Should I buy a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica with documented engine problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented engine issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2022 Chrysler Pacifica engine problems

moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$3,100

What stands out

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 2022 Chrysler Pacifica has a documented defect causing sudden engine shutdown on highways, even after Chrysler's 03A recall service. This is a serious safety hazard—buyers should avoid this model year until the root cause is proven fixed by warranty data, not just a warning-light patch.

Owners of the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica report the engine cutting out abruptly while driving at highway speeds—often without warning—leaving the vehicle coasting to a stop. In several cases, a dashboard warning appears moments before shutdown: "Vehicle will shut down soon, stop safely" with a red turtle icon. The loss of propulsion forces drivers to cross multiple lanes of traffic to reach the shoulder. Restarting typically restores operation, though one owner had to cycle the ignition off and on multiple times before the engine would turn over. A few owners report the check engine light illuminating along with loss of power and inability to accelerate.

One Pacifica experienced the shutdown issue twice within three weeks, even after Chrysler's 03A recall service. Another owner brought the vehicle to the dealer for a 36-day repair and the shutdowns continued within a week of pickup. A dealer reportedly advised that the entire transmission requires replacement because the generator for the electric motor is housed there—suggesting a hybrid-specific electrical or charging system fault. One owner reported engine knock and a refusal to restart after battery replacement, requiring engine replacement. Another mentions an oil filter stripped on the oil cooler housing that cracked and leaked. Check engine light codes appear in some cases but diagnostics have either not been provided or dealers have replaced major components without fully identifying root causes.

Same Chrysler Pacifica engine reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2021

Failure modes owners describe

Sudden engine shutdown/loss of power at highway speed

Engine cuts out abruptly while vehicle is in motion, typically on expressways or highways at speeds of 45-80 mph. Loss of propulsion forces emergency stop and crossing traffic lanes. In hybrid models, loss of engine engagement when battery depletes.

When: While driving on highways/expressways at 45–80 mph; occurs across mileage range from 5k to 68k miles

Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stops without prior warning; Check engine light illuminates (in some cases); Loss of acceleration and forward propulsion; Dashboard warning 'Vehicle will shut down soon, stop safely' with red turtle icon (appears seconds before shutdown); Battery light may illuminate; System malfunction indicator lamp illuminates post-shutdown

Codes mentioned: Engine misfiring reported (at 5k miles in one case), Code related to 03A recall (message-display focus, per owner)

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced entire transmission (generator for electric motor housed there per one owner); some shutdowns recurred after repair; one owner's vehicle required engine replacement after battery work

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 03A recall issued to address shutdown warning message display; owners report the recall did not resolve actual shutdowns

Loss of ignition/electrical control after shutdown

After engine shuts down, ignition key becomes stuck in Run or Acc position and cannot be turned off. Requires 4–5 minute wait before ignition moves to Off position and vehicle can be restarted.

When: Following unplanned engine shutdown; occurred on third occurrence across different driving conditions

Symptoms owners cite: Ignition key stuck in Run or Acc position; Unable to turn key to Off; After 4–5 minute wait, ignition lever moves to Off; Vehicle then restarts normally

Transmission slipping and catalytic converter failure

Transmission exhibits slipping behavior; catalytic converter fails. Occurred at approximately 68,000 miles on one 2022 model.

When: At approximately 68,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slipping; Abnormally loud rattling sound; Abnormal squeaking sound from brakes; Lane Departure warning light illuminated; TPMS warning light illuminated

Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replaced

Oil filter stripping on oil cooler housing

Oil filter becomes stripped on the oil cooler housing, cracks, and leaks, causing engine damage.

When: No mileage or timing specified

Symptoms owners cite: Oil filter stripped on cooler housing; Filter crack; Oil leakage damaging engine

Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 2 most recent

engine · filed 10/28/2022

Driving down the highway at 80 mph, the engine suddenly quit. The check engine light and battery light illuminated after the engine had quit. I was able to coast to the shoulder. Once stopped the ignition could not be turned off to try to restart the van. It would only move from Run to ACC. After sitting without touching anything for 4-5 minutes, the Ignition indicator moved to Off and then was…

engine · filed 10/15/2025

Oil filter gets stripped on oil cooler housing and cracks and leaks damaging engine.

Had engine trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Chrysler Pacifica?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 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 17 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 54,000 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.

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/2022/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.