The gas pedal sticks on this vehicle when trying to accelerate. When the car does finally start moving forward it "jerks" forward rapidly. This has occurred when pulling out of park & also when trying to pull out into traffic. From researching it on the internet it seems to be a common issue related to the throttle body.
2006 Chrysler Pacifica cruise control problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 29 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 9 model years of Chrysler Pacifica in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the accelerator pedal sticks in a partially or fully depressed position, occurring intermittently at any speed from a stop to 80 mph. The pedal often feels stiff and requires excessive force to push down; when it finally releases, the vehicle lurches or surges forward suddenly, making smooth acceleration impossible. One owner reported the problem 4–5 times per week; another said it happened 50+ times before seeking repair. When the pedal sticks in the up position, some owners had to turn the engine off and restart to regain control. Dealers have diagnosed carbon buildup in the throttle body and performed cleanings for around $90, but multiple owners report the sticking returned afterward or recurred at higher mileage. One Chrysler owner was told by the manufacturer that the accelerator part is no longer in production and the vehicle cannot be repaired. A separate issue: owners report cruise control engaging unintended acceleration—RPMs jumped to 4000 at highway speed—and the brake pedal and even the cancel button failed to disengage it immediately. These failures pose an obvious safety hazard, especially in traffic or when pulling out from a parked position.
Same Chrysler Pacifica cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Accelerator Pedal Sticking — Partially or Fully Depressed
The accelerator pedal gets stuck in a partially or fully depressed position, requiring extra force or manual intervention to release it. Owners report the pedal feels stiff and may not respond to normal pressure. The condition occurs intermittently, sometimes multiple times per week or per drive cycle.
When: 40,000 to 118,000 miles; various owners report onset between 35,000 and 68,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal sticks in depressed or partially depressed position; Pedal sticks in up position, difficult to press down; Requires extra force or hard pushing to depress pedal; Pedal feels stiff when stuck, smooth when not stuck; Vehicle surges forward or backward when pedal releases; Vehicle jerks forward rapidly when pedal finally engages; Occurs intermittently, 4–5 times per week or per drive instance; Pedal must be pulled by hand to return to resting position
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers cleaned throttle body and removed carbon buildup (cost cited: $90). One dealer scraped inside of throttle; described as temporary fix. One case: manufacturer stated vehicle could not be repaired because accelerator part no longer in production. Multiple owners report sticking continued or recurred after repair.
Accelerator Pedal Responsiveness Delay with Surge
When the owner attempts to accelerate from a stop, the pedal does not engage immediately; when it does respond, the vehicle lunges or surges forward without proportional control. The owner must depress the pedal harder than normal to achieve acceleration, then the vehicle responds suddenly.
When: 37,000 to 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed accelerator response from a complete stop; Vehicle lurches or surges forward once pedal engages; Pedal requires more than normal pressure to accelerate; Loss of smooth, proportional throttle control; Intermittent failure (4 occurrences over time)
Repairs/costs cited: One case not repaired despite dealer visit; failure continued to occur intermittently. Another case repaired by dealer but complaint does not detail what was done.
Cruise Control Malfunction — Unintended Acceleration and Disengagement Failure
While cruise control is engaged, the vehicle's RPMs and speed increase out of control. The driver's attempt to disengage via the brake pedal does not work; the cancel button on the steering wheel must be pressed multiple times before the system responds. In one case, hitting cancel appeared to increase speed instead of decreasing it.
When: Not specified by owners
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs jump to 4000 while cruise is engaged at 70 mph; Speed increases out of control; Brake pedal does not disengage cruise control; Cancel button requires multiple presses to work; Cancel button press appears to increase speed instead of disengage
Throttle Body Carbon Buildup
Dealer diagnosis identifies carbon accumulation in the throttle body butterfly valve as the cause of the sticking pedal. Cleaning the throttle body is the recommended repair.
When: 40,000 to 57,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal sticks; Vehicle hesitates when accelerator is engaged; Pedal sticks at speeds above 60 mph; at lower speeds vehicle follows inertia
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning performed; cost not consistently cited (one mention of $90). One case: metal plate on throttle got stuck; inside portion was scraped out; dealer noted this was a temporary fix.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Chrysler Pacifica?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 46,000 and 82,000 miles, with the median around 57,939. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 82,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chrysler/Pacifica.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.