RoadVitals

2008 Chrysler Pacifica Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jul 6, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 102 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chrysler Pacifica submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 6, 2017

WE HAVE REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS AROUND 50,000, WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT 66,000, AND I WAS DRIVING IT TODAY AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS, AND JUST HAD THE TIMING CHAIN AND WATER PUMP REPLACED. I RECENTLY JUST PUT AROUND $6,000. ALL ISSUES HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID
11003499
Incident
Jul 6, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jan 27, 2017

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR LOSES POWER(ENGINE SHUTS OFF) THE RADIO, HEATER/AC STILL WORK BUT NO POWER FROM THE ENGINE. SOMETIMES THE WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCK UP AND I CAN BARELY GET IT OFF THE ROAD. OTHER TIMES, I CAN POP IT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND RESTART IT. IT'S VERY SCARY AND I HAVE 3 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME DAILY. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, WHETHER I JUST PULL OUT OR HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. IT HAS HAPPENED DRIVING SLOW AND AT FASTER SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER DEALER. THEY DROVE IT UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO THEM AND DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE, SOMETIMES TWICE EVERYDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10948076
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Jun 5, 2016

ENGINE STALLS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT FOR A PROBLEM, THERE IS NO ERROR CODE. CAN'T STEER, HAVE TO RESTART CAR, AND REV TO GET IT STARTED.

NHTSA ID
10872579
Incident
Jun 4, 2016
Mileage
137,700 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 27, 2015

TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE OR ANY MASS OF WATER ON THE ROAD. DUE TO RAIN, WAS TAKING CHILDREN TO THE BUS STOP. GRAVEL DRIVEWAY HAD A FEW SMALL PUDDLES (NOT EVEN ANKLE DEEP). LOST POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT WAS A RATHER LARGE PUDDLE AT AN INTERSECTION - THAT TOOK UP THE ENTIRE TURN LANE.

NHTSA ID
10759655
Incident
Aug 27, 2015
Mileage
84,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2015

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ON STREETS THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN. NO STEERING POWER ,BRAKES IS SO HARD AND NO SYSTEM!!! IT ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN AS I'M GOING AROUND A CORNER OR A CURB .TODAY 8/18/2015 REALLY UPSET ME, BECAUSE IT SHUT OFF AS I TURNED A CURB AND I ALMOST SLAMMED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT. STARTING THE CAR UP I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL .20% OF THE TIME THE CAR WILL START IN DRIVE 80% IN NEUTRAL . WE HAVE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIPS CHRYSLER AND DRIVETIME AND NO ANSWERS . WHAT'S SO SICK ABOUT IT IS THE CAR IS ALMOST PAYED OFF..I LOVE THE CAR,BUT I AM SURELY NOT READY TO LOOSE MY LIFE OR MY 4CHILDREN AND WIFE IN THIS CAR,BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER .WE COULD TRADE IT ,BUT I WOULD NEVER WANT TO HURT ANOTHER FAMILY!!!

NHTSA ID
10749644
Incident
Nov 4, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 10, 2015

CAR KEPT STALLING AND THEN WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS WENT OFF AND ON WITHOUT ANY REASON. HAD IT FLATBEDDED TO THE SHOP - GOOD THING WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE IGNITION UNIT BROKE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION IF IT HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY...THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED, WITH A USED IGNITION SO WE ARE VERY WORRIED. ODD LIGHTS KICK ON, THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE JUMPS FOR REASON. IT MAY BE THE AWD IS FAILING TOO. MILEAGE WAS AROUND 80,000 AT THE TIME AND USE OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NORMAL WITH NO TOWING OR OTHER HEAVY USE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682569
Incident
Dec 15, 2014
Mileage
79,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 18, 2014

A BOLT CAME OUT AT HIGH SPEED. AFTER SEARCHING, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A "KNUCKLE BOLT" ON THE FRONT, RIGHT SIDE OF CAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING SYSTEM TO THE FRONT, RIGHT ROTOR AND WHEEL. IT WAS NOT A CALIPER BOLT. IT WAS A VERY LARGE BOLT THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CAR TO MOVE. IT CAUSED THE PART OF THE CAR THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE PADS TO JAM INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE RIM, THUS NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO MOVE. AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS COULD BE DEADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564787
Incident
Feb 16, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 18, 2014

A BOLT CAME OUT AT LOW SPEED THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. AFTER SEARCHING, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A "KNUCKLE BOLT" ON THE FRONT, LEFT SIDE OF CAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING SYSTEM TO THE FRONT, LEFT ROTOR AND WHEEL. IT WAS NOT A CALIPER BOLT. IT WAS A VERY LARGE BOLT THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CAR TO MOVE. IT CAUSED THE PART OF THE CAR THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE PADS TO JAM INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE RIM, THUS NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO MOVE. AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS COULD BE DEADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564786
Incident
Nov 19, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Dec 5, 2011

VEHICLE SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF DURING DRIVE AT LEAST TWICE PER DAY. DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS AT BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. OIL LIGHT TURNS ON AND ALL POWER IS LOST. PROBLEM EXISTED ON 2006 MODEL BUT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AND WILL NOT CONSIDER SYMPTOMS FOR THE 2008 MODEL. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR FOUR DAYS AND CLAIMED THE PROBLEM NEVER SURFACED. I WAS CHARGED $100 AND BEFORE THE DAY ENDED, THE FAULT OCCURRED TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438668
Incident
Oct 1, 2011
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Oct 17, 2009

YOU COULD ACTUALLY FEEL THE BUMP IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT INITIAL ACCELERATION AS THE MOTOR MOUNTS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. GENERATED A VERY METALLIC NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT RESIDUAL EFFECTS THIS WILL HAVE ON THE VEHICLE SINCE THIS HAS AFFECTED THE OVERALL ALIGNMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, STEERING ETC. I'VE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. APPARENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CAR MODEL, 04-05. *TR

NHTSA ID
10288743
Incident
Oct 5, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .