Home · 2021 · Chrysler

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

349 owner complaints · 7 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Buy-rated alternatives from this era

Other 20192023 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev.

2021
Mazda Mazda6
Buy100/100
2019
Volkswagen Passat
Buy99/100
2022
Kia Niro Phev
Buy98/100

Why caution?

Has a "park it / park outside" recall, the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.

Electrical system problems dominate (41% of complaints, typically reported near 21k miles).

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#411 of 470Among the 2021 models with a matured record, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev ranks #411, scoring higher than 11% of them. See the 2021 ranking →

Complaint volume63
Severity63
Recall load53
Trend59

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20212026 YTD

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miElectrical system~21k mi · 142 reportsEngine~16k mi · 137 reportsTransmission & drivetrain~20k mi · 117 reportsFuel system~21k mi · 73 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Backup camera & sensors (27) · Speed control (22)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Electrical system

41%

142 complaints · typically near 21k mi · 32 in the last 2 years

Had two different electric coolant heaters fail in just over 2 years. One at 36,000 miles and one at 72,000 miles. Each time it has failed it results in a loss of cabi…

Read the electrical system complaints →

Engine

39%

137 complaints · typically near 16k mi · 29 in the last 2 years

My 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has a recurring hybrid/electrical defect that causes the accelerator to lose all power while driving, leaving the vehicle unable to ac…

Read the engine complaints →

Transmission & drivetrain

34%

117 complaints · typically near 20k mi · 20 in the last 2 years

This vehicle quit driving and you can move it. Confirmed bad transmission. I bought it this way from the insurance company because it bounced off a concrete barrier. I…

Read the transmission & drivetrain complaints →

Fuel system

21%

73 complaints · typically near 21k mi · 13 in the last 2 years

While driving the vehicle, the accelerator will become inactive and result in the vehicle slowing to a stop. I will shut off the ignition and let vehicle rest for 10-2…

Read the fuel system complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

We can place 4 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 349 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 15 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (7)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Park itElectrical System · 26V362000

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The battery pack may cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.

Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the battery pack assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 23, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 52D. The Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 11, 2026.

Equipment Adaptive/mobility · 25V876000

Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.

Equipment Adaptive/mobility · 25V877000

Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.

Air Bags · 24V793000

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Pacifica and 2020-2021, 2023 Voyager vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the side curtain air bags may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will secure the connector, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A8B.

Back Over Prevention · 24V436000

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.

Electrical System · 23V010000

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEVs). An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown.

Risk: An unexpected engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the Power Inverter Module (PIM) software and, if necessary, update the instrument panel cluster (IPC) and the electronic control module (ECM) software, free of charge. FCA US will notify dealers and begin notifying owners on or about: 03/21/2023 for 2021 model year vehicles, 05/02/2023 for 2019-2020 model year vehicles, and 06/15/2023 for 2017-2018 model year vehicles. FCA began notifying owners on February 23, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 03A.

Seats · 22V181000

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Pacifica and 2021 Voyager vehicles. The second-row seat-to-floor mounting latch may bind and stick open, preventing the seat from properly securing to the floor. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Risk: An unsecured seat increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z22.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this Chrysler before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"? One is a "park it" / "park outside" order, the most serious kind, so I'd want that repair documented before I drive it.
  2. Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 21k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 16k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Chrysler PACIFICA PHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2021? See how every Pacifica Phev model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Phev as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.