Chrysler Pacifica Engine Problems
Owners have filed 1,917 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Chrysler Pacifica across 17 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (523). The words owners use most often: “engine cradle” (13% of reports).
- 1,917engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 20mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine cradle: mentioned in 252 of 1,917 complaints (13%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 215 of 1,917 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Chrysler Pacifica at $5,000, and half of them between $3,900 and $8,600.
Based on 54 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 942 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,917 complaints, 20 mention a crash, 34 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chrysler Pacifica engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Pacifica | 1 | 100% | — |
| 2026 Pacifica | 3 | 27% | 5,000 |
| 2025 Pacifica | 5 | 17% | — |
| 2024 Pacifica | 8 | 17% | — |
| 2023 Pacifica | 47 | 30% | 168 |
| 2022 Pacifica | 68 | 31% | 20,125 |
| 2021 Pacifica | 141 | 38% | 14,800 |
| 2020 Pacifica | 52 | 30% | 19,600 |
| 2019 Pacifica | 83 | 26% | 23,400 |
| 2018 Pacifica | 377 | 43% | 11,135 |
| 2017 Pacifica | 523 | 34% | 18,000 |
| 2016 Pacifica | 1 | 50% | 18,000 |
| 2008 Pacifica | 21 | 21% | 87,000 |
| 2007 Pacifica | 76 | 23% | 97,000 |
| 2006 Pacifica | 146 | 20% | 107,000 |
| 2005 Pacifica | 224 | 18% | 120,000 |
| 2004 Pacifica | 141 | 16% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:software; engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2017
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles equipped with a 3.6l engine. The engine control software may become out of sync with the crankshaft position sensor, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U01.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving in Reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed…
The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the engine seized. The vehicle was able to restart. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall associated with the failure…
Head gasket issue. Known issue with this model. Costly repair "The primary reason is inadequate construction techniques, design, and materials. There isn't a preventive solution for this issue. If it occurs, it will be dealt with at that time." [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Cell INFORMATION REDACTED…
Vehicle once it came to a full stop on the highway the check engine light popped on and would not go out. it drove okay the reset of the way home until the last few miles, came to a stop sign and vehicle shut off. placed into park and restarted the vehicle and continued journey home
Rear seat warning which i couldn't resolve. Then engine shut down unable to restart in left lane in construction area with concrete walls on both sides of highway with traffic traveling at 75 mph. Instructions to put in park to start. Rolled slowly into emergency pull off area. Unable to restart…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chrysler Pacificas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,917 owner complaints about engine for the Chrysler Pacifica. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chrysler Pacifica engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Chrysler Pacifica?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,000 (half paid between $3,900 and $8,600), from 54 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Chrysler Pacifica?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cradle”, in 252 of 1,917 complaints, followed by “head gasket” (215).
Other Chrysler Pacifica problems
- Electrical System problems (1,455)
- Power Train problems (1,425)
- Structure problems (1,078)
- Steering problems (774)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (496)
- Suspension problems (489)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (438)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (348)
See all Chrysler Pacifica problems.