Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 7% | 3,000 miles |
| 2022 | 12 | 6% | 49,000 miles |
| 2021 | 17 | 5% | 96,000 miles |
| 2020 | 32 | 19% | 50,000 miles |
| 2019 | 43 | 14% | 52,000 miles |
| 2018 | 185 | 21% | 14,000 miles |
| 2017 | 287 | 19% | 42,000 miles |
| 2008 | 10 | 10% | 110,000 miles |
| 2007 | 51 | 13% | 70,000 miles |
| 2006 | 36 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 2005 | 54 | 4% | 109,000 miles |
| 2004 | 50 | 6% | 75,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2023 BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and using the power chair with hand controls, the drivability was terrible. While driving at various speeds, it was difficult to stay in the intended lane. The Lane Sensing feature was loose and failed to the vehicle failed to steer correctly. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was stiff. While making turns, the vehicle rocked. The driver turned the feature off. The contact stated that there was a 3- or 4-inch clearance between the underbody that was lowered once the driver and power chair occupied the vehicle, which continuously scraped the roadway. There was an abnormal rumbling noise detected from the vehicle. The ramp failed to unfold flat when exiting the vehicle. While using the ramp to enter the vehicle, the ramp was difficult to unfold. …
While driving the car an alert pops up with a red steering wheel and an exclamation point. The console states "Power Steering Unavailable Service Required". I brought the vehicle to a dealer and they stated they thought it was from low voltage due to a bad battery. They returned the car and the issue happened again. Oddly the you get the symptom first. Then you see an alert saying "LaneSense Off" then a ding where the console says "Power Steering Unavailable Service Required". So for a few seconds you might think lane sense off is the problem even though the reality is you have no more power steering. My family's life was at risk. Without power steering the vehicle was incredibly hard to control. It is very heavy and I had to use my full force to turn it, if it was my wife or someone less muscular they would have crashed. …
The contact owned a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, a very loud snapping noise had suddenly occurred, and the message "Stability System Activated" displayed before the steering wheel suddenly turned to the right, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle to crash and roll over multiple times. The police and first responders were called to the scene, and the occupants were transported to the hospital. During the crash, the driver sustained multiple neck and back fractures and a right leg injury from the seat belt strap. The front passenger sustained multiple rib fractures. The vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. …
Traveling down a country road on a clear afternoon, the vehicle traveled approximately 35 mph while cresting a small hill. On the other side of the hill was a "T" shaped intersection where another vehicle stopped in the intersection from a stop sign several feet behind. The other driver failed to complete the turn when they saw oncoming traffic. The driver noticed the intersection had an obstructed path and attempted to move into the oncoming traffic lane since no oncoming traffic was visible. Just then, the onboard computer installed in the control panel of the drivers seat had acted upon either the obstruction or the switch in lanes and assumed complete control of the braking and steering systems. The driver was unable to retrieve control from the computer systems artificial intelligence before a direct crash occured with a telephone pole. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH and attempting to slow down to park in a parking spot, the steering wheel started shaking unexpectedly. There was a clunking sound coming from the steering wheel. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,432.
The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds on several occasions, the steering wheel started sticking, making it difficult to steer turn the steering wheel to the left or the right, and the steering wheel overcorrected after making a turn. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic rack unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,507.
The contact owns a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while turning to the right, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that force was needed to maneuver the steering wheel. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted and became a worsening failure. The steering wheel seized while turning to the right or the left. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware that the failure was most common with similar vehicles between 60,000 and 90,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while making a sharp left turn at slow speeds, the vehicle shuddered. There was no warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle jerked forward upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact called JT's Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Lexington (4838 Sunset Blvd, Lexington, SC 29072) and JT's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Columbia (190 Greystone Blvd, Columbia, SC 29210) and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
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…
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chrysler Pacifica years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2017 (287), 2018 (185), 2005 (54), 2007 (51) and 2004 (50) model years. Steering complaints make up 19% of all complaints for the 2017.
Is there a recall for Chrysler Pacifica steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for any Chrysler Pacifica model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chrysler Pacifica steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 42% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (22 mentions), followed by the rack and pinion (4).
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.