2018 Chrysler PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
223 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
6,617 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 97 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 81 of 223 complaints (36.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 69 | 30.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 8.1% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 81 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 73 |
| Engine | 63 |
| Power Train | 39 |
| Unknown Or Other | 34 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Electrical System: 81; Hybrid Propulsion System: 73; Engine: 63; Power Train: 39; Unknown Or Other: 34; Fuel/Propulsion System: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Service Brakes: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 77 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 77; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 126 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 41 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 1; 2018: 41; 2019: 31; 2020: 10; 2021: 13; 2022: 62; 2023: 31; 2024: 29; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 69 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11112040 · 2018-07-17 (July 17, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, ON AN OVERPASS RAMP CONNECTING TWO DIFFERENT FREEWAYS, DRIVING UPHILL AROUND A BROAD TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL OR APPLYING THE BREAKS. STEERING WAS STILL POSSIBLE. I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND CONTINUED TO STEER THE CAR AROUND THE BEND AS IT DECELERATED (IT WAS 25MPH OR LESS BEFORE I GOT IT RESTARTED). CONCURRENTLY, I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE (I INTENDED TO TURN THE KNOB TO NEUTRAL BUT OVERSHOT DUE TO NERVES), THEN BACK INTO NEUTRAL, AND BACK INTO DRIVE. AT THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113223 · 2018-07-24 (July 24, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT THE BATTERY WAS CONDITIONING. I WAS THEN LIMITED TO 45 MPH WITH VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION, AND THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. THIS WAS REPAIRED, BUT HAPPENED AGAIN THREE WEEKS LATER WHEN ABOUT TO MERGE ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY WITH A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103765 · 2018-06-25 (June 25, 2018)
I PURCHASED THE 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID IN DECEMBER 2018. IN FEBRUARY 2018 AT ABOUT 3500 MILES, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LOUD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT A PIN WAS MISSING FROM THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT PHASER. THE PIN WAS NOT INSTALLED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN. THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A CAMSHAFT PHASER, OIL CONTROL SOLENOID, AND CYLINDER HEAD COVER GASKET. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114441 · 2018-07-29 (July 29, 2018)
WITH JUST 200 MILES AND HAVING OWNED THE VEHICLE 3 WEEKS, VEHICLE LOST POWER ON FREEWAY AND MY WIFE COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE WITH CAR FULLY STALLING AND IGNITION LOCKING UP WITHIN 1/4 MILE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP BUT WORKED FINE NEXT DAY. 100 MILES LATER AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS ON DIFFERENT FREEWAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THE CAR SEEMS TO STALL IN HYBRID OR GAS MODE. SERVICE STAFF CHANGED BATTERY AND TRIED VARIOUS THINGS BUT SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CAR STALL OUT AGAIN ON TEST DRIVE ON FREEWA…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130465 · 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE HOOD WAS LIFTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL. THE FIRE MARSHALL EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER: 2018-2716. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN CHRYSLER DEALER, BUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101467 · 2018-06-12 (June 12, 2018)
WHILE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED IF A VEHICLE IS ALREADY STOPPED WHEN YOU COME UPON IT, LIKE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHILE YOU ARE APPROACHING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES AS APPOSED TO WHEN YOU ARE BOTH MOVING AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWS TO A STOP. ALSO, THE SCREEN THAT SHOWS THE 360 CAMERA AND OTHER APPS FREEZES UP RANDOMLY, MOSTLY WHILE USING THE CAMERA WHILE NOT IN REVERSE, BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND STOPPED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 1,283 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114767 · 2018-07-31 (July 31, 2018)
WE WERE DRIVING CAR AT 25 MPH ON BUSY CITY ROAD IN GAS MODE (NOT ELECTRIC MODE) WHEN THE POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHTS LIT UP, AND A MESSAGE SAYING "CAR MUST BE IN PARK TO CONTINUE DRIVING" SHOWED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BRAKES WORKED, AND WE COASTED TO A STOP AND WERE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ON A BUSY ARTERY. WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT WOULD NOT THEN GO BACK INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE; THE "D" AND "R" GEAR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF, IT WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442778 · 2021-12-06 (December 6, 2021)
While driving at 60mph, vehicle shut off and would not allow me to accelerate. Error message displayed on speedometer, vehicle must be in park to shift gears. The PRNDL blue LED was flashing as well. Several indicator lights on my dashboard illuminated too. Vehicle has approximately 9300 miles on it. This is a pacifica e-hybrid. After pulling off the road I was able to restart and the van worked in “limp home” mode with the red turtle displayed. I then limped the van to a gas station, shut off the van, topped off the fuel tank which had bee…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442778 at NHTSA ↗