9.9

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
275 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.

2020 Chrysler Pacifica electrical problems

electrical problem

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2020 Chrysler Pacifica Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Jul 082024

Pacifica

  • miles

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

While driving, the vehicle spontaneously goes into limp mode and warns the driver to pull over immediately because it is about to shut down. This has happened at least 10 times in my ownership of this vehicle since 10/04/2023 and the first time on 10/09/2024 and most recently occurred 07/06/2024. The first time it occurred on a narrow mountain road at night but I was safely able to drive slowly for about a mile before finding a parking lot to pull over. Several times were significantly more dangerous and occurred while traveling 70mph on a busy interstate and forcing us to navigate across several lanes of traffic into the emergency lane in a vehicle that is no longer able to keep up with traffic due to significant power loss when limp mode. Once pulled over, the vehicle must be turned off for several seconds before restarting and driven again. Occupants are at significant risk of being involved in a collision during the entire process from unexpected power loss, navigating traffic with said power loss, parking and restarting the vehicle on the side of a busy road, and attempting to safely merge back into traffic which is often traveling 70+mph. This entire issue is due to a faulty wiring harness in the transmission of 2017-2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid that can short circuit and requires immediate shutdown of the vehicle when it occurs. Thus far the only remedy from Chrysler is a software update which installs a driver warning to pull over and restart the vehicle before it shuts down instead of immediately shutting off. This is marginally better than complete power loss but still poses significant increased safety risk for passengers and surrounding vehicles and a remedy that stops the failure from occurring in the first place needs to be implemented immediately. This has been known to effect 70,000 vehicles from 2017-2023 year models and the fact that a remedy to the actual problem has not yet been made is appalling and dangerous.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #39

Jun 242024

Pacifica

  • miles
Got the stop safely Vehicle will shut off soon warning. My wife was upset and not sure what to do. Was able to start again but now we don't trust the van

- Toccoa, GA, USA

problem #38

May 232024

Pacifica

  • miles
While driving my kids to school I experienced my first loss of power on my vehicle, where an error message appeared in the instrument cluster stating "shift to P to start" with the P indicator on the shifter flashing. No check engine light was produced. I was on surface streets driving at 20mph, this could have been worse of I was on the freeway, especially with my kids in the vehicle.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #37

Apr 162024

Pacifica

  • miles

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

While driving the vehicle, we received a message on the dash stating, "Stop Safely, Vehicle will shut off soon". Then a few minutes later, it lost all power and turned off. We were not traveling at high speeds at this time but if we were and needed to exit the highway this could have caused an accident. There was no prior warning that this would happen and I drove it yesterday evening. We have not taken it to be serviced because it just happened an hour ago and now we are afraid to drive it to the dealership because we have to get on the interstate to do so.

- Barnhart, MO, USA

problem #36

Jan 012024

Pacifica

  • miles
In August 2022, while traveling on the interstate I received a warning that the vehicle was experiencing a power failure. It subsequently shut down while traveling at highway speeds. I was able to navigate off an exit that happened to be immediate and coasted downhill off the exit ramp to a safe spot. I was unable to power the vehicle off for approximately 10 minutes. Once able to power the vehicle off and keeping it off for a few minutes, I restarted it. The check engine light was lit but drivable. The dealer replaced the entire transmission. In January 2023, the dealer completed the recall associated with the vehicle. On 1 January 2024, while driving approximately 60mph, I received notice that the vehicle would shut down and to pull over safely. Upon turning the vehicle off and back on, the check engine was lit but drivable. The vehicle is currently with the dealer again.

