Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced a total loss of motive power. The Check Engine warning light illuminated, and a warning message reading "Stop Safely Vehicle will shut off Soon" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where diagnosis confirmed a transmission failure requiring replacement. The vehicle was scheduled for repair. The failure mileage was 181,901.
I was driving on the highway when the check engine light came on and it started running rough. I pulled off the highway and into a parking lot. When I slowed down, I heard a clanging that sounded like metal on metal. After parking, smoke started pouring out from under the hood and it erupted in flames. The vehicle was destroyed.
While driving the vehicle in rush hour traffic the engine slowed and would not accelerate when the gas pedal was applied. The light for the parking break went on along with the battery light. The vehicle appeared to be breaking on it's own. A message was displayed though I do not recall what it was. Maybe a message to park? I attempted to switch to an outer lane and coast toward the side of the road until the vehicle stopped. I was partially blocking one of the two lanes in a no parking area. I turned the vehicle off and several times attempted to restart it. It would not initially shift into park. When it finally did I repeatedly attempted to start it. The display worked though the vehicle would not shift into drive, reverse, or neutral. The light for each gear flashed. I attempted for some time and at one point it did go into neutral. …
Pacifica Hybrid Limited found completely dead in our driveway and unresponsive to the remote. I manually unlocked the driver door, no usual dash indications, opened the hood and found the 12v battery system at 2.9v. It would not start & no responses or indications. There had been no warnings or indications of any problems prior to this. The car prevented my 6 A charger from charging the battery while it was connected to the car. I jump started the car with a known good battery, removed the jump, and allowed the engine to charge the car battery some. I decided to take no chances and replace the 12v battery. I turned the car to the OFF state via the dash push button. The car was never moved out of P park. I left it to go purchase a new 12v battery. I returned 2 hours later with a new battery to find the car in the street and having knocked over my neighbors 700-800 lb brick mail box. …
With Chrysler, recalls are never ending. Last year there was battery recall (Z11) that took 10 months to fix. Just after I got that fixed in Dec-2022, in Feb-2023, we have a new recall, where the vehicle is pretty much rendered useless as it can stop anytime on freeway. My friend who has the car had the vehicle suddenly lose traction and stop in freeway (this happened last week). Fortunately nothing happened as he was able to exit safely. Given it hit so close to home, I am scared to drive my Chrysler Pacifica car anymore. When i contact Chrysler for possible remedies like offering a rental assistance e.t.c they are adamant and refuse to help in anyway. I don't understand this ; I have brought a car in good faith and for no fault of mine , i need to spend on "rental car" now? …
I purchased the van with 153k on it and could here clunk on transmission engagement but purchased anyway thinking I could find parts a repair. Turned out no parts availble so I drove until it failed at 156k. When it failed the vehicle lost motive power and would roll away in park. I paid 9k for a new unit 9/30/21 and after 6 bmonths began to hear the same noise. I notified and dropped off vehical on 3 seperate occasions the last 12/30/22 and was told (normal operation) The transmission failed in exact same way on 2/2/23 with only 25k miles transmission and 182k on vehicle and currently problem is not resovled as the chrysler dealer I towed it to refused to repair under warrenty and Ihad to two to croton pouint auto park chrysler dealer where it currently is and problem is as of yet not resolved. …
On [redacted], my vehicle produced a large red wrench and a turtle warning on a busy highway and I was forced to pull to the side with my [redacted] son in the car, as the vehicle lost motive power. It was towed to the dealer and after several days, they told me the issue was due to normal wear and tear in the transmission. I had to escalate to a service manager to even get a diagnosis after 5 days in the shop. I believe my transmission issue is due to a failure of the fix implemented in the 03A/NHTSA 23V-010 recall. It has been documented that the software update did not fix the issue. My vehicle experienced the exact series of failures described in the recall. Chrysler is refusing to fix my vehicle, even though they had extended the warranty on my Pacifica to unlimited miles/unlimited years because of all of the transmission issues the model has experienced. …
We were on the return portion of a road trip, this was day 4 of driving. There had been no indications of any issues at all on days 1-3. While going 80 mph on i-80 in nebraska, in the left lane, the vehicle suddenly lost drive power (electric systems stayed on). My husband, who was driving, pressed the gas pedal to try and regain power. At that point the check engine light came on, followed by a red turtle image accompanied by the words "vehicle speed may be limited". My husband was able to coast us to the shoulder of the highway before the vehicle stopped moving completely. We had no warning at all that anything was wrong. I had just had the vehicle in for an oil change a few days prior to the trip and they did a basic inspection- all was fine. I am so thankful the road was not crowded and that no 18 wheelers were too close. …
While traveling at 75+ mph on a multi-lane highway the vehicle shut off displaying warnings "Shift to P to Start" "Service Charging System" "Sliding Door Open" "Forward Collision Warning Unavailable" and large red turtle icons. With the van shut off the only option available was to coast to side of the road/shoulder while trying to avoid other high speed vehicles and while the other vehicles attempted to dodge me. The vehicle has been at the dealer 5 times. Various codes are always available but they are unable to recreate the problem. The first visit the 12v battery was replaced. The most recent visit (the van is still at the dealer) the dealership and the manufacturer tore apart the van and checked parts for 5 weeks and could not identify anything wrong. I have pictures and lists of conditions, codes and problems. …
The car 12v battery drains completely, rendering the vehicle immobile and completely non functional. There has been an electrical burning smell once the car is jump started and driving. I fear there is some kind of short or electrical discharge somewhere that could render the vehicle inoperable or start a fire at my home or while the car is being used. This vehicle has been at the dealer for 7 weeks and they have not found the problem. I have been told that the car has been connected to a computer system that is being "looked into" remotely by Chrysler. They have replaced the battery and the charging management system at my expense. The problems started when the car had 38000 miles and began with the "radio" which controls many other functions of the car constantly rebooting and having corrupted firmware which I was told cannot be fixed, only replaced. …
NHTSA investigations
Transmission fault leading to loss of motive power
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22008 to investigate allegation of loss of motive power, potentially due to transmission malfunction, in certain Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. In a January 17, 2023 letter to NHTSA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) submitted recall notice 23V-010 involving a transmission motor wiring defect in 67,118 model year (MY) 2017-2023 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in…
Transmission complaints in other Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid, 18% of the model year's 224 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles, and 89% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.