2017 Chrysler Pacifica Electrical System Problems

I experienced a check engine light and intermittent starting issues with my vehicle (Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2017). [XXX] At times, the vehicle would not start, but after some time it could start again. After researching the issue online, I found that there are active safety recalls for this vehicle related to the hybrid system (including battery and inverter/PIM). I immediately contacted the dealer: [XXX] An appointment was scheduled for April 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM. I dropped off the vehicle at approximately 3:50 PM and handed over the keys. Prior to visiting the dealer, I purchased a diagnostic subscription tool to better understand the issue, as many owners report dealers misdiagnosing these problems. The diagnostic results indicated issues related to the PIM (Power Inverter Module), including required updates and possible internal diode failure. This matches the symptoms I experienced, where the vehicle would intermittently fail to start. I have attached photos showing error messages related to PIM update and hybrid system faults. On the next day, the dealer informed me that they would only perform a diagnostic for $180 instead of processing the issue under recall. I believe this is incorrect, as the symptoms match known recall conditions (loss of power / hybrid system failure), and recall-related diagnostics should not be charged to the customer. The dealer is refusing to proceed under recall and is attempting to charge for diagnosis. This is a safety issue and should be handled under recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Description of Incident: On February 15, 2026, my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid experienced three distinct and severe safety system failures involving the electrical system, power seats, and the power sliding door. Power Sliding Door Sensor Failure: While my minor son was entering the vehicle, the power sliding door closed on his leg. The pinch sensor failed to detect the obstruction and did not reverse. This resulted in physical bruising and marks on the limb (photographic evidence maintained). Unintended Passenger Seat Motion: While the vehicle was stationary, the front passenger power seat moved forward to its maximum limit without user input. I was seated in the chair at the time and was pinned against the dashboard before I could intervene. Electrical Shock: My minor daughter received a perceptible electric shock upon touching the exterior door-handle button to open the sliding door. Components Involved: Electrical System Seats (Power) Sliding Door (Power) Injuries: Yes (Soft tissue bruising/marks to minor’s leg). Risk to Safety: Had the driver's seat moved forward without input while the vehicle was in motion, this absolutely could result in loss of control of the vehicle and an accident. Had the sliding side door continued to close on my son's leg, it could have caused severe injury. Had the electrical shock been worse, it could have resulted in burn or injury. The vehicle is available for inspection. It has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The issues have not repeated at this point, although the vehicle was not used the last 12 days. I do not have confidence in its electrical components. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other indications of any problem with the vehicle.

We purchased the vehicle in 2020 with appx 33,000 miles. In fall 2023- winter 2024 it began having electrical glitches when the weather was cold. The car will start, but will not shift into gear. It throws alarms such as service Parking Brake, Shifter, Engine, Traction Control and that you must put it in Park. Although it obviously is in park or it wouldn't have started. The dealership kept it for a month Nov-Dec 2023 and could not get it to recreate the problem, but replaced the battery since it "failed". We went on vacation for Christmas and had issues with it not shifting after it sat all night in the cold. However, the problem is intermittent. But the cold seems to be the consistent factor. Once the weather warms up, it does fine. Although 1 time in sumer 2024 with very high temps 100+ it threw the same alarms and would not shift into gear upon starting the car. We continued to have issues in Fall 2024/Winter 2025. It did great throughout spring and summer, began issues again in Fall 2025 into this Winter 2026. It has left us stranded, unable to get the car to shift sometimes for 10-15 minutes while we "warm up the car" but sometimes it takes 30-60 minutes. We've began putting a space heater nearby it for a couple of hours each morning before we need to drive it, but that doesn't always work either. While extremely frustrating, it hasn't been considered dangerous until a week ago. We came out of church and it was chilly, so I expected it would not shift into gear. It surprised me when it started AND shifted. However, as soon as I got on the main road up to 40mph, the engine completely lost power and threw all the same alarms. The stretch of county road had no shoulders and deep ditches, so barely made it coasting to a neighborhood to pull over. Searching on the Internet, we narrowed it down to the CAN BUS star connector, replaced it, and it drove better than ever! Until it was cold that night! Likely needs soldered, can't reach it behind glovebox.

