2018 Chrysler Pacifica complaints

On 5/31/22 I took my vehicle for service due @ error. The dealership Mac Hakil I-55 Jackson MS slept my vehicle until 6/2/23 telling me it was my battery charging $813.00. I feel this was a ripped off

@ error message vehicle sometimes stalls at red lights or 4 ways stops. I have to cut off the vehicle to restart.

There is a prominent loud creak/squeak noise when locking the steering wheel all the way to the right, and slowly backing up. It is replicated every time. There is a V15 lower control arm recall on prior years, but this VIN was not covered. I am very concern it may be of similar issue, and makes me worried for the safety of my children.

Pacifica 2018 Model. The engine light started coming on. The car started shaking strongly at start but gets normal after some minutes. Took it to dealership. Dealership said same problem you are discussing. Coolant was gone. Head gasket gone. The cylinder 5 misfiring. The engine needs to be replaced. This problem is affecting just too many owners. Request Chrysler to acknowledge that it is a problem.

Check engine light came on . Came back with a misfire in the 5th cyslinder. confirmed by the dealer and the head gasket replaced. issue remains

Head Gasket Failure

Warped cylinder head (right side) causing cylinder misfires and loss of power; loss of coolant. Engine could have hydrolocked while driving. Check engine/P0303 code shown 17May2023 Dealer inspected 18May2023 and found warped cylinder head. Engine: 3.6L V6 24V VVT Engine with ESS; engine origin Mexico. 2018 vehicle with 69,000 miles odometer.

Van has been clunking/slipping through transmission when accelerating. Stop/Start function error relayed and had a rough idle noticeable when started cold. Car would shut down on occasion when coming to a stop. Battery was recently replaced, assuming due to start/stop battery(also been replaced) draining main battery. Technician indicated Misfire on cylinder, coil swapped, spark plugs replaced and 100,000 mileage maintenance completed per recommendation due to scope of work. Van returned then upon first start, extremely rough idle and exhaust smelled the worst I've ever smelled, choking even. Van taken under warranty at least 2 times for transmission and abrupt shutdowns due to safety concerns with vehicle. Never replicated at dealership.

Car began to idle roughly and the check engine light came on. A scan returned the code that indicates a misfire in cylinder 3 of the engine. Our local service station was unable to fix the problem, but stated it could be a leaking head gasket. We took the car to a dealership, where they diagnosed a crack in the engine block, with coolant leaking into the engine cylinder. The dealer service department is saying the engine needs to be replaced, at the cost of around $16,000. The car is at around 85,000 miles, far too early to have engine problems of this magnitude. This issue has been widely reported among other owners of 2017-2022 Pacificas...all similar cases. A misfire in an engine cylinder (usually 3 or 5) which ends up being diagnosed as a cracked engine block requiring a replacement.

Noticed that I have been low on antifreeze/coolant over the last few thousand miles. Reading other complaints, it seems as though the engine block becomes warped around 60,000 miles causing the engine to burn coolant. Chrysler will end up replacing the headgasket for around $3-4,000 which ends up lasting around 10,000 miles before the same issue occurs. Just surprised that a car with 60,000 miles would fail. There really should be at least a TSB on this.

Pacifica with 68000 miles giving a P0303 cylinder 3 misfire. After taking to two separate mechanics, they both confirmed its a blown head gasket leaking antifreeze into cylinder 3. Going to cost $4000 to repair.

I HAVE PROBLEM DETACTING COMPUTER FOR STATE INSPECTION IN TEXAS, ITFAILED INSPECTION DUE TO NOT DETACTNG COMPUTER

This vehicle has been towed to the dealership for service for a 5th time! Lights of all systems start flashing as not available. This time I had loss of power driving. I got off a main road, but was not able to put the car into park or engage emergency brake as no systems were available!! I sat with my foot on the break while the “p” for parking flashed and the engine just wanted to rev. I have pictures that tell some of the story. It took 40 minutes for the car to recognize that it was in park (or reset). They’ve already had this car in September of 2022, October 2022 two separate incidents, and then again for an entire month from November-December, with no loaners or funds towards rentals. Last week the car lit up the same way, but this time I was not in my neighborhood, but I was on a main road! Not being able to have power was frightening, but not being able to put that car into any gear for 40 minutes is not acceptable.

