The 2017 Pacifica Hybrid pairs FCA's 3.6L Pentastar V6 with a dual-motor eTransmission and 16 kWh battery pack. While innovative for its time, early production units suffer from catastrophic engine failures, hybrid inverter module issues, and transmission cooler leaks that can destroy the electric drive unit if ignored.
Symptoms: Loud knocking or ticking from engine bay, often worst on cold starts, Metal shavings in oil, milky oil from coolant intrusion, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Complete loss of power or engine seizure in worst cases
Fix: The cylinder deactivation solenoids fail, starving cylinders of oil and wiping cam lobes. Leads to spun bearings, scored cylinder walls, and total engine failure. Requires complete engine rebuild or replacement—45-60 hours labor. Some warranty extensions exist but often fight required. Short block replacement is minimum, full rebuild typical.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Hybrid Inverter Module Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Red turtle warning light (hybrid system fault), Vehicle stuck in limp mode, gas engine only, Intermittent power loss or no-start condition, Cooling fan runs constantly even when parked
Fix: The power inverter module (PIM) that converts DC battery power to AC for the drive motors overheats and fails, often from coolant contamination or internal component breakdown. Located under the vehicle between the battery and motor. Requires dealer programming after replacement—8-12 hours labor. NHTSA recall 19V-074 covers some units.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leak into Coolant
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Strawberry milkshake appearance in coolant reservoir, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating warnings for transmission or hybrid system, Hybrid system derating or complete failure if ATF contaminates electric motor coolant
Fix: The integrated transmission oil cooler fails internally, cross-contaminating ATF and coolant. CRITICAL on hybrids because this coolant circuit also cools the electric drive unit and inverter—contamination kills the EDU ($8k+). Requires immediate cooler replacement, full fluid flush of both systems, and often transmission rebuild if caught late—12-18 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,500-5,500
12V Battery Parasitic Drain
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Dead 12V battery after 2-3 days of sitting, Instrument cluster or infotainment glitches, Hybrid system won't initialize (needs 12V to boot), Multiple phantom electrical issues
Fix: The hybrid control module and various body control modules don't sleep properly, draining the undersized 12V AGM battery. Wiring harness chafing under the dash (recall 18V-355) can worsen this. Diagnosis requires amp clamp sleep-mode testing—2-4 hours. Fix often involves module reflash, harness repair, and upgraded battery. The high-voltage system won't charge a completely dead 12V, requiring jump-start.
Estimated cost: $400-1,200
Front Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Vibration at idle, especially with A/C on, Excessive engine movement visible from driver seat during acceleration
Fix: The hydraulic front transmission mount fails prematurely, likely from the extra mass of the electric drive unit. Causes drivetrain to rock excessively. Straightforward replacement but requires supporting the drivetrain—2.5-3.5 hours labor. OEM part recommended over aftermarket.
Estimated cost: $350-600
High Voltage Battery Capacity Degradation
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: Electric range drops below 20 miles (original ~30 mi), Battery charges to lower percentage than before, Increased reliance on gas engine for acceleration
Fix: The 16 kWh LG Chem battery pack loses 20-30% capacity by 100k miles, especially if fast-charged regularly or operated in extreme heat. No fix short of full battery replacement—dealership-only job requiring hybrid system certification, 8-10 hours. Warranty covers 8 years/80k miles for capacity below 70%, but proving it requires dealer testing.
Estimated cost: $8,500-12,000
Owner tips
Change oil every 5k miles maximum—the cylinder deactivation system is ultra-sensitive to oil quality. Use Mopar-spec 0W-20 only.
Check coolant color monthly; any pink/red tint means immediate transmission cooler failure—stop driving to avoid killing the electric drive unit.
If buying used, pay for pre-purchase inspection at dealer to pull hybrid system health reports and battery capacity test—walk away if under 75% capacity.
Install a battery tender if the vehicle sits more than a week; the 12V drain issue never fully resolves.
Verify all TSBs and recalls completed, especially 18V-355 (wiring harness) and 19V-074 (inverter)—many owners never got notified.
Innovative packaging and useful EV range, but the engine grenading and expensive hybrid components make this a high-risk used purchase unless you can verify meticulous maintenance history and recent engine/inverter replacement—budget $3k/year for surprises.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Consequence: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
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.
