The van continues to accelerate when I'm braking. This has happened 4 times after an hour or two of driving the freeway. As we were exiting the car continued to Rev up as we applied the brakes. Thank God the light was green. Another time I tried to park and as I was braking the car was accelerating. I had to quickly put it in park position. The van is in the shop, Hunter Dodge, now and they ran…
2018 Chrysler Pacifica brakes problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
1fire
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Pacifica has serious brake problems: booster failures cause hard or unresponsive pedals, the system surges forward when you brake, and low brake fluid goes undetected. Dealerships often cannot diagnose the issue, and Chrysler has extended the warranty but won't recall it—stay away.
Owners report multiple brake system failures in the 2018 Pacifica, starting with brake booster defects that make the pedal extremely hard or cause it to push back against your foot, reducing stopping power. Several complain the vehicle lunges or surges forward when braking, especially after highway driving or extended trips. Some describe the brakes becoming unresponsive—pressing the pedal to the floor produces little or no stopping effect, letting the vehicle coast or roll forward. One owner crashed into another car during a parking assist maneuver when the vehicle accelerated instead of stopping.
Others report hissing from the brake system with air pressure building against the pedal, keeping the vehicle from stopping despite hard pedal pressure. A few mention the brake pedal drops lower after driving longer distances, sitting only 3 inches from the gas pedal, creating confusion risk. Low brake fluid at minimum levels has gone undetected even after dealer safety inspections. On hybrid models, owners describe a regenerative brake handoff failure where the transition to friction brakes feels delayed. One owner reported wiring for the air-pump/power brake booster caught fire. Dealerships and independent shops frequently cannot diagnose the root cause despite multiple visits. Chrysler has issued a warranty extension acknowledging the booster defect but not a recall, and some owners are denied coverage when the extended warranty expires.
Same Chrysler Pacifica brakes reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster failure – hard pedal and loss of assist
Brake booster malfunction causing excessively hard pedal that requires excessive force to stop the vehicle, accompanied by pedal pushing back against the driver's foot. Loss of braking assist significantly increases stopping distance.
When: Intermittent, worsens over time; some reports note incidents occur after extended driving (11+ miles) or after several minutes of being stopped
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes extremely hard to depress; Pedal pushes back against foot with excessive resistance; Vehicle requires excessive force to stop; Brake pedal pushes upward and vehicle moves forward while stopped; Loss of braking assist
Repairs/costs cited: Chrysler/Stellantis has issued warranty extension acknowledging the defect; owners report parts are backordered for months. Some owners denied coverage after extended warranty expired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty extension issued for brake booster defect; no formal safety recall issued.
Brake failure – pedal unresponsive or ineffective
Complete or partial brake failure where pressing the brake pedal to the floor produces little or no stopping power, causing the vehicle to coast or lunge forward despite brake application.
When: Various; some incidents after 11+ miles of driving, others at low speeds during parking or low-speed maneuvers. One report at 67,084 miles, another at 15,300 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but vehicle fails to stop or slow; Pedal goes to floorboard with no response; Vehicle coasts or lunges forward despite braking; Vehicle continues to move slowly when brakes are fully applied; Hissing sound suggesting air pressure in brake line
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report dealership diagnostics failed to identify root cause. One vehicle struck another vehicle; owner towed vehicle but no repair performed.
Brake and throttle conflict – unintended acceleration during braking
Engine surges or vehicle accelerates when brakes are applied, particularly after extended driving. Owners report the van lunges or surges forward while braking, with the sensation that the engine or motor is fighting against the brakes.
When: Occurs after 1-2 hours of highway driving, during parking, or during low-speed maneuvers. Happens intermittently, at least weekly in some cases.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine speeds up or surges when brakes applied; Vehicle lunges or surges forward while braking; Vehicle accelerates during exit from highway; Motor appears to fight against brakes; Brake pedal position higher than gas pedal initially, then drops lower after driving
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealership diagnostic test failed to find problem. Another owner noted low brake fluid (at minimum level) which was topped off.
Brake drag and insufficient release
Brake system fails to fully release or disengages improperly, causing unexpected vehicle motion or inability to move the vehicle normally after stopping or shifting.
When: Occurs shortly after shifting from reverse to drive, and when parked (at traffic lights)
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency parking brake engages abruptly and unexpectedly after shifting into drive; Vehicle becomes stuck on road; Brakes do not grip properly on dry pavement immediately after startup; Vehicle glides forward for several moments despite brake pressure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner puts vehicle in park at traffic light to reset/clear problem.
Brake pedal position and control issues
Brake pedal sits higher than gas pedal when vehicle first starts but loses height after extended driving, dropping to or below gas pedal level. Only 3 inches separates pedals, increasing risk of simultaneous pedal contact.
When: After 11+ miles of driving; within first ten minutes after startup
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal position drops to floor level after prolonged driving; Brake pedal falls to or below gas pedal level; Insufficient separation between brake and gas pedals (3 inches reported); Driver foot contacts both pedals simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes Chrysler performed 32-point safety inspection but failed to identify or address low brake fluid or pedal height issue.
Air brake system malfunction with hissing noise
Hissing sound indicates air pressure building in brake line, pushing against brake pedal and allowing vehicle to move when it should remain stopped. Associated with loss of brake function and vehicle rolling despite full pedal pressure.
When: Occurs after vehicle has been stopped for a time; reported 5 times in 30 days
Symptoms owners cite: Hissing noise from brake system; Brake pedal pushes toward driver; Vehicle rolls forward despite hard pedal pressure; Air pressure audibly building in brake line; Must shift to park to stop vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports being stuck with unsafe vehicle; has visited dealership and two other repair shops with no diagnosis.
Regenerative brake handoff failure
Regenerative braking system fails to properly transition to friction brakes, leaving gap in braking response. Vehicle surges or feels disconnected during stop, suggesting incomplete brake engagement.
When: Ongoing for weeks to months
Symptoms owners cite: Brake surge when coming to stop; Regenerative braking disengages without friction brakes engaging immediately; Gap in braking response
Air-pump/power brake booster wiring fire hazard
Electrical wiring for air-pump and power brake booster caught fire, creating fire hazard in vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Wiring fire in brake system area
Repairs/costs cited: Owner attached image of fire damage.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2018 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 brakes problem on the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 26,365 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2018/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.