What 1,475 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Awd

Vehicle lost power, steering, and breaks on the george washington bridge in NYC causing it to roll into the back of another vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11721632

I am writing to report another incident related to my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. Today, while driving on a major highway, my vehicle unexpectedly shut off and braked violently multiple times without warning, creating a serious safety hazard. Fortunately, there was no accident, but due to the sudden and forceful braking, I am now experiencing pain in my head, neck, upper back, and shoulders. I previously reported electrical issues with this vehicle on January 22, 2024. Given the recurring nature of these problems, I am extremely concerned about the ongoing safety risks. Please advise on the next steps to formally document this incident and any updates regarding similar reports or investigations into this issue. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

NHTSA ODI 11652115

When having to press hard on brakes my vehicle does not stop right away. I have to pump them to get my van to stop. When at a light with vehicle stopped by pressing on break the brake pedal will push back up with force and start moving forward.

NHTSA ODI 11543049

While traveling on a dry highway, with good tires/new tires, and decelerating from 45 mph and approaching a red light, and a moderate, but firm pressure on the brake to bring the van to a full stop, the speed decreased to 15 mph, with the tachometer stable at 800 rpm and then to 10 mph, with both hands on the wheel, left foot on the dead pedal, and right foot on the middle of the brake pedal. As the speedometer made the transition at 10 MPH, the tachometer surged to 1500 RPM and then to 3000 in under 3 seconds, which cause me to initiate an emergency action drill of stabbing the brake pedal hard three times and rotating the transmission control to the lowest gear. The transmission refused to shift lower, and the control of the vehicle turned on oa wrestling match and the tachometer surged from 1500 RPM, them 3000 RPM, then 4500 RPM, and then 6000 RPM, each time the vehicle acting like it was repeatedly being rear-ended at a speed exceeding 15 MPH. The engine could not be disengaged and aceelaretd uncontrollably to over 40 MPH, through a busy intersection, and required over 24 hard break stages over a 10 second period to actually stop the car, and the engine refused to disengage until stopped. Once the car was restarted it immediately surged forward trying to fight through the hard applied brakes. The cruise control was never on the entire time. I then stut down the engine once I was able to wretle it to a stop with the engine climbing to over 4500 RPM. I then took this vehicle to a safe area, and repeated the conditions, and again as the vehilce speed dropped below 15 MPH, and certainly below 10 MPH, the egine tachometer increased in steps of 1500 MPH, 3000, 4500, 6000 RPM, and no control could be achieved other then violently "stabbing" the brake pedal. Under controlled conditions the behavior was repeatable over 20 times. This is a life threatenign defect, and it appears to be software in origin. I have CAN data streams from the events (23) and video.

NHTSA ODI 11433618

THE VAN LOST CONTROL ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO BREAK WHATSOEVER, UNTIL I GOT INTO A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT THERE CERTAINLY WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BREAKS. THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH MY DRIVING, NOR WAS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH THE WEATHER. I AM A SEASONED DRIVER OF OVER 20+ YEARS, AND THE WEATHER THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS COMPLETELY SUNNY AND IT WAS BRIGHT DAYLIGHT OUTSIDE. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE VAST NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING BREAKS AND VEHICLE SAFETY FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11359988

THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED FIVE TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I SUSPECTED THE FORWARD CRASH CONTROL DID NOT WORK AS WELL OR IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED ME I TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CAN TEST IT. PLUS THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CODES WHY WOULD THERE BE? THE ONE TOOK IT ON A TEST DRIVE AND SAID YEP IT DOESN'T WORK HE FOLLOWED A CAR ON THE FREEWAY. AND IT DIDN'T GO OFF. LAST WEEK IT WENT OFF??? SO I TOOK IT BACK TO A DEALER. HE SAID WELL YOU DON'T THINK IT SHOULD SAVE YOU DO YOU. I SAID YES IF I DON'T HIT THE BRAKE IN TIME. ISN'T THAT WHAT IT IS FOR. I KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T RELY ON THEM BUT IT SHOULD WORK I THINK? THEY HAVE NO TEST FOR THIS FEATURE. I THINK THAT THEY COULD FOLLOW A VEHICLE WITH A FOAM BOARD HANGING BACK LIKE AS CONSUMER REPORTS TEST IT.TWO TIMES THE VAN DIDN'T START AND TWICE IT DIDN'T STOP FOR THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO RIDE UP ALONG SIDE THEM UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED IT ALSO HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND I REPORTED IT TO YOU THEN.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11317024