The informational screen when turned on get super super hot and has slightly warped the dashboard. I believe There is a connection between Having the informational screen on while driving and the steering wheel sticking. It sticks less when the informational screen is turned off. I worry that if I’m driving with the radio on it will catch the car on fire

I have recognized at least 6 times within the first ten minutes after propulsion on, when I apply the brakes on dry pavement, with even brake pedal pressure, the brakes do not grab properly and the car continues to glide forward for a few moments, Then I put the car in park (often at a traffic light) to try to clear or reset the problem.

Auto on/off was working for a few days (which is not normal). When in the drop off line for school it turned off for that. When I let go of the gas to go, the car shut off completely. I restarted it and it said "service shifter" and the shifter lights did not come on. I did move it to park by counting the clicks of the turns. Drove home from the school. Same day and other days following, the auto on/off is back to not working. Randomly when I start the car it says the "service shifter" message and does not light up the shifter letters. Sometimes if I turn it off and then back on it will not appear. Other times, it does and I have to just go. This is a safety hazard if it shuts off and will not turn back on. This started roughly 1.5/2 weeks ago - the week after Easter.

When making slow but sharp turns (ex: turning into a parking spot) the vehicle shudders.

GPS not working. It shows that I am in the Pacific Ocean when I am in the mid west

Pacifica 2018 Model. The engine light started coming on. The car started shaking strongly at start but gets normal after some minutes. Took it to dealership. Dealership said same problem you are discussing. Coolant was gone. Head gasket gone. The cylinder 5 misfiring. The engine needs to be replaced. This problem is affecting just too many owners. Request Chrysler to acknowledge that it is a problem. My car has only done 73000 kms and I have taken very very good care of it with regular maintenance and got it fixed only from flagship dealerships. Seems warranty just expired month ago. I am the second owner who purchased it at 21K km. The dealership told me that they may not fix it under goodwill as I am second owner. I am left with no options.

I kept having a check engine light come on with the code P0305 for a cylinder 5 missfire. It turns out the cylinder is broke and leaking.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while parking, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond. The vehicle lunged forward and struck an unoccupied Honda Pilot. The vehicle lost power but restarted after several attempts. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, police report or fire. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 67,084.

2018 Chrysler Pacifica T, Uconnect infotainment system shuts off and reboots every 2-3 minutes while driving. It is available for inspection upon request. When the Uconnect shuts down driver loses all features connected to the system to include: GPS/Navigation, blue tooth, in-cabin climate controls, and back up camera. This causes the driver to become distracted in order to re-synch phone, dvd player, navigation. Additionally, my wife almost backed over a 6 year old child because the back up camera shut off when backing up from a parking spot. There is an incredible risk of injury/death with this systems failure. The issue has not been reproduced by the manufacturer (FCA), dealer or independent service center. This issue is being addressed by class action lawsuit: Case 2:20-cv-11838-SFC-RSW ECF No. 1 filed 07/07/20 The vehicle was inspected by the state of Maryland. The vehicle is now at the dealership for diagnosis and I have to pay all expenses out-of-pocket. No warning indicators.

