Chrysler · Known Issues
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Problems: 21 Known Issues
2018 model year · 1,000+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2018 model year · 1,000+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,000+ owner reports, the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has 21 documented known issues, with 8 rated critical. The most serious are 3.6L Pentastar Engine Stalling and Head Gasket Failure ($0-$8,000 repair), Plug-In Hybrid Battery Fire Risk (PHEV) ($0-$17,000 repair), Hybrid Transmission Wiring Harness Short (PHEV) ($0-$8,000 repair), Loose Battery Ground Connection Causing Stall and Loss of Power Steering Assist (Stop/Start) ($0-$250 repair), Right Front Lower Control Arm Separating from the Steering Knuckle ($0-$600 repair), Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall (17V824000) on 2018 Pacifica Minivans, 2017-2018 Pacifica Cruise Control That Won't Disengage — Recall 18V332000 and Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid PCM Voltage Regulator Recall — Stall or No-Start (18V524000 / U87). The most commonly reported issue is Power Sliding Door Actuator and Motor Failure with 300 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $80 to $17,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEVs). An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles. The fuel line may be deformed, causing a fuel leak.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. An electrical short may occur due to an incorrectly installed 12-volt battery isolator post, resulting in a fire while parked or driving.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wagoneer, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 3500, Ram 3500 cab chassis, Ram 2500, Ram 4500 cab chassis, Ram 5500 cab chassis, 2023 Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a GVWR less than 10,000 lbs., and Chrysler Voyager vehicles. The steering column control module may not be welded properly, which can prevent the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
+ 18 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,000+ owner reports, the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has 21 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 3.6L Pentastar Engine Stalling and Head Gasket Failure, Plug-In Hybrid Battery Fire Risk (PHEV), Hybrid Transmission Wiring Harness Short (PHEV). Of these, 8 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has 21 known issues documented across 1,000+ owner reports. 8 issues are rated critical: 3.6L Pentastar Engine Stalling and Head Gasket Failure and Plug-In Hybrid Battery Fire Risk (PHEV) and Hybrid Transmission Wiring Harness Short (PHEV) and Loose Battery Ground Connection Causing Stall and Loss of Power Steering Assist (Stop/Start) and Right Front Lower Control Arm Separating from the Steering Knuckle and Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall (17V824000) on 2018 Pacifica Minivans and 2017-2018 Pacifica Cruise Control That Won't Disengage — Recall 18V332000 and Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid PCM Voltage Regulator Recall — Stall or No-Start (18V524000 / U87). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Chrysler Pacifica issues range from $0 to $17,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, 3.6L Pentastar Engine Stalling and Head Gasket Failure, typically costs $0-$8,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The 3.6L Pentastar V6 in Pacifica models suffers from engine stalling due to loose ground connections (recall NHTSA 19V348), crankshaft position sensor sync issues, and premature head gasket failures typically around 75,000-85,000 miles. Cooling system failures can lead to coolan… Repairs typically run $0-$8,000. Severity: high.
The high-voltage battery pack in Pacifica PHEV models can develop internal short circuits and spontaneously catch fire, even while parked and turned off. Stellantis recalled 24,000+ vehicles after 7+ fire incidents. A previous software fix was deemed not effective and a second re… Repairs typically run $0-$17,000. Severity: high.
Internal transmission wiring connectors in PHEV models can short circuit, causing unexpected engine shutdown while driving. The low-voltage wiring harness within the transmission develops shorts, causing the gas engine to shut down and the vehicle to go into limp mode or lose mot… Repairs typically run $0-$8,000. Severity: high.
On Pacificas built with the engine stop/start system, sealer left on the wire-harness tab during harness manufacturing sits inside the battery ground joint. Over time the sealer creeps and the joint loses clamp load, so the main chassis/engine ground goes intermittent. The high c… Repairs typically run $0-$250. Severity: high.
On 2018 Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles (concentrated in builds from around November 2017), the right front lower control arm ball joint can pull out of the steering knuckle because the knuckle pinch bolt does not adequately clamp the joint. FCA traced it through a spike in… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: high.
