2018 Chrysler Pacifica Owner Complaints

The check engine light came on, and the codes indicated a cylinder 5 misfire. We replaced the spark plugs and coils. Codes went away for a short time, a couple of days. Then it was noticed that the coolant was leaking somewhere. Nothing on the ground. The mechanic confirmed that coolant is in cylinder 5 and that a head gasket is leaking. The cost to replace the head gasket is $6500, plus car rental fees of $450/week. The head gasket is on backorder and was supposed to come in on October 30th. There is no word and when and if it will arrive. This is an obvious issue since there are a shortage of head gaskets available! We have all of the other parts except the head gasket.

NHTSA ID

11776712

Incident

Sep 8, 2026

This issues has been ongoing as the vehicle makes a loud clunking noise and the steering wheel shakes and its almost like it jumps while in a slow turn. The vehicle loses power steering while going down the rod and it's like the steering wheel gets stuck at the 11 and 2 position and you have to manually force it to come free then the power steering comes back. during low-speed turns is when you feel the vibrating and clunking. I have checked all of the steering components and the only thing i cannot physically check is the Rack and Pinion. I believe the vehicle is doing two different things as the steering comes back so that is possibly a dead spot in the pinion or the rack gears. or most likely it's a sensor issue like the sensor is being told to not sense or not reading the correct values. either way it is unsafe for this issue as I have almost hit vehicles head on because you have to physically move the steering without any assist in an instant causing an almost over reaction when the power assist kicks back on. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION I HAVE PUT MY KIDS THROUGH AND NO LONG FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I will be driving my other vehicle until this is resolved.

NHTSA ID

11776635

Incident

Oct 17, 2026

I own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid experiencing intermittent electric power steering problems consistent with NHTSA investigation PE25009. The steering wheel repeatedly sticks near the 11-o'clock position during gradual turns and when returning toward center. This has occurred at highway speeds and requires additional steering force to overcome the resistance. The steering can then release unexpectedly. There are no warning lights or DTC Codes related to this issue. We had a repair shop look at the issue and they suggested performing a wheel alignment. While this helped some at first, the issue has continued to occur and worsened in recent weeks. I have also experienced grinding noises when returning from a left turn, with vibration transmitted primarily through the vehicle floor and body. The condition is intermittent but recurring, and I am concerned about losing predictable steering control, particularly at highway speeds. I am requesting that this condition be investigated in connection with PE25009.

NHTSA ID

11776612

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Steering wheel binding/sticking under continuous lateral load at 30+ mph on banked right-hand ramps, requiring breakaway force to unstick. It jerks the vehicle and my passengers look at me like I'm crazy. Only does it on right hand turns, left seems fine. No noises. Very scary as I'm afraid that it isn't going to unstick one of these times, or the sudden jerk when it releases is going to cause an accident. It started doing this several weeks ago and happens pretty much every time now. If I make small steering adjustments while going around the right hand bank, it doesn't seem to happen. Only when I hold the wheel at a constant position while traveling around the curve.

NHTSA ID

11776175

Incident

Oct 10, 2026

When turning the wheel slightly (ie. 10 or 1 position), the wheel will lock up and stick requiring additional effort/overcompensation to get turn the wheel back. The issue has become increasingly worse over the past few months, but there was no distinct onset or issue that prompted the first problem.

NHTSA ID

11775283

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

I originally took my car to Reedman toll in 2021 due to frequent issues with the batteries needing to be replaced and the car not starting. At the time I was told it was related to a recall, and they fixed it. However, over the last year I have continued to have various problems with the car. The batteries were replaced numerous times. The check engine light and stop start unavailable light going on randomly. The car also started having electrical issues like the radio would just turn off on its own, or the automatic car doors would not open. The car also started feeling jumpy and shaky upon starting, and when the car is off there is a thumping noise. This thumping noise is still heard when the car has been off and parked for hours. The car will be off and I will get in it and hear the thumping before the car starts. Over the summer the problems became more frequent, and on August 31st it would not start, and I had to have it towed to Reedman. Reedman said my started was bad and also the fuse box shorted. They had my car for 10 days, and during this time I paid $500 out of pocket for a rental. I paid $2000 to Reedman for these repairs. I got the car back, and immediately (same day) experienced the exact same problems, and then my car would not start again. When I did get it started I kept getting warnings that the engine might overheat. I got it back to Reedman and they then said it was a bad alternator and some wires were bad as well. They had my car for 2 months. I picked it up 9/30/26 and within less than 6 hours the check engine light and start stop unavailable light came on. The car started feeling jumpy again upon starting, and the thumping noise returned. This car was purchased brand new in 2018 and only has about 51,000 miles on it. I do not understand why this is all happening to a car that has such low mileage. My 2014 Nissan has never had a single problem.

