2018 Chrysler Pacifica Interior & seats Problems

The back seat stow and go on passenger side closes randomly on while child is sitting in the seat. We are using a booster seat, so when it hits the booster seat it can't close any farther on the child. I had it looked at by a mechanic which said it would cost $1500 to repair. We have had to pull over and luckily have been able to get it to reverse. The seat also will try to stow when I open the side door on the passenger side. This is a huge safety concern to me as death can and has occurred in the past months.

NHTSA ID

11730766

Incident

Apr 4, 2026

The mid-row driver's side seat release cable suddenly permenantly lost all tension, preventing the seat from latching into place both during operation and while stationary, leading to it sliding forwards/backwards with the vehicle in motion. The seat that experienced the failure is at present still avaliable for inspection - and the issue occurs frequently enough that a DIY fix can be found online. However, given that the faliure occured without any human interaction with the failed component, it seems prudent to report it here. No warning lights or prior symptoms appeared prior to the issue surfacing. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11719195

Incident

Feb 12, 2026

We had the seat fail on one of our middle row seats. It lines up with a dealer service, and we believe the dealer probably broke it while performing other work, but we don't have before/after videos or anything like that to prove it. The issue is that there is a plastic piece that breaks, which means that the seatback no longer locks. This is apparently a common problem in these cars: https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/broken-passenger-2nd-row-captains-chair-thoughts.54633/ https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/fix-for-stuck-easy-tilt-2nd-row.47300/ https://www.reddit.com/r/pacificahybrid/comments/1kmsiuj/both_of_my_middle_row_seats_are_defective_they/ The dealer wanted something like $900 to fix it. This is a major safety issue; if the seatback failed during a crash it would mean the other safety systems in the car couldn't do their jobs. We have the broken seat in the garage - we've been driving around without it. I think the pictures in the Pacifica threads above are pretty useful, but if seeing in person would help, happy to meet up or something like that.

NHTSA ID

11696110

Incident

Sep 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the sliding doors failed to close as intended and unintendedly open after being closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that there was a related software update available to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11689678

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

Mileage

55,000 mi

I am writing to formally report ongoing and unresolved electrical issues with my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. Despite replacing both the main and auxiliary batteries, several components continue to fail, including: •The third-row power seats, which do not function at all or operate intermittently, rendering them impossible to stow or adjust. There is no manual override, which is a serious design flaw for families. •The rear liftgate, which starts to open and then immediately closes without completing its cycle. •The passenger-side rear entertainment screen, which is completely non-functional while the driver’s side screen works normally. These issues have severely impacted the usability and reliability of the vehicle. The third-row seat and tailgate problems, in particular, compromise safety and convenience—especially for families with children. The third-row power seat design lacks a manual fallback, which could leave passengers stuck in emergency situations. The liftgate’s failure to open fully and the battery system’s unreliability and constant need for replacement (around every 1.5/2 years) has left my stranded countless times. These electrical issues need recalls and solutions.

NHTSA ID

11671209

Incident

Jan 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while utilizing the cargo area, he noticed water inside the vehicle behind the third-row seats. There was an abnormal moldy odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and inspected. The mechanic located water in the bottom of the seam under the third-row seat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11506370

Incident

Jan 24, 2023

Mileage

28,000 mi

Rear seat anchor broke out of floor board when a child sat in the seat. This is a major anchor point for the seat system. If there had been any sort of accident, the seat and occupant could have easily broken free from the vehicle. I took the vehicle to my local dealer, who took pictures and sent information to their area manager. The recommended repair was to take it to body shop and that they wouldn’t be responsible for the repairs. This is clearly a manufacturing defect that the weld on the anchor did not penetrate into the floor board. I can be contacted for more information and inspection.

NHTSA ID

11500862

Incident

Dec 30, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle in her garage, the gear shifter indicator light was not illuminated while shifting from the drive (D) to park (P) and the vehicle was not able to turn off after pushing the START/STOP button. Additionally, the rear liftgate door was not able to open as needed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact's neighbor disconnected the fuel lines and was able to turn off the vehicle; however, the instrument panel light and headlights were not able to be turned off. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

NHTSA ID

11466973

Incident

May 31, 2022

Mileage

47,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the passenger’s side sliding door button failed to open and close the door whether on the inside or outside of the vehicle. The driver’s side door overhead button was able to open and close the door. The failure had occurred intermittently and had since been occurring more frequently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated an update for the software needed to be performed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.

NHTSA ID

11458301

Incident

Sep 25, 2021

Mileage

32,000 mi

This vehicle comes equipped with Stow N Go middle seats. It is a useful feature for sure. However, upon placing one of the seats back into its locked position, the headrest would no longer stay locked in its upright position. Upon taking the headrest apart to try to fix the issue, I found a very cheap plastic mechanism inside that had snapped. This very flimsy plastic piece is very much liable to fail in an accident, and cause the headrest to flop forward and not provide the support required.

NHTSA ID

11430921

Incident

Aug 21, 2021

THE ENGINE START/STOP FEATURE OF THIS VAN IS FAULTY AND CHRYSLER KNOWS IT. BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE THEY CANNOT PLACE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO MY PERSONAL VAN. OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 13,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 5 TIMES. 3 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WE HAVE STALLED OUT IN INTERSECTIONS 4 TIMES. ONE TIME WE (WIFE AND CHILDREN) WERE ALMOST STRUCK BY A TRUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN CHRYSLER IS AWARE AND ONLY OFFERED AN EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11184606

Incident

Dec 24, 2018

Mileage

12,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE CONTACT REMOTELY OPENED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND RESTED HER RIGHT HAND ON THE DOOR. WHILE RETRIEVING SOMETHING FROM THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CLOSED AND LATCHED ONTO THE CONTACT'S HAND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STRUGGLED WITH THE HELP OF A NEIGHBOR TO RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH AND FREE HER HAND. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

NHTSA ID

11132701

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

3RD ROW PACIFICA SEATS HAVE A BUTTON TO RECLINE SEATS BACK AND FORWARD WITHIN REACH OF CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS WHICH CAUSES CAR SEATS TO BECOME LOOSE AND NO LONGER INSTALLED PROPERLY. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL CAUSE INJURY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE OR CHILD LOCK THE SEAT RECLINE. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS LED TO NO IMMEDIATE RESOLVE OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY TO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THE BUTTON IS AVAILABLE FOR USE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR PARKED.

NHTSA ID

11066948

Incident

Feb 2, 2018