2018 Chrysler Pacifica Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that coolant was leaking into cylinder #3, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle warranty had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11756330

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

Mileage

130,000 mi

I was driving to the dealership and stopped at a light and the start stop button turned off completely. Brake locked and wouldn’t start back.

NHTSA ID

11756111

Incident

Aug 9, 2026

Engine fail with less than106000 miles. Replace brand new engine November 2025. Steering rack has intermittent power issues. It started having steering issue around July 2026. It makes the steering hard to turn during highway speeds.

NHTSA ID

11755581

Incident

Nov 20, 2025

Lots of power going up steep hills. Especially while AC is on. Almost complete loss of power yesterday with vehicle behind me.

NHTSA ID

11754761

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Electrical glitches, where speedometer screen will go out of focus, glitch. Also transmission is going. Loud hum, catching as it changes gears and hesitates when trying to accelerated into the highway.

NHTSA ID

11754346

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

While driving, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off without warning. The engine stalled while the vehicle was in motion, causing an immediate loss of acceleration and power. This created a serious safety hazard in traffic. The issue is consistent with the condition described in Safety Recall U01 for 2017 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles involving the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). However, this vehicle's VIN is not included in the recall despite exhibiting the same symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11753607

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

I bought my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Touring van in February 2018 brand new from Burlington Chrysler, Burlington, NJ. In May 2026 the check engine light came on and I brought the van to my mechanic. The code he pulled was for #5 cylinder. I had the repair done. A month later in June of 2026 the che ck engine light came back on and this time the code was for the catalytic converter. On July 21, 2026 I brought the van back to my mechanic for an oil change and replacement of catalytic converter. When they put the van up, it was discovered that coolant had leaked all through the exhaust system and my mechanic suspected there was a crack in the head gasket. He searched through the Pacifica Forum online and found many, many complaints about this same issue. My mechanic completed the oil change and filled the car with coolant because it had none and advised me to bring the car to the dealership which I did. On July 22, 2026 Chrysler called and advised I need an entirely new motor. I now have to pay out-of-pocket $14,098 + tax for a new motor and catalytic converter. Chrysler advised there is nothing else they could do for me because the car is out of warranty. However, the car is only 8 years old with 76,000 miles and has had all the regular maintenance and oil changes required. It should not need to have the motor replaced at this point unless there's a major defect with these engines. I feel this is a MAJOR safety issue as this head gasket crack occurred without any warning other than the codes for #5 cylinder and catalytic converter failures. Without coolant, the car would have overheated at some point and caused engine failure and power loss. As I drive mainly on highways, this defect had the potential to cause a very bad accident. Due to the overwhelming number of complaints about this issue, I feel this warrants an investigation by your organization.

NHTSA ID

11752030

Incident

May 15, 2026

Engine only stalls out when stopped on roadway while driving. Vehicle also does not start up after it has been driven and is parked. It takes 10 minutes or longer to get the vehicle to start again. Check engine light comes on every time when these two situations happen, which it happens periodically. Sometimes it's 2-3 times a day, sometimes, once every two days. Once it starts back up the engine light turns off. I've taken it to 2 reputable shops and neither of them found any issues as they could not replicate the issue, the engine light is not on, and there are no codes displayed. I now have a date for a inspection which includes a test drive with the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11750765

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

I had my cylinder heads, valves and head gasket replaced over a year ago and drove 15k miles and i am having the same issues again. The Dealer is trying there very best not to honor my valid powertrain parts warranty like saying the head gasket is only covered for 12 months and denying my claim but my cylinder heads and top end have a 3 year 100k mile warranty since they were installed not to long ago and they are trying to deny my claim using the head gasket. I have seen and read online that these engines all have similar problems with the head gaskets.

NHTSA ID

11750601

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

Blown head gasket cylinder #3. Same as reported by many on other forms. 108000 miles well maintain. Started throwing a code 2 weeks ago.

