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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
341 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.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica engine problems

engine problem

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2021 Chrysler Pacifica Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #98

Jan 142024

Pacifica

  • miles

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

Without any prior warning or predisposing symptoms, my vehicle lost all power when I was driving in the carpool lane at 70 miles per hour. I had to "coast" across 5 lanes of freeway and come to stop in the emergency lane. When I applied the brakes I had no power to brakes which made the car skid violently. I could have lost control because I was not expecting that secondary issue. The traction conrtol may have been triggered causing the car to overreact. The dashboard lights and "d" on my gear shifter were all flashing. I turned the car off and allowed it to sit for a few moments. I turned the car on again and nothing happened. I turned it off a second time and it turned on, went into drive and I was able to drive the remaining 5 miles home without incicent. I have already completed the recall notice for this very issue back in Jan 2023. However, even though the dealer states they completed my recall work the upbove described incident happened on 1/14/24 nearly a year after their recall completion.

- Canyon Country, CA, USA

problem #97

Dec 132023

Pacifica

  • miles
While driving early in morning on local highway (70mph speed limit), car flashed "Service Charging System" shut off the engine and power to the vehicle including acceleration, and check engline light illuminated. Thankfully early hours made it possible to drift to side of road to put car in park. Engine light illuminated dash and dash flashed "shift to P to start." Car would not shut off after pressing the start button nor depressing the break either (hazards were engaged at this point). Hazards had to be shut off in order to completely shut off the vehicle to restart it. Dangerous on major highway with no lights or hazards on side of road. 25 degrees outside. This is the Second time this has occurred to this vehicle. The last time occurred on 1/20/2023 the exact same way shutting off power and engine of the car on the same local highway with similar cold temperature (always issues with this car in the cold, hybrid battery system fails in cold below 40 or temperatures higher than 90). Last time a grounding issue was found in the transmission and was replaced. I will be contacting the dealership for repair today will update if it is still grounding issues or something new causing same problem. As i made in my last nhtsa report in january on this vehicle, the fact this car shuts down while in motion and you have no control over the car is dangerous and can cost people their lives. As a hybrid system, the van should automatically switch to gas only and bypass the hybrid charging system to continue functioning as any car would. By shutting down the engine and everything you are jeopardizing the lives of everyone on the roads. Both incidents of mine occurred on a highway at high speeds. I am just thankful I was not on a bridge at the time it failed as it would have caused an accident. I heard nothing about or from my last nhtsa report. Please for the safety of everyone look into these hybrids. Look into this car history and you'll see the constant repairs it has had.

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #96

Nov 292023

Pacifica

  • miles
My new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivan was repaired under the 03a recall on 3/2023. It had another loss of motive power, the same issue that was supposed to be fixed under the 03a recall. The car warned me that it would shutoff soon in the visual display and to move to a safe area. It did shut down immediately. I attempted to restart it several times. After many times it did start and the transmission light remained illuminated. I was driving on the highway at the time and blocking traffic. It's unsafe for the car to shut off randomly. This is unacceptable and unsafe. I paid for a brand new, safe, functioning car. This is a serious problem and is dangerous for my family. I feel unsafe driving a car that will shut off at random times. This has already been repaired once and remains a problem. I need a solution.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #95

Nov 132023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

Chrysler calls for the oil filter housing to be tightened to 18 ft/lbs. Google shows many people online claiming that this is too much; that hand tight or 11-12 ft/lbs is sufficient, and that the oil filter housing is likely to break if tightened to the factory specs. I figure the manufacturer knows best, and tightened the oil filter housing to 18 ft/lbs. The housing is under the intake manifold, and the trough in the V of the engine plus the shields under the car hid the resulting leak until I was on the highway. When I got on the highway, I found I was laying down a smokescreen that obscured every lane of eastbound I-44. The generator light came on as oil caused the belts to slip; I am very lucky that the car did not catch fire. I left a solid line of oil on the road to the nearest repair shop. The resulting repairs cost me $1,198.37. ***** Clearly Chrysler needs to develop a metal oil filter housing which will last the life of the engine. The plastic one they have now endangers the public through the risk of fires, and pollutes the environment through the loss of oil. Here's 3rd party confirmation of the problem affecting all Chrysler Pentastar engines: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Maplewood, MO, USA

problem #94

Nov 212023

Pacifica

  • miles
My vehicle stopped while driving. I was able to pull of the road and get towed to the dealer 11/1/23. They performed the recall, I left the dealer 11/21/23 and while driving my van back to the house, I had the same thing happen. The error message lit up and the car slowed down til it would no longer move. I do not feel safe in this vehicle, as this is the second time it has happened in a month, and the recall was taken care of the day I picked it up.

