2019 Chrysler Pacifica Powertrain (other) Problems

My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica experienced repeated electrical/network communication failures. The first sign was erratic dashboard behavior and a check-engine light in our resort parking lot. We drove to Pep Boys, where it was evaluated and we were told it was okay to drive. We then drove to Chick-fil-A (.4 miles from Pep Boys). While stopped in the drive-thru in Drive with my foot on the brake, the vehicle began dinging, the engine revved, and multiple warning lights/messages appeared, including the check-engine light, red electronic throttle control warning, “Blind Spot Alert Temporarily Unavailable,” “Service Trans Stop Safely Shut Off Engine to Engage Park,” and “Stop/Start Not Ready.” After shutting it off, it would not reliably restart, and when it did, I could not shift it to move. The vehicle returned to Pep Boys, where DTCs U0001 (CAN C Bus) and U0401 (Implausible Data Received From ECM/PCM) were documented. It then went to a Chrysler dealership in Florida. They evaluated it and told us it checked out and was okay to drive. After leaving that dealership, the problem returned while my family and I were traveling at highway speed. The vehicle malfunctioned and began losing acceleration. I exited the highway. When I stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle died. It restarted but again would not shift. Eventually we were able to reach a nearby gas station. The problem continued intermittently as we tried to get home. Because we could not predict when it would happen again, we determined it was unsafe and had it towed. A Chrysler dealership in Georgia then documented numerous loss-of-communication codes and performed a PCM software update. The vehicle passed testing and was released, but the problem returned again after we returned to Ohio. The vehicle was ultimately towed to a Chrysler dealership in Ohio. The communication faults became active during diagnosis, and the dealer replaced both CAN-C and CAN-I splice-block connectors. The problem has not recurred since.

NHTSA ID

11766093

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

The transmission has a very abrupt slamming or violent jerk around 45 mph. This has been since we bought the vehicle. Even with consistent routine maintenance this slamming has gotten worse. I believe this to be a manufacturer defect in the transmission that will cause premature failure. We have reported this to every dealer service center and private mechanic shop we have visited and were told that either they couldn't work on it or that it would require thousands of dollars to tear apart and inspect and even then we would more than likely need to foot the bill even if it was a defect and then try to get reimbursement from Chrysler/Stellantis. This transmission defect along with the coolant leaking into the engine issue that was submitted a year or more ago that has gone unanswered is making me lose faith in the manufacturer and the government agency set to protect consumers and investigate these issues.

NHTSA ID

11764311

Incident

May 26, 2019

On 7/16/26 vehicle would not start; high-pitched noise heard near engine during no-start diagnosis. Towed to Goldy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Huntington WV. Per dealer invoice #27136: blown 500-amp main battery fuse found; after jumping past fuse, white smoke from exhaust and no coolant in system, diagnosed as blown head gasket. Repair: both-side head gasket replacement plus fuse assembly. Vehicle in shop 7+ weeks, returned 9/4/26 with new unresolved issue: strong smell of burned electronics and antifreeze in cabin. All failed components available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: head gasket failure/coolant intrusion caused engine hydrolock, a sudden uncommanded loss of engine power that can occur without warning, including while driving in traffic. Burned-electronics smell raises electrical/fire risk; antifreeze odor raises cabin fume exposure and window-fogging visibility concerns. Confirmed by dealer: Yes. Goldy diagnosed and documented the fuse failure, coolant loss, and head gasket failure in writing, and performed the repair. Manufacturer/police/insurance inspection: Not by police or insurance. Spoke by phone with a Chrysler HQ rep 5 times (8/13-9/1/26) who was informed; no confirmed independent physical inspection by manufacturer beyond dealer's own diagnosis. Warning signs: P0304 misfire on cylinder 3 appeared first, progressing to complete no-start with high-pitched noise, prompting the tow-in and hydrolock diagnosis.

NHTSA ID

11762335

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L Plus is experiencing coolant leaking into a cylinder, diagnosed by. This has rendered the vehicle undrivable. The Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine used in this vehicle has a well-documented pattern of coolant intrusion into cylinders due to head gasket failure across the 2017–2019 Chrysler Pacifica model years, based on extensive owner complaints already on file with NHTSA and reported by consumer advocacy organizations. Despite this known pattern, no recall currently exists covering this specific defect for 2019 model year vehicles. This is a safety concern because coolant intrusion into a cylinder can cause sudden misfires, rough running, loss of power, and potential stalling while driving — creating a hazard in traffic, particularly at highway speeds or during turns/merges. I contacted Chrysler Case Management regarding this issue. The manufacturer has attempted to attribute responsibility to the dealership rather than acknowledging this as a manufacturer defect in the engine design/manufacturing, despite the well-documented pattern across multiple model years of the same engine. I have also not been provided a rental vehicle despite my vehicle being undrivable.

