Chrysler Pacifica Years to Avoid — and the Years to Buy
Every Chrysler Pacifica model year from 2003 to 2026, benchmarked against each other with 10,640 federal complaints, 41 recall campaigns, and the odometer readings owners put in their reports.
Avoid: 2004–2005, 2017–2018. These years top the Pacifica's complaint rankings by volume and severity.
Safer bets: 2008, 2019–2020, 2022 — the quietest years with at least four years on the road.
The method in one line: every NHTSA complaint for this model is counted, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, and deaths, and each year is measured against the Pacifica's own worst year — full methodology.
Under investigation. Federal regulators currently have 3 open defect investigations on the Chrysler Pacifica.
Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of alleged defects related to the electric power steering (EPS) system in model year (MY) 2017–2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. ODI has received 94…
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-008 regarding complaints alleging a loss of motive power condition potentially due to a transmission malfunction in Model Years 2019-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). On January 17,…
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
On February 11, 2022, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) issued a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 22V-077) on all 2017-2018 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) produced between August 12, 2016 through August 7, 2018. The recall addresses ignition “OFF’ fires that originate at the high voltage…
An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
The trouble strip
One cell per model year. The whole answer in one glance — click any year for the full report.
The defining problem
Engine tops the Chrysler Pacifica file with 2,399 complaints, concentrated in the 2005, 2017–2018 model years, most often reported around 69,000 miles. The year pages break down what fails and when.
Every year, ranked
| Year | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | Top problem | Trouble index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Few reports | 16 | 3 | — | 1 |
| 2025 | Too early to call | 37 | 8 | — | 2 |
| 2024 | Too early to call | 68 | 11 | Electrical | 3 |
| 2023 | Typical | 243 | 14 | Engine | 9 |
| 2022 | Better year | 349 | 10 | Transmission & drivetrain | 16 |
| 2021 | Typical | 670 | 7 | Electrical | 28 |
| 2020 | Better year | 259 | 5 | Electrical | 12 |
| 2019 | Better year | 468 | 7 | Electrical | 20 |
| 2018 | Avoid | 1,347 | 12 | Engine | 60 |
| 2017 | Avoid | 2,350 | 11 | Engine | 100 |
| 2016 | Few reports | 6 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2008 | Better year | 155 | 0 | Engine | 7 |
| 2007 | Typical | 481 | 0 | Engine | 22 |
| 2006 | Below average | 1,056 | 1 | Engine | 47 |
| 2005 | Avoid | 1,802 | 2 | Engine | 75 |
| 2004 | Avoid | 1,332 | 2 | Body & structure | 63 |
| 2003 | Few reports | 1 | 0 | — | 0 |
Technical service bulletins
Beyond complaints and recalls, 4,737 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, service campaigns, warranty extensions — are on file for the Chrysler Pacifica. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Browse the Chrysler Pacifica TSB list by year →
Questions buyers ask
What Chrysler Pacifica years should I avoid?
Federal complaint records point to 2004–2005, 2017–2018 as the Chrysler Pacifica years to avoid — they drew the highest volume of serious complaints relative to the model's other years.
What is the most common Chrysler Pacifica problem?
Engine tops the Chrysler Pacifica file with 2,399 complaints, concentrated in the 2005, 2017–2018 model years, most often reported around 69,000 miles.
What are the best Chrysler Pacifica years to buy used?
The quietest Chrysler Pacifica years in federal records are 2008, 2019–2020, 2022 — each with at least four years on the road and well-below-average complaint volume for this model.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Counts cover the Chrysler Pacifica only, scored against this model's own worst year — not against other models. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.