2018 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 4, 2026TNElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Lots of power going up steep hills. Especially while AC is on. Almost complete loss of power yesterday with vehicle behind me.

   NHTSA complaint #11754761 · source
2. Filed May 1, 202654,000 miNYCrashTowedAirbagsAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owned a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle in a parking lot, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the accelerator was inadvertently depressed, causing the vehicle to unintendedly accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle accelerated and crashed into the wall. After the vehicle crashed into the wall, there was an abnormal sound of air coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the…

   NHTSA complaint #11735074 · source
3. Filed Apr 2, 2026NJOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   The van has just approx 55000 miles. While driving on highway, it suddenly lost power and from 60mph it came down to 20 miles in a matter of few seconds after few violent jerks. I was lucky that no vehicle was behind me. After that I pulled a side and then again started. It kept jerking and loosing power. Very carefully I got it to a mechanic. They are checking but they say looks like transmission issues. Engine light also came on. This happened few months ago however it was…

   NHTSA complaint #11728776 · source
4. Filed Nov 8, 2025MEEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   This van is a 2018 modified with a handicap accessible rear ramp. We purchased this van in 2021 and since it has spent 6 months the first time at the shop then it was at our facility totally not running for another 6 months we paid 400 dollars to tow it to a dealership they replaced the transmission it ran for 2 months and now doesn’t start it’s in limp mode and when it does start and run when your driving it loses all power suddenly. We have only put 3800 miles on this van…

   NHTSA complaint #11698382 · source
5. Filed Aug 12, 2024GAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   While driving on a 4-lane highway, I received a message on the dashboard "Vehicle will shut off soon". I had just a few seconds before power to the vehicle was limited. The engine stopped working and another message was displayed: "Battery Conditioning Leave Ignition in Run." After that the car would no longer move and I was in the middle of the right lane. Luckily I could get my children out safely. The vehicle was towed to the local Chrysler dealership where it is waiting…

   NHTSA complaint #11608056 · source
6. Filed Jul 16, 2024CAEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   I had had multiple incidents when the Van would get stuck in a gear or would lose the ability to accelerate. The passenger doors, specifically the right side passenger door would get suck and continuously open because it could not close. The rear view cameras would get stuck and after reverting to D it would stay on the screen for at least 5 min before switching back. The screen would also go blank. The van would also get stuck between gears or would shut off at a stop…

   NHTSA complaint #11602762 · source
7. Filed May 8, 202467,000 miGAEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the check engine and the STOP and START warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that on the last occasion, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the…

   NHTSA complaint #11587614 · source
8. Filed Feb 26, 2024PAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The vehicle display reads "Service Charging System" and switches into limp mode where the vehicle is prevented from driving faster than 15 mph. After leaving the van sit for a time, it drives ok. I took the van to a Chrysler dealership twice after this happened, and the dealership could not resolve the issue. After the second time this happened, the dealership contacted an engineer at Chrysler to try and resolve the problem, but they could not. Chrysler says the problem…

   NHTSA complaint #11573989 · source
9. Filed Jun 6, 2023PAFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   The transmission shifts hard when traveling around 14 mph then will jerk (like being rear ended), slows down then accelerates on its own. I'm afraid it will cause an accident. Chrysler said it is supposed to work like that and nothing is wrong with it. I have had 3 diagnostic tests done it and it shows nothing is wrong.

   NHTSA complaint #11525582 · source
10. Filed Dec 12, 2022ILAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    On three recent, separate occasions, the vehicle has lost acceleration while making a left hand turn from a stop (date listed for this incident is most recent). No visual or aural warning indications have displayed on the dash during or proximate to these incidents, but the car felt like it went out of gear while making a normal left turn. Pushing or releasing the throttle only affected engine RPM, not any acceleration, so it felt like we were only coasting. It lasts longer…

    NHTSA complaint #11497081 · source
11. Filed Oct 13, 202267,000 miMIAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed onto the expressway and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle suddenly lost power and would not increase speed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two separate occasions at the same location. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.…

    NHTSA complaint #11489089 · source
12. Filed Sep 12, 2022CADriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    Sept. 12, 2022 - Ever since we have owned this vehicle, we have experienced this issue with the cruise control. Speed increases while driving downhill highways and sometimes on pretty level highways. When I decrease the speed on the controller, it sometimes maintains the speed for several seconds (slow to respond) in order to slow down while coming up behind another vehicle. I therefore need to break or turn off the cruise control. Very unpredictable. Also, speed changes a…

    NHTSA complaint #11484017 · 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