2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the vehicle losing motive power or shutting down while driving, sometimes with a "shift to park" message, and trouble getting it to accelerate again. A second common theme is charging and high-voltage battery trouble, including charging faults after recall work, plus engine-bay overheating and burning smells tied to earlier emissions software updates. Many reports come in at low mileage, though hybrid-battery and transmission complaints also appear at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Hybrid propulsion system

   Loss of power / stall while driving ("shift to park")

   • 82 complaints (37%)
   • median 5,317 mi at 1.3 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the van stalling or dropping to very low power at speed, often with a "shift to park" or "stop safely" message and multiple warning lights. Several report the vehicle restarting after being shut off, while others needed a tow; dealers often could not duplicate the problem, performed software flashes, or replaced batteries and components such as an inverter. Some complaints note that the same shutdown recurred after the vehicle was returned. Reported across the range from a few hundred to about 70,000 miles, frequently at highway speeds.

   Recall 24V536000Recall 22V077000Recall 18V7400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the hybrid control software updates and any open hybrid-propulsion recalls were completed, and whether the vehicle has ever been towed for a no-start or stall. A test drive on a highway, watching for warning lights, is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving from san francisco to las vegas at 70 MPH the engine stopped. We were able to get off the expressway under some duress. We called emergency responders but after 30 to 40 minutes the car started again. A part was ordered (energy inverter modem) but has not arrived in almost three months. Afraid to use car out of town.”

   NHTSA complaint #11204100, filed 2019-04, 7,006 miles

   “We were on a road trip from florida to virginia to buffalo. On our trip from virginia to buffalo on june 26th while driving at 70 miles an hour on the 99 in pennsylvania the car stalled and we were forced to pull off the road barely made it as the car lost all power. Had the van towed to a dealer in altoona pa. When the car arrived at the dealership it started right up for him. He then proceeded to reset the engine light and send us on our way. He said have a safe trip. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11228471, filed 2019-06, 12,200 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Burning smell, smoke and catalytic converter heat

   • 26 complaints (12%)
   • median 3,750 mi at 1.0 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2024

   Complaints describe a burning smell or smoke from the engine bay, sometimes with the van losing power at highway speed, and catalytic converters found severely heat-damaged or glowing. Several owners link this to emissions software updates and say the dealer reflashed the control module and replaced converters and exhaust piping. Mostly reported under about 20,000 miles, often after a software update or at highway speeds.

   Recall 18V740000Recall 24V5360001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the catalytic converter and related software campaigns were completed and whether converters or exhaust parts were replaced. Inspect for heat damage under the hood and check for a burnt smell after a highway test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car stalled and began smoking profusely when attempting to accelerate after being stopped at a red light. Car was repaired as per recall (which was known about at the time but we were told it should not have affected our car). Car continued to smell of smoke after transition from electric to gas mode. Dealer was unable to pinpoint why.”

   NHTSA complaint #11172281, filed 2019-01, 100 miles

   “Since december 2018, we had to replace the battery 3 times since the vehicle shut off while driving on the highway. There was smoke smell coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed and problems corrected, but the engine light has been coming on more than 3 occasions. The GPS system has not been working since march 2020, but they are not able to fix the issues. Our local dealership says that Chrysler has not responded to their multiple requests for the radio replacement.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329430, filed 2020-06, 4,500 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Charging faults and hybrid battery trouble

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the van failing to charge when plugged in, a dead 12-volt battery or full electrical shutdown after overnight charging, and "service hybrid battery" or check hybrid system messages. Some describe these messages appearing after recall repairs were completed; dealers sometimes replaced batteries repeatedly or could not determine a cause. Mostly reported between roughly 15,000 and 100,000 miles, with some very early low-mileage cases.

   Recall 22V077000Recall 24V5360002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the high-voltage battery recalls were performed and ask for the service history on battery replacements. Try a full charge cycle during the test drive and check that the charge port, charging cable and 12-volt battery behave normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Similar frustrating experience here for the 2019 pacifica hybrid limited. Bought brand new in dec. 2018. Now only 2,000 miles on it, the minivan rattled on startup (with 60% charged) and could barely accelerate when I tried merging into a main road. The vehicle put itself into a low-speed mode (aka the famous 'red turtle mode'), and then would no longer accelerate at all! Fortunately, I was able to pull over into a parking lot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11207371, filed 2019-05, 2,000 miles

   “I bought the car new 3 weeks ago. I charged overnight using the provided 110v charger and it seemed fine. The next morning all batteries were dead, no response to any buttons. The entire car reeked of sulfer which seems to indicate a major electrical short. In addition, the electrical parking brake is engaged so the car can't be safely towed from it's current location. I have a dead car I can't move and can't have looked at. I don't even feel safe jump starting it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11185845, filed 2019-03, 300 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Inoperative doors, liftgate and other electrical accessories

   • 42 complaints (19%)
   • median 12,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe power sliding doors, the power liftgate, passive entry handles and the infotainment screen working intermittently or not at all, including a screen that freezes or goes blank while driving. Complaints also mention battery drain, blind-spot and forward-collision warnings behaving inconsistently, and dealers unable to reproduce the faults. Reported from very low mileage up to about 50,000 miles, in varied weather including very hot and very cold conditions.

   Recall 20V334000Recall 18V5240004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Operate every door, the liftgate, the entry handles and the touchscreen during the test drive, and ask whether door-handle, liftgate or screen software bulletins have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front collision warning and brakes did not engage when this safety mechanism has been functioning in the past. We were driving on the freeway in traffic when the truck ahead of us braked suddenly. Our pacifica rear-ended this vehicle at about 25-30mph. No audible or visual front collision warning occurred and the automated emergency braking system did not engage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11118038, filed 2018-08, 12,000 miles

   “When I shifted into reverse to back out of a parking spot where I'd had the car turned off, the main infotainment screen went completely blue after briefly showing the usual backup camera and 360 view. It was about 23 degrees outside.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396064, filed 2021-02, 15,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission problems and stuck gear selector

   • 17 complaints (8%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   A number of complaints describe the transmission failing or locking up, in one case at highway speed with a total loss of power and a replacement transmission required. Others report the gear selector becoming unresponsive or the vehicle showing an unclear gear state, leaving it unable to shift into park, neutral or drive. Reported from under 10,000 miles up to about 180,000 miles.

   What to check: During the test drive, shift through all gears including reverse and park several times and listen for unusual noises. Ask whether the transmission has ever been replaced or serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased the 2018 Chrysler pacifica hybrid in december 2018. In february 2018 at about 3500 miles, the vehicle's engine light turned on and the engine sounded loud. I took the vehicle to the dealership and was informed that a pin was missing from the exhaust camshaft phaser. The pin was not installed with the manufacture of the vehicle according to the technician. The exhaust camshaft was replaced along with a camshaft phaser, oil control solenoid, and cylinder head cover gasket. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11103765, filed 2018-06, 3,500 miles

   “2018 Chrysler pacifica lost power due to the torque convertor locking up I know because I have the freeze frame data in a snap on zeus using the 18.4 software. It was moving at 39 miles an hour when the transmission locked up. Code in freeze frame is p061b internal control module torque calculation performance. This is a gsa government lease vehicle. This vehicle has only 6,617 miles on it. It is in a repair shop in everett washington this vehicle will be in the shop for two more weeks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11191304, filed 2019-03, 6,617 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the hybrid system and charging behavior, and on whether all open hybrid-propulsion and battery recalls were completed, since several complaints involve symptoms recurring after repair. A full service history and a highway test drive are the most useful checks for this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.