2023 Chrysler Pacifica Complaints

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 10/01/2026

While driving on a highway during rush-hour traffic, my car had an alert that said “ stop safely vehicle will shut off soon” I quickly pulled over on the side of the highway and my vehicle completely stopped working within a minute. This all happened in about 30 seconds. I would step on the gas and it wouldn’t go even though the car was still on and in drive. It was extremely scary to lose driving speed while driving so fast on the highway out of nowhere. I feel very lucky that my children were not in the car considering it’s a minivan and that I was able to get over to the side of the road. I am worried that if this happens to somebody else they might not be as lucky it was extremely scary. It was during rush-hour traffic with semi trucks on the highway. I did not feel safe in my car with the speeds and size of the cars flying by me so I got out of my car and stood on the other side of the guard rail.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/01/2026

Rear trunk gets disabled after 10 minutes and will not open/close by remote or electrical rear switch causing a child or van camping issue. It has to forced physically by pulling it down and can't be done by short people. While van camping and adult or child cant open the trunk

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 08/26/2026

Car shows no warnings when vehicle in front slows very quickly. All selections to enable this function have been made. It is available for inspection provided it is local to central Florida. In my previous vehicle, a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, I relied on and received Forward Collision Warnings which prevented my crashing into another car no less than 4 times. Though this car has been ADAS scanned (3 times) with appropriate scanners, no codes are detected. It has been “calibrated” by a body shop recommended by the dealer where I was assured it was “working.” It is not. I’ve taken it to an iCar certified ADAS cal facility and was told it all checks out, there’s nothing they can do for me. Meanwhile, I do not have Forward Collision Warnings. As I have to have wheelchair accessibility, I’m stuck with this vehicle.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/25/2026

All relevant recalls on the vehicle have been previously performed. On 8/25/2026, after starting the vehicle it displayed a warning message to "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon." That message was able to be cleared after four cycles of turning the engine off and re-starting. After driving the vehicle for approximately 5 miles, while the car was in motion, the message returned to "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon." The van was pulled over and turned off and cycled back on in an attempt to clear the warning as it was less than 2 miles to go until home. The message cleared and was able to be driven the rest of the way home. It currently has a yellow, illuminated powertrain malfunction light. Plan is to have the vehicle towed to Chrysler for diagnosis and repair.

PARKING BRAKE,POWER TRAIN — Filed 02/18/2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle on a slight incline and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle started rolling backwards while the driver’s side door was still open. The contact attempted to activate the parking brake; however, the parking brake failed to function. The contact attempted to press the START/STOP button to turn off the vehicle but was knocked down by the door and was ran over by the front driver’s side wheel. The contact sustained several fractured ribs, punctured lungs, internal bleeding, bruises to the right shoulder, a wound to the right ankle, and carpal tunnel to both wrists, and cervical disk displacement. Medical attention was provided for the injuries. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the Auto Park feature was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/14/2026

While driving at highway speeds, my 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid suddenly lost all propulsion power. A turtle icon appeared on the dashboard cluster, and the vehicle stalled, creating a severe safety hazard on an active highway. Chrysler Care previously stated my VIN is not included in the 03A recall (NHTSA Campaign 23V010000) for internal transmission short-circuits. However, my vehicle has experienced the exact software limp-mode shutdown and mechanical failure described in that campaign. The manufacturer must expand this recall to cover later 2023 production batches before a fatal accident occurs. My husband and 4 children were stranded in the left lane with no time to move over on a major Chicago highway. The car was towed to a Chrysler mechanical service team. They are claiming that the code is not active and they need it to be active in order to diagnose anything. While driving in the left lane warning that read, " stop safely. Vehicle will shut off soon" a red turtle and a large red triangle with a "!" In the middle. The car was unable to drive leaving them stranded and very scared.

POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 07/28/2026

The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power while driving in active traffic due to a severe hybrid powertrain malfunction. Immediately prior to the failure, the dashboard displayed a critical warning message: "Stop Safely – Vehicle will shut off soon." The vehicle then lost all propulsion, leaving it completely disabled and forcing an emergency maneuver to the shoulder. This dangerous stalling event occurred twice. The safety of my family was put at extreme risk as we were trapped in a dead vehicle in active traffic lanes, creating a severe rear-end collision hazard. The malfunctioning system involves the hybrid propulsion system, specifically the Hybrid Control Module (HCPM) or internal transaxle wiring. This issue began immediately after a dealership performed the mandatory 44D Emissions Recall software flash repair. The vehicle is currently with Dealership for more than a week for diagnosis. The problem has not yet been permanently repaired by the manufacturer, but diagnostic trouble codes should be stored in the vehicle's computer modules.

BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 02/02/2026

The back up camera complete blacks out eliminating visibility at the rear of the car.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 08/02/2026

The vehicle has experienced three separate incidents involving a sudden, unexpected loss of motive power at speed accompanied by a warning message ("Please pull off the road safely, vehicle will shut off soon") and a turtle icon ("Red Turtle of Death") on the instrument cluster. Two of these incidents occurred on major highways at speeds exceeding 60 mph. Incident History: February 2026 (Heavy Melting Snow, Boston, MA): Vehicle experienced complete loss of propulsion while driving on a city street. Dealership (McGovern Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram) held the vehicle for nearly a month under Diagnostic Trouble Code P167B ("Controlled System Shutdown"). Replaced occupant restraint module, which did not resolve the issue. Vehicle eventually resumed operating on its own. Recent Incident (Heavy Rain spray, Highway >60 MPH): Sudden loss of motive power on high-speed road. Instrument panel displayed turtle icon and forced an emergency pull-off. After cycling ignition, drive capability returned. OBD-II scanner returned code P0000 (generic placeholder concealing proprietary Chrysler hybrid/BPCM/PIM isolation fault codes). Two Days Later (Dry Conditions, Highway >60 MPH): Third sudden loss of motive power at 60+ mph, forcing an immediate pull-off into traffic shoulder. Check engine light remained on with code P0000. Safety Risk & Technical Context: Unexpected loss of motive power at highway speeds creates a critical safety hazard for vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. These symptoms closely align with high-voltage isolation faults and internal short-circuiting documented in NHTSA Recall 23V-010 / PE22-008 (eFlite transmission internal connector wiring harness short). The vehicle presents a recurring hazard where moisture or intermittent electrical shorts trigger a high-voltage system shutoff, leaving the driver with limited or no propulsion without warning.

SEATS — Filed 06/09/2026

Center row seat back unexpectedly fell back and seat would slide back and forth. It is dangerous because the seatbelt is attached to the seat. I have a 2018 Ford Expedition expedition and you have a recall on the chrome trim on the center console. I think the seat problem is a lot more serious than that. If you search the Internet, there are a lot of people that have the same problem. Don’t understand why Chrysler doesn’t have a recall on it.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 07/31/2026

This is what I wrote to Stellantis. Dear Stellantis Customer Care, My vehicle has now stalled five separate times while I was making a left turn through an intersection. When this happens, the engine shuts off unexpectedly, the vehicle shifts into park and I must attempt to restart it while sitting in the roadway. During the most recent incident, the vehicle would not restart on the first attempt and required a second attempt before it would run again. This creates an extremely dangerous situation. Losing power in the middle of a left turn places me, my passengers and other motorist at risk of a serious accident. The vehicle has approximately 43,000 miles and has been taken to my Chrysler dealership for diagnosis. Unfortunately, I have repeatedly been told that they cannot duplicate the problem and therefore cannot repair it. Despite those visits, the dangerous condition continues to occur. I am requesting that Stellantis immediately: • Open a formal case regarding the safety issue. • Assign a regional field engineer, or star technical specialist to inspect and diagnose my vehicle. • Work directly with my dealership to determine the cause of this intermittent stalling condition. • Advise me whether the vehicle is safe to drive while this issue remains unresolved. I have been a responsible owner and have sought assistance through the dealership, but I cannot continue driving a vehicle that unexpectedly shuts off in the middle of an intersection. I am asking Stellantis to take this matter seriously, and provide a timely resolution before someone is seriously injured. Please contact me as soon as possible regarding the next steps. I would appreciate receiving a case number and the name of the representative assigned to assist with this matter. I intend to file a safety complaint with NHTSA regarding this matter. Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent safety concern.

STEERING — Filed 07/25/2026

Steering binds when turning right exiting to a highway off ramp

BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 10/01/2025

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that upon putting the transmission into reverse in order to back up the vehicle, the center console display for the reverse back up camera will not function and a black screen was displayed, no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected however the vehicle was not diagnosed as the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was not notified of failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

STEERING — Filed 01/01/2026

When negotiating a curve the steering will lock to the right and must be manually adjusted by turning the wheel. A firm grip must be kept on the wheel so as not to over compensate for this issue. This has been happening for several months.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/21/2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, shuddered, and then stalled. The message to "Stop - Pull Over Safely" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was an intermittent drive motor position sensor failure inside the transmission, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

ENGINE — Filed 04/06/2026

I have been experiencing random engine shutdowns since April 6, 2026. I’ve taken it to be serviced for this on four occasions since this time and it has not been appropriately fixed. There is a warning light that flashed before it happens that says “your car is about to shutdown, please pull over” but it does not allow ample time to pull over safely before randomly shutting down. The dealership replaced the PCM in may 2026 but I had the car back less than 24 hours and it happened again. The car has shutdown a total of 5 times since April 6, 2026.

