2022 Chrysler Pacifica Brakes Problems

1. Most emergency lights come on while the vehicle's brake engages automatically. The brake then pumps up and down on its own if any pressure is applied. Shortly after, the vehicle goes into "limp mode". The vehicle is currently at a Chrysler Dealership service department and available for inspection. 2. This has occurred 8 times since the vehicle was purchased in October 2024. All but one time, it has happened while driving. Once it happened while on a major highway. I had to quickly veer into a turn lane so our vehicle was not rearended by another car. Another time, I was driving my children to school and it happened about 10 seconds before crossing the worst intersection in our city. That could have resulted in a major crash based on the history of that intersection. A third time, I was traveling at about 40 miles an hour when warnings came on and the brake started to engage. Luckily, I had just gotten off a major highway and I was able to get to the side of the road. 3. The problem has been confirmed by a dealer, since it happened while I was in their service parking lot. However, they have been unable to recreate, find the source of, or fix the issue after 7 times of servicing it. 4. I am unsure whether the manufacturer has sent anyone outside of the dealer's service department to inspect the vehicle. We have been in contact with the manufacturer directly since December 26, 2025 in relation to this issue. Our extended warranty company may have had an inspector out on the first visit to the dealership for the issue, but no one since that I am aware of. 5. Emergency messages have included: Service Electronic Stability Control, Service Charging System, Service Hybrid Electronic Vehicle System, Auto Emergency Braking Unavailable Service Required. Multiple emergency lights come on including: Check Engine, Electronic Throttle Control, Electronic Stability Control Active, Service Forward Collision Warning. The first incident was January 22, 2025.

NHTSA ID

11740092

Incident

May 20, 2026

My 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has developed a dangerous rear brake system malfunction. During a dealer inspection on 4/27/26, the certified technician confirmed that the rear brake pads are only contacting approximately 50% of the rotor surface, leaving the remaining half completely unused and heavily corroded. This is not normal corrosion or wear. It is a mechanical failure in which the pads are not engaging the rotor correctly. The technician also stated that the pads were sticking in the caliper slides, which prevented full engagement. This is a functional defect in the brake hardware, not environmental corrosion. Corrosion does not selectively prevent half of a brake pad from engaging the rotor unless the caliper mechanism is not operating properly. This defect results in: Reduced rear braking force Increased stopping distance Excessive load on the front brakes Potential loss of stability during emergency braking Possible degradation of the parking brake The vehicle was serviced on 9/23/25 (tire rotation + NYS inspection) and 12/10/24 (four new tires + NYS inspection). No rear brake issues were identified at either visit. If this were normal corrosion, it would have been visible during those inspections. The sudden onset of severe partial engagement by 4/27/26 indicates a latent mechanical defect, not gradual wear. Chrysler/Stellantis has refused to classify this as a defect and instead labels it “corrosion,” despite the technician’s findings of pad binding in the slides and improper brake engagement. The manufacturer’s internal system blocks any warranty or engineering review because it incorrectly categorizes the failure as routine maintenance. This is a premature and unsafe brake system failure at only 33,000 miles. The braking system is not operating as designed, and the defect could lead to reduced braking performance or loss of control. I am requesting NHTSA’s review of this issue as a potential safety defect affecting the rear brake system

NHTSA ID

11739359

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

At Random, the dashboard will light up with a red brake light, the check engine light, front end collision warning, and the ABS warning light. IT gives me several messages as well. Service electronic stability control, Auto emergency Braking Active Braking off, Auto emergency Braking unavailable Service Required. When this happens the brake pedal is impossible to push and it takes every ounce of power to get the vehicle to stop. This is no warning that this is coming and it happens most often when you are driving. This puts myself and my family at risk as well as everyone that is driving near me when this happens. It has been repaired 6 times by 2 different dealerships, and it still isn't fixed.

NHTSA ID

11729139

Incident

May 9, 2025

Brakes have a skip feeling horribly. We took to garage after changing brakes and rotors 2x to be sure it wasnt the issue. But doesnt even feel safe to drive the garage took the whole front end apart down to the calipers and didnt find any issues so they questioned if maybe it wasnt a similar recall to the hybrid braking issue to do with the caliper? The van only has 45,000 miles and feels so unsafe to drive anywhere with 5 kids and a newer vehicle you shouldn't not feel safe driving. Ive seen more than my complaint on brake issues just by looking around on internet and the brake light will come on I have to turn off and crank vehicle again for the red brake dot to go away and engine light comes on.