NHTSA ID

11758412

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

The car rapidly came to a stop as I was starting to press the brake lightly. The check engine light came on, the car made a grinding noise, and the screen said it was turning off cruise control when it had not been engaged.

NHTSA ID

11758322

Incident

Aug 19, 2026

As I pulled up to stop, in electric mode, at a stop light, the display screen pulled up a message to pull over safely because the engine would stop soon, within about 10 seconds the screen showed the engine stopped. I was still at the light. I tried restarting the vehicle, moving the shifter from drive to park and back, pressing the park button several times with no success. With cars honking behind me, I got out of the car, told them my car had died and asked them to drive around me. I got back in the car, repeated the actions a few times and the car started in electric mode. I drove home (about 5 miles) without incident. Check engine light was on. I pulled 2 codes U0412 and U029a. I have had the U0412 code a few times before with only the check engine light coming on. It would go away in a day or two (no check engine light and no code). U029a is new.

NHTSA ID

11756324

Incident

Aug 11, 2026

Powertrain: harsh, jerky shifting, violent, lurching gear changes, pause before engaging and high revving and lack of acceleration, mostly noticed at 50-60mph Steering PE25009 - catching or sticking when making minor or gradual turns in either direction when the steering wheel is positioned near the 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock positions. It requires extra force to break free and jerks the steering

NHTSA ID

11745504

Incident

Jun 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a red light, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and the transmission unexpectedly shifted from drive(D) to park(P) and the vehicle shut off. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that the failure occurred once a week. The contact also stated that the battery had previously been replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that no cause of failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

NHTSA ID

11727901

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

Mileage

41,000 mi

While driving the car is unable to switch gears from D to L gear and has no power to accerlerate up hill.

NHTSA ID

11724661

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

The vehicle has no power going up hills or accelerating and just stops and doesn't move. To get the car to move again you have to turn the car off and back on. Even if you put the car in L it can still just go back in regular drive on its own an cut out with no acceleration.

NHTSA ID

11724582

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

Bad engine at 67,000 miles for a blown head gasket. Service records up to date,

NHTSA ID

11723248

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

When driving the car with not shift for a long time and then shifts hard into gear.I can also smell an odor some times. I have kids I don’t want to be driving and it cause me to wreck or catch fire. Other people I know had the same problem. This needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ID

11701115

Incident

Nov 23, 2025

The transmission is starting to jerk and make hard abrupt transitions from gears

NHTSA ID

11685907

Incident

Jul 2, 2025

Internal failure of the electronic shifter assembly. Essentially the shifter would lock into place in undesired gear-for example-attempt to move into D, would move to R and lock up so the only way we could get it to stop moving/into desired gear was to immediately power off (even though not in P) and try again on restart (which is very scary thinking your car may reverse or move foward w/no ability to stop it). This occurred on multiple occasions prior to bring to dealer, when children present in the car, and did not consistently occur every ignition. Currently vehicle is at Cornerstone Ford/Chrysler/GMC in Elk River and they have ordered the part (Nationwide backorder), estimated stock date w/in 7d but suspect seeing nationwide shortage-is this shortage due to many vehicles needing replacement-that alone would make me suspect need for safety recall! The vehicle hasn't been inspected by anyone but the dealer, no warning lights/messages/other symptoms that we noted.

NHTSA ID

11685312

Incident

Aug 31, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that upon reversing out of the driveway, the contact attempted to shift out of reverse(R), but the gear shifter remained stuck in reverse(R). The contact noticed that the gear shifter indicator light was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle felt like it was in neutral(N) and was rolling backwards. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the brake pedal and continued to roll. The contact engaged the parking brake, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as intended; however, the failure became a recurring failure. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the failure recurred. The vehicle became inoperable, and the contact pulled to the side of the road. The message "Service Gear Shifter" and other unknown messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer replaced the gear shifter assembly, and the ground wires were tightened; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was advised to call back after taking the vehicle back to the dealer, and the engineers would assist the dealer in diagnosing and repairing the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure NHTSA Action Number: RQ24004 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA ID

11684738

Incident

Jul 15, 2025

Mileage

59,000 mi

The transmission is very unresponsive and dealerships don’t find anything wrong other than resetting the computer every 2 days. The transmission clunks and jerks the car going into 2nd and or 3rd gear. Many times I press the pedal in highway/city driving and the transmission takes 2.5 to 3 seconds to respond. This is not the electric model. Online tons of people talk about this it’s a safety hazard to have an unresponsive clunky transmission. Reputable companies are naming this the worst car. Cars.com wrote an article over this very problem. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11680767

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

Engine shut down warning while on the highway stating to pull over as the engine was going to shut down. No power to accelerate during this time. This is the second time this has happened and the first time the transmission needed to be replaced under warranty. The problem persists despite Chrysler’s attempts to fix.