Some 2018 Chrysler Pacifica minivans were delivered with a Kidde plastic-handle or push-button 'Pindicator' fire extinguisher that is the subject of NHTSA recall 17V824000. Kidde reports these extinguishers can clog, so the unit may fail to discharge as expected or need excessive… Severity: high.
The 2017 and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica are included in FCA recall 18V332000. The defect can prevent the cruise control system from disengaging: NHTSA's record states that if there is a short circuit within the minivan's wiring while cruise control is in use, the driver may not be ab… Severity: high.
Chrysler recalled Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid minivans under NHTSA campaign 18V524000, alongside a wide range of other FCA US vehicles. The problem is internal to the powertrain control module: a voltage regulator chip on the module's circuit board may fail, and when it does the… Severity: high.
Power sliding door lock actuators and drive motors fail, causing doors to not open or close automatically, get stuck partially open, or make grinding/clicking noises. Most common non-powertrain complaint among Pacifica owners. The actuator's internal mechanism sticks in the lock… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
The 8.4-inch UConnect 4 and 10.1-inch UConnect 5 infotainment systems freeze, go blank, or reboot randomly. Affects radio, touchscreen, GPS, rearview camera, Bluetooth, and rear entertainment. A class-action lawsuit covers 8.4A and 8.4AN systems. Some owners have had screens repl… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The 3.6L Pentastar's oil filter housing on the top of the engine valley is molded plastic and integrates the engine oil cooler, where coolant passes through the same casting. Heat cycling embrittles the plastic and the internal O-rings/seals, and over-torquing the oil filter cap… Repairs typically run $400-$1,100. Severity: medium.
On Pacificas with the 8.4-inch or 12-inch Uconnect display, a software error in the radio can leave the backup camera image on screen after the driver shifts out of reverse. The frozen rear view blocks the map, audio and climate screens and, more importantly, presents a stale rea… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: medium.
Pacificas with the tri-pane/panoramic roof route roof-trough water down four drain tubes inside the A- and D-pillars. The tubes clog with debris or, from the factory, are crimped or left disconnected behind the trim. Water then backs up out of the roof trough and runs down the in… Repairs typically run $150-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The Pacifica draws an unusually high parasitic current with the vehicle asleep, and the modules can fail to fully shut down - owners document the van entering an unresponsive state where lights and accessories stay powered with no way to switch them off, flattening the battery ov… Repairs typically run $220-$600. Severity: medium.
The Pacifica's rear calipers carry a motor-on-caliper electronic parking brake (EPB) actuator and use slide pins that leave the factory with minimal grease. Road salt and water corrode the slide pins and the actuator housing, so the caliper stops floating and only part of the pad… Repairs typically run $300-$900. Severity: medium.
The second-row Stow 'n Go buckets fold into floor bins using a cable-operated release: a strap at the seat back releases the recliner, and a second cable releases the floor latches at the seat base. The release cables slip out of their guides or stretch, and the floor latch mecha… Repairs typically run $100-$500. Severity: medium.
The A/C compressor fails prematurely, often between 60,000-100,000 miles, leaving the entire cabin without cooling. Additionally, the rear A/C system (standard on most trims) can lose effectiveness even when the compressor is functional due to a clogged rear A/C expansion valve o… Repairs typically run $300-$1,800. Severity: medium.
The ZF 9HP 9-speed automatic transmission in the Pacifica exhibits harsh or jerky 3-4 shifts, shuddering during light throttle acceleration at 25-40 mph, and occasional hesitation when downshifting. The 9-speed has had multiple software calibration updates since launch, and the a… Repairs typically run $0-$2,000. Severity: medium.
The Pacifica's temperature and mode blend doors are driven by small geared actuators behind the dash and glovebox. When new, internal friction keeps the actuator from overshooting its commanded position; after a year or two the gear train wears in, the actuator overshoots and the… Repairs typically run $180-$400. Severity: low.
The power liftgate struts, latch assembly, and control module fail, causing the liftgate to not open or close fully, reverse direction mid-travel, or stop responding to button presses entirely. The hydraulic struts lose pressure and cannot hold the liftgate open, letting it fall. Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.