10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,888 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2018 Chrysler Pacifica Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #71

Jul 012024

Pacifica

  • miles

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

Having trouble with steering. At times steering wheel makes noises and locks up while turning. I was told a recall was already done and that I need a new computer that will cost 5k for part and install. I just had issues with panel lights going on and off and had to replace secondary battery due to stop/start button which Ive had trouble with consistently. I think this issue with computer may be due to recall issue and I believe this issue should be fixed and paid for thru recall process. It is an ongoing issue with pacifica 2018 with start/stop and push button starts. I have taken it to 2 dealers. They said recall done. So I need new part

- West Falls, NY, USA

problem #70

Apr 092024

Pacifica

  • miles
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 #69

Jun 222024

Pacifica

  • miles
In March of this year (2024), while driving down the road at 45 mph, my Pacifica's dashboard suddenly lit up and flashed all kinds of warnings including ABS off, the check engine light, the parking brake, the service electronic throttle control, electronic stability control off, collision off, warning parking brake, and other lights that I'm not sure what they mean. It seemed like every warning light in the panel lit up. The van slowed down and wouldn't let me accelerate and it felt like the power steering wasn't active. I pulled into a parking lot and shut the engine off. After restarting, the check engine light was lit, but the van let me proceed. I took it to my auto shop that said the codes were all electronic/ software related and I had to take it to a dealership. The dealership said they couldn't find anything wrong and that the codes didn't save. On June 9, the lights started flashing again while I was parked in a parking lot while I was on a road trip. I was able to capture the end of it on my camera. I again turned the engine off and on again, and the van "reset" with only the check engine light on. I was able to proceed through the rest of the weekend and the check engine light actually turned off after a day. Then on June 22, the warning lights started flashing again. My son was driving this time (along with my husband and 2 other sons). He pulled into a parking lot to return the van home, but it wouldn't go into a gear. Slowly, they toggled through the gears until it would allow them to drive the van home. He also said that it felt like he lost power steering. Losing steering, the ability to accelerate, the ability to put the vehicle in gear while driving, and losing the ABS system and the electronic stability system definitely puts my family and others at risk of an accident. I am prepared to take it to my dealer if asked. It has not been inspected by anyone else accept a local car shop and the dealership.

- Oxford, OH, USA

problem #68

Apr 082024

Pacifica

  • miles

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

The steering wheel seems to "lock" or become stiff when traveling over 50 miles an hour. It does not happen all the time, but causes over correction which is scary at higher speeds

- Orange Park, FL, USA

problem #67

Apr 042024

Pacifica

  • miles
There is a loud clicking and popping noise from the front drivers side suspension when turning or going over bumpy ground. The car also pulls to one side unexpectedly when going around corners Sometimes while driving the car will shut down and restart as if rebooting a computer.

- Phoenixville , PA, USA

problem #66

Mar 012024

Pacifica

  • miles
When driving at 60-70 mph steering wheel feels like it is sticking. It won't return back to center. It is a very uncomfortable feeling, like the steering wheel is going to get stuck turning. I see that there has been another complaint filed. - NHTSA ID # 11578790

- Madison, AL, USA

problem #65

Dec 212023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

When traveling 65 - 75 mph, steering wheel sticks/gets stuck when making right turn. Steering does not auto-correct itself like it should. After researching issue, it-??s related to an issue with the power steering rack and pinion. It needs to be replaced. The part itself is over $2,000.

- Spring Branch, TX, USA

problem #64

Feb 062024

Pacifica

  • miles
Tried to start car. When start button was pressed the dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple error messages. FCW unavailable, power steering unavailable, fuel door open, park brake unavailable, park sense unavailable, Service hybrid electric system, power steering unavailable. The gear indication, both on dash and by shifter was flashing. The car would not turn off. I had to open hood and disconnect 12v battery for the car to power off. Waited 10 seconds and connected 12v and it power on, but the check engine light is still active

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #63

Jan 162024

Pacifica

  • miles
Driving along and the power steering stops and you can-??t turn then it releases and then a little bit later it-??ll do it again so the power steering comes back-and-forth but I feel it-??s a hazard

- West Warwick , RI, USA

problem #62

Oct 022023

Pacifica

  • miles
Occasional loss of power steering and or locking up of the steering wheel resulting in excessive force to overcome the locked or "catched" position. Dealer has inspected and says that the electric steering gear is faulty.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #61

Sep 052023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

Driving through a parking lot when the van said shift to park and completely shut off while moving. Lost power steering and acceleration. Car then would not restart. Husband came and we hooked to his battery and somehow it cranked and we got it home.

- Winnabow, NC, USA

problem #60

Sep 022023

Pacifica

  • miles
Several near-accidents yesterday and today. Steering wheel randomly locks up when driving. This is an extremely dangerous situation for my wife and 4 children riding in the van. You have to physically force the steering wheel back over, which can easily result in over correction which could also cause a crash. No warning lights on at the time, and has happened 4 times yesterday and once today already. How is this not a recall?!

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #59

Feb 012023

Pacifica

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle used in 2022. A few months after purchase, I began to notice that while I was going through a sweeping curve in the road and traveling faster than approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel would stick at approximately 1 o'clock or 11 o'clock depending on which way I was turning while attempting to straighten the wheel back out after completing the turn. To get the steering wheel to return to center, it takes forcible action. If not careful, this forcible action can cause you to overcorrect from the turn. This becomes quite dangerous especially on narrow one lane roads. This problem has been discussed with multiple service centers, but has not been able to be diagnosed. No warning lamps are present in the vehicle and all other systems seem to be working fine.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #58

May 032019

Pacifica

  • miles
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

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

problem #57

Dec 012022

Pacifica

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

- Columbia, PA, USA

problem #56

Dec 272022

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • miles
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"

- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

problem #55

Sep 292022

Pacifica

  • miles
I was driving on a local road and car suddenly stopped running; accelarator unresponsive; power steering not working either. I was able to pull to side. Car said shift P to start, gear change didn't do anything and blinking, check engine light came up. And -??check charging system-?? light came on. It was very dangerous. After 3-4 minutes I was able to get my car turn off and on and then it drove normal. So I decided to take it in nearby open parking area. It would restart but not do anything even if switched into drive or reverse. Check charging system light on and no power steering again. I had to get it to get it towed the next day from that lot. First tow truck unable to tow due to steering being locked. 2nd tow truck needed help to move car due to steering. Been at dealer for 30 days. They changed charging port but it didn-??t work. Now they are changing battery. I don-??t want this car back and don-??t want to keep making payments on it either. It-??s not a safe car.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #54

Oct 082022

Pacifica

  • miles
Power Steering is unavailable Stop/start is unavailable Wasn-??t able to avoid an accident this morning from deer. Steering went out.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #53

Sep 102022

Pacifica

  • miles
The car battery system has failed over 5x when driving. All of a sudden the car battery lights start coming on & stearing shuts down and car stops. The last time it completely shut down. No power to even run hazard lights. No power to lock the car or rollup the windows. It has been 2 weeks and dealership mechanic can not figure out what is wrong.

- Palo Cedro, CA, USA

problem #52

Sep 052022

Pacifica

  • miles
Car steering, get stuck very often, and then continues to work properly.

- Katy, TX, USA

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