AI Damage2019 Chrysler Pacifica: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica filed 361 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 475 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 361
- involving a crash
- 11
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 475
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 27% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 13% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Forward collision avoidance 3% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 120 complaints (33% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 161.
- Engine: 97 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 28.
- Powertrain: 89 complaints (25% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 43.
- Service brakes: 59 complaints (16% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Steering: 46 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 3.6 L · plug-in hybrid · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 9-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 361 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 120 | 2 | 161 |
| Engine | 97 | 0 | 28 |
| Powertrain | 89 | 2 | 43 |
| Service brakes | 59 | 5 | 5 |
| Steering | 46 | 2 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 2 | 16 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 0 | 76 |
| Backover prevention | 9 | 1 | 23 |
| Hybrid propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 22 |
| Lane departure | 4 | 0 | 8 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Suddenly, the van lurches forward when I take my foot off the brake. The lurch is not soft of mild, it is shocking and frightening. In one case, we hit the car parked ahead of us. In both cases, had a person been in front of the car, he or she would have been surely injured.
I smelt smoke and told my 4 young children in the back seat we needed to get out now. Two of my children were in 5 pt harness car seats in the third row. We were able to run to a safe area before it went up in flames less than a few mins later. There were no witnesses and no one around.
We took our vehicle in to the Service Center for a routine inspection on August 9, 2021, because we realized our sticker expired only to learn that it would not pass inspection due to the check engine light coming on.
Vehicle accelerator jammed while slowly backing vehicle (rear end first) into home garage at around 12:15 p.m. On december 17, 2019. Vehicle and passengers were thrown back into the garage wall at a high speed causing vehicle and property damage.
While my wife was sitting in the car with the car running in park the car began to go in reverse and it started to accelerate and brakes didnt work and car crashed into a fence and shed. Multiple witnesses confirmed her account as she had window down and was screaming with her hands in the air.
At 105,000 miles the check engine light came on, at which point the vehicle experienced rough starts and a rough idle. Vehicle also began emitting white/gray smoke from the exhaust upon starting. Upon diagnosis it was determined that coolant was leaking into #4 cylinder requiring head gasket replacement.
The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving in Reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed a frozen image. The dealer was notified of the failures.
October 13, 2026: On starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster flickered repeatedly, and multiple warning lights appeared. A Service Shifter warning followed, and the rotary gear selector indicator lights stopped illuminating. Gear selection remained functional, and the lights subsequently returned.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 174 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Pacifica has 316 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 361, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Note
Document released 10/2/2026. Multiple Warning Indicators On In The IPC. ESM - PRNDL Flashing. And The Vehicle Will Not Shift Into Gear. The Wipers May Be On, With An Electric Parking Brake Unavailable.
- Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star…
- HOSE AND TUBE - EGR COOLANT
- Calibration Requirements For The Power Sliding Door Module (PSDM)
- Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
- Power Liftgate Intermittently Inoperative
Will Not Open/ Close. Liftgate/Hatch Ajar Message Displayed. Rev A
- HEATER - ELECTRIC COOLANT
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot
Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040
- Passive Entry Exterior Door Handle Inoperative When Touched To Lock And Or Unlock
- Power Liftgate Intermittently Inoperative
Will Not Open/ Close. Liftgate/Hatch Ajar Message Displayed.
- Popping Clicking Noise From Power Sliding Door During Operation Open And Or Closed
NHTSA lists 475 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, powertrain. Total complaints: 361. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), infotainment or screen glitches (10%), stalls while driving (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica?
NHTSA lists 475 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.