Service electronic stability

Check engine light appeared 01/26 out of nowhere. Engine started to idle rough onbstartup but cleared after a few seconds, checked code with OBD2 and it hit P0305. Took to dealership for repairs 01/27. We live in the middle of nowhere and having this vehicle fail in the middle of the no-cell-service drive could have caused us to be stranded in the snow, especially with the winter we've had it could have been a catastrophy. Dealer originally flagged fuel injector as the reason. Picked up vehicle on 01/31, check engine light returned on 02/01 and we immediately contacted the dealership again. Returned vehicle again on 02/02 and it has remained in the shop even as of today 03/10. Reported back to us that there are cracks in the Engine block are causing coolant to leak into cylinder 5. Dealership confirmed they have seen multiple 2017 and 2018 Pacificas have this same issue. Even went as far to say that those with a perfect maintence done on the vehicle were subject to this same issue. 3rd party inspectors have also checked the vehicle for extended warranty purposes. Many reports of the Pentastar 3.6L V-6 seem to show a commonality with what the dealership reported about the 2017 - 2018 Pacificas engine problems. Chrysler has not responded to outreach for assistance and as the cost to repair sent to warranty company is thousands of dollars over what the current value of the vehicle is worth. Chrysler seems to be dodging responsibilty for this blatent issue.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while she was driving at approximately 35 MPH, she was involved in an accident after another vehicle t-boned her vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that she did not require medical attention; however, she sustained a mild concussion, a knee injury, and neck pain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard by her insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,500.

First, it started with the stop/ start not working . We took it to the shop they said we needed a new alternator. Costed us 700$ . Well the problems did not stop . The check engine light did not go off after a few times of driving it (the mechanic (crystler mechanic) said it would after a few times of driving it. Well then it started rumbling when u turned it on . Called and they said bring it back in. Well we planned on doing so but then the van wouldn't start. We had to get it towed . Well they said the fuse had blown . So when they replaced that they noticed white smoke coming out and all the coolant gone . They said it is most likely the cracked engine block which is gonna cost over 12000$ to fix . We already owe money on the car . We cannot afford this! We have 4 kids and this is a safety issue !!! Now we are out of a vehicle and still owe on it !

The car starts blowing out white smoke when started. Mechanic thinks it could be a blown gasket or Crack in engine block. The cable fuse blown as well. The vehicle did not start so it was towed to the mechanic.

Coolant leak as well as the other problems that I reported.

2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PROBLEMS WITH ITS AUTOMATIC STOP/START FEATURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE DEALER ONLY SUPPLIED A RENTAL ONE TIME.

Car was on cruise control. While approaching traffic, attempt was made to release cruise control by braking. Brake system was locked, vehicle started accelerating and revving. Brakes would not work, had to swerve to avoid collision. Managed to fidget with the gear knob. Finally managed to gain control of vehicle. I figured I gained control because I must have shifted the gear into Neutral somehow. I had my entire family of SIX in the car. Without having gained control, the vehicle would have accelerated until I crashed it. It accelerated past 80mph before I could gain control

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while utilizing the cargo area, he noticed water inside the vehicle behind the third-row seats. There was an abnormal moldy odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and inspected. The mechanic located water in the bottom of the seam under the third-row seat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

The end of 2021, Began not starting requiring many pushed of the start stop button; stalling when in motion on roads; gas pedal tight not depressing, engine light on and off, side auto doors often wouldn’t work automatically (battery new); was lurching and chugging randomly , over time very frequently. Nov 22’ had start stop battery replaced & fuel pump sensor. still lurched etc..worsened..late 2022 began frequently stalling , not starting, pedal would be stiff, lurched daily, stalled frequently during motion & upon first acceleration..start, try to go..stall out..finally jan 5, 2023, wouldn’t even turn over-just clicked-shop diagnosis said few codes referred to electrical panel issues.. replaced spark plugs, starter, got home, next morning, same thing ~no turnover. problem not solved. another shop, where it sits today-found cracked engine block($12,000 estimate to “attempt” replacing engine). deemed total loss as value of van is less. This has to be a defect gone undetected for some time, having built up damage over these last couple years.Many of issues are identical to recall (2019-2022) listed problems. Regardless of any recall being labeled as inactive, this vehicle is clearly a result of manufacturing issues. A 2018 doesn’t just have these problems when it’s cared for.We have four children & currently have no mode of transportation~two shops since January 6, ‘23, prior year of worsening symptoms. A safe, reliable vehicle is vital for our family’s functioning. It’s now a

Leaking coolant in cylinder 5 leading to a misfire and check engine light. Dealer reports this is a known issue and only replacing the engine will fix, but Chrysler isn’t doing anything to fix it.

