Owners report a constellation of electrical failures in 2023 Pacificas that create serious safety hazards. The most dangerous complaint involves sudden, unannounced power loss while driving at highway speeds (65–70 mph), typically preceded by a red turtle warning that gives drivers seconds to pull over safely. Owners describe the vehicle stalling completely, speed dropping to 30 mph, and in several cases, being stranded in active traffic lanes. Multiple owners state this has occurred 3–5 times during ownership, sometimes within weeks of purchase. Dealers acknowledge the issue is widespread but parts and root causes remain unclear; repair attempts include replacing ignition, RF hubs, steering modules, and tailgate transmitters with no lasting fix.
Fail-to-start complaints range from brand-new vehicles (35 miles) to those with over 80,000 miles. Owners report complete loss of power despite interior electronics being live, with wait times of 1–5 minutes before restart. One owner experienced multiple FTS episodes and was eventually told by the dealer they "can't have me driving one of his cars for months."
Secondary failures include 12V battery failures (one recurring 8 months after warranty replacement with no investigation into parasitic draw), hybrid battery failure at unspecified mileage, and Uconnect system lockups disabling HVAC and other controls. One PHEV owner's charge port was damaged when an external charger melted, with neither Rivian nor Chrysler accepting responsibility. A critical child-safety incident involved an infant locked inside a parked vehicle when the locking system failed to unlock despite the dangerous situation. Several owners report the rear-view camera freezing or activating unexpectedly, creating additional safety concerns.
Failure modes owners describe
Fail-to-Start (FTS) and Intermittent Power Loss
Vehicle fails to start or loses all electrical power while driving or at rest, often accompanied by check engine light and sometimes a red turtle warning ('Stop Safely, Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon'). Issue recurs despite multiple repair attempts.
When: Starting around 3,000–81,000 miles; complaints span from early ownership (3k miles) to vehicles with 51k+ miles. One complaint mentions onset at 35 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start despite interior electronics being live; Complete power loss while driving at highway speeds (65–70 mph); Vehicle stalls and cannot be restarted without waiting 1–5 minutes; Red turtle warning and 'Stop Safely, Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon' message; Check engine light illuminates; Speed drops to ~30 mph immediately after warning, forcing driver to pull over
Codes mentioned: Multiple unknown warning lights, 15 different error codes (one case), Check engine light, Hybrid system malfunction codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced: ignition, RF hub, steering module, RF transmitter in tailgate. One case reports transmission replacement recommended. Software updates attempted. Many cases show no root cause found despite multiple service visits and extended warranty repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler issued Campaign 23V-010000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System) but some vehicles not included in recall. Recall solution includes adding warning message rather than fixing underlying failure. No recall identified for many complainants despite widespread issue.
12V Battery Failures
Battery fails prematurely, with at least one replacement occurring only 8 months before a second failure. No investigation into parasitic electrical draw or root cause offered.
When: One case: first failure at unspecified time, second failure at 8 months post-replacement (April 2025)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to start in driveway; Interior electronics powered on but start button produces no response; Brake pedal would not depress (electronic brake booster inoperative); Steering wheel locked; No error message displayed before diagnosis of dead 12V battery
Repairs/costs cited: 12V battery replaced under warranty in August 2025; second failure April 2025. Cost not cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer declined to investigate parasitic electrical draw or underlying defect causing repeat failures.
Hybrid Battery Failure
Hybrid battery becomes inoperative, causing vehicle to stall and limiting speed to 30 mph or below. Replacement delayed by parts availability.
When: Mileage not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls; Unable to exceed 30 mph; Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated
Codes mentioned: Hybrid battery failure code
Repairs/costs cited: Hybrid battery replacement required. Owner states replacement took months to obtain.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response noted; delay in parts availability acknowledged.
Charging Port Damage from Public EV Charger
PHEV charging port damaged when external charger handle overheated and melted. Charging terminal melted and arc-welded itself to vehicle charge port, rendering vehicle unable to charge.
When: Under 13,000 miles, while vehicle was under new-car warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Charger handle overheated and smoking after 45 minutes of normal charging; Large piece of charge terminal melted from charger handle; Terminal piece arc-welded itself to male end of charge port; Vehicle cannot be charged with melted terminal still attached
Repairs/costs cited: Estimate of ~$980 to repair charge port. Neither Rivian (charger manufacturer) nor Chrysler warranty willing to cover repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler dealer denied any fault. Warranty declined coverage.
Uconnect System Lockups and Rear-View Camera Failures
Infotainment system freezes or restarts unexpectedly, disabling vehicle controls including HVAC, heating, and A/C. Rear-view camera freezes or activates when driving forward.
When: Noted after recall 24V-436 completion and at 14,000 miles (one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Uconnect system locks up and restarts; Rear-view camera freezes during operation or turns on when driving forward; Vehicle controls unresponsive (HVAC, heat, A/C buttons do not work when system is locked); Back-over prevention camera displays still images with blackouts or becomes inoperable; Radio randomly activated without driver input; Additional control panel failures (radio, heating, A/C)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair reported. System reset attempted without resolution. Recall 24V-436 completed but issue persists.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 24V-436 (Back Over Prevention) issued but parts were delayed. After recall completion, issues persist. Uconnect customer service phone system reports 'error' when contacted.
Child Lock Failure - Infant Locked in Vehicle
Vehicle doors locked with infant inside and keys inside the vehicle. Safety system failed to automatically unlock vehicle despite the dangerous situation.
When: At an unspecified time while vehicle was parked in Walmart lot
Symptoms owners cite: All doors locked with infant child as sole occupant; Keys locked inside vehicle; No automatic unlock or three-beep unlock sequence triggered; Vehicle had remote start enabled, exacerbating danger
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted or mentioned.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response mentioned.
Accelerator Pedal Unresponsiveness
Accelerator pedal fails to respond while driving at highway speed. Issue persists after vehicle restart.
When: At 81,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal fails to respond at 70 mph; Issue persists after vehicle restart
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed. Vehicle not included in Campaign 23V-010000 despite matching symptom profile.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle was associated with Campaign 23V-010000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System) but VIN was not included in recall.
Charging System Error Preventing Vehicle Operation
Vehicle displays 'system charging system' error that prevents the vehicle from turning on and driving when the charging system is not actively charging.
When: Mileage and timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: System charging system error message displayed; Vehicle will not turn on or operate when charging system not functioning
Codes mentioned: System charging system error
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response mentioned.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.