NHTSA ID

11775135

Incident

Aug 31, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving uphill, the vehicle was shaking uncontrollably. Additionally, the Auto START/STOP feature intermittently failed to restart the engine while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test indicated that the passenger’s side CV axle camshaft was defective. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V493000 (POWER TRAIN) and 18V492000 (POWER TRAIN); and associated the failure with the recalls. The dealer was notified of the failure and later informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recalls. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11775067

Incident

Oct 13, 2026

Mileage

170,000 mi

While driving, the vehicle experiences a sudden and intermittent "catching" or sticking sensation in the steering wheel. This issue happens exclusively when initiating a slight turn to the left, specifically around the 11 o'clock steering wheel position. There is no noise (no clunking, clicking, or grinding) associated with the failure. When the steering wheel "catches," it requires additional physical force to pull the wheel past the sticking point. Once it breaks free, the electric power steering suddenly engages with a sharp jolt, which causes the vehicle to momentarily jerk or oversteer.

NHTSA ID

11774947

Incident

Oct 28, 2026

While driving the vehicle in a gradual turn, steering will stick and not return to center without applying extra force to the steering wheel.

NHTSA ID

11774688

Incident

Oct 29, 2026

The engine powertrain system failed, specifically a catastrophic failure of the cylinder head gaskets alongside a stretched engine timing chain. The replaced components were discarded by the repair facility following the completion of the service and are not available for inspection. The failure caused a sudden, severe engine malfunction accompanied by a rough idle and immediate loss of smooth powertrain operation. Sudden engine failures of this nature create a severe hazard when operating on backroads or public highways, as they can cause unexpected stalling, a complete loss of motive power, or sudden deceleration in active traffic, significantly increasing the risk of a collision. The diagnosis of the blown head gasket and stretched timing chain was formally confirmed and documented by an independent service center (Rusty's Auto Service, Repair Order #118288). The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. It was inspected and repaired strictly by the independent service center. The vehicle experienced a sudden, momentary rough idle and rapid coolant loss without any prior overheating indications or warning lights. These symptoms appeared immediately prior to bringing the vehicle in for a professional diagnostic inspection.

NHTSA ID

11773908

Incident

Oct 8, 2026

Makes a clicking popping noise when turning the wheel. The sound is highly noticeable when stationary or moving very slowly, and occurs specifically when the steering wheel is forced almost all the way to the bump stop either way. Dealership quoted over $4000 for electric rack and pinion. I had just paid $17000 for it without an extended warranty.

NHTSA ID

11773889

Incident

Jan 5, 2024

Experiencing steering lockup around the 2 o clock position when cornering to the right. Doesn’t lock up to the left, only to the right.steering will Lock up and won’t release unless a slight tug on the steering wheel. We experience this every time you remotely hold in the 2 o clock position for the slightest bit of time. I have kids in this car and when we’re going 65+ down interstates, this is a serious safety issue and concerns me greatly for the safety of my family. Van only has 95k miles on it. Spent a considerable about of money on this can van and we can’t even drive it and have to pay a shop a few more thousand to fix this. It wouldn’t be a big deal if I was one of a few people but reports say 287k people are experiencing this. Unacceptable.

NHTSA ID

11772547

Incident

Oct 9, 2026

Radio screen frozen plus loud sounds from speaker when unlocked

NHTSA ID

11772530

Incident

Oct 20, 2026

My van has been reliable for 5 years until recall 73B was performed. Ever since it's install I have had 7 repair attempts and 250+ days out of service. Each repair attempt is preceesed by check engine lights, service hybrid system, check electronic throttle control, red wrench, blind spot temporarily unavailable, (occasionally) service airbag, service shifter, and stability control lights. Chrysler has been unable to fix this issue. They have replaced the abs module, 12v battery, can bus's, wiring, battery coolant heater, eflite motors and reducers, 400v battery, and the under hood wiring harness. Engineering has been involved, star cases opened, and technicians flown in to address these issues. The DTC code scans reveal many communication codes, both active and permanent. The last scan had 23 active codes. No one can tell me if this van is safe to drive, I don't think it is. I have had no drive events, and lost power steering momentarily at highway speeds. The latest incident had the messages start appearing at 45 mph. This can is unfit to be on the road, and stellantis does not seem to be able to fix it

NHTSA ID

11772358

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

On the morning of October 18, 2026 my daughter an I were driving home from a trip. 10 minutes after we left a friend's house the hood of the van flew open and smashed the windshield. An "hood open" indicator light never came on. I had no reason to believe the hood was not secure. So the indicator light, primary latch and safty latch all failed. This could have been a lot worse if we were on the highway already. Luckily, we were on a backroad where I had room to regain control of the van and stop with no other cars around. We were able to walk away with minor injuries. I just don't want this to happen to someone else. Someone could get seriously hurt. It was probably one of the scariest things I have had happen in my life.

