Engine will turn off while driving without any notice And show check engine light and shift to park
2021 Chrysler Pacifica engine problems
moderate 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What stands out
Owners have filed 32 engine 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.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2021 Pacifica has a documented history of unexpected engine shutdowns while driving, especially on highways, that continues even after recall service. Buyers should avoid this model or obtain detailed dealer service history and transmission fluid analysis; shutdowns create serious collision risk and Chrysler's warranty/recall fix remains incomplete.
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica report 32 distinct engine and powertrain complaints, with unexpected shutdown while driving dominating nearly 70% of narratives. Multiple owners describe engine stalling at 60–75 mph on highways with only seconds of dashboard warning before loss of all power. Vehicles coast uncontrolled to the shoulder; restart typically restores function after 1–5 minutes, though the check engine light persists. Owners report these shutdowns occur repeatedly—sometimes multiple times within weeks—despite recall service 03A, which added a dashboard warning rather than fixing the underlying issue. Hybrid variants show evidence of transmission fluid contamination with metal fragments; some dealers recommend transmission replacement.
Secondary complaints include rough idle and acceleration hesitation that resolve after restart, plus valve train damage (rocker arm, lifter, camshaft seizure) requiring replacement, with metal shavings found in oil. One owner experienced engine seizure immediately after oil service when a filter housing cap piece blocked the oil channel. Oil filter housing leaks when torqued to spec, and fuel line rubbing due to missing support or shielding also appears. Start/Stop system malfunction and persistent check engine codes (P0E15, P0A43-00) further document drivetrain distress. Owners universally describe these events as dangerous—particularly highway incidents forcing uncontrolled stops in traffic—and report minimal manufacturer support or timeline for permanent repair.
Same Chrysler Pacifica engine reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Unexpected engine shutdown while driving
Engine stalls or shuts down without warning or with only seconds of dashboard warning during highway and street driving. Vehicle loses all or most power, forcing driver to coast to shoulder. Restart after 1-5 minutes typically restores function, though check engine light remains on. Owners report this has occurred multiple times, sometimes repeatedly within weeks despite recall service.
When: Various speeds, typically 60-75 mph on highways; some incidents on local roads and at traffic lights. Incidents reported from early 2023 onward. Mileage ranges from 14,800 to 101,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or loses power completely; Warning message 'Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon' or 'Service Charging System' appears briefly before or during shutdown; Check engine light illuminates; 'Shift to P to Start' message appears; Drive (D) indicator flashing on gear shifter; Vehicle unable to accelerate, coasts uncontrolled; Engine runs at severely reduced power (around 7-10 mph) after restart attempt; Brake pedal may shake during shutdown event
Codes mentioned: P0A43-00 (Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent), P0E15, Check engine light (specific codes not always documented)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers initially unable to replicate issue. One owner reported transmission replaced after contaminated transmission fluid with metal fragments was found. Dealer diagnosis suggestions include transmission replacement and power inverter module replacement, though parts unavailable in some cases. Hybrid-specific cases suggest transmission wiring connector issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 03A issued (software update/warning system add). Owners report recall did not resolve shutdowns; warning system added as temporary measure only. Chrysler case managers and dealership offers of loaners or rental reimbursement reportedly minimal to none. No announced permanent fix for root cause.
Rough idle and acceleration hesitation
Engine idles roughly or hesitates during acceleration from stop, often accompanied by check engine light. Symptoms typically clear after restart and light may extinguish after 24 hours, but can recur.
When: Early symptom prior to full shutdown events; 2-4 weeks before stall incidents in one case. Mileage 14,800+.
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idle when accelerating from stop (~15 mph); Engine hesitation with accelerator pedal depressed at various speeds; Check engine light comes on; Symptoms resolve after vehicle restart
Codes mentioned: P0A43-00 (Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs noted in narratives for this symptom alone.
Oil filter housing leak and oil loss
Plastic oil filter housing breaks or leaks when tightened to factory spec (18 ft-lbs). Oil escapes onto engine and serpentine belt, causing belt slippage, charger/alternator light, and smoke. Housing located under intake manifold makes leak difficult to spot until vehicle is at highway speed.
When: Following oil change service when filter housing is torqued to manufacturer specification.
Symptoms owners cite: Heavy oil leak from filter housing area; Oil on serpentine belt causing slippage; Generator/alternator light illuminates; Smoke from engine bay; Oil laid down on road (smokescreen effect)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid $1,198.37 for repairs. Owner notes plastic housing design is inadequate; calls for metal housing solution.
Start/Stop system malfunction
Start/Stop automatic shutoff function fails to operate and illuminates dash malfunction light. Intermittent no-start condition possible while vehicle waiting in intersection turn lane.
When: Started October 3, 2024, during warm start in parking lot. Malfunction light appears on every start.
Symptoms owners cite: Start/Stop function does not engage; Dash malfunction light illuminates on every start; Possible no-start condition while idling in traffic
Engine misfires and valve train damage
Cylinder misfires occur; rocker arm, lifters, and intake camshaft require replacement. One case involved bearing seizure in lifter after very low mileage. Metal shavings found in oil in separate incident.
When: One incident at less than 150 miles. Another at 101,000 miles. Another under 55,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfire (cylinder 1 cited); Check engine light illuminates; Metal shavings or fragments in oil; Acceleration hesitation
Repairs/costs cited: One case: rocker arm, lifters, right intake camshaft replacement needed but parts unavailable. Lifter bearing seizure case suggests manufacturing defect given low mileage.
Oil filter housing cap failure
Part of oil cap on oil filter housing detaches and blocks oil channel, causing oil starvation and engine seizure shortly after oil change service.
When: Shortly after oil change service.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine seized; Engine failure; No power after startup
Repairs/costs cited: Engine failure requiring replacement. Dealer denying responsibility.
Fuel line rubbing and leakage
Fuel line rubs against engine component due to lack of support or shielding, causing fuel leak.
When: Discovered during normal driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel line leaking; Fuel odor or visible leak
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic noted lack of support bracket and missing shielding/padding on fuel line.
Check engine light and undiagnosed error codes
Check engine light illuminates with error code P0E15 or other codes. Light remains on persistently and reappears after being cleared, particularly following service procedures like windshield recalibration.
When: Reported during or after service procedures.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on; Error code P0E15 or others; Light does not clear and reappears after clearing
Codes mentioned: P0E15
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports this is widespread issue online. Light comes back even after clearing.
Hard shifting and rpm drop
Transmission shifts hard; after shift, RPMs drop to 1000 and vehicle does not accelerate when accelerator is pressed.
When: Reported on 2021 Pacifica.
Symptoms owners cite: Hard shifting; RPMs dropping to 1000 after shift; No acceleration response to gas pedal after shift
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The check engine light is on with and error code of P0E15 From what I am reading on the web a LOT of people are having/have had this problem. The error code came up during windshield repair and recalibration. The technician advised this has been an ongoing problem and this error keeps coming up even after being cleared.
Had engine trouble with your 2021 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 engine problem on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 32 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 32 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 46,600 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2021/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.