NHTSA ID

11666541

Incident

Jun 12, 2025

Our pacifica has repeatedly stalled on freeways. The engine will just stop running and will not start for 15 minutes to several hours. If it does start, it often will sputter and stall again if you try to put it in ear or press the accelerator. After some time, the problem will resolve itself and the vehicle will drive normally. This problem is infrequent which is what makes it so vexing. Each incident was more than 6 months apart so you never know when it will just stall out. Because our van was converted to a rear entry wheelchair van by Braunability we've had the conversion components/connections thoroughly inspected by the conversion company dealer. I can see online that this is a known issue with multiple vehicles equipped with the Pentastar V6 engine with stop-start and that there have been recalls but many people on the forum, the recall work didn't resolve the issue. We've had the vehicle to Chrysler dealers several times (four or five) to address the issue without permanent resolution. We've replaced the primary and secondary batteries several times. We've recently installed an aftermarket stop-start eliminator recently in the hope that it will resolve the problem. Additionally, because our Pacifica was converted for our disabled child, we will probably need to sell the vehicle at a significant loss because we can't risk having the vehicle stall on the interstate highway or freeway as we have no way to remove him from it safely. This issue seems so widespread that Chrysler/Stellantis should have continued responsibility to resolve it permanently.

NHTSA ID

11652930

Incident

Feb 26, 2025

As I'm driving down the road my MIL comes on and tells me to pull over the engine will shut off. My vehicle has had the recall completed. This happened to me on the interstate with my family in the van. This is our only vehicle for the family and need it everyday. Now my dealership is telling me that it isn't a recall issue and I might have to pay for the repairs. This light started coming on about a week ago, and doesn't always come on. But it started to happen more frequently.

NHTSA ID

11650271

Incident

Mar 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission skipped gears. Additionally, the vehicle was experiencing erratic transmission shifts and unintended deceleration. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that upon attempting to shift to drive(D), the gear shifter failed to respond and remained stuck in park(P). The contact researched the failure online and found information on how to override the gear shifter failure. The contact pressed the Push to Start button twice, without depressing the brake pedal, depressed the accelerator for ten seconds, and pressed the Push to Start button to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle minutes later, the vehicle responded as needed and the gear shifter became operable. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: RQ24004 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11645498

Incident

Feb 28, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

Lost of coolant with no warning lamps. Engine went into hydrolock and now will not start. Miss fire code appearing before locking up. Dash light power come on and off when the car is off and park. The car has 77k miles and would choke when the car was running and changing gears. Has not been inspect by anyone yet because the car is dead on the drive way.

NHTSA ID

11641543

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

Over six months later, NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V538000 still has no remedy for an apparent fire risk! I can't charge my vehicle and I can't park it in my own garage. I drive at risk of being in the midst of a spontaneous fire! THE MANUFACTURER has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for my vehicle in a timely manner. I bought a plug in hybrid that I can't plug in. I bought it also for gas mileage complimented by the electrical propulsion system, which I cannot use. All the while, a spontaneous fire risk, without a fully known cause, continues to lurk in the car that I drive my kids to school in.

NHTSA ID

11638844

Incident

Jan 27, 2025

Head gasket failure at 68500 miles. It causes a misfire in the engine and could cause an accident from the car bucking once it consumes the engine coolant and also causes overheating and a lot of smoke to come out of the tailpipe making it less visible for others on the road to see, if behind a car like mine

NHTSA ID

11622515

Incident

Oct 25, 2024

The coolant keeps disappearing from the resevoir tank and there is a gurgling noise coming from the front driver side. The engine starts rough with the check engine light on.

NHTSA ID

11611261

Incident

Aug 10, 2024

Car seems to slip out of drive. In the Dashboard the D will start blinking and I can no longer accelerate. The message says to shift to park and back to drive. If this happens on time, I can start going again. If I can't get it to register that I've shifted, I will not be able to accelerate and I need to pull off the road. Once I come to about 1 or 2 MPH, the shifter knob will turn itself to park and the car will slam the parking break on. I get the message to press then engine button, turn the parking break back off and turn the knob to drive.

NHTSA ID

11609174

Incident

Aug 17, 2024