IN THE PAST MONTH I HAD EXPERIENCED ON TWO OCCASIONS, (WHILE IN MOTION AND ON A CITY STREET, SPECIFICALLY ON THE CROSS STREETS OF DYSART AND CAMELBACK AND A LIGHT AT DYSART AND W. SONOMA DR.) THAT WHEN I ENGAGED THE BREAKS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW AND I FELT AS IF THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING TO COME TO A STOP. IN THE SAME MONTH, APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT, ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2019, MY CHRYSLER, PACIFICA WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. TWO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. I APPLIED THE BREAK BUT MY VEHICLE BEGAN SLIDING AND THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT SEEM TO ENGAGE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON LITCHFIELD AND CAMELBACK. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ACCIDENT CURRENTLY. I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I DISCLOSE THE PROBLEMS I HAD NOTICED AND WAS ULTIMATELY TOO LATE TO DISCUSS WITH CHRYSLER. I DO NOT WANT THIS ISSUE TO OCCUR TO ANYONE ELSE.

NHTSA ODI 11296705

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA ON 9/9/2019 AROUND AN S TURN WHEN SUDDENLY THE VAN LOST ITS POWER STEERING. HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. HE COULDN'T BREAK AND THE VAN HIT A CURB WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BLOW OUT BOTH DRIVER SIDE TIRES AND RIP THE DRIVERS FRONT STRUT APART. IN JUNE OF 2019 AFTER RECEIVING THE NOTICE OF RECALL V53, I TOOK MY VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THAT RECALL AND ANY OTHER RECALLS IT MAY HAVE. I WAITED APPROXIMATELY AND 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL WERE COMPLETED AND WAS HANDED THE KEYS. RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT THE RECALL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T FIX RECALL NUMBER V53. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT TO INSPECT THE VAN. IN RETURN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FCA SAYING THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES. I FORMALLY BELIEVE A MALFUNCTION HAPPENED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE IT HAD SHOWED SIGNS OF AN EXISTING PROBLEM WHICH WE MADE COMPLAINTS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP OR SLOW DOWN TO COME TO A STOP/YIELD AND ACCELERATE THE VAN WOULD BUCK AND OR JERK AS IF IT WERE TO LOOSE POWER AND SHUT OFF. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VAN WHETHER IT'S RELATED TO RECALL V53 OR AN UN-IDENTIFIED PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11257618

THE FORWARD COLLISON AND ADVANCE WARNING ACTIVE BRAKING SYSEM IS A FARCE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT WORKED ON BUT TO NO AVIAIL. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO BRAKING. AT ONE TIME THEY SUGGESTED IT WORKED BUT YOU NEEDED TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ON, ALTHOUGH THE TWO SYSTEMS USE THE SAME FORWARD CAMERA THEY ARE SEPARATE SYSTEMS. ANY DRIVER THAT RELIES ON THIS EXPENSIVE SYSTEM FOR ANY KIND OF AID IS IN FOR A DEADLY TRUTRH THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE REPEATREDLY TRIED TO TEST THE SYSTEM AND I GET NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11229936

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KOONS AUTOMOTIVE OF CULPEPER (401 JAMES MADISON HWY, CULPEPER, VA 22701, (540)-812-2444) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11150132

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A BUS THAT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,200.