The vehicle is hard shifting/jerking when accelerating from either a slow speed or from a complete stop. When it does this, it feels like I'm getting rear-ended with a jolt forward. It doesn't do this all the time and when it does it scares me. Please advise.

Reverse camera screen remained on after reversing and during a ~30 minute drive. Stopped vehicle, shutoff engine, opened door to trigger interior electronic shutoff. Restarted vehicle and backup camera still remained during drive until eventually changing to full blue screen with "Camera System Unavailable" message at the top. (photo available) The event occurred during extreme winter weather in Oklahoma 1/30/2023 and is an obvious safety issue. The constant rearview display while driving is very distracting and disorienting. Additionally, the vehicle climate control settings for defog, heat, and other settings are unavailable for determining and adjusting to external environmental conditions, as experienced during the winter weather event leading to full interior fogging and reduced visibility (another mechanical safety issue prevalent to this vehicle series). This issue is found under NHTSA Campaign 19V886000 for 2018-2019 year models however, our VIN is not included. I contacted the original dealer service department, and they informed me of no related recall for our specific VIN as well. I contacted FCA/Chrysler Customer Service in reference to recall VE2 as indicated in NHTSA recall 19V886000 and informed no recall as well and no other assistance or direction. Our vehicle VIN should be included in the recall.

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started jerking. The contact stated that the air bags warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle to a second local dealer, Miami Lakes Chrysler (16600 NW 57th Ave, Miami Lakes, FL 33014: (305) 820-3814) where it was diagnosed with needing the radiator to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to Miami Lakes Chrysler and made them aware of the failure. The dealer serviced the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V010000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System). The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

Check engine light and start/stop light

Check engine light on. Number 3 cylinder misfire. Losing coolant. Head gasket replacement.

Steering control loss due to the lower right control arm knuckle pinch bolt failure causing the lower control arm to separate from the steering knuckle. This problem had been identified by Chrysler and repaired in May of 2018 under Recall V15, but has occurred again. Due to the inability to having any directional control of the vehicle could have resulted in a serious accident had I been operating the vehicle at a higher rate of speed or in a more populated traffic area. The vehicle was towed to a Chrysler dealership and has been repaired. I also contacted Chrysler directly to report the problem but I don't feel they take the matter as serious. There were no vehicle warning lamps or message except at the time of failure. As I lost control of the vehicle a brief message appeared saying "Electronic Steering Component Failure"

At Approx 92,000 miles, the head gaskets failed and allowed coolant into the cylinder heads causing the engine to overheat and the cylinder to be damaged and need replacing. The repairs would have cost me $3386, but thankfully extended warranty covered $1900.

Blown Head Gasket at 77K miles

Began with a misfire in cylinder 1 that would chug on startup, the smooth out. Had a check engine light come one, which showed the misfire in cylinder one. Brought it to the dealer, they noted low coolant levels and possible blown head gasket. Had only 108,000 miles. They could not get to further review of the motor for two more weeks, so we were told we could pick it up and bring it back. One hour after leaving the dealer, the motor overheated. There was no coolant whatsoever in the vehicle. After calling the dealer, we were told they forgot to put coolant back into the vehicle before were could pick it up. The next day, the van is no longer usable. It began stuttering continually.

Rear seat anchor broke out of floor board when a child sat in the seat. This is a major anchor point for the seat system. If there had been any sort of accident, the seat and occupant could have easily broken free from the vehicle. I took the vehicle to my local dealer, who took pictures and sent information to their area manager. The recommended repair was to take it to body shop and that they wouldn’t be responsible for the repairs. This is clearly a manufacturing defect that the weld on the anchor did not penetrate into the floor board. I can be contacted for more information and inspection.

