We were driving on a 2 lane stretch of highway under construction. There were concrete barriers at the edge of the left and right lanes. There were no shoulder pull off areas or highway exits. We had been driving at highway speeds for 30 minutes. For about the next 10 minutes, there was heavy traffic congestion. Traffic was periodically stopped in both lanes and generally moving at less than 30 MPH. We were in the left lane when we got an audible chime followed by a dash board message, “Stop Safely - Vehicle will Shut Off Soon”. I was hoping the warning would give me enough time to get off the highway. I used my turn signal to change lanes but the traffic in the right lane would not let me in. I pushed on the gas and there was no engine response and the check engine light was on. I put my hazard lights on and rolled to a stop. The vehicle was blocking the entire left lane and there was no where else to go. We needed a tow. Roadside assistance instructed us to call 911. The vehicle is being repaired under warranty. The engine and transmission are available for inspection upon request to the rental car owner. My family and the other highway drivers safety was put at risk. It is my understanding that over 60,000 HEV Pacifica vehicles were recalled between 2017-2023 for this issue. The corrective action was not to mechanically engineer the problem out of the vehicle but to install a software update to provide the dash board audible and verbal warnings. The 2024 models come with the software mod and so there is no current recall for this years model. I would argue the recall fix is inadequate. There are many roadways where it is not possible with the warning time provided to “Drive to a safe location” and safety continues to be compromised. Verbally filed with the federal safety agency, ID11598224 due to not having a VIN for the web site entry. My intent is not to duplicate the report, but to provide a more accurate 1st hand account with this submission.
2024 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 13 of 13, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving at highway speed westbound in the middle lane of the Long Island Expressway in Queens, New York when I felt an unusual motion and heard an unusual noise. The dashboard warning said that the engine had shut down and that I should move to the nearest safe place. All acceleration was lost and the vehicle was only rolling. This was a dangerous situation but I did manage to change lanes to the right. The vehicle then rolled to a stop in the right lane of the highway (with no shoulder). I could not restart it. I had to wait for some period of time before a tow truck could come to move me off the highway.
•What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine shut off and I lost the ability to accelerate. The issue only resolved when I turned off the vehicle and opened my car door while on the highway and had oncoming cars driving next to me at 55+ MPH. After shutting the car door and turning the vehicle back on, I was able to continue to drive home. The check engine light remains on while the vehicle is powered on, now. This vehicle is available for inspection upon request. •How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine lost power as my wife, two children, mother, and I were going down a ramp attached to the highway. We lost momentum and ability to accelerate and I had to stop on the side of the highway as cars had to drive around us as we were forced to stop half on the right highway shoulder and half in the right-most lane. •Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not that I am aware of. •Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not as of 06May2924, I reached out to the Bachman Jeffersonville Indiana dealer that I purchased this vehicle from to collect the vehicle’s issue code(s). •Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? “Stop Safety Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon” appeared when the vehicle first had the issue occur. Now the check engine light remains on when the vehicle is powered on.
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