- Waynesboro, VA, USA

problem #35

Nov 232023

Pacifica

  • miles
Unknown, I have Pacifica 2020, it-??s reported to the dealer and to independent car repair company with electric issues. The electric issues put me and my children in danger, I have to call 911 to get them help me in the middle of the road. The car stopped suddenly putting on park and suddenly shutdown. Even did not allowed me to use the emergency light / hazard warning lights. I felt trapped and one of the toddler was inside the van with me, so it-??s out his kid in danger too. I took it to the dealership and they was not able to fix or to know the root of this issue. Just cost me money for inspection for nothing. Last time is repeating the same problem wa last night, was stuck in the middle of the night in freezing weather. I called my insurance company which was full coverage to ask road assistance, the answer was I have to wait like 6 hours till business is open. The van has been doing this before for past six months one after one. This van have electrical problems put me in danger several times.

- Nashville , TN, USA

problem #34

Nov 042023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

On 11.04.2023 @ approximately 12:45 hrs while driving in Austin Texas, congress & 5th, the Auto Start:/stop warning light came on my dash. I was driving downtown. I will continue to file complaints until this matter is taken seriously. If my family is injured/killed please know that NHTSA & Chrysler will be collectively grouped & liable. I urge you to take this matter seriously before it-??s too late.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #33

Nov 032023

Pacifica

  • miles
On 11.03.2023 @ approximately 17:30 hrs I was stopped at a red light with my 9 year old in the car. A warning indicating the -??hood popped-??-?? appeared on my dash. It indicated the auto start/stop would not work. The van shifted into park mode on IT-??S Own. I DIDN-??T engage park mode. The PACIFICA did it on its own. Let me repeat this so you understand the severity of this matter. The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica made its own mind up and took action without a direct order from me or my hands. It engaged into park mode. It then told me I would have to restart the car in order for AUTO START/STOP to work. I live in Austin Texas. 5 o-??clock traffic is a reality and in order to be efficient the commuter is only as good as there car. I must advise that this is not a game to me or my family. I understand the car industry in America cannot afford to fail which is why corners are cut. They are overlooked by government and the industry. NHTSA. You are aware this is a major problem. You are just as liable as the company who fails to accept responsibility due to the bottom line. This is not the first time nor will it be the last. Tell me what side of this issue do you want to be on. Does someone need to die or get hurt before you take this matter seriously. It seems to me that we-??d rather watch folks suffer. What-??s your price?

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #32

Oct 042023

Pacifica

  • miles
While loading my van from the sliding door entrance on the passenger side, the door started closing. Instead of stopping when it hit me, it kept on closing, very hard and forecful. I had to put my full weight into it to stop it and it finally opened back up. Never had this happen before and it was quite concerning.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #31

Sep 102023

Pacifica

  • miles
Driving at approx 45 MPH the car suddenly lost propulsion and experienced a complete electrical failure. The power steering was lost, braking was stiff, gas pedal was unresponsive. I struggled to get the vehicle out of the lane of traffic. The police arrived and helped route traffic until the tow truck arrived. The vehicle is still covered under factory warranty and is currently at the dealer with no estimated return date. As a matter of fact, the Chrysler dealer that has my car hasn't returned my phone calls or voice mails in a week now to inform me how long I might be without my vehicle. A day before the incident a message appeared: ?service Hybrid electrical system It happened fast but prior to the failure the display flashed red and sounded an alarm Shift to P to start for a few seconds, then the gear shifter was flashing....then I lost all power.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #30

Jun 022023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

The car has lost power while driving multiple times. It was in the shop for many months more than once regarding the issue. An error came on the screen saying -??vehicle speed may be reduced-?? then it stopped. The most recent time. After the recall fix. I got a second warning telling me to pull over because the car was going to stop. I barely made it off the highway into a parking lot. The time before that I was off the side of the road on a frontage road because the car could not make it to a parking lot.

