Owners have reported 10 crashes, 1 fire and 11 injuries to NHTSA for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints115
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report issues with the power train, particularly involving the hybrid system and transmission. Common symptoms include unexpected loss of power, failure to shift gears, and the vehicle entering a limp mode or shutting down entirely. These issues often occur at highway speeds, leading to dangerous situations where the vehicle must be pulled over quickly. Several reports mention these problems manifesting around 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with some incidents involving crashes and injuries due to sudden power loss and inability to control the vehicle. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these recurring power train issues and their potential impact on safety and reliability.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints93
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report that the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently experiences electrical system failures, notably in the hybrid models. Common symptoms include the vehicle stalling or losing power, often accompanied by dashboard warnings such as "service charging system" or "stop safely - vehicle will shut off soon." These issues are typically reported at mileages ranging from 6,100 to 53,000 miles. Some complaints involve safety implications, including crashes and a fire, with one reported injury. Buyers should be aware of persistent issues with hybrid battery and power inverter modules, as well as recurring problems with the vehicle's electronic control modules.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints35
ENGINE
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, particularly the Hybrid model, frequently report engine stalling and unexpected shutdowns while driving, often accompanied by warning lights such as "Stop Safely: Vehicle will shut off soon." These issues commonly occur at various speeds, including highway conditions, and typically require the driver to wait several minutes before the vehicle can be restarted. The complaints highlight occurrences at mileages ranging from 20,000 to over 60,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, as the sudden loss of power can leave vehicles stranded in traffic or on highways, posing a risk of accidents. Additionally, some owners mention unresolved issues despite recall repairs, with symptoms persisting even after service interventions.
Owner complaints27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report issues with the rearview camera system and unexpected engine shutdowns. Complaints commonly describe the rearview camera failing to display an image intermittently, despite recall updates, which some owners note began around 2024. Additionally, multiple reports detail the vehicle suddenly losing power while driving, often with a warning message to "stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon," leading to situations where drivers had to navigate to safety at reduced speeds. These issues have led to at least two reported injuries and pose significant safety risks, especially when occurring at highway speeds. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these recurring problems, particularly as they may not have been fully resolved by available recalls.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints25
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report issues with the back-over prevention system, particularly involving the rearview camera. Common symptoms include the camera image freezing, displaying a blank or flickering screen, or showing incorrect past images. These issues are often reported at mileages ranging from approximately 8,852 to 105,000 miles. Some owners mention safety implications, such as one incident where a non-functional camera contributed to a minor collision. Buyers considering this vehicle should be aware of ongoing recall repairs that have been delayed due to unavailable parts, with some owners expressing that the manufacturer has taken an extended period to address these issues.
Owner complaints13
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report fuel leaks due to the fuel line rubbing against the coil pack, causing holes and fuel spraying in the engine bay. This issue is typically identified by a strong gasoline odor, both inside and outside the vehicle, and is often noticed after long drives or when the vehicle is stationary. Complaints suggest this occurs at various mileage levels, with some reports around 70,000 miles. The safety implications are significant, as fuel leaks near engine components pose a risk of fire. Additionally, several owners describe a separate issue where the vehicle loses power and displays "service charging system" errors, leading to sudden deceleration, particularly hazardous at highway speeds.
Owner complaints9
STEERING
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report issues with the steering system, particularly involving the steering wheel shaking at low speeds, such as during parking maneuvers around 10 MPH. Some complaints describe the steering wheel getting stuck at certain positions, necessitating a forceful jolt to regain control, which poses a safety risk, especially at higher speeds or in traffic. These issues are often reported in vehicles with mileage as high as 70,432. Safety implications are significant, with multiple reports of loss of steering control, and one owner mentions a clunking noise, which was diagnosed as a steering rack and pinion failure. Used car buyers should be aware of these potential steering issues, which may require costly repairs.
Owner complaints5
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica report several issues related to the service brakes, with common symptoms including unexpected vehicle surging when the brake pedal is depressed and rolling when stationary. Multiple reports involve the vehicle surging forward before stopping, even after brake application, and rolling despite being in park or reverse, leading to three crashes and two injuries. Complaints frequently mention failure of advanced braking systems, such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning, which do not activate as expected. The issues are reported at various mileages, including as low as 10,000 miles and as high as 82,500 miles. These problems suggest potential safety risks, especially concerning loss of vehicle control and collision risk, which prospective buyers might consider when evaluating this model.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report experiencing a sudden loss of power while driving, often accompanied by error messages such as "Service Charging System" and "Shift to P to Start." These incidents typically occur at highway speeds, around 57 to 60 mph, and result in the inability to use the accelerator, forcing drivers to coast to safety. Complaints indicate that this issue can happen multiple times, with some owners needing to restart the vehicle to regain propulsion temporarily. The problem has been reported in vehicles shortly after purchase, with one owner mentioning issues starting around June 2021. Safety implications are significant, as the sudden loss of power poses a risk of being rear-ended or causing accidents, especially on busy highways.
Owner complaints3
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica frequently report issues with airbag non-deployment during crashes. Complaints describe incidents where no airbags deployed despite significant impact, including side collisions and head-on crashes, resulting in injuries such as head gashes and neck and shoulder trauma. In one instance, a vehicle was rear-ended and pushed into another car without any airbags deploying, despite the vehicle being deemed a total loss. These reports involve vehicles with varying mileages, including one at 108,000 miles. The consistent pattern of airbag non-deployment during crashes suggests a potential safety concern for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