NHTSA ID

11749723

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

I purchased a used 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with the 3.6L V6 F DOHC 24V engine in October 2025. The van had 97,000 miles. Shortly after I purchased it I noticed the engine had a rough idled. It now has 107,000 miles and the rough engine has continued to get worse. What I noticed is when I first started it the engine was rough and vibrated. Once I started driving it was not as noticeable. I decided to take it to a mechanic to see what the issue was. I thought it could be electrical. Before I could get it to the mechanic it would not start. I had it towed to the dealership I bought it from and the y confirmed that it is the head gasket. They told me they would approach Chrysler to see if they would help with the repairs, they said NO. The dealer did offer to bear part of the cost of the $4,000+ cost for the repairs. I do not understand how reputable company can manufacture a product that obviously has a flaw and deny support. I understand that their warranty is limited by time and distance. But from what I have read from the MANY complaints on the particular engine from 2018 it appears the issue arrises at 90,000 to 110,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11748563

Incident

Jun 29, 2026

I own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica equipped with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine. At approximately 81,600 miles, the vehicle developed a check engine light and a Cylinder 5 misfire (P0305). The vehicle began exhibiting hard starts, rough engine operation during cold starts, white smoke from the exhaust, and coolant loss with no obvious external leak. An independent repair facility initially diagnosed the vehicle and found evidence suggesting coolant intrusion into Cylinder 5. The vehicle was then inspected by a Chrysler dealership. The dealership confirmed that coolant was present inside Cylinder 5 using a borescope inspection. The dealership recommended replacement of the cylinder head gasket. The safety concern is that the failure developed with little warning other than a check engine light and intermittent rough operation. The engine misfires on startup and can run rough, which could result in reduced power, hesitation, stalling, or loss of acceleration while operating the vehicle. The vehicle also consumes coolant internally, which may lead to engine overheating or further engine damage if not detected quickly. During my research, I found numerous reports from other owners describing similar coolant intrusion, head gasket failures, and Cylinder 5 misfires in Chrysler vehicles equipped with the 3.6L Pentastar engine. Despite the apparent frequency of these complaints, I am not aware of any recall addressing this issue. In my case, the repair estimate is approximately $5,000 for head gasket replacement. I am submitting this report because coolant intrusion into a combustion cylinder can create a significant safety concern due to engine misfires, loss of performance, and the potential for engine failure while driving. I believe this issue warrants investigation to determine whether a defect exists affecting other vehicles with this engine.

NHTSA ID

11747754

Incident

Jun 21, 2026

I own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with approximately 79,000 miles. The check engine light illuminated, so I had the vehicle scanned at an auto parts store. The diagnostic code indicated a cylinder 3 misfire. After leaving the store, the vehicle quickly began displaying overheating warnings. The overheating occurred suddenly, and the vehicle had been driven very little after the check engine light first came on. Because of the overheating, I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop. The shop initially repaired the vehicle and tested for misfires but reported that they found no remaining issues. However, immediately after leaving the shop, the check engine light returned with the same cylinder 3 misfire code. The vehicle was returned to the repair shop for further diagnosis. After additional inspection, the shop determined that the engine had a blown head gasket. This resulted in major engine damage and the possibility of a complete engine replacement despite the vehicle having only 79,000 miles. I am submitting this complaint because the engine failure occurred unexpectedly and without warning other than the check engine light. The rapid progression from a misfire to severe overheating created a potential safety hazard due to the risk of sudden engine failure or loss of power while driving. I believe this premature engine failure may indicate a defect affecting other 2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11746871

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

BLOWN HEAD GASKET

NHTSA ID

11746750

Incident

May 14, 2026

2018 Chrysler Pacifica with the 3.6L V6 engine had a check engine light turn. At same time a vibration started, which was most noticable when the car was in idle. Also, a foggy exhaust started at the same time. No temperature or other warnings were occuring. After driving it to the repair facility the car was not able to be turned on. The findings are that there is a headgasket leak and radiator failure that resulted in coolant entering into the cylinder. That resulted in either hydrolock or engine overheating, causing engine failure. Again no temperature warning or other indication of a major issue was provided. The likely repair is a full engine and radiator replacement. It appears that many other Chrysler Pacifica vehicles have reported similar issues with the 3.6L Pentastar engine. No recall is currently available for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica for this issue, however, it looks like the older versions (~2011-2013) have had a recall for similar issues. I have reached out to Chrysler Corporate and requested support on this repair.