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/26/2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V189000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and stated that parts are limited and that there were 20 other vehicles awaiting parts availability. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/08/2026

Returning from [XXX] to [XXX] area Wed. XXX, traveling at ~75 mph on [XXX], I experienced a loss of power on a mild incline and an associated “Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon” instrument cluster message. I had to move hazardously in traffic while coasting to a stop on the right shoulder. This occurred with ~24,810 total miles on the vehicle since I purchased it new. I turned off the vehicle, waited a few minutes and then restarted it. I continued the drive with the vehicle acting normally until it happened again at 24,897 odometer miles, same message with same behavior. Traveling ~75 mph, I again had to move hazardously in traffic to coast to the right shoulder. Except now I notice the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is illuminated. I again turned the vehicle off, waited a few minutes and then restarted it. I was able to drive normally to the Chrysler dealership (Autonation in Katy Tx) where I spoke to a Service representative. He recorded my VIN and took some notes as I explained what happened, but would not plug in a code reader as I requested. Instead he said I would need to leave the vehicle there for at least 24 hours or bring it back later. Since I was still ~55 miles from home, had my wife and cargo still in the vehicle and wanted to know what malfunction code(s) were present, we elected to drive the vehicle home. On the way home, I stopped at both an Advance Auto and an Autozone where both read the only code present as P0A43, see attachment. I also noted that the Emission Ready status was showing "NO". I then drove the vehicle less than a mile to our home where it has remained in my driveway. Mileage is now 24972 on the odometer. I plugged in and charged the vehicle to 100% high voltage battery state. Two days later on XXX, I started the vehicle and the MIL is no longer illuminated, still at 24972 odometer. The dealer promised me that the code would remain and could be read later, but it did not and nobody erased it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STRUCTURE — Filed 02/01/2026

The driver’s side sun visor broke off and was hanging by the electrical wires in front of my face while I was driving. It hampered my ability to see the road ahead. The dealer observed the situation and ordered a new sun visor which I had to pay for. The part has been on back order for several months now. In the meantime, I have to drive without a sun visor. The initial occurrence was hazardous since I was not able to see where I was going for the first few seconds.

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/23/2026

My Chrysler Pacifica is currently held at Glenn Chevrolet in Eminence, KY, for a mandatory side-curtain airbag safety recall. The repair will take at least 4 days or more, and the dealer has zero loaner vehicles. Chrysler corporate refuses to authorize a rental vehicle that safely and legally fits my family of six, capping reimbursement at $50/day. This amount only covers a 5-passenger economy car. Chrysler is creating an unreasonable barrier to a safety recall remedy by forcing me to choose between driving a defective, dangerous vehicle or illegally driving a rental car without enough seatbelts for my children. Frontline call center staff have repeatedly disconnected my calls when I have tried to resolve this size restriction.

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/31/2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V189000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 06/19/2026

On June 14, 2026, one day after purchase, while driving through the Mojave Desert on I-15 in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the check engine light illuminated and remained on through Southern California. The vehicle required a jump start after being parked in a covered multi-level parking structure for 5 days in Long Beach California after which the check engine light cleared. On June 19, 2026, six days after purchase, during the return trip the high voltage hybrid traction battery failed completely without warning in active Las Vegas highway traffic. The vehicle lost all motive power and coasted to the roadside. Three minor passengers were aboard, the youngest age 13. The occupants were stranded in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for approximately two hours awaiting a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Chrysler dealership where the high voltage traction battery was confirmed failed and replaced under warranty. A valley pan oil leak was also discovered and hybrid software update were also performed. An outstanding curtain airbag safety recall had never been remedied prior to the breakdown. The towing company reported they had been towing multiple Pacifica hybrids with similar failures during the same Las Vegas heat wave, suggesting a systemic issue with the high voltage battery thermal management system in extreme heat. The vehicle had been purchased six days prior with fewer than 1,000 miles of ownership at time of failure.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/11/2026

Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In HybridVIN Number: [XXX] Current Mileage: 51,607 miles Incident Summary: While attempting to bring the vehicle to a complete stop in front of a Subway restaurant in Old Town, the vehicle failed to decelerate upon braking. Instead, it lunged forward unexpectedly without driver input and collided with the building structure. The check engine light did not illuminate until after the collision occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/30/2025

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 7 MPH and slowing to park his vehicle, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle kept moving forward. The contact stated he crashed into the front end of a vehicle parked in front of his vehicle. The contact stated that there was damage to his hood and grill. The contact stated that the police arrived and wrote a report. The contact stated that his vehicle was towed to a collision repair shop. The contact stated that no one was injured. The contact was not sure of any warning lights. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that several days ago, the vehicle again did not brake or slow as he was making a left-hand turn onto a side street. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle back to his residence and had not driven since. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 09/30/2025

On September 5, 2025 I took my vehicle to be serviced at Earnhardt Dodge in Gilbert AZ. I informed the service attendant that I believed there might be a recall on my air bags. Upon checkout I didn’t see if the recall was serviced among other things and it wasn’t listed as being completed. On [XXX] a deer struck the front of my vehicle while driving at high speeds. The air bags didn’t deploy and the air bag light illuminated after the accident. In October 1st my vehicle was taken to Earnhardt Collison and a diagnostic check was done on my vehicle yet the light or anything else regarding the airbags was not listed in the appraisal after I notified Earnhardt and USAA that the airbag light was on after the accident. After they continued to ignore my request I demanded my car be transfered to a new body shop and it not be touched on October 3rd. On October 7th USAA finally agreed to transfer my vehicle to a new collision center but without my knowledge they conducted another appraisal which listed another pre and post diagnostics on the appraisal. When I brought this to the attention of my USAA adjuster he didn’t reply to my questions directly and instead gave a off the topic answer. The vehicle currently sits at a different body shop after approving a teardown and waiting on a new official estimate. I specifically requested any air bag light or diagnostic be noted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)