NHTSA ID

11772313

Incident

Oct 18, 2026

Blown Head Gasket. Having the unknown blown head gasket issue may have caused extreme damage to other engine components. Vehicle has less than 145,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11772196

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and steering left or right, the steering wheelbecame difficult to turn. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Investigation: PE25009 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11772163

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

Mileage

85,000 mi

An Electric Power Steering System (EPS) code came up on the dash and then it locked up the steering going down the road with my wife and children in the car on 10-13-2026. Bought the car from a dealer on 10-12-2026. Replaced main and auxiliary batteries on behalf of dealerships expense on 10-14-2026. 10-16-2026 the code came back up and locked the steering up again going down the highway with my wife and children in the car. The dealer is taking action as we speak, we will see what they do.

NHTSA ID

11771765

Incident

Oct 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica modified with an electric wheelchair conversion and ramp. The contact stated that while opening the electric power sliding door, the hinges fractured and detached completely. When the automated sliding system activated and moved rearward, it broke the hinges and forced the door off the track. Due to the mechanical failure of the sliding door, the electrical system malfunctioned, causing the wheelchair ramp to fail to deploy. Furthermore, when the hinges detached, they struck the vehicle's glass, causing it to shatter. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the hinges were replaced for a second time; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure mileage was 19,500.

NHTSA ID

11771415

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

Mileage

19,500 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the engine seized. The vehicle was able to restart. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall associated with the failure because the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID

11770924

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

Mileage

38,000 mi

Head gasket issue. Known issue with this model. Costly repair "The primary reason is inadequate construction techniques, design, and materials. There isn't a preventive solution for this issue. If it occurs, it will be dealt with at that time." [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Cell INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11770413

Incident

Oct 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving and turning the steering wheel in either direction, the steering wheel was sticking while attempting to return the steering wheel to center. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The contact was notified of NHTSA Action Number: PE25009 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the investigation. The failure mileage was 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11770045

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Mileage

72,000 mi

The transmission shifts harshly, clunks when shifted into Drive or Reverse, and hesitates before suddenly lurching. Engine RPM rises before the transmission engages, and some describe the resulting jolt as feeling like being hit from behind. The steering wheel locks stiffly during gentle turns to the right, then suddenly releases causing a jolt back to the left at times, all other times it requires a hard pull of the wheel manually to get the steering to release, which also causes a hard jerking to the opposite direction. Battery and stop/start system: Repeated Auxiliary battery replacements which power the stop/start system and warning lights. On 5 occasions the Aux battery has been replaced and within a week the system fails with no diagnostic readings identifying the cause. This leads to harder drains on the main battery. The main battery (purchased from Autozone, has been replaced on warranty because it never makes it past the 2-year mark) occasional starting difficulties, and inconsistent stop/start operation. Dash Screen: The screen freezes or turns blank while operating the vehicle. Complete loss of cabin temperature control. At other times the display will freeze on the Chrysler brand logo and is completely unresponsive to any haptic touch. The software just freezes. Even after complete shutdowns and time outs the display does not reset immediately. It's a coin flip if it's going to work. These problems have been ongoing since I purchased the vehicle in 2019. Dealerships have recognized them and consistently say that until Chrysler is forced to fix this the Dealerships can't do anything about it without charging me repairs/replacement.

NHTSA ID

11769510

Incident

Dec 19, 2018

Over the past year or two, especially as the temperatures begin to get cooler outside, 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. It happens more when returning to center from left hand turns vs right hand turns. 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. The auto centering nature found previously in the van is not consistent. I mentioned this issue to my dealer when it first started, they were unable to duplicate. As the issue persists, I did my own research and see there are numerous articles online clearly stating this is a very dangerous issue-specifically with my 2018 model year (as well as with 2017 models). 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.

NHTSA ID

11769439

Incident

Oct 6, 2026

While steering my steering wheel sticks and I have to turn it hard to get it to straighten back out. I am afraid that I am going to over compensate and go into other lane of traffic

NHTSA ID

11767592

Incident

Sep 25, 2026