2021 Chrysler Pacifica transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 20, 2026NJElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

   I brought my vehicle to the dealer for safety recall 52D more than three weeks ago. They will not return the vehicle to me because they say the battery can explode. They have not offered enough money to cover the base model rental car. (I have since rented a slightly better car at my own expense. The allowance would not have covered the cheapest car, though.) No parts have been ordered. The dealer is not returning phone calls to Chrysler customer care. The dealer claims…

   NHTSA complaint #11758328 · source
2. Filed Jul 28, 2026PAElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   This 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has a severe and recurring history of catastrophic high-voltage hybrid powertrain and transmission failures that cause a sudden loss of motive power while driving, presenting an immediate safety hazard. The vehicle has already required two full automatic transmission (eFlite EVT) replacements under factory warranty due to internal failures. It has experienced multiple high-voltage component repairs, including software modules for the power…

   NHTSA complaint #11753330 · source
3. Filed Jun 14, 2026CATransmission & Drivetrain

   While driving on interstate 15 and going 65-70mph the vehicle dashboard flashed “Charging Error, vehicle will shut down”. Before my wife could make it through traffic to the shoulder the vehicle lost all motive power including power steering. She was able to just coast the vehicle and get into the shoulder. Vehicle would not restart. The transmission had been previously replaced during recall to correct this issue. Chrysler had the vehicle for 5 weeks.

   NHTSA complaint #11743985 · source
4. Filed Jun 11, 2026100,000 miNCTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the message "Service Gear Shifter" was displayed, and the gear shifter lights were not illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the ESS system malfunctioned, and the 12-volt battery had failed, which the contact related to the gear shifter failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately…

   NHTSA complaint #11743527 · source
5. Filed Apr 20, 2026WICrashTowedTransmission & Drivetrain

   This vehicle quit driving and you can move it. Confirmed bad transmission. I bought it this way from the insurance company because it bounced off a concrete barrier. I suspect this happened when the transmission failed. Unsure of a police report due to it happening to the previous owner.

   NHTSA complaint #11732419 · source
6. Filed Mar 30, 2026GAFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   I encountered two incidents of the same type. One was on Friday, March 27, 2026, the same day I picked up the vehicle from a local Chrysler dealership, where software updates and issues related to recalls were supposedly completed. The vehicle was at 38% battery level at the time of pick up from the dealership parking lot. After driving it for about 14 miles, the battery level depleted to <1% and that's when the "Stop Safety. Vehicle will shut off soon" displayed on the…

   NHTSA complaint #11728146 · source
7. Filed Mar 27, 2026CATransmission & Drivetrain

   Incident: While driving at highway speeds (65–75 mph), the vehicle issues imminent-shutdown warnings, the reduced-power (‘turtle’) light and check engine light illuminate, and the vehicle loses motive power. The driver must pull over to the freeway shoulder immediately and restart the vehicle. The condition is intermittent, occurs after cold starts, and sometimes with cruise control engaged. Safety Risk: Sudden loss of motive power at 65–75 mph without warning creates…

   NHTSA complaint #11727464 · source
8. Filed Feb 6, 2026CTTransmission & Drivetrain

   I was driving my Pacifica, got the warning light telling me to pull over. The van lost power 3/4 way up a hill blocking traffic and had to get towed to the dealer, where it now awaiting a transmission rebuild. This is the 4th time this same van has died like this, including twice on the highway. Previous times when I brought to the dealer, they only updated software or told me there was nothing they could do

   NHTSA complaint #11716357 · source
9. Filed Dec 18, 2025OHElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   Reversing onto roadway and shifted from reverse to drive via rotary dial and vehicle went into park and would not move causing me to block the roadway. In addition and even more concerning was that the vehicle could not be turned off and any and all actions to do so just left the car "on" and the hybrid system running. Eventually we pulled the battery cable on the main 12v in the trunk and the reset allowed us to move the vehicle again. I sat across a busy section for twenty…

   NHTSA complaint #11705779 · source
10. Filed Nov 19, 2025MOElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    While driving down the highway at 70 miles per hour ater driving 2.5 hours our 2021 Pacifica hybrid minivan flashed a warning on the vehicles display saying approximately "Warning Engine Shutting Down". The engine immediately shut down in the middle of the highway and we were forced to coast off the highway to the shoulder. The engine warning light came on. We turned the car off for a few minutes and proceeded to start the engine. The engine warning light was still on, but…

    NHTSA complaint #11700402 · source
11. Filed Sep 21, 2025TXTransmission & Drivetrain

    The transmission stutters and searches from 15 mph - 30 mph. Dealer ship told us it was a known issue and they just reset the "learning" feature of the transmission. The fix gives you another 6 months and then the issue slowly returns. This causes undue wear on the transmission and leaves it open for catastrophic failure. Dealership refuses to repair after warranty expires even though it is a known issue. There are no warning lamps or messages just an slowly growing clunking…

    NHTSA complaint #11688762 · source
12. Filed Aug 10, 2025PAElectrical SystemOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

    Since week 1 of owning my brand new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, I have had issues of loss of motive power. I have done all of the recall remedies yet my car with a 35day old 12v battery not only died on me, but drained every battery in my vehicle so that I couldnt open my doors. The vehicle was unable to be jumped so that it could be driven, so I ended up paying o or $1000 in towing to get the vehicle to my dealership to be diagnosed,AGAIN. That happened on July 12th, I…

    NHTSA complaint #11679622 · 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