Problems · NHTSA complaints

2026 Chrysler Pacifica problems

Owners filed 11 complaints about the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica with NHTSA between Sep 2025 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (4).

Complaints
11
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system4
  2. Engine3
  3. Power train2
  4. Seats1
  5. Service brakes1
  6. Forward collision avoidance1
  7. Air bags1
  8. Fuel/propulsion system1
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  10. Parking brake1
  11. Suspension1
  12. Other / unknown3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20251
202610

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

4 reports1 crash
“I was traveling on the DC beltway (interstate), it was raining and the temp was in the low 50s. The vehicle in front of me hit their brakes pretty hard. I started braking firmly myself. I heard an alarm sound and I believe the anti-lock braking activated, and the van began automatically braking itself. I was brought to a complete stop on the interstate by the van. The vehicle ahead of me accelerated again and I stepped on the gas to get going again and it wouldn't move. At all. I kept pressing on the gas to get going and the van wouldn't move. Meanwhile traffic behind me is gaining on me and I was rear-ended. After being hit I tried to move it out of the travel lane and it still wouldn't move. After all that I looked at the dash and it said to move forward, release the electronic parking brake (or something to that effect). I pushed the button to turn it off, and was able to get onto the shoulder. I believe the root cause of the crash was that the van automatically turned on the parking brake on it's own, and I did not want it on. If it hadn't, I could've accelerated away and not gotten rear-ended.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2026Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11752618

Engine

3 reports
“When driving on freeway the vehicle overheated and engine warning light flashed and had to come to stop at side of freeway. The vehicle had lost its coolant from a rear heater hose connection. The car was towed to dealer and the repair comment was that a part was deformed from mis-assembly (or words to that effect) - rear heater core fitting clip distorted causing hose come of the core. This was an early life failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11761848

Power train

2 reports
“Driving down a busy section of highway on I-25 in Colorado, without warning car lost all power and shutoff. Was able to veer off highway to shoulder without getting hit. Car will not restart. This was incredibly unsettling as my family and kids were all in the car on the way home and was a very dangerous situation. For a brand new vehicle to shut off on the highway without warning is unacceptable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11739905

Seats

1 report
“The contact owns a 2026 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that on the day of purchasing the vehicle, the contact tested the electronic motor resistance-sensing system for the third-row seats; however, the seat failed to stop and reverse and continued to move. The contact attempted to stop the seat from moving forward, but the seat overpowered the contact, who then moved out of the way. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the automatic seat feature was disabled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied the replacement or buyback request. The failure mileage was approximately 230.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2026SeatsODI 11758534

Service brakes

1 report1 crash

Forward collision avoidance

1 report1 crash
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.