The car shifts really hard going into 2nd gear, it feels like I've been rear-ended. It is awful. Also sometimes it loses power then accelerates on its own. Both issues are safety issues. this happens several times a weeks for the last 3 years.
2018 chrysler Pacifica powertrain problems
moderate 135 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
135
Recalls
0
Crashes
4
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
WE PURCHASED OUR 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA IN EARLY OCTOBER 2018 AND HAVE SINCE PUT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING ON A LEVEL RURAL ROAD NEAR OUR HOME, A COUPLE OF WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING OUT OF NOWHERE: ONE INDICATING THAT BLIND-SPOT MONITORING WAS DISABLED, AND ANOTHER RE: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. NOT LONG AFTER WE STARTED UP A HILL A HALF-MILE LATE…
WHEN COMPLETING A STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE VEHICLE START/STOP SYSTEM SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE AND WITHOUT WARNING IT HAS NOT RESTARTED AUTOMATICALLY LEAVING US EXPECTING TO TAKE OFF AND HAVING TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN PARK WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND THEN RESTART THE ENGINE AND MOVE GEAR SELECTOR BACK TO THE DRIVE POSITION. I'VE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE COUNTED 7 TIMES TH…
2018 TOURING L PLUS TOWED. WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STARTED LOSING ALL POWER, SYSTEMS STARTED TO SHUT DOWN, VAN WAS LIMITED IN SPEED AND FUNCTION. BY THE END ALL WARNING SYSTEMS HAD FAILED, POWER STEERING WAS GONE, ABS WAS GONE, AFTER THE BATTERY HIT 8.9 VOLTS WE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE "D" ON THE DISPLAY STARTED FLASHING AND THE VAN SHUT OFF 15 SECONDS LATER. ONCE THE VAN WAS OFF I WA…
Head Gasket Blew at 102,000 Miles which caused windows to fog up on freeway.
VAN WILL JERK OR JOLT WHEN IT'S SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS GOING 10- 50 MPH ON A FLAT STRAIGHT AWAY CITY ROAD. DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE ITS UNPREDICTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE. THE JOLT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. MY CAR IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW VAN WITH LESS THAN 10,000…
The check engine light came on after 2 weeks of owning the car. It threw a Code P0303. We replaced the coils on 1-3-5 and spark plugs on all cylinders and the check engine light came back on after 1 week. It finally would not start. Our mechanic has removed the head and gasket and discovered the cylinder 3 was full of water and water and oil in the oil pan creating a gooey sludge. This is apparen…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 chrysler Pacifica?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 135 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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