What 1,471 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica

When driving van will jerk or bang like slipping in gear, feels like possible being hit from behind, we have tried the adaptive learning reset several times, we had just purchased this less than 2 months ago with about 4800 miles in it. Feels dangerous to drive, especially with kids. We are scared to even try the cruise control. We heard and read online many whey same issues, with warranty and having there vans in dealership on several events, having reset in software upgrades, transmission replacement with only the problem to return. Please fix this, this one of my vehicles that unfortunately I have to drive because it's my only vehicle. This problem happens at lest everytime I'm driving daily, it started maybe a few weeks ago from the time this has been written.

NHTSA ODI 11679508

Hi! This vehicle stopped twice in the middle of a road on its own. Vehicle was driving fine and the next second it slowed down and wouldn’t accelerate as I would push the gas pedal. It’s as if the engine shut down due to the car signals not transmitting correctly. The screen started blinking on and off giving me warnings and one of them said “Service Shifter!” My safety and my children’s safety was put at risk because anyone could’ve hit us from behind as the car started decelerating on the road with oncoming traffic. I towed the car to a mechanic as the car does not run properly while being driven, and the mechanic said it has multiple electrical issues and multiple leaks. The vehicle was inspected by my own mechanic, as the dealer also inspected it and they tried to connect the scanner to turn off the engine light and get me to drive off. They have refused help and I truly believe they knew this car was a safety hazard. After leaving the dealer, 4 minutes into driving the car started slowing down and I was able to make it into the parking lot, but got stranded in the middle of the street where opposite traffic comes into. I bought the car 03/01/2025. The check engine light turned on 2 weeks in. The battery seemed to be drained 2 weeks in but it did not need cables or recharge, it’s as if the battery loses connection. Then at the one month mark it started having those issues, no warning until it completely stopped on the road. When it stopped on the road, that’s when the screen started going off with multiple warnings.

NHTSA ODI 11659744

The contact owned a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while attempting to enter the garage from a stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed and it traveled to the floorboard, causing the vehicle to violently accelerate 7 feet and crash into the garage. The vehicle crashed into the garage, through a wall, garden box, fence, and a mud ground where the vehicle came to a stop. No warning light illuminated prior to the failure. None of the air bags deployed. There was property damage to the garage and walls. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The insurance company deemed it a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,828.

NHTSA ODI 11653718

The vehicle is available for inspection. At an intersection the vehicle abruptly turned off, while the engine was running and in drive. Children were in the vehicle and I was very scared and in shock when it happened. My car just randomly turned off, while I was sitting in the middle of an intersection and the vehicle was in drive (obviously). I was able to turn it back on, but it was very dangerous and could have killed us if a car had come through the [XXX] intersection while we were stuck there. Safety of other drivers on the road at risk, my life and children’s lives were at risk. Could have caused death had our van been stuck in the middle of this busy intersection a few feet more forward. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11622844

I was driving my car and approached at a stop sign. The car stopped and froze. The shifter knob lights were out and I was unable to move the car or shift the gears into neutral . ( The engine turned on ,but I could not move my car.) I had the car towed to my autodealership. Since then, the car has repeatedly started, but the shifter is frozen. My dealership has spent a month telling me they don't know how to fix the car. The dealership has been trying one thing after the other, they tell me, yet within a week my car is not functioning. The dealership installed new programming. a week ago.. A few days afterwards, while I was slowing down in city traffic, the dashboard filled with error messages and the car became extremely bumpy to drive. Today, I just had the car towed again to the dealership. The car started, but the shifter was not functioning with an error message "Service Shifter." The car shifter randomly worked once the tow truck arrived, but still had the engine light on. I await to see if the car can be fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11608741

While I am driving the vehicle will shut completely off without warning. I have to pull to the side of the road and restart the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11587119

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before suddenly accelerating quickly, causing the contact to brake hard and bring the vehicle to a complete stop. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The electronic throttle control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the brake sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V348000 (Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11550395

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle independently jumped forward without the accelerator pedal being depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,329.

NHTSA ODI 11548618

While driving our minivan it stalls or it seems like the gas isn’t getting to the engine. It has happened when I’ve been accelerating from a side road across a very busy road on more thank e occasion. We thought it was the gas we were using. Now we’ve been advised it is due to a “crank shaft sensor”. (?) We may not be eligible to get it fixed because we got our 2017 Pacifica in Oct 2016, drove it approx. 15,000 miles/ year so we may not be able to get it fixed for free.