NHTSA ID

11745408

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

6/11/2026 merged onto busy highway vehicle was going approximately 45 mph sudden red warning light popped up to pull the car over safely. Vehicle will shut off. There was nowhere for me to pull over and the vehicle immediately shut off attempted to restart several times over the next 15 minutes, unable to restart nothing no power whatsoever called for a tow truck 40 minutes later due to the children in the car tow truck was not able to tow asked me to try and start again which I did and it started right up. He followed me to the Chrysler service department where my vehicle has remained since they tell me they can’t duplicate it nor can they find a code that I will have to wait for it to happen again and hopefully a code will pop up that they can fix. Spoke to Chrysler corporatio customer service and then called the dealership. They told her the same thing they couldn’t duplicate nothing they can do. She had no options for me other than to ask them to keep having them drive it until they come up with something , customer service did look it up and states that there is a probable transmission electrical wire issue that caused that to happen. I have requested a full transmission scan as recommended bycomputer forum , but so far no response. I have 2 twelve month old babies and a disabled son that are with me in the vehicle. I cant be caught in that kind of a traffic incident that puts their life as well as other vehicles in danger from collision 06/17/2026

NHTSA ID

11744820

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

Car has 110k on it with regular documented maintenance. The head gasket is blown and requires new engine.

NHTSA ID

11744235

Incident

May 29, 2026

The engine head gasket prematurely failed at 90,000 miles with excellent service / maintenance history.

NHTSA ID

11742274

Incident

May 28, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The alternator snap off while driving on the highway. The snap was clean all bolts are still in the engine block. While driving all kinds of dashboard lights and overheating indicators turned on. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This happens with warning or actions prior to the alternator falling out of the while driving. This put me at-risk of crash and endangering anyone on board, leaving me and family stranded on yhe highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Similar post online with same issues found. Dealer want 80% of the car value to repair and wont help. They recommend changing a cylinder head. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Chryslerbdealer ship inspected. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No signs or symptoms. After the alternator drop off, many issues arise. None prior.

NHTSA ID

11740431

Incident

May 23, 2026

2018 Pacifia developed a leak in the left bank head gasket. The vehicle only has 53,000 miles. From the forms it sounds like this maybe a common issue. So I am reporting the issue to hopefully help push the company to cover build or design issues. The gasket shouldn't break down a little past 53,000 miles. Thanks,

NHTSA ID

11737347

Incident

Apr 30, 2026

I purchased my vehicle through Carvana. My engine light is on. I received a notification that there’s a manufacturer recall on my vehicle which is Code CDJR XD1 Crankshaft position sensor - however it’s not listed on your website.

NHTSA ID

11735440

Incident

May 4, 2026

2018 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV subject to Safety Recall 73B (NHTSA 24V-536) for HV battery fire risk. Following the recall repair at Fremont CDJR (Newark, CA) in January-February 2025, this vehicle has experienced systematic cascading hybrid drivetrain failures across 5 repair visits totaling 57 days out of service: (1) CAN bus star connector failure — 10 modules with fault codes U0103/U0001; (2) Hybrid Control Processor failure — required 14 flash attempts to program; (3) $1,786.67 repair failed within 23 miles — CEL and BRAKE warning light appeared simultaneously; (4) Complete transmission removal required to replace auxiliary transmission fluid pump (DTC P2797-00); (5) Power Inverter Module replacement still pending. Vehicle also disabled itself completely while driving prior to March 2026, requiring 30 minutes rest before it could be driven. All failed components are part of the integrated hybrid drivetrain disturbed during the recall repair. Request investigation into whether Recall 73B repairs are being performed correctly at authorized FCA dealers and whether other owners are experiencing similar post-recall failures.

NHTSA ID

11733578

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

Our 2018 Pacifica (3.6L Pentastar) has a blown head gasket at 160K miles. I didn’t realize this was a common problem until I researched youtube and Chrysler forums and found 100’ of conplaints and examples. I can’t believe how widespread the issue is and Stellantis has done nothing to assist out of warranty customers with recalls or fixes.

NHTSA ID

11733450

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

Head gasket and engine failure at 61,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11732481

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

While I was driving the car started beeping and all dashboard lights started flickering. Transmission started stuttering and engine rpm fluctuating wildly. Fortunately I was in my neighborhood and was only going about 15 mph and was able to pull to a stop. The issue is with a faulty star bus connection near the glove box. After watching a you tube on the same issue, I learned to hit the area near the glove box to reset the star bus connection. This has happened before but usually on startup. Dealer not able to repair after $1600 charge. This is the first time it happened while in motion. Again. Seems to be a common enough issue that there are several you tube videos with thousands of views.

NHTSA ID

11724766

Incident

Mar 16, 2026