- Duncannon, PA, USA

problem #93

Nov 152023

Pacifica

  • miles
While driving 70 mph on the highway with my three children in the car, my engine suddenly and without warning, shut off. I had to coast over to the shoulder and wait for help. The dash displayed the warning "service charging system" and would not let me put the car in drive. I was VERY lucky that there weren't any cars around me when my acceleration suddenly stopped so I was able to get over on the highway. The car stalled in an unsafe place and left my children and me at risk of being hit from behind while waiting for help. I got the car to the dealer and they have informed me that this was caused by total transmission failure. This was a HIGHLY unsafe situation and it could have ended much worse for my family, and those in vehicles around us!

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

problem #92

Oct 162023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

Chrysler recall 03A is installed on my pacifica hybrid. Since then, the past two times the van has been driven at highway speed, it has suddenly notified me that vehicle shutdown is imminenent and put the vehicle into limp mode. In both cases, turning the car off and on again allowed normal operation, with the check engine light locked in. The first time the code was P0A43, to be determined what the code is for this most recent event.

- Quarryville, PA, USA

problem #91

Oct 142023

Pacifica

  • miles
My car was at the dealership for the 03A recall repair for a full month in April of 2023. Since the recall was supposedly fixed my car has shut down unexpectedly while driving 12 times. Each of those times I was driving with my two toddlers in the vehicle. I will be driving on the highway and the car will show a message that "the engine will shut off soon, pull over safely" but will immediately shut down to where I'm just coasting and have to pull over on the shoulder of the highway. Thankfully I've had access to a shoulder every time it's happened so far but it's extremely unsafe and dangerous. There doesn't seem to be a reason for it. I've stopped charging the battery and have only been using gas because of this issue but it still happens. It also occurs when the vehicle is stopped on an incline, like when I'm in the car pick up line at my children's schools. So I've blocked traffic because the car shuts down. When this happens the only way it will successfully restart is if I have the car and my emergency lights shut off. I'll wait five minutes and then try again. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts where I'm stranded for 15 minutes before I can drive again. Chrysler customer service has been abysmal as has my local dealership. I'm giving them one more chance to fix this before getting a lawyer involved. I'm amazed we haven't had a wreck yet. The recall"fix" has not taken care of the issue.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #90

Oct 062023

Pacifica

  • miles
Was driving at 72-74mph on Dallas North Tollway on Oct 6th. Vehicle is a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2021 model - Limited Plug in Hybrid trim. Battery charge was 2% (less than 1 mile range) Fuel was 95% showing 395 miles of range left After the battery depletes, the vehicle is supposed to switch over into ICE mode (Gas engine kicks on) Car was running only on Electric power and when the battery hit 0%, the car stalled on the highway and showed multiple warning lights Service Hybrid Electric System Charge system not available EBD2 Engine Malfuction Transmission Temperature Automatic Transmission Fluid overheating Check Engine light Car still had power (power steering and brakes working) but lost all propulsion suddenly Luckily i was able to safely pull over on the shoulder Turned car off and on and still had same warning lights and car's engine would not start Finally waited 15 minutes, disconnected battery (12v) and tried it and now engine started Came home and charged battery to 100% (showed 32 miles of range) but now car will never run on Electric motors - Only via Gas engine This is a serious safety issue - I had the same exact problem on my 2018 Pacifica Plugin Hybrid which was diagnosed as a HCM (Hybrid Control Module) issue. It was the subject of a recall. This is the 2021 model with less than 25,000 miles and its still a major safety concern. Chrysler should immediately address the problem and issue a safety recall Car is currently at Frisco Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for the last 7 days waiting to be diagnosed

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #89

Sep 212021

Pacifica

  • miles
While driving my 2021 Chrysler Pacifica the vehicle stalled while going through an intersection. There was no warning lights on the dashboard or any indication that the vehicle was about to stall. The van had to come to a complete stop put in park and then restarted before I can get out of the intersection. This was highly unsafe as I have small children in the car. I took the vehicle back to the dealership I bought it from and they cannot find anything wrong with the car. This is very frustrating and highly unsafe.