NHTSA ID

11716936

Incident

Jan 16, 2026

In May 2025 shortly after purchasing this vehicle I had complete Brake failure while driving down the road. I was driving approximately 65 mph when the forward collision warning, ABS warning, Brake Warning, Auto Emergency Brake warning lights came on and when I pushed on the brake pedal it was hard as a rock and wouldn't stop the vehicle. It was returned to the purchasing dealership, and they replaced the Brake Booster. On November 27th of 2025 I was driving down the road and the exact same problem occurred with a complete loss of brake function. It went to the local Chrysler Dealership; they replaced the Master Cylinder. I picked it up 12/10 drove it 5 miles home and parked it. I got in the vehicle the next morning to go to work and on my way to work all the same dash lights came on and I had a complete loss of Brake function. It was towed back to the dealership again; this time they replaced the ABS module. I picked it up on 12/30 drove 5 miles home, parked it, tried to leave 3 hours later and couldn't push the brake pedal far enough to get the van started. When I did finally get it started all the same dash lights were on and the brakes were not functional. It was towed back to the dealership again and this time they replaced the wiring Harness. I picked it up 1/16. Drove it minimally over the weekend, on 1/19 the front-end collision warning lights came on and the check engine light came on while driving 70 mph. The brakes didn't lose function this time, however. The following day I was sitting in line at an elementary school waiting to pick up my daughter when all the same dash lights came on again and I had a complete loss of brakes, it was towed back to the dealership, where it still is. There was contact made with Chrysler engineering during the 2nd repair. The dealership has been able to recreate the problem more than once since they have had it. This put myself and my children a significant risk of injury, and other cars if there was an accident.

NHTSA ID

11715631

Incident

May 15, 2025

When driving on hybrid mode with battery charged up suddenly warning message showing “Transmission Failure” and message saying “Stop Safely Vehicle is going to shut off soon”. Breaks don’t work as normal when this happens and vehicle wouldn’t stop immediately. Feels unsafe to drive. Engine warning lights turn on and stay for a day after this happens. Checked with dealership and they mentioned recall is still being worked upon and not yet available. Tried reaching MOPAR directly but no response yet.

NHTSA ID

11654634

Incident

Apr 8, 2025

Week of 6/18/23 vehicle began flashing codes- service electronic stability control, lanes sense unavailable service required, AWD system unavailable and several warning lights appearing on dash. Took to dealership replaced STAR connector. Still same issues. Took to another dealership replaced ABS module. Still same issues. Chrysler engineers are guiding dealership on how to proceed but neither the dealership or Chrysler engineers know what is wrong with the car or how to fix it. Has been at 2 dealerships since June 23, 2023 and still no fix. The only repair documentation I have is from the first dealership. The dealership it has been at since June 29,23 said they cannot provide me with a document of the work they have done until the service repair order is closed. That won’t be closed until the car is fixed. But they can’t figure out the issue.

NHTSA ID

11534142

Incident

Jun 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 80 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The following day, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was vibrating and the brakes failed to immediately stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the brakes caught fire, and there were flames coming from the brake calipers. The contact was able to put out the fire with a hose. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it remained for twenty-one days; however, no cause of failure was found. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who recommended the contact stop driving the vehicle as it was unsafe on the roadway. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and dispatched an inspector to the dealer to inspect the vehicle, but the report was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

NHTSA ID

11506097

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

Mileage

13,000 mi

Traveling down a country road on a clear afternoon, the vehicle traveled approximately 35 mph while cresting a small hill. On the other side of the hill was a "T" shaped intersection where another vehicle stopped in the intersection from a stop sign several feet behind. The other driver failed to complete the turn when they saw oncoming traffic. The driver noticed the intersection had an obstructed path and attempted to move into the oncoming traffic lane since no oncoming traffic was visible. Just then, the onboard computer installed in the control panel of the drivers seat had acted upon either the obstruction or the switch in lanes and assumed complete control of the braking and steering systems. The driver was unable to retrieve control from the computer systems artificial intelligence before a direct crash occured with a telephone pole. Rendering the vehicle dangerous as live wires draped the saturated earth below the tires and feet of passengers exiting the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted, but no follow up has been made. Neither the police or insurance representatives have been helpful or any investigation made into this account. There were several lights, sensors, noises, and messages that were flashing and beeping but none were able to be understood before the sudden impact.

NHTSA ID

11501078

Incident

Aug 3, 2022

22' Pacifica has advanced front brake assist . It does not work. I have tried and it only sets off a audible warning noise and dash says BRAKE. NO braking assist like it was stated it would have. I took it back to dealership 3 times now and have been told every time it has no codes. This safety braking does not work. The settings are all on . But there is no assist braking at all.

NHTSA ID

11492047

Incident

Mar 20, 2022