10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,093 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Chrysler Pacifica engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Chrysler Pacifica Owner Comments (Page 1 of 14)

problem #265

Jul 102024

Pacifica

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Check engine light came on. Pulled code, cylinder 1 misfire. Service for spark plugs was already scheduled for 2 days later. Van parked awaiting service. Service performed, CEL off. Van runs as normal for about 1 day. CEL comes back on. Cylinder 1 misfire. Multiple messages display on instrument cluster. Service shifter. Start/Stop unavailable. Some inerior lights turning off then back on later. Similar to a previous issue with a failing battery. Replaced both batteries. Cleared codes. Van drives as normal for 1 afternoon. Next day hard start and rough idle. CEL on. Cylinder 1 misfire. Van operates normally once warm. Schedule follow up service for diagnostic. Next day, CEL off. Van operates as normal in the morning. Hard start in the afternoon with rough idle and CEL back on. Van runs rough tries to stall. Service shifter message returns. Start/Stop unavailable message returns. Parked van at home until service appointment. Day of service battery completely flat. multiple attempts at jumpstart finally get the van started. White smoke coming from exhaust mixed with smell of burning coolant. Notice coolant level has dropped in resevoir. CEL light is on, cylinder 1 misfire. Service messages. Tested battery voltage and alternator appears to be charging. Dropped van off with service. 2 days later report from dealer service department indicates leaking head gasket, and scoring of walls in cylinder 1 seen through endoscope. Recommendation is new motor. Van again requires jump start to relocate to our house. Van idles and drives rough. Using OBDII device and Torque app able to see that van has had over 1k misfires on cylinder 1. occasional misfires in other cylinders. Additional service appointment schedule with independent shop for second opinion on engine replacement. Van is unsafe to drive due to impending engine failure. which may result in crash.

- Laramie, WY, USA

problem #264

Jul 112024

Pacifica

  • miles
Van currently has a P0303 code for cylinder 3. Have done research and found that this is a common issues with this vehicle. Also the stop/start needs to be service. Which is also know to happen a lot in this type of vehicle.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #263

Jul 192024

Pacifica

  • miles
After refueling on a recent road trip the check engine light came on. After driving for a little bit to get to a hotel for the night white smoke started coming out the back of the car. To me the incident seems similar to the recall for other 2018 Chrysler Pacifica's, noted below, but did not apply to my VIN so wasn't completed for my car. The mpg's kept going down because I believe too much fuel was being fed to the engine resulting in the white smoke. When taken to the dealer there was a pending error code to the catalyst. It is currently at the Riser Chrysler Dealership in Hot Springs, AR awaiting further diagnostic and repair. NHTSA Campaign ID: 18V740000

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #262

Apr 092024

Pacifica

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had had multiple incidents when the Van would get stuck in a gear or would lose the ability to accelerate. The passenger doors, specifically the right side passenger door would get suck and continuously open because it could not close. The rear view cameras would get stuck and after reverting to D it would stay on the screen for at least 5 min before switching back. The screen would also go blank. The van would also get stuck between gears or would shut off at a stop light.On this particular day I was driving and was starting to slowdown for the light signal. The van suddenly jolted and stopped completely. I tried to turn it on and it would not start. I was very lucky that the car behind me noticed me slowing down and did not hit the van. I tried to turn on the van and the electrical function would turn on but not the engine. Then after continuously trying to start it the gear function would not move. I also want to add that at the time of purchase the van was missing a air duct and I was not made aware of that. I was told by the dealer that it had active recalls but they were not able to fix the recalls because the engine would not start. It had an active recall for the flash software and for the start stop. Dealer tried to tell me it overheated, however this is false, there was no white smoke and no other indications that the van had overheated. I wasn't able to add that the electrical in the vehicle is a problem. The radio and screen would just go blank at times.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #261

Dec 172023

Pacifica

  • miles
On 4 separate occasions the vehicle while in motion will flash an alert that states -??vehicle shutting down, stop safely-?? and the van will proceed to completely shut down- all electrical components do not work, including the sliding doors. After 30-45 minutes, the can will start back up without issue. Has been evaluated by a Chrysler dealership mechanic, as well as 2 private mechanics. They have been unable to replicate the issue. The main and auxillary batteries have been replaced twice each. Each incident we were able to pull over safely and there have not been any injuries or crashes, but we are concerned if it happens and we can-??t pull over, we could easily crash.

