazardous material spills/ hazardous conditions where the pump attendant is directly drenched in fuel. A simple sensor on the door with a software interlock would resolve this issue and prevent future instances. In this case the injury was minor/bruise and discomfort, but it could have been more severe had the driver not reacted quickly, or had the driver had underlying medical conditions such as brittle bones or was on blood thinners.
NHTSA complaint #11738286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.