Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 257 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.
The 25 most recent of 257, in the owner's own words
The steering is very sticky. Especially at higher speeds in curves. It is sticky most at the 11:00 and 1:00 spots on the steering wheel. It takes some strength to drive the car through mountains as it is difficult to make sure the wheel is moving correctly through the turn.
Periodically, the steering wheel will stick between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock position. The vehicle will not track back to center/driving straight and you have to overcome the sticking of the steering wheel. This is very dangerous!
Recently, in the last 2 weeks since the writing of this post, I've noticed a sensation when doing a gradual turn anywhere between 20-60 MPH, and the steering wheel is at the 11 or 1 o clock position, the vehicle "sticks". I then have to put force on the steering wheel to get it back to center and straighten out the driving path. This puts me and other drivers on the road in danger because it's extremely easy to oversteer and swerve off the road or into another driver, injuring or killing passengers. Although I have not taken this to a dealer yet, there are numerous articles online clearly stating this is a very dangerous issue-specifically with my 2017 model year. I see no warning lights that accompany this behavior. And that makes it all the more dangerous. Without any awareness of the issue, it's a lot more probable to experience the behavior and cause an accident.
My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica (VIN [XXX], approximately 99,880 miles) intermittently loses electric power steering assist while driving. The Service Power Steering warning illuminates and steering effort increases substantially. Assist returns on its own without restarting the vehicle. Failures correlate with extended driving and heat. I scanned the electric power steering module directly. It reports DTC C2217 (electric power steering module internal) and C2210 (ECU over-temperature), both stored and currently present. Live data captured at idle in park shows 7.98 Nm of driver steering input with 0.00 Nm of assist torque and 0 amps of system current draw, confirming assist was fully inactive. Battery voltage was steady at 14.1 to 14.2 volts throughout, ruling out a supply or ground fault. The module also reports an implausible internal temperature reading while drawing no current, indicating an internal electronics fault rather than a genuine thermal event. This is a non-hybrid, front-wheel-drive vehicle. Intermittent loss of steering assist at speed presents a crash risk. I am aware of investigation PE25009 covering the EPS system on 2017-2018 Pacifica vehicles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle exhibits an intermittent, completely silent sticking and binding sensation in the steering wheel during gradual turns at highway speeds (occurring across all speeds between 20–80 MPH). The binding defect triggers during both left and right-hand gradual turns, requiring the driver to apply sudden, manual physical force to break past a resistance "notch" point, which is followed by a sudden return of power steering assistance.The vehicle's electrical system has been thoroughly diagnosed and isolated: a brand-new auxiliary and main battery were installed, and secondary 12V accessories were completely disconnected, verifying the charging system maintains a perfect, steady 14.1 to 14.2 volts under load while the steering binding continues to occur. This rules out standard battery/alternator low-voltage failure.The vehicle was brought to a certified Chrysler dealership where a technician test-drove the minivan and explicitly witnessed, verified, and confirmed the bi-directional steering binding failure in real-time. Despite the physical failure being witnessed, the vehicle's computer is not throwing any active dashboard warning lights or standard diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). This vehicle matches the exact model year, mileage bracket, and dangerous high-speed sticking characteristics currently under active federal investigation by the ODI under NHTSA Action Number PE25009.
I’ve noticed within the last couple months that every once in a while the steering seems to stick. It will happen randomly, we will be driving and if turning the steering wheel to the 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock position it feels like it sticks. We really feel it sticking at random times when we are traveling at slower speeds and turning sharply, it will stick and then all of a sudden let lose and slightly jerk back to position.
While driving my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica at highway speeds the steering wheel locks or sticks in a curve and is extremely scary! This happened to me back in 2022 and took several trips to the dealer to determine the problem as they could not recreate the occurrence. After several attempts they found recall V53/NHTSA 19V-348, they followed the recall and returned the vehicle to me in August of 2022. Everything working great until Now AGAIN in 2026 4 yrs later while driving at highway speeds the vehicle is doing the EXACT same thing, I returned to dealership that fixed recall V53 to perform the same recall, they stated the recall only has a 2 yr warranty and that I must pay a $250 diagnostic, I refused and called Chrysler Recall and they stated the same thing, this is ABSOLUTLEY RIDICULOUS! This is a major safety issue that could cause an accident and should be a lifetime warranty recall, the fact that the safety of their costumers and all others on the road is not their top priority is baffling! I'm extremely disappointed in the dealership and Chrysler and am now reconsidering buying a Chrysler when I get a new car next year.
