The best Pacifica years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2017 and 2018: the first years of the new minivan drew three to four times the complaints of later years, mostly stalling, loss of power and engine warning lights.
Best years: 20202022 Years to avoid: 20172018
Every Pacifica year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75 | - | 11 | Transmission and drivetrain | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 196 | - | 14 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 337 | 342 | 10 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2021 | 407 | 414 | 7 | Electrical | Average |
| 2020 | 233 | 248 | 6 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2019 | 363 | 372 | 7 | Electrical | Average |
| 2018 | 1,120 | 947 | 12 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2017 | 1,625 | 1,374 | 11 | Engine | Skip this year |
About the Pacifica
The Pacifica replaced the Town & Country as Chrysler's minivan for 2017, with a 3.6-liter V6 and nine-speed automatic, plus a plug-in hybrid. The first two years drew a very high complaint rate, led by vans that stall or lose power while driving and hybrids that shut down. Complaints fall sharply from 2019, though the Pacifica's average is still higher than most minivans.
- 2017-2020: New Pacifica with V6 or plug-in hybrid. Stalling and electrical faults on 2017-2018.
- 2021 on: Refreshed styling and all-wheel drive. Fewer complaints, with some hybrid shutdowns.
Pacifica warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Chrysler files with NHTSA. 1,665 Pacifica bulletins are on file in total.
Internal Transmission Wiring Connector Short Warranty Extension XE1 Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination.
Internal Transmission Wiring Connector Short and Motor A Bearing Failure Warranty Extension XE1 **Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must exhibit/set one or more of the fol...
High Voltage Battery Pack Replacement XT1 Warranty Extension Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle may exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs):...
Loss of Power Brake Assist XA7 Warranty Extension
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Pacifica
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Preliminary evaluation PE25009 · 2017, 2018 · opened Sep 2025
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.
Preliminary evaluation PE24028 · 2018 · opened Oct 2024, closed Jun 2025
On October 3, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE24028 to investigate alleged failures of Enel X Way's JuiceBox Level 2 residential EV chargers.
Recall query RQ24004 · 2017–2023 · opened Feb 2024
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-008 regarding complaints alleging a loss of motive power condition potentially due to a transmission malfunction in Model Years 2019-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).
Recall query RQ24001 · 2017, 2018 · opened Jan 2024 · led to recall 26V362
On February 11, 2022, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) issued a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 22V-077) on all 2017-2018 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) produced between August 12, 2016 through August 7, 2018.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2017–2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Preliminary evaluation PE22008 · 2018–2024 · opened Jul 2022, closed Mar 2024 · led to recall 23V010
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22008 to investigate allegation of loss of motive power, potentially due to transmission malfunction, in certain Chrysler Pacifica vehicles.
Defect petition DP17003 · 2017 · opened Dec 2017, closed Mar 2018 · led to recall 18V049000
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.
Pacifica vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Chrysler Pacifica?
2020 and 2022. The best Pacifica years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2017 and 2018: the first years of the new minivan drew three to four times the complaints of later years, mostly stalling, loss of power and engine warning lights.
Which Chrysler Pacifica years should I avoid?
2017, 2018. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Chrysler Pacifica average.
Does the Chrysler Pacifica have stalling problems?
Yes, on 2017 and 2018 vans most of all. Owners report the engine shutting off or losing power while driving, and some hybrids losing drive power. Several recalls and software updates cover related faults, so check the VIN for open recalls.
Based on 4,356 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2017 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.