Complaints about the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica peaked in 2019, with 138 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Minivan, gasoline, FWD/Front-Wheel Drive, built in Canada. Owner complaints on file from Nov 20, 2017 to Sep 28, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V-876 | Dec 17, 2025 | Retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured | Adaptive equipment | 86 | Part replacement |
| 23V-010 | Jan 17, 2023 | Internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown | Electrical system | 67,117 | Software update |
| 19V-886 | Dec 12, 2019 | Software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed on the radio after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse | Back-over prevention | 20,441 | Software update |
| 19V-348 | May 9, 2019 | Loose battery ground connection may result in an intermittent loss of power steering assist and/or a stall | Electrical system | 198,731 | Inspection |
| 19V-143 | Feb 28, 2019 | Right front lower control arm may separate from the steering knuckle | Suspension | 47,771 | Part replacement |
| 18V-524 | Aug 9, 2018 | Powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition | Electrical system | 12,779 | Part replacement |
| 18V-493 | Jul 26, 2018 | Front axle halfshafts may have been incorrectly assembled, preventing the shaft from being properly secured to the constant-velocity (CV) joint | Powertrain | 61 | Part replacement |
| 18V-492 | Jul 26, 2018 | Component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels | Powertrain | 5 | Part replacement |
| 18V-395 | Jun 14, 2018 | Manual Park Release (MPR) plug may be removed without a tool | Electrical system | 240,242 | Part replacement |
| 18V-332 | May 17, 2018 | These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging | Electrical system | 4,815,661 | Software update |
| 17V-824 | Dec 21, 2017 | List of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf | Equipment | 61,791 | Part replacement |
| 17V-542 | Aug 31, 2017 | In certain passenger seating and vehicle situations, the second-row center seating position seat belt buckle could cause the left outboard seat… | Seat belts | 47,927 | Repair or modification |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
876 complaints on file, page 1 of 44.
While steering my steering wheel sticks and I have to turn it hard to get it to straighten back out. I am afraid that I am going to over compensate and go into other lane of traffic
NHTSA complaint 11767592First, I had camshaft related error which turned out to be a bad intake camshaft on bank 1. The Camshaft, all rocker arms, lifters, camshaft adjuster and all VVL actuators have been replaced with genuine mopar parts. 3 weeks latet, the head gasket on bank 2 failed, caused coolant to leak into the cylinder. The van has 89k miles, very clean and always maintained on time.
NHTSA complaint 11767092I am writing to offer corroborating evidence for NHTSA PE25009. The electric power steering system malfunctioned, and on this vehicle, that is a single unit with the rack and pinion, electric assist motor, and controller. At any point in time, the driver can turn the steering wheel and the vehicle will fight them. If attempting to turn left, it’ll maybe get as far as 11:00 and refuse to turn more. For a right turn, it’s the same but 1:00. This could easily cause a crash. The issue has been confirmed by Parkway Chrysler in Pampa, TX. As far as I know, no representative of the manufacturer has inspected the component other than the dealer service center. All warning messages (Service Power Steering in the gauge cluster) are concurrent with the temporary failure described above; no prior warning is offered.
NHTSA complaint 11766601Intermittent loss of power steering, giving the sensation of "sticking" when the wheel is turned about 30 degrees clockwise. Generally happens at highway speeds, but can happen at lower speeds too. Steering feels locked me momentarily, needing extra force to either continue the turn past 30 degrees or to bring it back to center.
NHTSA complaint 11766254Head gasket blown! Vehicle is under 100k miles, never overheated, service properly maintained. When researching symptoms, I discovered I am one of hundreds if not thousands of 2017-2018 model Pacifica owners who have suffered this issue. Heads are known to be faulty and Chrysler will not address the root of it. It's very possible this could lead to a locked engine while driving and cause harm to driver or others.
