2019 Chrysler Pacifica Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica report a wide spread of problems, but two themes dominate: brakes that lose assist — a hard pedal, a hissing sound and the van rolling forward — and electrical gremlins that include dead batteries, a van that shuts itself off, and warning lights or shifter faults. Many complaints arrive at low mileage, some within the first few thousand miles, while stalling and transmission concerns cluster higher up. Engine, transmission and steering complaints are also common in the wider totals.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Van shuts off or stalls while driving; start/stop and

   • 137 complaints (43%)
   • median 19,089 mi at 2.1 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the engine quitting while driving, sometimes with a start/stop or electrical warning message and loss of power steering, and occasionally a failure to restart. Others describe both the main and auxiliary batteries failing, sometimes more than once, and a cluster of warning lights after startup. Complaints mention dealer visits where relays, batteries, modules or a wiring harness were replaced, with recurrence in some cases. Spread across the mileage range, from under 2,000 miles to over 120,000 miles; several reports involve the auto start/stop system or a loss of power steering assist.

   Recall 19V348000Recall 23V0100002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery ground connection recall and any hybrid transmission wiring recall were completed for the VIN, and have the battery and charging system checked. Note whether the start/stop system behaves normally on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “First day we purchased the vehicle, the engine light went on and the hybrid battery needed to be replaced. Two weeks later the vehicle kept stalling, and eventually came to a complete stop. Four weeks of purchase, our car begans stalling again and our engine light is back on. Tech says the car fixed itself . The engine light is back on again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11245092, filed 2019-08, 58 miles

   “Both batteries have failed twice within a 4 month period. First time it failed to start and gave a warning. Second time the vehicle failed during operation on a public road without any warning and would not restart.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353029, filed 2020-09, 46,376 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Weak or hard brake pedal with hissing, van will not stop

   • 53 complaints (17%)
   • median 36,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe pressing the pedal and finding it hard or going to the floor, with a hissing noise and the vehicle continuing to roll or taking much longer to stop. Several say it happens at stop lights, down slopes or in traffic and that they pump the pedal or shift to park to hold the van. Complaints report dealers diagnosing a failed brake booster or vacuum pump, sometimes with the replacement part on backorder; one owner was told the braking system needed a software update, and another was told the rotors were rusted. Mostly reported between roughly 10,000 and 58,000 miles, often on the van at low age.

   What to check: On a test drive, press the pedal firmly at a standstill and listen for a hiss, and check whether the pedal holds pressure. Ask for service records showing whether the booster or vacuum pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ever since I have had this car the brakes have been an issue. I can step on the brake at a stop light and then the brakes push back at me and make a hissing sound as it happens. Then I try to push it back down and it won't allow me to and it starts to move. It has happened several times so every time is happens I just have to put the car in park until the light turns green.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353887, filed 2020-09, 38,000 miles

   “Purchased 2019 Chrysler Pacifica limited in july 2020 with just over 30,000 miles on it. Last week the master cylinder for the braking system started to act up. When sitting at a stop light/sign the brakes start to make a loud hissing sound and push back against my foot forcing me to push the peddle all the way to the floor with more force then should be needed. This causes the breaks to disengage and the van rolls. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360467, filed 2020-09, 40,512 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation, harsh shifts and shifter stuck or

   • 89 complaints (28%)
   • median 12,088 mi at 1.3 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,700 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe hesitation or jerking when accelerating from a stop, erratic or skipped shifts, and a shifter that stays stuck in park or reverse or displays a service shifter message. Some report the van losing power or engaging park on its own, and several say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, reset adaptations, replaced the valve body or shifter assembly, or said the behavior was normal. A few complaints describe a transmission replacement being needed. Mostly reported from very low mileage up to roughly 60,000 miles, with some cases beyond 200,000 miles.

   Recall 23V010000

   What to check: Drive from a full stop and through a few uphill shifts to feel for hesitation or harshness, and try shifting in and out of park and reverse several times. Ask for any transmission software flashes or valve body work in the service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Van is new, (8/30/2019) under 1000 miles. Problem has happened approximately 12 times. When stepping on the accelerator from a stop, there is no response. Suddenly there is a sudden, harsh acceleration. This is a hazard in traffic with other vehicles around. Backing in my driveway I almost hit the house.”

   NHTSA complaint #11298558, filed 2020-01, 890 miles

   “Transmission will only go into 9th gear and engage at speeds up to 61 MPH, if it downshifts to go up a hill it will never ever go back into 9th gear again unless you slow down to 61 MPH then slowly accelerate to get it to stay in 9th top gear? I took it to Chrysler dealer and they said well you might never see 9th gear that's how they run. This is not acceptable, chrsyler needs a update to its programming for better shifts...”

   NHTSA complaint #11331178, filed 2020-06, 26,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Rear camera image frozen or staying on screen

   • 18 complaints (6%)
   • median 31,097 mi at 2.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the backup camera image remaining on the screen after shifting out of reverse, a frozen or poor-quality image, and in one case sensors failing to warn of a person behind the van. Some owners link the behavior to a camera recall, and a few describe the radio or touchscreen becoming inoperable during or after a recall software update. Reported from low mileage through about 112,000 miles; several complaints follow a radio software recall attempt.

   Recall 20V191000Recall 19V886000Recall 26V3270002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check whether the rear camera recalls were performed, then shift in and out of reverse on a test drive and confirm the image clears and the radio still works.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car subject to recall for malfunctioning rear camera (ve-2 is code) during repair, touchscreen rendered inoperable. Now, camera doesn't work at all, most controls require use of touch screen which no longer works. Car had no issue before recall, no no backup camera and repairs are expected to take at least 6 weeks due to claimed lack of parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #11397111, filed 2021-02, 14,194 miles

   “After waiting at the Chrysler dealer for 6 hours on 3/3/20, the service department was unable to complete the update of the radio software and thereby was unable to remedy the safety recall upload for the rear camera issue under ve2?NHTSA 19v-886. The percentages of completion were 92% and 50%. Dealership said they have had problems with the update and in many cases the radio system and speakers were blown out during their attempt to update the software. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11316654, filed 2020-03, 1,800 miles

Buying note. A used 2019 Pacifica is worth a careful brake and electrical check: take the van for a long test drive, verify recall completion for the VIN, and review service records for brake booster, battery and shifter work before agreeing on a price.

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.