NHTSA ODI 11511829

As we drive this vehicle at a slower speed, it seems to almost cut off and then it will jerk (a very hard jerk) back into motion. We have had it serviced, both batteries replaced, and a diagnostic done on it and it continues to act up. It makes us afraid to drive it. Do you have any suggestions on how to move forward? Thank you - [XXX]- [XXX]Industries- [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11504006

My Pacifica suddenly will not start. I ended up jump-starting the van. Then whenever I stopped, it needed a jump start. This whole ordeal is from a single day. Driving back on the high-way, suddenly van acted weird, all electronics going haywire, various instrument "unavailable" messages started coming, and on the highway Van all systems failed, power steering locked, I pulled over and battery icon (red) came on as well. Car died. I re-jump started it and then drove again with seeing the battery fluctuating between 10.2 v to 16v. Then when we exited the highway, this time, the van stalled right in the middle of the road. No warning, nothing. I feel this is a single point of failure that if the battery is having an issue, (though it seems alternator) was charging it, it could have caused two crashes. I am really concerned. I have had dead batteries in my other cars but nothing like that where all instruments start acting weird. Also few other weird things happening during this time: passenger windows will come down automatically again and again and again while driving. All different security features sporadically say unavailable, airbag, esc, ACC, FCW etc.. This needs to be looked at as a "Single Point of Failure" issue.

NHTSA ODI 11482989

at random times my vehicle will lurch forward when I am driving. It could be right after I begin to accelerate or while I am at a consistent speed. It usually occurs under 40 mph. I have almost lost control many times. And had to slam on my breaks to avoid hitting people in front of me.

NHTSA ODI 11482704

The vehicle will randomly lose power when going from a stop or low speed and attempting to accelerate. For example, if I am stopped at a red light and start to accelerate once the light turns green, the vehicle will not gain speed. I have to let up off the gas pedal and then I will feel a "jolt" and then the vehicle will pick up speed. The safety of myself, my kids and others were put at risk because I cannot maintain a safe speed while driving. If I am stopped to make a turn, my vehicle has lost power or wouldn't gain speed as I was turning into or merging into oncoming traffic. Also, and the most dangerous, was when I had the vehicle in reverse to pull out of a parking spot at a store. When I attempted to turn the dial knob to "Drive", the vehicle turned itself off and the dashboard flashed with a message stating I need to put it in park and restart the engine. It was very scary to have the vehicle cut off on me like that. I have taken the vehicle to the local Chrysler dealership and an independent service center. The Chrysler dealership claim they were not able to reproduce the problem but stated they would have to break the engine down to the point of failure to diagnose the problem, a minimum charge of $750. The independent service center stated they could reproduce the problem and that it was the camshaft sensor which I had replaced for $400 but the problem continued not even an hour after I picked up the vehicle. They kept the vehicle an extra day but stated they were unsure of the problem and suggested it could be transmission related and that I take it to a certified transmission repair shop. The engine light came on when the problem first began but since having the vehicle serviced at the Chrysler dealership and the independent service center, the problem continues without the engine light appearing.

NHTSA ODI 11471008

I have not gotten into an accident. I have noticed for a long time my van transmission seems to have problems shifting. I will be starting to accelerate, and when i reCh speeds between 25-55 it often feels like I have no power (more often with time) I can hear the van "revving" bur not increasing speed at the rate it should be. Then all of a sudden the transmission feels like it "catches" and it lurches forward. Making it feel like the van us going to literally fall apart, or have the enginefall out. It is a very scary!! And it is getting worse even though when this happens I have started to take my foot off the gas because it I feel something terrible will happen. However taking my foot off the gas, especially when merging is extremely dangerous (people are so agressive driving these days) and I continue to be put in dangerous situations because of this issue. I know other people are complaining about this so I do not know why a recall has not been submitted! We need this fixed. Please help us!! Also anothwr issue.. Cruise control speeds up the vehicle when going downhill. It does not ever stop from accelerating! I'm aware and always take cruise control off on big hills. But this I'd also very dangerous as sometimes I have to tap the break because the cruise won't come off with the button when this happens.

NHTSA ODI 11465662

My wife said that she was pulling into a parking spot and did not have her foot on the accelerator as she coasted into the spot. The car accelerated by itself she had to step hard on the brake to get it to stop before she hit another car. It was not a problem with a floor mat since they are snapped into place and do not come close to the pedals. I do see that similar problems have been reported on this type of vehicle with no satisfaction received. This incident is the 2nd time it has happened according to my wife. She does most of the driving around town.

NHTSA ODI 11423508

This is my 3rd problem to be reported to NHTSA on this 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The "L" gear should typically slow down the vehicle when engaged, especially going downhill, so that you can use the transmission to slow the car down and use less braking. On a recent trip on I-5 the Grapevine, i used the L gear to attempt to slow down the vehicle on a steep and long descent. Instead of slowing the vehicle down immediately upon switching to L, the vehicle actually sped up 10 to 15 mph initially before it starts to slow down the car, creating a very dangerous situation especially when vehicles in front of me were slowing down too on the descent. I took it to the dealer, and they actually replaced the TCM because of another dangerous problem (see Complaint 11405469, March 2021) with the vehicle. I have tried the "L" gear again after, and it still does the same thing. The dealer says they cannot replicate the problem because there is no downhill where they can test for this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11421099

THE TRANSMISSION OFTEN LURCHES AND CLUNKS INTO GEAR WHEN SHIFTING AT LOWER SPEEDS (BETWEEN 2-4TH GEARS). IT HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING WITH SPECIFIC PEDAL PRESSURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ALMOST A YEAR AGO, AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11377724

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAFFORD CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM FIAT OF SPRINGFIELD, 7611 LOISDALE RD, SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150, FOR A ROUTINE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AND TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE AND KNOCKED OVER THE POLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL BEHIND THE POLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG BUT NO SERIOUS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HIS WIFE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,196.