NHTSA complaint 11766251Intermittent Loss Of Electric Power Steering. Steering sticks at 11:00 and 1:00 and has to be pulled back to prevent running of the road. NHTSA Action Number- PE25009
NHTSA complaint 11766213I have a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with approximately 125,000 miles. At around 110,000 I started to notice that the steering would randomly stick when driving at speeds between 25-45 mph. Now, the steering wheel is beginning to stick almost everytime I drive the van, but seems to get worse after about 20-30 minutes of driving. This now seems like a severe safety hazard at both neighborhood and highway speeds. As I turn the wheel when driving down the road, the steering wheel becomes physically stuck when passing through the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions. In order to return the wheel to 12 o'clcok, I have to extert extra force, can feel the power steering kick back in, and the van will sharply react as the steering wheel straightens risking an over-correction accident. This is now a recurring issue and makes it very difficult and dangerous to drive my vehicle. These symptoms seem to exactly match what my research has uncovered online regarding a failing steering rack and column. I believe a NHTSA invesigation has already been opened into this safety issue (seems to match the description for NHTSA PE25009).
NHTSA complaint 11765669The steering wheel of my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica sticks when I turn to the left (around 10-11 o'clock) and to the right (around 1-2 o'clock). Going about 40 miles per hour I can take my hands off the wheel and the steering will continue to stay locked in that position until I push it out of that locked position. I still own this vehicle as it is our family vehicle. If you are a driver that allows the steering wheel to turn itself back straight and not realize that it sticks, this could cause an accident. Even forcefully turning back causes an over correction and it is getting worse. Have not gotten it inspected yet. This issue just started within the last 2 weeks, August/September 2026. There are no warning lights. Main battery has no corrosion. Vehicle has 96,966 miles on it. Seems related to -- NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE25009
NHTSA complaint 11764317The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the shifter module warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a shifter module failure. The contact was informed that the shifter module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the following day, the vehicle was started; however, the gear shifter failed to shift as needed. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the battery was replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that the failure was possibly caused by the wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were discontinued. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
NHTSA complaint 11764165I am a disabled Army veteran reporting a severe safety defect and dangerous commercial configuration of adaptive mobility equipment installed by Mobility Works ([XXX]). The business sold me a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica wheelchair van with a heated transfer seat sight-unseen. The dealership delivered a completely non-conforming transfer seat that did not match the photo I bought it from and listed on the window sticker or marketing materials. The installed seat was missing critical structural spacer component, causing the driver's seat to wobble and was especially bad while turning. Furthermore, the vehicle frame creaks loudly under the weight of a VA-issued 400lb power wheelchair, indicating underlying structural collapse from a hidden September 8, 2018, insurance total-loss salvage event. On XXX, the non-conforming transfer seat failed completely. It jammed and refused to rotate, trapping me inside the vehicle. Because of my physical disability, I was entirely helpless and stranded, requiring an emergency response from 911 personnel to extract me from the vehicle. The dealer's regional service manager has inspected the vehicle and admitted that a spacer was missing that cause the seat to wobble and drivers needing 3" cushion to sit on to see over the dash. The vehicle represents a severe, active life-safety hazard to disabled consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11763998While driving my vehicle at approximately 75 MPH on the interstate the steering wheel froze/stuck while executing a long sweeping curve. The steering wheel would not turn and my wife whom was drivng was applying excessive pressure to the steering wheel to keep the vehile from running off the shoulder of the road almost lost control of the van when the steeringwheel broke loose and over corrected and the van made a sudden, sharp turn. This occured during an essentual 2 hor drive to a medical appointment. This vehicle matches the exact failure criteria currenly under active investigation by the NHTSA under PE25009 for steering binding. The manufacturer (Chrysler) refuses to honor or repair this known defect under warranty creating a sever and immediate hazaard for families operating these vans at highway speeds.
NHTSA complaint 11763987We had to replace both head gaskets last July with only 70,000 miles on the vehicle. The repair cost was $4,600.00. This August, we started experiencing coolant leaks again. We discovered the cylinder heads are warped now. This was checked last year and it was not the main issue then. It is extremly disappointing that now at 80,000 miles we are looking at another $5000.00+ repair. There needs to be a recall on the engine cylinders and head gasket.