NHTSA ODI 11123042

MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY PACIFICA. SHE EXPERIENCED THE CAR JUMP AND SHE DESCRIBED IT AS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VEHICLE FORCED ITSELF TO TURN HARD LEFT AND CAUSE HER TO HIT A BOX TRUCK. SHE THEN BOUNCED OFF THAT CAR AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE SAID THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING TO GOOD EITHER. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 11,186 MILES ON IT. I HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR ISSUE OF MY VEHICLE JUMPING LIKE IT WAS PUSHED FROM BEHIND OR A JOLT OF POWER LIKE THE TRANS WAS SLIPPING, ONLY MONTHS INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN IN AND LOOKED AT MORE THAN ONCE BY MY DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THERE WERE NO CODES, AND THEREFORE THEY COULDN'T FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THE PROBLEM CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT AND LUCKILY MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH IT EXPERIENCED IMPACT ON BOTH SIDES AT 30-35 MPH. THE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED PRETTY GOOD, SO I AM IN SHOCK THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED. NOW THE DASH INDICATES THE AIR BAGS NEED SERVICE? AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN AND 3 OFFICERS FELT THE CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. UPON LOOKING INTO MY SERVICE RECORDS I NOTICED SOMETHING ODD. MY "CHRYSLER APP" SHOWS NHSTA RECALL # 18V-049 AS BEING COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE VIN. BUT MY LAST VISIT TO MY DEALER IN FEB OF 2018 INDICATED THERE WAS NO FIX AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. HOW CAN IT SHOW COMPLETED THEN? I REALIZED THAT THE ISSUES SHE EXPERIENCED, AND MY SELF, ARE SIMILAR TO THE SYMPTOMS IN THIS RECALL. THERE MAY BE ANOTHER SIMILAR...SERIOUS ISSUE, THAT HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO. SOME TYPE OF MALFUNCTION CAUSED THIS CAR TO JUMP AND DRIVE RIGHT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU PUT THIS SAME SITUATION ON AN EXPRESSWAY GOING 55 MPH+, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY *TT

NHTSA ODI 11102489

THE VEHICLE HAS 950 MILES ON IT, A ROTATORY GEAR SHIFT KNOW, AND AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE. AT HOME I PARK THE VEHICLE ON A LEVEL SURFACE. I DO NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN I LEAVE THE VEHICLE. ON QUITE A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN I ENTER THE VEHICLE AND TURN ON THE ENGINE, THE PARKING-BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT SET IT. FOR MOST OCCURRENCES, I CAN PRESS THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON, AND THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND THE BRAKE WILL DISENGAGE. HOWEVER, ON SOME OCCASIONS, PRESSING THE BRAKE BUTTON GIVES NO RESPONSE. IF I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE BRAKE THEN DISENGAGES. A FEW TIMES I HAVE HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE ON AND OFF MORE THAN ONE TIME TO GET THE BRAKE DISENGAGED. A MORE SERIES PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING BRAKE IS THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKE HAS SUDDENLY COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN I HAVE STARTED THE ENGINE AND DRIVEN ABOUT 100 FEET. IT HAS OCCURRED WHEN I AM MOVING FORWARD AND WHEN I AM BACKING UP. THE BRAKE SUDDENLY ENGAGES AND BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT HALT. ON THESE OCCASIONS PRESSING THE BRAKE BUTTON GAVE NO RESPONSE. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON. 7/5 I STOPPED AT A PHARMACY DRIVE-UP WINDOW, AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. AFTER MY TRANSACTION, I ROTATED THE GEAR KNOB TO DRIVE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT THEN WENT ON. I PRESSED THE BRAKE BUTTON MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT. I THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON. (TO DO THIS I HAD TO HAVE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.) WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT SIGNIFICANT SPEED, AND I CRASHED INTO A STREET LIGHT POLE. WHEN A TOW TRUCK CAME TO GET THE VEHICLE THE TRUCK OPERATOR FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE GEAR KNOB WAS IN THE PARK GEAR. HE HAD A GOOD DEAL OF DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR FOR THE TOWING PROCESS. HAVE PICTURES UPON REQUEST. .....UPDATED 11/03/17 *BF ..UPDATED 11/13/2017*JS ...UPDATED 11/17/17 *BF *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11003478

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN APPLIED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SWIPED A METAL POLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS IMPACTED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 738.

NHTSA ODI 10980497