Consequence: An unexpected engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Power Inverter Module (PIM) software and, if necessary, update the instrument panel cluster (IPC) and the electronic control module (ECM) software, free of charge. FCA US will notify dealers and begin notifying owners on or about: 03/21/2023 for 2021 model year vehicles, 05/02/2023 for 2019-2020 model year vehicles, and 06/15/2023 for 2017-2018 model year vehicles. FCA began notifying owners on February 23, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 03A.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM · 22V077000
2022-02-11
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). A vehicle fire can occur when parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Consequence: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to recharge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until they are repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack control module (BPCM) software. In addition, dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the battery pack assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters, informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2022. Final owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z11. This recall is superseded by NHTSA recall 24V-538.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles ("PHEV"). The 12 volt isolator post located behind the driver's seat may develop high resistance.
Consequence: A high resistance electrical connection may result in the connection overheating, increasing the risk of a fire with the vehicle on or off.
Remedy: FCA will conduct a voluntary safety recall on affected vehicles to increase the torque and install a waterproof gasket to the 12v isolator post, the post will also be inspected for signs of contamination. In the event the post is compromised, the 12v isolator post and associated cables will be replaced. Until the final remedy is available, customers should bring their vehicles to dealers for an interim inspection of this joint. The recall remedy is currently under development. FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will perform an interim inspection of this joint. If the inspection indicates the joint is compromised, owners will receive a loaner vehicle, until a final remedy is developed. Interim notifications are expected to begin around June 22, 2020. The recall began July 30, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is W46.
Note: Consumers are advised to exercise the following precautions until the vehicle has the final repair completed: do not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles. Additionally, keep liquids out of the backseat area, including but not limited to beverages, wet items, umbrellas, or bottled liquids that may leak.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · 19V348000
2019-05-09
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Pacifica vehicles equipped with engine stop/start systems. A loose battery ground connection may result in an intermittent loss of power steering assist and/or a stall.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist or a stall can increase the risk of crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery ground surfaces, clean the contact surfaces as needed, and properly reassemble the ground connection, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US' number for this recall is V53.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM · 18V740000
2018-10-19
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.
Consequence: The improperly started engine could result in a loss of motive power increasing the risk of a crash or the unburned fuel in the catalyst may ignite increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: FCA will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain controller module software, and inspect and replace the catalytic converter as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U94.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) plug may be removed without a tool. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Consequence: If the MPR is engaged unintentionally, the vehicle could roll away striking and injuring a bystander or cause a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MPR plug, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U50.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 18V332000
2018-05-17
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 18V049000
2018-01-11 · DP17003
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.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U01.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · 17V542000
2017-08-31
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles equipped with the 8-passenger seating option. In certain passenger seating and vehicle situations, the second-row center seating position seat belt buckle could cause the left outboard seat belt to become unlatched.
Consequence: Inadvertent unlatching of the left outboard seat belt can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a shorter second-row seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T54.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT · 17V482000
2017-07-28
Vantage Mobility International, LLC (VMI) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica lowered floor vehicles modified by VMI. The rear pinion bracket on both sides of the vehicle may crack, causing the axle not to be centered and the wheel to wobble.
Consequence: A wheel wobble may cause a possible loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: VMI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pinion brackets, free of charge. The recall began on August 14, 2017. Owners may contact VMI customer service at 1-800-488-9082. VMI's number for this recall is PAC20170728.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 17V375000
2017-06-13
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEV). The tire placard on the affected vehicles incorrectly lists the seating capacity as 6 occupants rather then 7 occupants, with a combined weight of 950lbs rather than 1,100lbs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: The incorrect tire label may cause customer confusion, potentially resulting in vehicle overloading, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace tire placard label, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T37.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER · 17V371000
2017-06-09
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEV). The affected vehicles have diodes in the Power Inverter Module ("PIM") that may fail due to an overvoltage condition. If the diodes fail, the vehicle will not move under its own power.
Consequence: A vehicle that suddenly cannot be driven, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module, Battery Pack Control Module, On Board Charging Module, and PIM, free of charge. The PIM will be replaced as necessary. The recall began on September 14, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T34.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 17V342000
2017-05-25
Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage Mobility) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica lowered floor vans modified by Vantage Mobility for wheelchair accessibility. The affected vans have rear brake lines that might have been crossed during the modification. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: The crossed rear brake lines will cause the rear anti-lock brake system to be ineffective, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Vantage Mobility will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear brake line attachments, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082. Vantage Mobility's number for this recall is Pac-20170525.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · 16V490000
2016-06-30
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017 Pacifica vehicles manufactured February 22, 2016, through April 28, 2016. The center overhead seat belt stow clip may fracture and prevent use of the seat belt in the third-row and/or second-row center passenger seat (if so equipped).
Consequence: If passengers occupying the third-row and/or second-row center seats cannot use a seat belt, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the third-row and, if necessary, second-row center overhead seat belt stow bezel, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S42.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.