Vehicle shuts completely off during drive at least twice per day. Dealer claims they are unable to duplicate problem. This happens at both high and low speeds. Oil light turns on and all power is lost. Problem existed on 2006 model but dealership claims issue was resolved and will not consider symptoms for the 2008 model. They kept my vehicle for four days and claimed the problem never…
2008 Chrysler Pacifica steering problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2008 Chrysler Pacifica, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The steering complaints on this 2008 Pacifica cluster around five distinct failure modes, with the most serious being sudden engine stalling that kills power steering and brake assist while driving. Owners say this happens at random, sometimes once to twice daily, at low and highway speeds, and frequently during turns. Shifters into neutral to restart. Chrysler dealerships have examined multiple vehicles and admit they cannot identify the cause, even when they've driven the vehicle until the failure occurred. One owner reported being charged a diagnostic fee only to have the vehicle fail twice on the interstate before day's end.
A separate structural issue involves large knuckle bolts that attach the steering system to front rotors coming completely loose, jamming the brake assembly into the tire rim and immobilizing the vehicle. Two owners experienced this—one at low speed, one at highway speed—both calling it life-threatening.
Motor mounts failing around 50,000 miles transfer vibration to the steering wheel and create metallic transmission noise. One owner with similar issues replaced the engine at 66,000 miles and later experienced steering lock-up; another had to replace timing chain and water pump. Power steering loss when driving through water is also reported. An ignition unit failure caused one vehicle to stall repeatedly and was replaced with a used component, leaving the owner concerned about durability.
Same Chrysler Pacifica steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalls while driving with loss of power steering and brakes
Engine shuts off without warning while vehicle is in motion, causing immediate loss of power steering and power brake assist. Occurs at random intervals—sometimes multiple times daily, at both low and highway speeds, and often when turning. Owner reports having to shift into neutral to restart.
When: Random, at least once to twice daily in several complaints; occurs during turns or corners
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off suddenly while driving; Loss of power steering; Hard brake pedal / loss of brake assist; Wheel and brakes lock up; Can restart by shifting to neutral; No check engine light or diagnostic codes present in some cases; Oil pressure light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to diagnose or reproduce issue. One dealer drove vehicle until failure occurred but reported 'don't know what is causing it.' No lasting solution documented.
Knuckle bolt loosening and loss
Large knuckle bolts on front left and right sides of the vehicle that attach the steering system to the rotor and wheel assembly loosen and fall out. Causes brake pad assembly to jam into tire rim, immobilizing the vehicle. Occurred once at low speed and once at high speed.
When: One incident at low speed, one at high speed
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not roll or move; Brake pad assembly jams into tire rim; Bolt becomes missing from steering mounting point
Repairs/costs cited: Bolt replacement required (no cost cited).
Motor mount degradation causing steering and transmission vibration
Motor mounts wear and fail, allowing engine movement that creates vibration felt through the steering wheel at acceleration and generates metallic transmission noise. Affects overall alignment of transmission and steering systems. Owner reports this issue has occurred since model inception (2004-2005).
When: Approximately 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Bump or vibration felt in steering wheel at initial acceleration; Metallic noise in transmission; Misalignment of transmission and steering components
Repairs/costs cited: Motor mounts replaced. Long-term effects on steering and transmission alignment uncertain.
Power steering loss when driving through water
Temporary loss of power steering assist when vehicle passes through puddles or standing water on the road, even shallow ones. Affects steering control during water crossing.
When: Occurs when encountering water hazards on road
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering when driving through puddles; Loss of steering assist in water crossings
Ignition unit failure
Ignition unit breaks internally, causing stalling, inability to start, and erratic electrical behavior (lights and alarms cycling on and off). One vehicle flatbedded to shop after failure. Owner reports replacement with used ignition component.
When: Around 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Car stalls and will not restart; Lights and alarms cycle on and off without reason; Odd lights activate unexpectedly; Transmission/engine surging
Repairs/costs cited: Ignition unit replaced with used component. Owner expresses concern about reliability of used part.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
You could actually feel the bump in the steering wheel at initial acceleration as the motor mounts continued to get worse. Generated a very metallic noise in the transmission as well. Motor mounts had to be replaced. It's hard to tell what residual effects this will have on the vehicle since this has affected the overall alignment of the transmission, steering etc. I've spoken with other…
Had steering trouble with your 2008 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 steering problem on the 2008 Chrysler Pacifica?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 79,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 110,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 79,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2008/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.