Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Chrysler Pacifica owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Front subframe is completely corroded and rusted out. Engine is no longer safely supported. Problem has been confirmed by dealer. Manufacturer has been aware of this issue caused by substandard uncoated and unprotected steel used in the front subfram01e
After fueling, especially if the take is full. The engine will die several times in the first 5 or more miles driven. Of course, this also means no power steering. You may be turning at an intersection, on a freeway or just traveling on a surface street. Still, you are without power and no power steering putting the car and occupants in danger. Usually, putting the car in neutral and starting gets you going again, at least until the next event. We have had as many a 5 such events on a 4.5 mile drive home form the gas station. This has now progressed. The last fill up, the nozzle cut of several times and restart over and over to finally fill the take. We knew it could take more fuel, Ultimately it took on 15 Gallons. This time, even after the second day and about 20 miles on the car it will still die at random, especially at idle, say at a stop light. …
Purchased the Pacifica touring AWD in September/October, 2013. It was in fabulous condition. A couple of months later, I experienced my first of eight occurrences wherein the vehicle shut off without warning. Once the engine shut off, power brakes and power steering didn't function properly, likely because the engine was no longer running. Five of these eight occurrences have been within one mile of my residence. Additionally, it occurred once in a parking lot, once in an intersection, and once as I was getting onto an interstate highway. A few of the occurrences almost resulted in accidents. I was at the mercy of the other drivers in those cases. I have six grandchildren. I'm hesitant to take them on trips because I have no confidence in my Pacifica's safety and reliability. My vehicle safety complaint seems eerily similar to numerous other owner's 2007 Pacifica safety complaints. …
Have owned a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica for almost 3 years now - bought it used and enjoy most features of this car having waited for a few years to purchase one after having recurring (and costly) repair issues with my previous Chrysler (cirrus.) however, for the past year, I've experienced intermittent stalling issues with my car - while operating/driving and I am now terrified of the what "ifs" since I thought we'd resolved the issue just over a month ago when replacing my EGR valve. This was a huge expense particularly since I've been underemployed for a while now, but then again today while driving with my young daughter the issue happened again!! I too have had my share of being inconvenienced by taking to multiple mechanics and repair shops saying they need to "mimick" the issue in order to find the problem. …
September 8, 2008, my wife was driving our 2007 Pacifica. Power steering failed, she attempted to park the car in a parking space in front of a retail store. Smoke appeared from hood area, fluid leaked out from under front end, flames erupted. Fire department was there in several minutes to extinguish the blaze, but not before damage was done to the building and another vehicle parked next to the Pacifica. Front end of car completely burned. Chrysler ordered an inspection conducted by an independent adjuster. Claims results are inconclusive and has ordered another inspection. Obviously this is not the first report of fire caused by power steering fluid leak. We have waited patiently for over five weeks. Chrysler suggest we settle with our insurance company. I am not willing to do that when it is obviously a defect and the car is in warranty. The car only had approximately 13,000 miles.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica AWD. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the power steering suddenly failed and smoke began to rise from under the hood. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the contact has not heard from them to know the condition of his vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 1,200. Phone interview update (October 3): drove for 20 miles, steering then acted abnormal. While parking, my wife noticed smoke from under the hood. Then the vehicle caught fire under the driver side of the hood near the front. There was a trail of fluid on the ground. The complainant believes that power steering fluid leaked and ignited. No after-market items were installed in vehicle. No accessories were used at the time of fire. A Chrysler representative took a report over the phone and Chrysler paid me for the vehicle.
The vehicle was turning into parking space, acted like the traction control engaged, power steering function was lost. Vehicle was put in park, engine turned off. Restarted at that time. Owner assumed incident resulted from a slip on fresh rain concrete and resulted in traction control engagement due to sensitivity of traction control feature. This is really not necessary at < 10 MPH. Second incident: one week later to the day on July 10, 2015, the vehicle rolled to a stop on residential road. The vehicle passed over an insignificant, small pile of dead loosed grass on right side of vehicle during its rolling to a stop mode. Vehicle steering locked up and engine stalled. Owner made numerous attempts to restart but had to wait 10 minutes before vehicle would restart and park it. Dealership has been notified-appointment scheduled to diagnose.
Power steering fails completely for about 30 seconds or more. This occurs when the vehicle travels through any water on the road that May splash into the engine compartment. The steering belt gets wet and will slip (making a screeching noise until it spins off the water and dries). The power assisted steering will stop completely not allowing the driver to maneuver the vehicle until the power steering is restored. This problem will cause the driver not to be able to change the direction of the vehicle in any direction to complete a turn or avoid a collision! It is very dangerous and can occur without warning. We are looking into the problem. It maybe that a splash guard was left off and not replace during a previous service. This has not been confirmed to be the fix. We will update this post once this is confirmed to be the fix.
My car stops running shortly after driving within a few minutes with zero warning. When this happens the power steering and breaks stop functioning. I have been able to successfully been able to restart the car and continue to my destination. This creates a defiant safety hazard and has happened randomly on multiple occasions. The stalling started at the time when the check engine light and 'gascap' warning message came on - permanently. The mechanics have been unable to fine the problem and there are no computer code readings. Has there been a recall for this problem from Chrysler?
I was driving approximately 30 MPH when my power steering stopped working and I noticed my engine had also stopped. I struggled to steer to the side of the road. I turned the key off (the engine was already off). I waited a minute and started the vehicle without a problem. I drove directly to my mechanic where he could not find a problem. This has happened 2 more times (for a total of 3 times). All when I was driving between 30 - 40 MPH. The first indication of a problem is when I loose power steering and notice the engine has cut-out.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fire
Complainants allege that a fire erupted under the hood, near the front of the vehicle.in Chrysler's response to odi's November 2, 2007 information request, Chrysler asserts that the alleged defect occurs only in the 4.0l engines and the consumer will experience a loss of power steering fluid or a noisy power steering pump before seeing any evidence of smoke or fire.Chrysler also states that a tube nut on the high…
Steering complaints in other Pacifica years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2007 Chrysler Pacifica?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the steering of the 2007 Chrysler Pacifica, 13% of the model year's 380 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist › power steering fluid (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chrysler Pacifica steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2007 Chrysler Pacifica. 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 2007 Chrysler Pacifica steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 5 fires and 0 injuries to steering 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.