Chrysler Pacifica 2017–2025

2nd generation (minivan; unrelated to the crossover) · Chrysler RU · 5,767 complaints, 2,057 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 20,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 22.2% of complaints (1,283 reports, 404 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 15,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,347 and 39,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 18.7% of complaints (1,076 reports, 381 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 41,962 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 16.8% of complaints (966 reports, 378 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 24,850 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,376 and 44,000 miles.

The steering accounts for 8.9% of complaints (514 reports, 155 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 28,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 63,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.7% of complaints (500 reports, 176 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 16,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,000 and 34,000 miles.

The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 4.4% of complaints (252 reports, 50 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 12,164 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,700 and 35,700 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2017 model year drew the most — 2,343 complaints — while 2025 drew the fewest at 37. The median year sits at 348.

That makes 2017 an outlier: roughly 6.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 37 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (8), the airbag system (6), the reversing camera and sensors (4). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 5,767 complaints filed against this generation, 195 reported a crash; 52 reported a fire; 142 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.4% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 36% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.

On inspection, the engine and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 15,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (37)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Chrysler Pacifica 2004–2008