AI Damage2023 Chrysler Pacifica: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica filed 155 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 335 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 155
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 335
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 30% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 28% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 27% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 23% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 47 complaints (30% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 32.
- Electrical system: 43 complaints (28% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 145.
- Powertrain: 42 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 14.
- Air bags: 35 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 16 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
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 cyl
- 3.6 L · plug-in hybrid · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 155 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 47 | 0 | 32 |
| Electrical system | 43 | 0 | 145 |
| Powertrain | 42 | 0 | 14 |
| Air bags | 35 | 1 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Backover prevention | 5 | 0 | 16 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 57 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact was not sure of any warning lights. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that several days ago, the vehicle again did not brake or slow as he was making a left-hand turn onto a side street.
The air bags didn’t deploy and the air bag light illuminated after the accident. In October 1st my vehicle was taken to Earnhardt Collison and a diagnostic check was done on my vehicle yet the light or anything else regarding the airbags was not listed in the appraisal after I notified Earnhardt and USAA that the…
The Service Airbag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was released twice (September 23 and October 10) with the light still on. An illuminated airbag light indicates the supplemental restraint system may not function as designed in a crash.
In my previous vehicle, a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, I relied on and received Forward Collision Warnings which prevented my crashing into another car no less than 4 times. Though this car has been ADAS scanned (3 times) with appropriate scanners, no codes are detected.
On 8/25/2026, after starting the vehicle it displayed a warning message to "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon." That message was able to be cleared after four cycles of turning the engine off and re-starting.
The contact attempted to activate the parking brake; however, the parking brake failed to function. The contact attempted to press the START/STOP button to turn off the vehicle but was knocked down by the door and was ran over by the front driver’s side wheel.
The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power while driving in active traffic due to a severe hybrid powertrain malfunction. Immediately prior to the failure, the dashboard displayed a critical warning message: "Stop Safely – Vehicle will shut off soon." The vehicle then lost all propulsion,…
The back up camera complete blacks out eliminating visibility at the rear of the car.
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 414 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Pacifica has 316 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 155, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
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…
- COMPRESSOR - AIR CONDITIONING
- EVAPORATOR - AIR CONDITIONING
- HOSE AND TUBE - EGR COOLANT
- Front Fog Lamp RT 1) If the lamp contains moisture, do not replace it immediately
Turn the fog lamp on for one hour and inspect it afterward. Refer to 23-008-25 Rev.A. Exterior Front Lamps Condensation Clearing Procedure for details. 2) If the fog lamp(s) do not light. Refer to Star Online…
- SXM Radio Doesn't Reflect Station Or Song Changing Customers may experience the following
SYMPTOM: ● When playing SXM stations the radio does not reflect the current station or recognize a song changing.
- Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and Radio Compass Display has Dashes (--)
- 1st Row Armrest Not Holding Position, Being Broken, Being Too Low, Or Touching The Console
- 1) If the lamp contains moisture, do not replace it immediately
Turn the fog lamp on for one hour and inspect it afterward. Refer to 23-008-25 Rev.A. Exterior Front Lamps Condensation Clearing Procedure for details. 2) If the fog lamp(s) do not light. Refer to Star Online…
- Vehicle Leaking Coolant Or Overheating
- Calibration Requirements For The Power Sliding Door Module (PSDM)
NHTSA lists 335 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 2023 Chrysler Pacifica?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 155. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (28%), loss of power / limp mode (13%), infotainment or screen glitches (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica?
NHTSA lists 335 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 2023 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 2023 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.