- Peekskill, NY, USA

problem #88

Aug 202023

Pacifica

  • miles

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

The most concerning and potentially dangerous issue I-??m continuing to have with this vehicle is a random, complete shutdown of all engine/battery power. So far this has only happened while driving at a consistent high-speed on a freeway. A warning comes on the center display that says -??Stop Safely. Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon.-?? There is still power steering and hazard lights, but ZERO motor power, neither gas nor electric. I am forced to glide to a stop. If I turn off the ignition, open the door to reset everything, close the door, let the vehicle sit for a minute, when I restart it (so far anyway) everything is back to normal - with the exception of a -??Check Engine-?? light on the display. This first occurred in April of 2023. I subsequently learned there was a recall on the vehicle for this exact problem. The vehicle was taken to LAX Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram where the recall was done, which required a software update. For the next two months there were no issues with this problem. It happened again on June 21st while driving from California to Minnesota. It shut down 5 times. After sitting overnight, it did not do it again and I was able to make it to MN. It was taken to Ryan Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Buffalo, MN where the service technician said they were unable to duplicate the problem. Nothing they could do. Sent it home with me. The vehicle shut down again on August 12th. Then 10 more times while driving across Kansas on August 20th. You can imagine how harrowing it trying to safely pull to side of the road with dozens of other cars and trucks speeding past, and in one case serving to avoid colliding with me at the last moment. No longer willing to risk an accident, I was forced to ditch the vehicle at a dealership in Denver where it currently resides and awaiting a fix. So far no one at any Chrysler dealership has acknowledged the seriousness of this problem. I have documented most shutdowns on video, but am unable to send.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #87

Aug 072023

Pacifica

  • miles
My 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's engine shut down while were driving. A warning popped up on our dashboard that the engine was about to shut down so we should safely pull over. There was very little time to pull over before the engine completely shut off. I estimate maybe 10 - 20 seconds. This started to happen when we were 3 hours from home. The first time we were on a side street and were able to pull over quickly. The next couple of times we were on faster roads 45-50 mph with other cars around. Fortunately we did not have an accident but it endangered us and the vehicles following us. It was a very close call one time when we had to pull over quickly and we were in the left lane of two lanes of traffic. The car is now at the dealer and will be there for about a month waiting to have the transmission replaced. From what we have seen online this is a known issue with some Chrysler Pacificas due tho a short in some wiring, but the only solution Chrysler had was to rovide the pop-up message. Although that helps, there is not sufficient time to get off the road safely if you are on a major highway or in heavy traffic. I feel very lucky that we were not in that situation but someone else will be.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #86

May 092023

Pacifica

  • miles
In May when I was traveling to the airport, my 2021 Pacifica Hybrid dash suddenly gave a warning that my engine was going to stop and I should pull over. I did pull over and turned off car. I waited for 30-60 seconds and restarted car and continued the few miles to airport so I could catch my flight while check engine light was on. I called dealership and made an appointment for when I returned. The same scenario with message and resultant engine light happened on my way home. When I took the vehicle in I was told it was a software update and they did that and returned the vehicle. Two days later I had just gotten on the interstate, 1/2-1 mile from the entrance, I was going 70+ mph when the light came on and I had to manuever 3 lanes of high speed traffic to get to the shoulder. I called immediately the dealership because I had to get to my location within a short time frame. I drove the vehicle back and got a loaner. They did more in depth and decided a transmission assembly was the fix. A month later the part came in and they did the work and when I went to pick up the car, the shop hand had trouble getting the car from service lot to the service counter. The same issue as before. They have confirred with the factory and decided a different transmission assembly should be installed. I am waiting for the parts and installation to be done. I have no faith that they even know what is wrong or know how to fix it. I see others have had similar issues.

- Frederick, CO, USA

problem #85

Jul 132023

Pacifica

  • miles
Recalls 23V-010 and FCA campaign Z76 was completed on 7/11/23. On 7/13/23 check engine light and turtle warning light (limp mode) was illuminated and vehicle will either not move at all or move only 5mph. This happened without warning and could have left me in a dangerous location in lanes of traffic. Vehicle has only 25,000 miles and is under OEM warranty.

- Belton, TX, USA

problem #84

Jun 032023

Pacifica

  • miles
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will lose all power while driving. I have had it back to the Dealer for this Problem. I got a Recall for this in April. I took it in to the Dealer to do. They told me that Chrysler does not have a fix for this yet. Within 400 miles after that it done it again while my wife was driving and caused a crash.