Three times since this past summer, while driving approx. 30-40 mph the van's power shut down. We were able to steer and brake which allowed us to coast to a spot to stop. All three incidents occurred with children in the van during rush hour. We were forced to pull over on a dangerous section of road. The first incident the car did not restart for about 45 minutes. The second time it restarted in about 5 minutes and the third attempt it took about 1 minute to restart. In each incident it appeared as if something in the electronics of the van shut down and eventually reset on its own. The "check engine" light came on after each of these incidents, but no indication prior that there was an issue. After multiple times in the dealership service center and with support from FCA Customer Care it was eventually decided that the transmission needed to be replaced which occurred in November. Since then there have been a few incidents where the van simply would not start. After some time and opening/closing doors, plugging/unplugging it, and pressing the start button, it eventually restarted. The check engine light came on again but would then turn off a few days later. We were told by the dealership that if the light was not on there was little they could. Then a few weeks ago (December) a similar incident occurred again where the car shut off, this time while driving about 10 mph. We brought the van to the dealership and again they investigated with support from FCA. We were told th

The left ball joint (front lower control arm) became squeakier and squeakier until the mechanic said it should be replaced or risk it failing while I drive which could leave me unable to steer/control the car. The mechanic said the dealer ought to cover it since they recalled some of this model year for this same issue on the right side but not all of them. The dealer would not cover replacement.

Ticking noise began out of nowhere, 2 days later accelerated from a stop light felt a jolt and then lost power and check engine light flashing. Took to closest dealer to have looked at. Dealer determination new engine needed, or have cams, headers, rockers, and lifters repaired. Engine has 68,000 miles on it.

On three recent, separate occasions, the vehicle has lost acceleration while making a left hand turn from a stop (date listed for this incident is most recent). No visual or aural warning indications have displayed on the dash during or proximate to these incidents, but the car felt like it went out of gear while making a normal left turn. Pushing or releasing the throttle only affected engine RPM, not any acceleration, so it felt like we were only coasting. It lasts longer than a normal shift, more than a few seconds, before power is sent to the wheels again. On two of the occasions there was oncoming traffic approaching the intersection. If the power had died any sooner in the turn I'm not sure I would have cleared the intersection in time with what little speed I had gained, increasing the risk of collision. I am taking the car to the local Chrysler dealership tomorrow for inspection and hopeful diagnosis/repair. I can't replicate the issue on demand, but after 3 separate occasions, it is an unmistakable feeling. Based on the clunky, jerking shifting into gear that sometimes occurs with the vehicle outside the above-described incidents, I believe it might be transmission related, but I can't be sure.

At 63000 miles engine misfire occuered needing to replace the head gasket causing leaking coolant into the combustion chamber causing a misfire. Very concerning considering relevtivly low milleage and potential ongoing engine concerns. Wife and children were driving when check engine light went on, resulting in misfire causing car to shutter and stiring wheel shake. Car is curently being serviced at the dealer. There were no early indicators prior to this incident.

I was driving my Pacifica 2018 on the road when suddenly I heard a beep, I looked at the dashboard, it had a red light indicating that my car is overheated, my kids were panicking, hoping it shouldn't start burning. I couldn't stop on the highway because of passing cars. it was towed in to the dealer, I got a phone call that I need a new engine... I had no prior indications of any problem.

I am aware of the recall on this vehicle. In addition, I received a phone call and email from Chrysler stating the following: "Hello Mr./Mrs. I have attempted to get ahold of you to schedule your Z11 Recall appointment for your Pacifica PHEV. You should have recently received an important recall notice from FCA detailing the steps needed to repair your vehicle and ensure the safety of you and your passengers. If you would like me to continue to assist you with the appointment, please give me a call at 8009921997. We encourage you to schedule this service appointment as soon as possible. If you prefer to schedule the appointment by yourself, ask for the Z11 point of contact at the dealership, and be mindful that the repair takes 2 days to complete. Please be advised that I have closed your case. Thank you for being a valued Chrysler customer. Chrysler specialist [XXX]" I called two local dealerships who both said they cannot schedule because they do not have the equipment to do this repair. They said they are unaware of this central Chrysler communication. I emailed a reply to the address above to reopen the case, but they have not replied. Please help! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).