- Leland, NC, USA

problem #260

Jun 232024

Pacifica

  • miles
I was driving with my family on the interstate and was exiting when the car shuddered and I lost propulsion. Interior electrical power was still functional. This occurred as the car was switching to gas mode as I had been been driving about 30-35 miles on electric at that point. The gas motor never came on. I was able to roll into a gas station since we were on a bit of a downhill. Shut off car and waited a beat then started car again, battery showed 1% and was able to pull 2 more feet into gas station and off to side before it completely died again (battery at 0%). I feel extremely fortunate that this didn't happen a moment earlier when I was on the expressway and that were able to get off of a busy road. I had the vehicle towed to nearest Chrysler dealer and had a friend drive me and my family to a nearby car rental place. After two weeks at the dealer, we were informed that the issue was likely the Power Inverter Module. We are still without car and waiting for updates from service department.

- Concord, MA, USA

problem #259

Jun 172024

Pacifica

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

head gasket was blown.and there were no warning signs or indicator lights my van only has 62,000 miles on

- Beverly Hills, CA, USA

problem #258

May 282024

Pacifica

  • miles
Transmission slipping while changing gears. Engine shutting down while driving. Was put in the shop 5/28, they said they fixed it. did it again on the way home on 6/21/24.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #257

Jun 232024

Pacifica

  • miles
I was driving on the freeway and my engine suddenly stopped out of nowhere. A console message informed me to shift from Drive to Park. The accelerator did not work. This happened 4 times before I could get off the freeway. The first time I pulled into the shoulder, but I still had to get off the freeway. I had to wait about 10 minutes each time for the engine to start again until I could pull off the freeway and wait for AAA. I did not feel safe waiting on the freeway. I'm aware that there is a recall and that Chrysler has extended my engine warranty to 10 years. This is unacceptable because: 1. Replacing a part or wire does not ensure my transmission will not give out again. I was fortunate this last time, but I may not be so the next time this happens. I could die or cause harm to others, especially if I am travelling fast in the carpool or fast lane. 2. My car is paid off and has only 40,100 miles on it. But I have lost money and value in my car. 3. Chrysler knows there is a grave problem and should recall all affected vehicles to replace the entire transmission. The company is putting tens of thousands of people's lives at risk by not doing so.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #256

May 102024

Pacifica

  • miles
The check engine light came on in early May, and I immediately took it to our local mechanic. On [XXX], he told me we had a cracked cylinder head (attached quote). You can imagine my surprise! It-??s a fairly new car. I just went on Google, and I found immediately a thread on the Pacifica forum where hundreds of families have had this problem. I just commented without expecting to get help, and I got a DM from Chrysler Cares (correspondence attached). They asked me to take it to a Chrysler dealer to confirm the diagnosis. The dealer reached out to me on May 28th with the bad news below. I said I would pick the car that afternoon. He informed me that if I drove the vehicle it would -??catch on fire.-?? Quote below: Technician has completed diagnosis of vehicle. Found engine is burning coolant, coolant leaking into engine from headgaskets. Need to replace both left and right side headgaskets, cost for repair is $4334 plus tax. With this service also recommended to replace spark plugs additional $437, service throttle body $299, Service fuel injectors/rails $299, flush coolant in radiator and reservoir $299. Sincerely, Tony Pantagis Service Advisor Office 973-744-2000 ext 137 Fax 973-744-248 Email: tony@decozencjd.com I immediately reached out to Chrysler Cares online. I also called the 800#again. It took MANY days to get anyone to get back to me, but finally I got a Case number. I explained my whole story on the telephone, and Chante said she would reach out to the dealer. After many days of back and forth phone tag, she called me on Friday, June 7 to say this would be referred to a Chrysler supervisor for one final review. I picked up my broken car from the dealer today and it is still not fixed. I still have no answer why a car with 60K miles would have a failed engine with no warning. Chrysler needs to recall these vehicles! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Montclair, NJ, USA

problem #255

May 152024

Pacifica

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with just 53k miles. Recently, after starting the vehicle, the dash board displayed a check engine light. When I took it to the dealership, they informed me the code was a P0305, which indicated a misfire in cylinder 5, caused by a blown head gasket and a coolant leak into the cylinder. AT 53,000 MILES! Their quote to repair the engine (which just sets the ticking time-bomb back to zero) is $5,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #254

