2018 Chrysler Pacifica Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,347 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica, alongside 12 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 60/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 12,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2008, 2019–2020, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2018 sits among all Pacifica years
What owners report
“Engine code misfire cylinder #3 and losing coolant. Took it to the mechanic who diagnosed it has a failed head gasket and coolant leaking into the cylinder. Vehicle had 85,000 miles at the time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Pacifica
“2018 Chrysler Pacifica stalled while making a turn in an intersection. Dash message said something like put in park and hit stop/start and the D on the shifter was flashing”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Pacifica
“When going into a turn, the steering wheel hangs and requires more force to straighten out”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Pacifica
“My engine shuts off when it is idle. The start/stop battery was replaced 5 months ago.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Pacifica
“At low speed 12-18 mph the transmission hard shifts. It slams so hard that you feel like someone rearended you.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Pacifica
“Car looses power and then jolts from the backend. It feels like we have been rear ended. Car shut off at a stop. Had to restart. All these have have happened over 5 times and we have only owned the car for 3 months. Scared to drive the vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Pacifica
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 513 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 14,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 7,000 and 32,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (12)
Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with…
Fix: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service…
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEVs). An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown.
Fix: Dealers will update the Power Inverter Module (PIM) software and, if necessary, update the instrument panel cluster (IPC) and the electronic control module (ECM) software, free of charge. FCA US…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Pacifica vehicles equipped with an 8.4 inch radio display, 360 degree surround view camera system, and seat back video screens. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed on…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Pacifica vehicles equipped with engine stop/start systems. A loose battery ground connection may result in an intermittent loss of power steering assist and/or a stall.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery ground surfaces, clean the contact surfaces as needed, and properly reassemble the ground connection, free of charge. The recall…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica hybrid vehicles. The right front lower control arm may separate from the steering knuckle.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right front knuckle and lower control arm for damage, replacing the components as necessary. The right front lower control arm knuckle pinch…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica non-hybrid vehicles. A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The front axle halfshafts may have been incorrectly assembled, preventing the shaft from being properly secured to the constant-velocity (CV) joint.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right halfshaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 18, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) plug may be removed without a tool. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MPR plug, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500,…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at:…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles equipped with the 8-passenger seating option. In certain passenger seating and vehicle situations, the second-row center seating position seat belt buckle could cause the left…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a shorter second-row seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
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…
Led to recall campaign 23V010.
Technical service bulletins
469 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2018 Pacifica TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica reliable?
The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica drew 1,347 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 60/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 2018 Chrysler Pacifica problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica are engine (372 complaints), electrical (284), and steering (157).
At what mileage do 2018 Chrysler Pacifica problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Chrysler Pacifica problems around 14,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 7,000 and 32,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have recalls?
12 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.