2018 Chrysler PACIFICA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
863 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
14,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 326 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 372 of 863 complaints (43.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 181 | 21.0% |
| Engine operation | 149 | 17.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 141 | 16.3% |
| Braking behavior | 106 | 12.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 91 | 10.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 372 |
| Electrical System | 281 |
| Steering | 171 |
| Power Train | 153 |
| Unknown Or Other | 112 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 47 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 31 |
Engine: 372; Electrical System: 281; Steering: 171; Power Train: 153; Unknown Or Other: 112; Fuel/Propulsion System: 47; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 37; Service Brakes: 31
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 210 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 55 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 210; 25,000 to 49,999: 55; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (210). 537 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 | 4 |
| 2018 | 77 |
| 2019 | 138 |
| 2020 | 54 |
| 2021 | 55 |
| 2022 | 69 |
| 2023 | 94 |
| 2024 | 112 |
| 2025 | 136 |
| 2026 | 124 |
2017: 4; 2018: 77; 2019: 138; 2020: 54; 2021: 55; 2022: 69; 2023: 94; 2024: 112; 2025: 136; 2026: 124
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 181 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 149 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 141 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 11057682 · 2017-12-30 (December 30, 2017)
2018 TOURING L PLUS TOWED. WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STARTED LOSING ALL POWER, SYSTEMS STARTED TO SHUT DOWN, VAN WAS LIMITED IN SPEED AND FUNCTION. BY THE END ALL WARNING SYSTEMS HAD FAILED, POWER STEERING WAS GONE, ABS WAS GONE, AFTER THE BATTERY HIT 8.9 VOLTS WE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE "D" ON THE DISPLAY STARTED FLASHING AND THE VAN SHUT OFF 15 SECONDS LATER. ONCE THE VAN WAS OFF I WAS UNABLE TO PUT IT IN PARK OR APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,968 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11062301 · 2018-01-11 (January 11, 2018)
CAR SHUT OFF WITH THE "PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART" MESSAGE. IT TOOK 2 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. CAR HAS ONLY 795 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH THE FUEL SAVER OPTION SET TO THE OFF POSITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 795 miles reported. Look up ODI 11062301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11053801 · 2017-12-10 (December 10, 2017)
I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE 12-2-2017 AND THE ENGINE HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT? WHAT CAN I DO THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 135 miles reported. Look up ODI 11053801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099604 · 2018-06-04 (June 4, 2018)
AUTO STOP/START FAILED MONDAY MORNING. DIED AT AN INTERSECTION. I WAS LUCKY. DIDN'T BLOCK THE WHOLE INTERSECTION, BUT ONLY 1 LANE. STOPPED IN FRONT OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WAS THE 1ST VEHICLE OF THE LINE. THE STARTER DIDN'T START THE ENGINE WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHT BE GREEN. THE MESSAGE OF THE VEHICLE GUIDED ME TO TURN TO PARK, AND TO PUSH THE START. I DID MANY TIMES, SHORT PUSH, LONG PUSH. I COULD HEAR THE STARTER KICKED IN, BUT THE ENGINE REFUSED TO START. I STUCK THERE. TURNED ON EMERGENT FLASHERS. I FELT SO FRUSTRATING AND NERVOUS ABOUT THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073191 · 2018-02-16 (February 16, 2018)
I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER. ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND STARTED TO PUT ON THE BRAKES WHEN I HAD AN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION EVENT. (IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAD JUST STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR). I HAD TO SLAM HARD ON THE BRAKES AND JUST AVOIDED HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I KNOW THIS WAS CAUSED PROBABLY BY THE COMPUTER BUT I KNOW IT WASN'T ME. MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. I KNOW THIS FEELING WELL SINCE I USED TO HAVE A 2004 PRIUS WHERE THIS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 360 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089180 · 2018-04-20 (April 20, 2018)
THE CAR RANDOMLY SHIFTS TO WHAT SOUNDS LIKE NEUTRAL AND HAS THE RPMS SKYROCKET WHILE DRIVING AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER 2-5 SECONDS OF LOSS OF MOMENTUM THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND JERKS THE CAR FORWARD LIKE IT WAS REAR ENDED. THIS HAPPENS 3-4 TIMES A DAY. THE DEALER STATES "NOTHING IS WRONG, WE CANT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT ITS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE AND IS NEEDED ON A DAILY BASIS. *TT *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11162410 · 2018-12-19 (December 19, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STERLING HEIGHTS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (40111 VAN DYKE AVENUE, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE START AND STOP ENGINE BATTERY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS U…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11162410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164952 · 2019-01-07 (January 7, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ENGINE STARTED HESITATING, QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND TOTAL LOSS OF ACCELERATION. WITHIN SEVERAL SECONDS ENGINE RESTARTED, FOLLOWED BY A RAPID INCREASE IN RPMS. THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. AFTER PULLING OFF ROAD, I WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IT WOULD RUN FOR 30 SECONDS OR SO AND THEN SHUT DOWN, THIS PATTERN REPEATING UNTIL I COULD FIND A SAFE SPOT TO PARK THE CAR AND ARRANGE FOR TOW. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR, FUEL SUPPLY TUBE, AND FUEL PUMP. CAR IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164952 at NHTSA ↗