- Austin , TX, USA

problem #29

Jun 232023

Pacifica

  • miles
My family was driving down the highway and an error message came on the dashboard telling us to " stop safely. Vehicle will shut off soon". The vehicle lost acceleration power making it dangerous to change lanes. We made it to the shoulder and turned off the car. We called our service station since they had just done a recall update regarding these types of error messages. We were able to start the car again with only the engine service light on. We assumed there was some type of issue as we transferred from battery to gas since it's a hybrid. We had just drained the battery when this error message had appeared. However, this happened again less than an hour later into our trip but and our battery had gained some power due to hills. We again pull to the shoulder. We're able to turn off the car. Let rest for 1 minute restart and then it was drivable. In total this happened six times on this long distance trip. Never before have we had this issue. The car has 24,000 mi on it. Our safety was put at risk because we had to pull onto the shoulder on busy highways and restart the car. We've scheduled a service appointment at the first available time with the local dealership. We are currently out of town on vacation and cannot take it to the dealership that did the recall.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #28

Jun 062023

Pacifica

  • miles
When pulling up to a stop light the car shuttered and shifted into park and engaged the parking brake with no warning. Then it said safe hold temporarily disabled as well as the auto start stop light on the dash came

- Sparta, WI, USA

problem #27

Feb 242023

Pacifica

  • miles
The vehicle stopped in February 2023 due to a power inverter problem (it-??s subject to an NHSTA safety recall). We were driving to Florida from Philadelphia when a -??red turtle-?? warning light came on. We were able (luckily) to get off the highway before the vehicle stopped with all electrically systems impacted (the car wouldn-??t even turn off). We managed to pull into a parking lot then had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealer. Since then we have been trying to get the car repaired to no avail.

- Berwyn, PA, USA

problem #26

Apr 242023

Pacifica

  • miles
Car stalled (engine stopped working) while driving on highway.

- Creve Coeur, MO, USA

problem #25

Apr 152023

Pacifica

  • miles
I own a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica limited. This happened on04/15/2023 when I was sitting at a traffic light, an alarm went off. The message came up that read -??Auto/start stop not available-??, -??Hood latch open-??, -??parking brake went on automatically vehicle went from drive into Park on its own-??, the emergency brake came on and a warning light came on. I had to turn off the car and restart it. The main and auxiliary battery was replaced on November 2022.The similar issue also happened on 04/07/2023.

- Auburn Hills, MI, USA

problem #24

Feb 042023

Pacifica

  • miles
Problems with the entire dashboard electrical system going out and not coming back on for approx. 2 hrs. Until vehicle sits. Everything including the heat/AC, radio, nothing worked. Secondly the engine is and has been running rough even though oil changes performed every 4-5,000 miles full synthetic. Engine feels as if it needs an engine service or something. Vehicle has some jolting and stubborn acceleration at time as well.

- Fort Stewart, GA, USA

problem #23

Apr 072023

Pacifica

  • miles
While driving in normal conditions most, if not all, of the van's dash warning lights lit up, the van came to a stop on its own (without input from driver) in the middle of the street, put itself in park and would not shift into drive again. This happened in the middle of the street and before it could be moved onto the shoulder. The battery had to be disconnected to allow the computer/electrical system to reset, only then would it move. We are very lucky that this occurred within a 35 mph zone and not in interstate traffic. Even with this happening in a lower speed zone it is still very dangerous for the van to stop unpredictably in the middle of traffic. Again, had this been on interstate it could have been deadly. When attempting to put into reverse or drive, the shifter would shift itself back into park. If placed in neutral the van would engage the electronic parking brake and would not disengage until placed back in park. Given that the main purpose of these vehicles is to ferry children, it is especially concerning that the van is behaving the way it is.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

problem #22

Aug 282020

Pacifica

  • miles
We've had issues with transmission since we purchased this vehicle in the brand new condition. The vehicle has a hard shifting problem and makes unusual noise. We've driven newer models of Pacifica that didn't have this problem. The issues are getting worse after numerous repairs made by Chrysler.

- San Mateo, CA, USA

problem #21

Mar 252023

Pacifica

  • miles
When driving at high speeds the van doors will unlock. You cannot lock them. When you hit lock the unlock again. Then on Saturday driving down the road the doors the door flew open.

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

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