After a curb impact, the vehicle immediately experienced a no‑start condition. The failure appears to be collision‑related electrical damage in wiring routed through the lowered‑floor mobility‑conversion area installed by BraunAbility. The vehicle was fully operational before the impact and became completely inoperable immediately afterward, with no warning lights or prior symptoms, creating a safety risk for mobility access. United Access (BraunAbility dealer) performed no diagnostic scan, no wiring inspection, and produced no documentation. They stated they could not identify the cause or access the wiring. Houston Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram produced no diagnostic findings. Their only record, a Multi‑Point Inspection, showed no codes, no scan results, and no wiring notes, and incorrectly marked the visibly damaged left front tire as “OK.” The technician who completed the MPI left shortly afterward, and no further diagnostic work was done. The General Manager, Ben Nash, confirmed in writing that no repairs were performed and the diagnostic fee was waived. United Access reported that the dealership told them there were “two shorts in the wiring harness,” but this was only a verbal statement with no documentation, scan report, or technician notes, and no facility has been able to confirm it. An independent repair facility replaced the battery, but the vehicle still would not start. They reported that the wiring is extensive and non‑standard due to the BraunAbility conversion and reached a wiring‑complexity impasse. BraunAbility stated they conducted a “thorough review,” but provided no diagnostic evidence and relied entirely on undocumented verbal statements. The precise failure point cannot be confirmed because no facility could access or trace the conversion‑zone wiring, but the sequence of events clearly indicates collision‑related electrical damage. The vehicle remains in a no‑start condition.

We bought this vehicle from a local dealer in March (9months ago) in the time we’ve had it… it’s been in the shop for about 6 of them. 1- About 3 weeks after the purchase it shut off while I was driving on the highway. We then took it to the dealership in Jasper, Ga bc the error code said the pcm needed to be reset. They couldn’t get it to reset so they embarked on a diagnostic that took 3 months to discover the fuel pump was “too small”. The dealership repair guy assured us this was a solve to the issue, they’re tech put 200 miles on it an had no issues. 2- The day we got it back the check engine light came on and while going around a curve to the right, the wheel locked up on me and almost drove me into a mailbox. We turned around and went right back to the dealership. They had it for another couple weeks and told us we needed a new rack and pinion. We couldn’t afford the $6000 they wanted to fix that. So we then called the guy we bought it from and he had a local repair shop take a look and they replaced some parts on the rack and said it was good to go. 3- got it back and the check engine came on again, they code said pcm needed to be reset. We couldn’t get the dealership to call us back so we went to the local shop o’reileys recommended and they deducted some gauges needed to be replaced. 4- within a couple weeks the van was sputtering and cutting off again, we took it back to the local shop and the only thing they could think to do was change the auxiliary battery. 5- we’ve had it for about 2 weeks… 2 days again I went to start it up and it cut off. I had to wait a few minutes to try again and it started. Then yesterday while driving we stopped a red light and something popped and the dash lit up with errors and a grinding noise started. We went to accelerate to turn and started rolling backwards while in drive. We slammed on the brakes, turned the cautions on and put it in park and still rolled backwards. We had to get a tow back to the local shop.

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or right before the vehicle stalled. The steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over and restart and driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. Prior to the failures, the vehicle was difficult to start while cold-starting. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V348000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

I have been driving, usually at lower speeds and the entire electrical system shuts down. This has left me and my children in the middle of a busy road without brake lights. It has happened multiple times. The battery will be dead and charge multiple times, but then I end up having the electrical failure. It is terrifying. I had the battery checked and it is not the issue. I have not contacted the dealership, but plan on it tomorrow.

My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica shuts down while in driving

My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is shutting off while driving need to be repaired

This is a complaint regarding an inadequate recall remedy for Recall Z75 (NHTSA 24V-538). The manufacturer's software update rendered my 2017 Pacifica Hybrid inoperable due to DTC P0C77. While the battery was ultimately replaced under warranty, the manufacturer is refusing to reimburse $1,948.74 in rental expenses despite a prior verbal commitment to do so. This constitutes a failure to provide a 'free and effective remedy' as required by federal law for safety recalls.

Despite repairing multiple things on the vehicle, the automatic engine start/stop continues to malfunction.

