Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2018 Chrysler Pacifica: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 888 safety complaints about the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved October 26, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

888
Complaints
12
Recalls
4
Investigations
5★
Overall crash rating

Complaints for this vehicle report 28 crashes, 14 fires, 15 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Engine & cooling leads the complaint list, cited in 380 of 888 complaints, followed by Electrical.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 139 of the 888 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.
  3. 4 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 888 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Engine & cooling
380
Electrical
290
Steering
185
Power train / transmission
157
Other / unspecified
120
Brakes & stability
65
Fuel & propulsion
50
Speed control
35

"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 because the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000."

Owner complaint filed October 2026 · Engine · NHTSA ODI 11770924

"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 PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)"

Owner complaint filed October 2026 · Engine · NHTSA ODI 11770413

When complaints were filed

Complaint filings for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica over time:

Complaints filed per year — 2018 Chrysler Pacifica
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
4
77
138
54
55
69
94
111
136
150
17181920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through October 26, 2026).

Recall history: 12 recalls

12 recalls apply to some or all 2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Aug 201717V-542
Seat Belts:Rear/Other

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 outboard seat belt to become unlatched.

Dec 201717V-824
Equipment

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: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may …

May 201818V-332
Electrical System:Wiring

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, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler…

Jun 201818V-395
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module

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) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Jul 201818V-492
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

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 wheels.

Jul 201818V-493
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft

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.

Aug 201818V-524
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

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 Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 J…

Feb 201919V-143
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm

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.

May 201919V-348
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

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.

Dec 201919V-886
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

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 the radio after the vehicle has been shifte…

Jan 202323V-010
Electrical System:Wiring:Connectors/Plugs/Receptacles

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.

Dec 202525V-876
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility:Wheelchair Restraints/Securement:Latch/Anchor:

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 QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraint…

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.

★★★★★
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★☆
Rollover

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have?

As of October 26, 2026, owners have filed 888 complaints about the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.

How many recalls does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have?

The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has 12 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Is the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica safe in a crash?

NHTSA gives the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved October 26, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.