2018 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Mar 17, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · TX

I was traveling at south bound on TOLL 130 going 80MPH (which is the speed limit on that road) when my Pacifica immediately slowed down and my accelerator gave out. In addition to my dash flashing that the cruise control was no longer available, but the van also said "Service Charging System" and "Shift to P to Start", the engine light and batter light both came on. I am sure that I almost died as I was in the middle lane and cars were whipping around me since I had slowed down so much, there was an 18 wheeler behind me and one of my righthand side, which is the shoulder I was trying to get to. I was finally able to coast to the shoulder and came to a stop, put the car in park and turned it off. I immediately started researching what the problem could be and I was alarmed to find out that this is an issue that others have had and that Chrysler has failed to issue a recall...I was able to start the car once more and get on to a little back road, after pushing through a barricade off the toll just for safety's sake, and my van broke down again, this time on a little 2 lane road, which thankfully had a little bit of a gravel shoulder. This time, my van took quite a bit longer to get started, but I was not safe where I was. I started it once more and was able to get to a Wal-Mart parking lot where my brother-in-law picked me up so that I could have a chance of making it to see my grandmother who was on her deathbed, I missed my window of opportunity to make it to see her, she died that afternoon. I had to pay an additional tow fee to get the vehicle moved from the parking lot to a Chrysler dealership since it was so far from where I usually go.

Filed Sep 23, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · CA

While driving an a well paved road, I received a check hybrid system alert on my dashboard. Then several lights bean to flash including the blind spot alerts on the side view mirrors and several other alert system. Adaptive cruise control and lane change failure alerts also went off. I was only two miles from home and managed to get back. The engine did not cut out. The next morning, it started up but just a few miles into testing it out, the same alerts and light appeared, but this time the engine died along with the power steering. I coasted to roadside, turned off the car, and waited for 5 to 10 minutes. I started it up and drove it home. The engine remained on but the lights and warning continued to flash. The emergency lights also cut out periodically. I managed to drive the car to a Chrysler dealership I've visited in the past. The diagnostic alert on the Mopar app said there was a problem with the Electronic Throttle control (ETC) and the service person that looked over the diagnostic saw several system failure and alerts when he viewed the diagnostic record. At this point, the dealership has had my car for the week and the problems persist and now it won't go into gear. They still cannot determine the source of the problem. I contacted the Chrysler support line to ask them to escalate the problem. There is an open recall on this vehicle, but the parts are still not available to fix it. It only has 101,000 miles on it. I've found several complaints from Pacifica Hybrid owners related to the same ETC alert.

Filed May 25, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 7,000 miles · IL

I was driving the vehicle with my family. We had already used up the charge for the electric engine and the vehicle was operating in the hybrid engine. I had the adaptive cruise control set at 72 MPH and I accelerated to 75 MPH to change lanes to the right. As I accelerated, several alarms and warnings appeared on the driver's dashboard. They included 'service hybrid system', a red wrench with a red lighting bolt through it and the orange engine and battery icons. After the alarms sounded, a message appeared saying 'shift vehicle to park'. When I tried to press the accelerator, nothing happened and it seemed that the engine had stalled. I was able to coast to the shoulder of the highway, break the vehicle and turn on my flashers. After we stopped, I put the vehicle in park, shut the vehicle off, and restarted it. After restarting the vehicle, the orange engine warning light remained on. My family and I were able to travel back home but took back roads rather than the highway.

Filed Jul 20, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 4,900 miles · MD

I took my van in for recall and was fixed on 7/16/18 for cruise control problem. Everyday since the fan comes on while parked in the garage and charging (level 2) at a very high noise level. Roller coaster type noise. You can hear it all over the house. Car sounds like it is going to explode. Never happened before the recall fix for cruise control. Videos of same type of problem are on the facebook group for this car. Search for "chrysler pacifica plug-in hybrid". I also videotaped the car making the noise but won't be able to upload such a large file.

Filed Jul 17, 2018 · Engine · 3,000 miles · CA

While driving at approximately 55mph, on an overpass ramp connecting two different freeways, driving uphill around a broad turn, the car suddenly became non-responsive to pumping the gas pedal or applying the breaks. Steering was still possible. I turned on the hazard lights and continued to steer the car around the bend as it decelerated (it was 25mph or less before I got it restarted). Concurrently, I shifted into reverse (I intended to turn the knob to neutral but overshot due to nerves), then back into neutral, and back into drive. At that point, the gas pedal became responsive again, and the car drove normally subsequently. At the time of the incident, the car was in electric mode (although given that the car was going up an incline on the freeway, it is possible that the gas engine kicked in briefly and I didn't notice), with approximately 50% battery remaining. Additionally, the car was under recall (u73/the federal safety agency 18v‑332) for a cruise control problem and had not yet had the software update required to address the recall problem. However, cruise control was not engaged during this incident, and the dealership told me subsequently that the problem I reported was not part of the cruise control recall. The car was purchased new six months previously, and its first maintenance appointment was scheduled the day following this incident. No accident resulted from the incident, and the police were not involved. Driving conditions were optimal, with light traffic on a sunny, dry day.

Filed Jun 12, 2018 · Driver assistance · 1,283 miles · WA

While cruise control is engaged if a vehicle is already stopped when you come upon it, like at traffic light, while you are approaching the vehicle will not engage the brakes as apposed to when you are both moving and the vehicle in front slows to a stop. Also, the screen that shows the 360 camera and other apps freezes up randomly, mostly while using the camera while not in reverse, both when the vehicle is moving and stopped.

Filed Nov 14, 2017 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 500 miles · NJ

Active cruise control fails to detect the vehicle in front. It happens at least once a day. Its does not convey confidence on the system.