My car keeps draining my battery. Just bought brand new batteries from Less Schwab and they are both failed! The auto shop did a draw test and says the car isn't drawing power. But it's drawing power somewhere. I found 2 videos saying there's issues with the sliding door wiring corroding? Still working snd causing issues. So I'm going to test it out myself. Super frustrating. Had to buy new batteries as soon as I bought from the dealership last year and now those batteries are dead!

After the latest 73B recall, the engine light sporadically turn on. In one occasion, while cruising at low speed ~25mph in the electric mode, the vehicle switched to gas engine mode even there was 16 electric miles on the battery. This issue was not there prior to the recall. Need investigation on the software reliability and the underlying battery issue

I own a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid that is currently under active recall and within the 8-year federal hybrid warranty. My vehicle is covered under Recall 20V334 (W46). The high-voltage (HV) battery has failed, rendering the vehicle undriveable. The dealership confirmed the battery needs to be replaced and opened a warranty claim, but they do not have parts available. Despite this, Chrysler has refused to provide me with a rental or loaner vehicle while the car is awaiting repair — citing that my vehicle is “not a 2019 or newer.” I was also denied escalation to a supervisor by Chrysler’s customer care team, even after I requested further review. This leaves me and my family without safe, reliable transportation. Chrysler’s refusal to provide a rental violates the intent of the recall process, which is to protect drivers and passengers from unsafe conditions. The car cannot be driven, and there is no known repair date. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Chrysler’s refusal to support owners affected by this recall — especially those with vehicles built before 2019 who are still within the hybrid warranty period. I am concerned that Chrysler is selectively denying recall support to 2017 and 2018 model years despite the recall applying to 2017–2020 Pacifica Hybrids.

After driving, I can to a stop to park the van. The van would not shift to park and instead would go to neutral. I then could not turn the van off. It would only stay in accessory mode. Upon looking at this issue online, many Chrysler Pacifica owners have the same issue. Some people are able to fix the issue easily, while others needed to replace the transmission valve body. This is an incredibly expensive repair. There were no warning lights ahead of this problem happening, it happened out of the blue. No codes are shown when reading for codes in the van. The message that pops up when the van would not shift to park was “service trans press brake when stopped key off engine to engage park”. But the van will not turn off completely. To get the van to shut off, the battery needs to be disconnected. Safety is put at risk as I am not able to park the van or turn it off completely which would result in a dead battery.

- digital display not working when in reverse; yes it is available upon request - unable to see behind the vehicle properly impacting safety of everyone in vehicle. - dealership confirmed there is a recall for this issue but our VIN is not included yet. - no inspection yet. - no; 6/6/2025

On Thursday May 30th was the first incident of the vehicle shutting down we were able to start it back up almost immediately within seconds on the 2nd occasion I was on a street with cars behind me going down to make a turn the stop start did not engage but we were still a ways away from the stoplight and suddenly the engine stopped no signs other than just stopping I could not start it back up I look down there was no indication of any issue other than a stalling so put it in part turned it off turn it back on no start try it again didn't work could not turn it over to neutral to get off the road police came while I had somebody disconnect battery and reconnect it to try to get it started again there was no less battery power on the engine it took 15 minutes or more to get it started once able to get started we brought it back home it was Sunday the 1st of June 2025 so there were no mechanics available still unknown as to what caused the malfunction no indicator lights other than during the issue with a lightning bolt and during the outage the check engine light was on no lights currently on. The Danger was to myself and two children in the vehicle and too many other vehicles behind me that could have crashed into me or cause incident being in the road working on the vehicle having to go around us waiting for green lights or a miss trying to get around us and avoid other traffic

grille shudder broke

I am writing to report another incident related to my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. Today, while driving on a major highway, my vehicle unexpectedly shut off and braked violently multiple times without warning, creating a serious safety hazard. Fortunately, there was no accident, but due to the sudden and forceful braking, I am now experiencing pain in my head, neck, upper back, and shoulders. I previously reported electrical issues with this vehicle on January 22, 2024. Given the recurring nature of these problems, I am extremely concerned about the ongoing safety risks. Please advise on the next steps to formally document this incident and any updates regarding similar reports or investigations into this issue. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to be restarted after 30 minutes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change and tune-up. The dealer determined that the failure could be related to the motor mounts. The dealer replaced the motor mounts; however, the failure recurred within an hour while the contact was driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring underneath the front passenger's seat had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.