2017 Chrysler Pacifica acceleration & cruise control problems

Related recalls

• Recall 18V332000May 17, 20184,815,661 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  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.

  Risk: 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.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 13, 2026FLAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I have had this happen twice in the last few months, most recently in the last three weeks. I was driving on a 45 mph highway with the cruise control set at 49 or 50 miles per hour. On the most recent time, I was coming to a red traffic light and applied the break to slow down. However, the van kept going forward even though I was pressing the break pedal totally down. The van slowed somewhat, but the van kept going. I put the van in neutral and was able to stop, but the…

   NHTSA complaint #11756799 · source
2. Filed Aug 9, 2025TXDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   When driving van will jerk or bang like slipping in gear, feels like possible being hit from behind, we have tried the adaptive learning reset several times, we had just purchased this less than 2 months ago with about 4800 miles in it. Feels dangerous to drive, especially with kids. We are scared to even try the cruise control. We heard and read online many whey same issues, with warranty and having there vans in dealership on several events, having reset in software…

   NHTSA complaint #11679508 · source
3. Filed May 8, 2025TXElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Hi! This vehicle stopped twice in the middle of a road on its own. Vehicle was driving fine and the next second it slowed down and wouldn’t accelerate as I would push the gas pedal. It’s as if the engine shut down due to the car signals not transmitting correctly. The screen started blinking on and off giving me warnings and one of them said “Service Shifter!” My safety and my children’s safety was put at risk because anyone could’ve hit us from behind as the car started…

   NHTSA complaint #11659744 · source
4. Filed Apr 9, 202579,828 miPACrashTowedAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owned a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while attempting to enter the garage from a stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed and it traveled to the floorboard, causing the vehicle to violently accelerate 7 feet and crash into the garage. The vehicle crashed into the garage, through a wall, garden box, fence, and a mud ground where the vehicle came to a stop. No warning light illuminated prior to the failure. None of the air bags deployed. There…

   NHTSA complaint #11653718 · source
5. Filed Oct 30, 2024MNEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   The vehicle is available for inspection. At an intersection the vehicle abruptly turned off, while the engine was running and in drive. Children were in the vehicle and I was very scared and in shock when it happened. My car just randomly turned off, while I was sitting in the middle of an intersection and the vehicle was in drive (obviously). I was able to turn it back on, but it was very dangerous and could have killed us if a car had come through the [XXX] intersection…

   NHTSA complaint #11622844 · source
6. Filed Aug 15, 2024VAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I was driving my car and approached at a stop sign. The car stopped and froze. The shifter knob lights were out and I was unable to move the car or shift the gears into neutral . ( The engine turned on ,but I could not move my car.) I had the car towed to my autodealership. Since then, the car has repeatedly started, but the shifter is frozen. My dealership has spent a month telling me they don't know how to fix the car. The dealership has been trying one thing after the…

   NHTSA complaint #11608741 · source
7. Filed May 6, 2024PAElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   While I am driving the vehicle will shut completely off without warning. I have to pull to the side of the road and restart the vehicle.

   NHTSA complaint #11587119 · source
8. Filed Oct 17, 202380,000 miAZTowedElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before suddenly accelerating quickly, causing the contact to brake hard and bring the vehicle to a complete stop. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The electronic throttle control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who…

   NHTSA complaint #11550395 · source
9. Filed Oct 6, 2023110,329 miMNAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle independently jumped forward without the accelerator pedal being depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,329.

   NHTSA complaint #11548618 · source
10. Filed Mar 14, 2023MAFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

    While driving our minivan it stalls or it seems like the gas isn’t getting to the engine. It has happened when I’ve been accelerating from a side road across a very busy road on more thank e occasion. We thought it was the gas we were using. Now we’ve been advised it is due to a “crank shaft sensor”. (?) We may not be eligible to get it fixed because we got our 2017 Pacifica in Oct 2016, drove it approx. 15,000 miles/ year so we may not be able to get it fixed for free.

    NHTSA complaint #11511829 · source
11. Filed Jan 27, 2023VAAcceleration & Cruise Control

    As we drive this vehicle at a slower speed, it seems to almost cut off and then it will jerk (a very hard jerk) back into motion. We have had it serviced, both batteries replaced, and a diagnostic done on it and it continues to act up. It makes us afraid to drive it. Do you have any suggestions on how to move forward? Thank you - [XXX]- [XXX]Industries- [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

    NHTSA complaint #11504006 · source
12. Filed Sep 6, 2022WIElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

    My Pacifica suddenly will not start. I ended up jump-starting the van. Then whenever I stopped, it needed a jump start. This whole ordeal is from a single day. Driving back on the high-way, suddenly van acted weird, all electronics going haywire, various instrument "unavailable" messages started coming, and on the highway Van all systems failed, power steering locked, I pulled over and battery icon (red) came on as well. Car died. I re-jump started it and then drove again…

    NHTSA complaint #11482989 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology