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Owner complaints · Engine · every model year

Chrysler Pacifica engine problems, 2016–2027

1,539 of the 4,317 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chrysler Pacifica 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (556), 2018 (442), 2021 (145). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

1,539 complaints, 12 model years 36% of everything filed about the Pacifica typically at 16k miles

Chrysler Pacifica engine problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model year	Complaints naming the engine	Share of the year’s	Typically at	On file under the heading
2027	1	100%	—	—	the year →
2026	3	27%	—	30 TSBs	the year →
2025	5	17%	—	52 TSBs	the year →
2024	25	36%	—	66 TSBs	the year →
2023 in depth	65	34%	—	81 TSBs	the record →
2022 in depth	122	37%	—	99 TSBs	the record →
2021 in depth	145	36%	24k	116 TSBs	the record →
2020 in depth	77	34%	35k	102 TSBs	the record →
2019 in depth	97	27%	23k	91 TSBs	the record →
2018 in depth	442	40%	11k	95 TSBs · 1 recall	the record →
2017 in depth	556	35%	20k	108 TSBs · 2 recalls · 1 investigation	the record →
2016	1	50%	—	21 TSBs	the year →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.

When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database

1,539complaints name the engine, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 79 · 2018: 134 · 2019: 136 · 2020: 49 · 2021: 65 · 2022: 177 · 2023: 305 · 2024: 283 · 2025: 188 · 2026: 123

16kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 493 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 5,000 and 40,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

I have been trying to take care of this urgent safety recall since February 2023. The local dealership (4520 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40207) keeps telling me that they don't have a "loaner" care to provide to me while my vehicle is being repaired.

Engine May 16, 2023 NHTSA owner report

While driving to work in the morning on 19-feb-2019, the MIL check engine lamp illuminated as well as the "red turtle" limp mode indicator and a dashboard message stating "vehicle speed may be limited." this happened while driving on local surface streets about one mile from my place of work.

Engine at 26,995 miles Apr 9, 2019 NHTSA owner report

Catalytic converter overheated during operation causing a burning smell in cabin. Visual inspection of converter showed it was red hot and the color of the sun. Check engine light came in and car was not functional. This is related to the botched u73 recall and subsequent rrt

Engine at 3,300 miles Oct 23, 2018 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. While driving various speeds, the check engine warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ramey Chrysler jeep dodge ram (127 frazier dr, princeton, wv 24739), but the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred.

Engine at 1,800 miles Oct 22, 2018 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.

Engine at 30,000 miles Oct 3, 2024 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

18V740000 Critical
Oct 19, 2018 · 10,260 vehicles
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEV). After the vehicle has been operating in PHEV propulsion mode, the gas-fueled engine may not restart properly resulting in unburned fuel entering the exhaust catalyst.
18V049000 High
Jan 11, 2018 · 153,859 vehicles
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles equipped with a 3.6l engine. The engine control software may become out of sync with the crankshaft position sensor, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

NHTSA investigation

DP17003 Stall/Loss of Motive Power
opened Dec 1, 2017 · closed Mar 1, 2018
By letter dated November 30, 2017, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requesting it open an investigation into allegations of engine stalling in the model year (MY) 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, a new vehicle platform. In support of its petition, CAS cited 57 NHTSA complaints alleging an engine stall in the subject Pacifica vehicles, in additio…

3 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

113280 Service bulletin 2022
Jul 6, 2026
HOSE AND TUBE - EGR COOLANT
9100498 Rev 3 Service bulletin 2016
May 12, 2025
3.6L PSU Long Block Misfire DTC codes and/or rough idle and/or valvetrain noise. Refer to SOL # S2509000004. It is also important to confirm that the vehicle being repaired has the latest calibration/software update for oil pump operation mode (high pressure mode) during engine start up. RU, VF, WL & WD vehicles already include the latest oil pump mode in all 25MY and beyond. 24MY service releases
S2307000002 REV. B Service bulletin 2016
Jun 7, 2024
Suspected Engine Coolant Leak

Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Other systems with a record on the Chrysler Pacifica

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Chrysler Pacifica problems by year →

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Chrysler Pacifica years have the most engine complaints?

2017, 556; 2018, 442; 2021, 145. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2027 (100%).

Is there a recall for the engine on the Chrysler Pacifica?

Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 18V740000 (2018), 18V049000 (2017). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do engine problems show up on the Chrysler Pacifica?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 16,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 5,000 and 40,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.