NHTSA complaint 11763638During the turns the steering wheel in 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid locks-in. It requires extra force to unlock the steering wheel. This usually happens when the wheel is at 11 or 1 o'clock (30 degrees either direction). This is more noticeable at slow turns like on exit ramps.
NHTSA complaint 11763313Steering sticks on occasion when turning at highway speeds both left and right around the 1 and 10 o'clock position
NHTSA complaint 11762431Reference: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE25009 In the last month, I've noticed steering problem with my mini van. I have to use both hands to steer in a curve and it jerks when coming out of the curve. It feels as if i am loosing control of the van. It also happens when i am changing lanes and steer the wheel past 11 and 1 oclock. It feels as if the car is fighting me to steer.
NHTSA complaint 11762408The head gasket failed at 89,000 miles. The engine gave P0305 Cylinder 5 misfire codes and would run rough causing difficult to drive in standard traffic flow. There are borescope pictures of coolant in cylinder 5. We stopped using the vehicle until the repair can be completed. This appear to be a WIDESPREAD problem for 2017-2019 Chrysler Pacifica which are numerous on the road and could be hazardous if these vehicles failed on regular roads and highways. See [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11762395Blown head gasket
NHTSA complaint 11761937While driving my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica FWD with approximately 86,000 miles, I have noticed abnormal steering behavior when going around gradual curves. The steering does not feel smooth and natural through the turn, and I feel like I have to pull/force the steering wheel to continue through the curve. The steering can feel like it is sticking or resisting rather than smoothly following the turn. This is concerning because it affects the vehicle’s steering response while driving. I brought the vehicle to a mechanic, who inspected it and diagnosed a problem with the steering rack assembly. I was quoted approximately $3,400 to replace the steering rack assembly. I am reporting this because I understand NHTSA is investigating steering problems involving 2017–2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles, including reports of steering sticking during gradual turns. The steering wheel does not simply pull to one side; rather, it feels as though the steering itself is resisting or sticking while I am making the turn.
NHTSA complaint 11761425My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid unexpectedly rolled after being parked in my residential garage. The van has very low mileage ~60000 miles and is still under Battery Manufacturer warranty. The vehicle had been operating normally and was parked with P displayed on the instrument cluster. It remained unused for approximately 6 days. When the garage door was opened, the vehicle unexpectedly rolled several feet. I believe the closed garage door may have prevented it from moving earlier. A family member who happened to be present stopped the vehicle before a potentially more serious incident occurred. The vehicle and garage door were damaged. Afterward, the vehicle would not start/enter READY mode. The P indicator flashed, selected gear indicators flashed, and “Service Transmission” appeared. The vehicle ultimately required towing. An independent diagnostic scan identified multiple faults, including P07B5-00 (Park Pawl Position Sensor 1 Circuit Performance), P1625-00 (Park Pawl System Failure), and P0AA4-00 (Hybrid/EV Battery Negative Contactor Circuit Stuck Closed). Stevens Creek Chrysler later verified P0AA4-00 as ACTIVE. Their initial reset/weld-check procedure failed and the DTC returned. The dealer then opened Chrysler STAR Case 102963024. Chrysler Technical Assistance provided a PIN/procedure, after which the reset succeeded and vehicle operation was restored. The vehicle was subsequently road-tested and returned to me. However, neither Chrysler nor its authorized dealership has explained why a vehicle parked with P indicated was able to roll, whether the Park-related DTCs were connected to the incident, or whether the condition could recur. I am reporting this because an unexplained rollaway of a parked vehicle presents a serious safety risk. I remain concerned whether the vehicle is safe to park and whether similar incidents may affect other Pacifica Hybrid vehicles.
NHTSA complaint 11760827Steering wheel gets stuck on curbes at higher speeds (1 o clock angle). Needs to be pulled back into place to avoid accident. This problem began at around 80k miles on the car. Also gets stuck at 11 o clock as well. My family does not feel safe driving this vehicle because of this issue.
NHTSA complaint 11760714Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.