NHTSA ODI 11364512

THE CRUISE CONTROL DOWNSHIFTS THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DESCENDING HILLS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE DESIRED SPEED. BUT PRIOR TO DOWNSHIFTING THE ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE 5-10MPH DEPENDING UPON THE INITIAL SPEED AND THE GRADE OF THE HILL. WHILE NOT AN ISSUE ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A 70 MPH HWY WITH A 50 MPH CURVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRACTION IS REDUCED, OFTEN THE CASE ON HWY 37 BETWEEN LIBBY & EUREKA MT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TWICE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS 'NORMAL' FOR THIS CAR, IE, IT DOES THE SAME THING ON EVERY HILL WHILE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL FOR THIS CAR ' NOTHING TO BE DONE. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN WAS 9/24/2020 AT WHICH TIME THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF A STAR CASE REPORT (ATTACHED). THIS REPORT RECOMMENDS CRUISE NOT BE USED IN HILLY AREAS. WHILE THEY NOTE THAT SPEED MAY INCREASE, NOT THAT IT WILL INCREASE, THEY DON'T MENTION THE INCREASE IS NOT JUST DUE TO GRAVITY BUT ACTUAL ACCELERATION. NOR HAVE I SEEN ANY MENTION OF THIS ISSUE IN THE USERS' MANUAL. 2017 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION FOR THE PACIFICA, BUT YOU WILL NOTE THE STAR IS DATED 2012 SO OTHER MODELS MUST ALSO BE SIMILARLY AFFECTED. WE RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2020 RAM 1500 AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS PERFECTLY IN IT, SO I KNOW CHRYSLER KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A SAFE & EFFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL UNIT.

NHTSA ODI 11361135

MULTIPLE TIMES OUR 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HAS REVVED UP, THEN STALLED. THE SCREEN TELLS THE DRIVER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I DID, THEN WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT COMPLETELY STALLS, OTHER TIMES THE RPM INCREASES THEN THE CAR DECELERATES AND I CANNOT DRIVE OVER 20 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AT AN INTERSECTION AS WELL AS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11341293

PERIODICALLY WHEN PRESSING ON GAS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO AND YOU NEED TO TAKE FOOT OFF GAS AND PRESS FIRMLY. OUR CAR WAS ONE OF THE PACIFICA'S THAT STALLED IN THE PAST FOR NO KNOWN REASON AND IT WAS FIXED. THIS NEW PROBLEM IS CONCERNING AS WE HAVE BEEN IN INTERSECTIONS WHEN IT OCCURRED WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11340282

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 M.P.H. WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO ALMOST 90 M.P.H. WITHOUT INPUT (DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR INCREASING SPEED FROM CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS) FROM THE DRIVER. THE ACCELERATION CEASED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ROLLED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT RUST TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED A RUST TREATMENT HOWEVER, THE RUST SPOT INCREASED IN SIZE AFTER THE TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VICTORY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (45 NABER DR, SHALLOTTE, NC 28470, (910) 356-9867) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC SEALED THE STEERING COLUMN WITH LOCK TIGHT SEALANT HOWEVER, THE CLICKING SOUND RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 7,000.

NHTSA ODI 11322850

WHEN PASSING A FARM TRACTOR CAR WENT IN TO THE PASSING GEAR AND THEN THERE WAS NO ACCELARTION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR COULD NOT SHUT CAR OFF AFTER AWHILE SIDE DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS CAR FINALLY STARTED AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL

NHTSA ODI 11301287

AT 10MPH DECELERATING TO STOP LIGHT. ENGINE SHUTOFF. ON RESTART ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED _SERVICE SHIFTER. NO LIGHTS ON SHIFTER DESIGNATING GEAR IN USE WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO CHRYSLER SERVICE. REPLACING SHIFTER. PREVIOUSLY THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHEN DOORS OPENED WHILE CAR WAS AT 30 MPH. THAT WAS CORRECTED WITH NEW LOCKING COMPUTER. SEVERAL TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE WHEN CAR WAS STARTED. IGNITION HAD TO BE SWITCHED OFF THEN ON A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THE SHIFTER WOULD WORK PROPERLY. THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN CAR STARTED AND BRAKE CONTROL BUTTON WAS PRESSEED. IGNITION HAD TO BE CYCLED COUPLE OF TIMES . NOT SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND FAILURE TO DISENGAGE BRAKE OCCURRED TOGETHER FREQUENTLY BUT NOT EVERY TIME ON DOWNHILL ROADS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 45 TO 55 MPH , TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS SO RPM WOULD EXCEED 3000 AND DID NOT IMMEDIATELY UPSHIFT WHEN ROAD BECAME FLAT . RPM WOULD REMAIN ABOVE 3000 FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THEN RETURN TO 1500 RPM. THIS IS A VERY RECENT NEW ACTION. THERE A DISTURBING THUNK SOUND AND HARD JERK WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UNDER LOAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 MPH

NHTSA ODI 11301452