Steering wheel sticking at 11 and 1 o clock position, has become very difficult to turn and feels like overcorrecting to keep vehicle in center of lane.
Driving on highway with winding roads the steering wheel would stick on a slight turn. It would happen at the 11oclock & 1oclock position, mostly on a right curve. When correcting back you get a slight over steer. This happened over the 4 of July holiday 2026. At slower speeds it did not seem to happen. No warning lights or messages were displayed.
The steering sticks when at highway speeds on curves. It can be made available for inspection upon request. Our safety is at risk when it sticks because over correction can make us flip the vehicle or collide with other drivers. This is a know issue with this car but I must empathize that it needs to a recall that would allow us to have this fixed for the safety of not only the drivers but for other people on the roads. The vehicle has been expected recently but the details of what they found wrong can not be located at this moment. You can contact the Crown Chrysler in [XXX] for more details. It’s been an issue since we bought the vehicle used in 2023. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the steering wheel would stick when turned approximately to the one o'clock position, requiring to be jerked to operate as intended. The contact stated that when the failure occurred, the auto start-stop warning light illuminated, and the check engine warning light would intermittently flash on and off. The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 123,630.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced reduced power and hard shifting. Additionally, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn while driving. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The steering "sticks" and it is hesitant to pull back to center. It feels like the power steering just stops working for a couple seconds. This problem happens frequently...to the point that I am hesitant to drive the van. I get alerts for the electronic stabilization service, but when they pull the codes there are no issues to fix. I have had the vacuum pump and battery replaced (which I was told might correct the problem) but neither fixed the issue. After an internet search, I have found that this seems to be a problem with many 2017 and 2018 Pacifica models. There was one complaint that said to include NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE25009 in any complaints made to the NHTSA.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving and turning the steering wheel to the right, the steering wheel locked up and failed to return to center. The contact grabbed the steering wheel aggressively and turned it to return to center. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
Electric power steering sticking while navigating an curve or turn in the road. Whether at slow speeds or fast speeds seems like my steering sticks everytime now. I've had my front end replaced previously for maintenance at 100000 when this originally started. And it seemed to help some but the batteries seem to fail atleast twice a year the aux battery and the main battery and then the steering goes off and over corrects "kicks back on" when you have to pry it out of getting "stuck"
The vehicle randomly but regularly experiences a grabbing in the steering when turning and requires a pulling on the steering wheel that then seems to overcorrect momentarily. This vehicle could be available for inspection upon request. I've taken it to my regular mechanic and he reproduced the problem and believes it is due to the steering rack or the electronic controls therein. No warning lamps or messages have ever displayed. I'm afraid that the overcorrection and/or lack of steering control could put the driver of our van and/or others nearby at risk.
Steering felt slightly stiff/stuck while driving on wide turns and straight on interstate. Going slower and making more frequent turns in town, steering felt normal but going fast there was a power steering concern. Not enough to make me jerk but I am worried that it will decline and force a hard jerk and possible swerving while going higher speeds. This is under investigation currently NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE25009. PLEASE PLEASE RECALL!! This was terrifying I have young children
When making steering corrections while driving over 55 miles an hour, the steering sticks and suddenly over corrects. This is especially troublesome when driving on winding two lane country roads. It feels like the vehicle might go into the oncoming traffic or off into the ditch.
Vehicle: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Limited Gas (VIN: [XXX]) Component: Steering / Electrical Power Steering (EPS) Gear Rack Incident Description: I am filing this report in relation to active NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE25009 regarding the intermittent loss of electric power steering assist. While driving on curved roads, the steering system exhibits a distinct "sticky" or binding sensation during gradual, sustained turns. This mechanical resistance is highly localized and most noticeable when holding the steering wheel slightly off-center, specifically near the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions. When attempting to exit a curve, the steering wheel fails to smoothly return to center on its own. It requires a deliberate, manual "nudge" or extra physical driver effort to break past the sticky threshold. Once this resistance is overcome, the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist suddenly reactivates, creating a brief oversteer condition that requires immediate correction to keep the vehicle tracking safely in its lane. The behavior feels heavily tied to an internal electronic fault within the steering gear module rather than standard lane-keep assistance intervention, as the binding sensation persists even with safety features deactivated. This creates an unpredictable driving dynamic, particularly at highway speeds where subtle, precise inputs are required. Additionally, this vehicle has an extensive history of rapid battery failure, requiring multiple complete replacements of both the main and auxiliary batteries within consecutive 12-month periods. I suspect a systemic voltage drop or a compromised electrical ground circuit (potentially related to Chrysler Recall V53 / NHTSA 19V-348) may be concurrently affecting or accelerating the failure of the highly voltage-sensitive EPS rack assembly. The temporary binding of the steering infrastructure represents a clear, progressive safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Since 2019 there has been an intermittent issue with the steering. No warning or safety lights are on that would signify an issue. The steering wheel sticks when going through gentle curves on the road. Specifically when the steering wheel is in the 11:00 or 1:00 position. You can feel the steering stick and pull the vehicle slightly. By swiftly jerking the steering wheel in the opposite direction it seems to fix the issue. This happens at low and high speeds (back roads or highways). It is quite alarming and scary. We've taken it to multiple mechanics but they have been unsuccessful in figuring out the issue. They have been able to reproduce the issue but are unclear of what causes it.
