Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Chrysler Pacifica owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that on the second attempt to start the vehicle, the brake pedal was stuck on the floorboard and failed to return to its normal position. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be jumpstarted. An independent mechanic was contacted and advised the contact to depress the brake pedal harder to start the vehicle. The contact stated that a friend assisted in depressing the brake pedal harder, and the vehicle started; however, the windshield wipers engaged independently, Additionally, the steering wheel made an abnormal sound and became difficult to turn. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle on another occasion, the rotary gear shift dial lights failed to illuminate, and the message "Service Shifter" was displayed. The contact was able to drive to the residence. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. Additionally, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the engine seized. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle started. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and the failure reoccurred. The contact's husband started the vehicle, and the vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that while attempting to leave the independent mechanic, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer where the vehicle was purchased, was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer and was provided a diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was displayed on the instrument panel soon after the vehicle was purchased. An independent mechanic replaced the EVAP purge valve, but after the repair, the power steering assist failed, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. A mobile mechanic attempted to clear the codes, but the power steering failure persisted. The vehicle was then towed back to the independent mechanic, where a diagnostic test provided several fault codes, including electrical, ABS, brakes, traction control, rack and pinion, and the check engine warning light was displayed. The vehicle remained with the mechanic unrepaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 107,000.
On December 28, 2024 my family and I were in a crash with our Pacifica van. In a gradual left turn at approximately 40 mph, the van slowly drifted to the right. I slowly corrected to the left with no affect. After slightly more left correct, the van cut hard left and crashed head into a concrete wall on the opposite side of the roadway. The steering correction inputs should not have resulted in such a hard left turn. The drift to the right should not have occurred and I was not able to correct for some reason. The vehicle was inspected by insurance and totaled. No other inspections were completed to my knowledge. There were no issues or warnings of a potential problem. We did suspect the lane keep assist system could have caused an over correction but have no way to confirm that.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission slammed into gear while shifting. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel pulled to the left while the contact was attempting to go to the right. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel in either direction, the steering wheel was sticking, with a knocking and jerking feeling coming from the steering wheel. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure list in NHTSA Action Number: PE25009 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the failure listed in the NHTSA Action Number. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with no warning. warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated failure, and during the inspection, the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a failed rack and pinion steering assembly that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and while driving 70 MPH on a toll road, the steering wheel unintendedly pulled to the right, nearly causing the vehicle to drift out of the intended lane. The contact was able to pull the steering wheel back to center after each failure, and the steering wheel was moderately difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was test-driven, but the failure could not be reproduced; however, the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, and turning the steering wheel to the right, the steering wheel became stiff, and the contact had to forcefully maneuver the steering wheel to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the power steering system needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the steering wheel would stick when turned approximately to the one o'clock position, requiring to be jerked to operate as intended. The contact stated that when the failure occurred, the auto start-stop warning light illuminated, and the check engine warning light would intermittently flash on and off. The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 123,630.
NHTSA investigations
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
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.
Steering complaints in other Pacifica years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica?
NHTSA has 287 complaints about the steering of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, 19% of the model year's 1,537 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 Chrysler Pacifica steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, though it has 11 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 2017 Chrysler Pacifica steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.