- Candenton, MO, USA

problem #83

Jun 272023

Pacifica

  • miles
I was driving my child to daycare on my way to work one morning. I pulled into an intersection and my vehicle just stopped as if the engine had died with no warning signs, sounds or even symbols on the dash. I stepped on the gas and couldn-??t get it to move all while I had cars coming at me from both sides. I tried turning it on and off nothing would get it to move, eventually the check engine light and another warning came up on the screen saying to service charging system. During all of this I was able to get my child to the side of the road out of harms way incase my vehicle were to be hit and luckily one other driver had noticed what happened and started waving at the oncoming vehicles to come to a stop. We had to have it towed to a dealership were it is currently being looked at and they are still unable to resolve the issue. I am now terrified to drive this car and am very nervous about intersections, this is a very serious problem and am just thankful that others around me were aware and able to help keep my child and myself safe.

- Oakboro, NC, USA

problem #82

Jun 182023

Pacifica

  • miles
We purchased a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 05/01/2021 and it now has(28,245 miles on it) and the van unexpectedly shut off the engine three times. It is now at the dealership and after two weeks they are not sure what is wrong. It might be the transmission the signal we get is pull over to safe area the engine will shut off shortly about 5 minute. This occurred on the freeway in West Virginia, a country road in North Carolina and a local road in Ohio. We we were blessed that we were able to pull over but in a very dangerous section on highway. There was a recall that was supposed to take care the issue but didn't. I opened a case with Chrysler and have not been provided a vehicle to use.

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #81

Jun 082023

Pacifica

  • miles
The charging system is shutting down my vehicle while driving in high speed heavy traffic. I was traveling with my grandchildren and my dog and my vehicle stopped in 90+ degree weather in the middle of no where. Once it ran again I got it to a charging station so I could continue my travels. The check engine light went away and we were traveling home when the charging system shut us down again doing 65 mph on the interstate about 30 miles from any town with no cell service. My vehicle had to be towed from the 30 miles to the closest town and then towed again from the closest town to the closest Chrysler dealership. They can't even get to my vehicle for over 3 weeks and I am out thousands of dollars in rental car fees. I even took my car to the Chrysler dealer before my trip because the check engine light came on and they ran a diagnostics that said my front camera wasn't working. No a single thing about the problems I was about to encounter for about the 5th time!! This happened last year also and I was without a working vehicle for almost 2 1/2 months. This has been an ongoing problem that started about 5 months after I purchased my vehicle. I don't feel safe on the roads because the vehicle just STOPS!! This a such a lemon of a car and the Chrysler dealer knew about these problems before they sold me my vehicle.

- Grand Junction, CO, USA

problem #80

May 262023

Pacifica

  • miles
Was driving when vehicle produced an error message that said it was powering down. Coasted on interstate to a stop. Was not able to restart vehicle. Appears to be a common issue with this model, extremely dangerous.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #79

Sep 082022

Pacifica

  • miles
The 03A recall has now been performed on our vehicle, and we are not sure if we will pick it up to drive again or not. We are not sure if we trust it. Hybrid system faults have happened three times, this is the best of my memory. April 2022 I had noticed the battery wasn't really being used driving regular routes & made a service appointment. Before the appt we saw a Hybrid System Fault. The dealership in (Town Y) could see the fault, but thought it was a false alarm. They did the prescribed fix for the false alarm, but the fault was still there so they did a repair of some kind. Sept 2022, pulling out from home &at the bottom of the driveway it gave a hybrid system failure or alert, put itself in turtle mode. I pulled back into the garage and parked. Next day I drove 9-10 miles from home to dealership in turtle mode. As I was pulling up to the (state highway) & Main St intersection (was on an incline), the car went from turtle mode to park, lights and alerts were flashing, and it was quite scary. I couldn't get the out of park into neutral to move to the side of the road. I couldn't turn it in or off, it was in a weird kind of limbo or perpetual computer restarting kind of mode. After 15-30 minutes, the wipers started to go on their own volition. The car seemed to have a mind of its own. Had to get towed, 12V battery replacement, radio replacement. Jan 2023, I was driving to school for pickup, <8 miles, neighborhood & highway. Hybrid system fault happened while I was driving on the highway, 4-4.5 miles from home. The alerts were popping up and warning me to pull over now, I did that as fast and safely as I could. The car then seemed stuck in park, I hit the button and opened the door to really turn it off. After a few minutes tried turning it on again. It did turn on. There were still some warnings on the screen I think, but I drove to the dealership.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

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