May 012024

Pacifica

  • miles
Head gasket is leaking coolant into cylinder #5. According to the Chrysler forums, this seems to be a common problem. We are seeking to share this information so that the appropriate steps may be taken to commence a recall in order to service these vehicles. The safety of all drivers/passengers should be the pinnacle of this concern. We have 105, 000 miles on this vehicle and have experienced no other mechanical issues to this point.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #253

May 272024

Pacifica

  • miles
Had engine misfire and low coolant light come on. Towed to dealer. Engine did not overheat. Dealer found cracked head. Head was not made well. Disabled start stop feature and put van into -??limp-?? mode where it would not start on the freeway. Safety concern.

- Sac City, IA, USA

problem #252

May 282024

Pacifica

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a failure with the START/STOP system. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the START/STOP engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Senatobia, MS, USA

problem #251

May 172024

Pacifica

  • miles
Head gasket is blown with not that many miles, it's blowing fuses on a daily bases, start stop function won't work. Coolant leaks. Coils damaged, and lastly ac unit won't close properly and keeps making noise.

- Portland , TN, USA

problem #250

May 012024

Pacifica

  • miles
Licensed independent service center diagnosed that I have coolant leaking into cylinder 5 and that the head gasket is compromised and needs to be replaced. My vehicle only has 84k miles. No warning lights illuminated until I started to experience a shudder when starting the vehicle, shaky start and then the check engine light came on with a cylinder 5 misfire code. I noticed coolant was low and topped off. The vehicle has never indicated it was too hot, but I need to refill reservoir each time the vehicle is driven. I no longer feel safe driving my vehicle as a hot engine could cause failure while driving, leave us stranded in a vehicle with small children, or worse cause engine fire, accident, injury or death. I would never expect to have head gasket failure at such low mileage. I should be able to trust that an auto manufacturer can build a car that will last more than 84,000 miles without engine failure. Many people online are experiencing this same issue with large repair bills or engine replacements needed. I sincerely hope that a recall will be issued for this repair as it presents a safety issue.

- Logandale, NV, USA

problem #249

Apr 202024

Pacifica

  • miles
Value cover gasket failed and stated cracked heads. Car didn-??t overheat, but engine light came on. Had car towed to dealer. Bought warranty from dealer(powertrain) but dealer says coverage have not been approved yet. Car been in shop about 2 wks

- Wilson, NC, USA

problem #248

Mar 082024

Pacifica

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 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. Additionally, the check engine and the STOP and START warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that on the last occasion, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the battery was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was scheduled for a service appointment. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #247

Apr 292024

Pacifica

  • miles
While driving 45+ MPH, a warning message shown stating "stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon", which is followed by loss of power and inability to control the vehicle. No error codes generated. There is an open investigation according to the NHTS website, NHTSA Action Number: RQ24004.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #246

Apr 252024

Pacifica

  • miles
-service engine light went on 2 weeks ago, intermittently. - escalated when engine began locking/ shuddering while driving and engine light began flashing. - had vehicle towed to the nearby dealership - dealer diagnosed it as a blown head gasket due to manufacturing defects. Dealer offered up that -??they see this issue all the time-?? with the 3.6L Pentastar engine. - dealer quoted $6000 for the repair but forewarned that the other head gaskets would likely fail as well because of the manufacturer defect. Quoted $9500 to replace both - dealer suggested replacing both head gaskets but also refused to confirm integrity of the engine block and all additional cylinders with micrometer measurements and pressure readings. - there is a known and frighteningly frequent breakdown of this engine in the Chrysler Pacifica. - complete engine failure should not be common place for a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles.

- Encinitad, CA, USA

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