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What 5 owners told NHTSA about the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Awd

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (5)Crash / fire / injury (1)Electrical system (2)Engine (2)Brakes (1)Fuel system (1)Parking Brake (1)Suspension (1)Transmission & drivetrain (1)

Newest first · 5 complaints

Jul 6, 2026Electrical system

When driving, the rear passenger interior trim cup holder heats up to an unsafe temperature. The vehicle was in the shop for 4 weeks and I was told this is normal and it was because of radiant heat from the axel/wheel well. After driving approximately 100 miles, I used a temperature gun to screen the area. The hotspot was 126 degrees, with temperatures around in ranging from 77-85 degrees. Outside wheel well temperatures ranged from 94 - 97 degrees. the driver side rear trim area was also checked for comparison and ranged from 78-82 degrees. which would indicate it is not radiant heat from the wheel well and axel. Children sit in the 3rd row next to this and can be burned. No warning lights are present, vehicle can be inspected if required.

NHTSA ODI 11748559

May 25, 2026Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Driving down a busy section of highway on I-25 in Colorado, without warning car lost all power and shutoff. Was able to veer off highway to shoulder without getting hit. Car will not restart. This was incredibly unsettling as my family and kids were all in the car on the way home and was a very dangerous situation. For a brand new vehicle to shut off on the highway without warning is unacceptable.

NHTSA ODI 11739905

May 16, 2026Fuel system1 injury

We were stopped for fuel. Prior to fueling we turned off the engine and opened the fuel door, inserting the gas nozzle and then began to pump fuel. While the nozzle was running, a passenger opened the sliding door by pressing the auto open button - and the door slid into the hand of the individual holding the fuel nozzle, crushing his hand between the door and the nozzle - causing the nozzle to dislodge from the filling neck , releasing gasoline all over the driver and j hiring his hand. There is no interlock preventing the door from auto opening while the fuel tank is open - which is a critical design flaw, that can result in injury to the individual fueling and hazardous material spills/ hazardous conditions where the pump attendant is directly drenched in fuel. A simple sensor on the door with a software interlock would resolve this issue and prevent future instances. In this case the injury was minor/bruise and discomfort, but it could have been more severe had the driver not reacted quickly, or had the driver had underlying medical conditions such as brittle bones or was on blood thinners.

NHTSA ODI 11738286

Jan 14, 2026BrakesParking BrakeEngine

The contact owns a 2026 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 MPH, the brakes locked up. The contact stated that the parking brake unexpectedly engaged and failed to release. The driver’s side rear wheel locked up. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving in the driveway, the brakes locked up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again, where the ABS module was replaced. Additionally, there was an engine malfunction, and the battery was recharged. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact requested a vehicle buyback. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 11710857

Sep 29, 2025Suspension

The contact's mother owns a 2026 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while his mother was driving 30-35 MPH on a well-maintained road, the front passenger's side of the vehicle suddenly lowered, and the driver lost control of the steering wheel, causing the rear passenger's side of the vehicle to strike a curb, and the vehicle was pushed towards the left, near oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle nearly rolled over prior to coming to a stop. The driver was able to exit the vehicle. A Police Officer arrived at the scene and redirected traffic away from the vehicle, but no Police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that upon meeting his mother at the scene, the contact inspected the vehicle. The contact noticed that the front passenger's side lower control arm ball joint had fractured sharply, separated, and had gone sideways. The vehicle was towed to an Auto Collision repair shop. The dealer was notified of the failure and reported the failure to a Chrysler regional manager. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 1,173.

NHTSA ODI 11690285

Working with the data? Download all 5 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Awd verdict →