What 162 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Awd

Third row randomly closes on my kids who are buckled in them. I've reported this to the dealer shortly after getting my van in 2021. Brought it back to them twice where they found "no problem", then I made an additional report here last year after it closed on them an excessive amount of times and I felt helpless. I was forced to move the child who was sitting in the back to front seat after it closed on them multiple times in one ride. A head on collision occurred a few miles down the road with my child in front seat. He was injured more than he should have ever been, due to needing to be moved from the rear of the van. Furious Chrysler did not take my previous complaints more seriously.

NHTSA ODI 11733112

Steering wheel gets stuck in place when making wide turns and especially curves on winding roads. You have to jerk steering wheel out of what feels like a locked/stuck position. Power steering light (lamp) comes on with noise but immediately turns off. Power steering light has been coming on and off inconsistently starting in 2023. I have many videos/pictures of light on. It has never stayed on for long enough time to get it to dealer still lit and I do not have money for the diagnostic testing that dealer says they require just to have said dealer look at it and tell me they can't replicate the problem therefore there is no problem. I've been terrified of it overcorrecting itself when coming out of the stuck position while at high speeds or on narrow high elevation roads resulting in a serious accident injuring or killing myself and my family or someone else on the roadways. Back seat (3rd row) driver side half folds itself down at random times without indication. It has trapped my kids several times, which makes me worry for their safety/suffication when we have to use that seat. It tends to happen more when the temperature is cold outside. This began before 65k miles. I took it to dealer for inspection and they called it a user error. This is not a user error and has happened more than 50 times in 4 years. Nothing is stored under the seat and no buttons were within access to children any of the times the seat malfunctioned and closed on my children. My 2020 Chrysler Pacifica is a true safety hazard. It is available for inspection at anytime.

NHTSA ODI 11685987

Cable system inside 2nd row seat broke so that it can no longer anchor in place. The back of the seat folds back/forth and unable to secure in place, the seat slides forward/backward freely on the track. Seems to be a known issue (multiple forums online).

NHTSA ODI 11674886

Both middle seats have failed. The cable that allows the seat to slide tilt forward has a Very strong spring and a very weak plastic housing. The replacement cable is unavailable because they’ve had so many issues with this happening. There are Years of complaints on Reddit regarding this problem. The seat won’t lock upright or lock in place. I built a workaround to make the seat usable again

NHTSA ODI 11652462

I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2020 PACIFICA AND DISCOVERED IT HAS FIXED SECOND ROW SEAT HEADRESTS. THE USER'S MANUAL THAT CAME WITH MY VAN SHOWS ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HEADRESTS WITH ARROWS POINTING TO THE HEADREST'S ADJUSTMENT BUTTONS ARE BUT THOSE BUTTONS DO NOT EXIST IN MY VAN. THERE ARE ALSO WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ADJUST OR REMOVE THE HEADRESTS BUT I CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE MISSING BUTTONS. THE DEALERSHIP VERIFIED THAT THE HEADRESTS ARE FIXED. THE FIXED HEADRESTS MEAN THAT MY FORWARD-FACING CARSEATS (THAT USE THE SEATBELT TO SECURE THEM) DO NOT FIT PROPERLY (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES) AND THEREFOR ARE UNSAFE. THE BASE OF THE CARSEAT SITS SQUARELY ON THE VAN'S SEAT BUT ONLY THE TOP EDGE OF THE BACK OF THE CARSEAT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE VAN SEAT, AT THE MIDDLE OF THE HEADREST. THERE IS A 1-4 INCH GAP BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE CARSEAT AND THE VAN SEAT. SINCE THE HEADREST IS NOT ADJUSTABLE THERE IS NO OTHER POSITION OPTION. THIS SINGLE LINE OF CONTACT MAKES THE CARSEAT UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE, NOT MATTER HOW TIGHTLY THE SEATBELT IS PULLED.

NHTSA ODI 11297524