Steering wheel sticks at lower speeds between 11-1 o’clock position (approximately) and requires extra force to turn the wheel. I came across number PE25009 which seems to clearly line up with what I am experiencing, so decided to report.
I have a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan and I am experiencing intermittent steering wheel sticking issue. While driving at highway speeds, the electric power steering exhibits a distinct 'sticking' or 'catching' sensation when trying to make minor lane corrections. Extra physical effort is required to 'break' the wheel free from the center position, which causes the vehicle to over-correct and jerk into the lane. This creates an immediate risk of losing control or drifting out of the lane. The steering wheel catches and requires excessive manual force to unstick, leading to unsafe over-correction and lane drifting. This is a severe, recurring safety hazard.
The steering wheel in my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is sticking or catching, especially during turns or when trying to return the steering wheel back to the centered position. Unknown cause. The steering system nearly consistently exhibits a sticking sensation during gradual turns, particularly when the steering wheel is positioned near the 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock position, and very noticeably at highway/freeway speeds. A very dangerous situation. During these events, there is increased steering effort required to return the steering wheel back to center. After or during the correction of the steering wheel back to the center position after these events, there seems to be some type of a sudden reactivation of the power steering assistance. It feels extremely dangerous to continue to operate this vehicle with this current condition.
While driving my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, the vehicle experienced a sudden, severe malfunction of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. The dashboard illuminated a "Service Power Steering" warning light, which was accompanied by an immediate, complete loss of power steering assist. The steering wheel became extremely stiff and heavy. It required immense physical force to steer. This failure occurred suddenly without warning, creating an immediate and severe crash hazard by making the vehicle uncontrollable. The vehicle also suddenly restored power assist while I was using the extra force which made driving very dangerous. I use my minivan to drive my kids to school every day and this hazard could have resulted in tragic loss of life especially with an infant and three toddlers in my car. I just noticed that the safety probe PE25009 has been opened last year with no recalls yet. Please help us resolve this ASAP as this is a critical, life-threatening, safety issue.
The vehicle has an unresolved electrical/propulsion failure involving sudden shutdowns while driving and CAN C bus/lost-communication faults. Since the high-voltage battery was replaced through a recall-related repair, the vehicle has had repeated shutdown/loss-of-communication events, occurring dozens of times. In the most serious incidents, while driving at speed, the dash flickered, windshield wipers activated unexpectedly, headlights turned off, turn signals would not work, and steering locked or became difficult to control. The vehicle then completely shut off while still moving. After shutdown, the hazard lights would not work. One documented incident occurred on the interstate at about 70 mph. This puts occupants and others at risk because the vehicle can suddenly lose motive power and critical electrical/control functions at the same time, including lighting, signals, hazards, instrument display, and steering/control assistance. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by a Chrysler dealership. Dealer records documented multiple modules losing communication on the CAN C bus. The dealer replaced the shifter module as a possible contributor, but the problem continued. The dealer later corrected loose pin tension at a communication/star connector, but the vehicle continued to shut down and later scan reports still showed widespread active/stored CAN and lost-communication faults across powertrain, hybrid control, body control, braking/ABS, steering, and shifter-related systems. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by dealer scan reports and repair records, but the root cause remains unresolved. The manufacturer has been contacted through customer care and repair/scan documentation was submitted. The exact root cause is UNKNOWN, but dealer findings indicate an unresolved major electrical/CAN communication problem possibly involving the harness, connector network, or communication system.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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