2017 Chrysler Pacifica: false forward collision warnings

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · TX

safety complaint regarding a severe CAN bus communication failure in the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica (gas model, base trim, no Engine Stop-Start) resulting in a sudden loss of transmission control while driving. The defect manifests as an intermittent loss of communication between the Electronic Shifter Module (ESM) and the Transmission Control Module (TCM). Without warning, the rotary shifter (PRNDL) indicator lights go dark and a "Service Shifter" message appears. This triggers a cascade of safety system failures, disabling Electronic Stability Control, Forward Collision Warning, and Blind Spot Alerts. Most critically, the loss of network data causes the vehicle to enter "limp mode," locking the transmission in its current gear and refusing to upshift or downshift, creating a severe crash hazard in active traffic. The root cause is a physical hardware defect in the CAN-C Star Connector junction block (Part No. 68321746AA) located behind the passenger-side glovebox. The pin receptacles inside this distribution block degrade and lose tension, allowing data wires to vibrate loose. Striking the passenger-side dashboard physically reseats the pins, instantly restoring network communication, shifter lights, and transmission function. Dealerships are misdiagnosing this defect by following factory diagnostic trees that mandate replacing the functional Electronic Shifter Module (an ineffective $1,400 repair) instead of addressing the faulty Star Connector. My vehicle has been at the Chrysler dealership since initial diagnosis with no resolution, as the dealer refuses to repair the known wiring defect without first replacing the functional shifter. The sudden loss of transmission control and active safety systems due to this faulty communication block is an extreme safety hazard. Chrysler must issue a mandatory recall to replace these degraded Star Connectors.

Filed Jul 15, 2021 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

While driving vehicle with cruise control set to 55 vehicle stallings, losing power steering, and loses all driver-assist features, to include traction control, blind spot monitoring, power steering, forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, airbags, and other systems. Send back to dealership three times to two different dealerships and for same

Filed Jun 22, 2021 · Driver assistance, Electrical · TX

Lane assist and Forward Collision Warning would intermittently turn off along with the passenger window automatically going down. Vehicle would also seems to glitch and restart at the same time. After this taking place for a couple of weeks, now the vehicle has twice completely shut off while driving. The engine, screens, dash, etc. all turned off and the it was automatically put into PARK. Vehicle will restart and everything seems back to normal once it is restarted.

Filed Aug 18, 2020 · Driver assistance · 10,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 chrysler pacifica. The contact stated that while in reverse the vehicle suddenly went into self parking mode and crashed into a second vehicle. After the incident, the contact noticed the self parking sensor light was illuminated. Also during the incident, the pre-collision braking system did not activate to prevent the vehicle from crashing into the second vehicle. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The vehicle was taken to the local collision center and the manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was later examined by the manufacturer's engineer who indicated pre-collision braking system had failed. The pre-collision braking system module was replaced and the failure was remedied. The local dealer orange coast chrysler (2929 harbor blvd, costa mesa, ca 92626) was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000. *ln

Filed Jul 25, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · MO · crash

2017 chrysler pacifica. Consumer writes in regards to defective cruise control feature. *ld the consumer stated the forward collision avoidance system was inoperable.

Filed Mar 14, 2018 · 6,000 miles · WA

My new pacifica seems to have problems with the forward collision avoidance system. Three times while driving at low speed with no car in front of me the car made a loud alarm and big red letters "brake!" appeared on my dash. This occurred at low speed on suburban roads (20-40 MPH). It was startling. I could not figure out why this was happening. Then I started getting a notice on my dash that would say "acc/fcw sensor is dirty and needs to be wiped off and that the "acc/fcw system was disabled". I thought at first that this was the problem however, this has continued intermittently even when the sensors are wiped off. Finally, while travelling at high speed on the interstate, we were nearly in a collision only avoided by swerving into the next lane. Although we almost hit the car in front of us, the pacifica had no reaction: no alarm, no "brake!" light, no braking, nothing. I took it into the dealer who said they could not reproduce the problem and therefore could not do anything for me. I showed them on their own forum that this was a known issue, but to no avail. I am very concerned about not having the safety features for which I paid. I am disgusted by the lack of concern from dick hannah chrysler in vancouver wa.

Filed Feb 6, 2018 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 23,100 miles · NY

On long trips (generally greater than1 hour) the acc/fcw (adaptive cruise control/front collision warning system) system fails intermittantly (with or without the cruise actually being active) and the dash displays "acc/fcw unavailable service required". Once having failed, the system cannot be reset while continuing to drive, but turning the engine off and restarting will reset it. Losing these system presents a safety hazard as the fcw is not only a warning system but can actually stop the car in an emergency setting. Losing the acc (adaptive cruise control) actually means losing all cruise control, which is not only annoying but can easily lead to exceeding speed limits and/or constantly checking the speedometer setting resulting in reduced driver situational awareness. The biggest problem is that the failure throws no codes that code readers at autozone or chrysler can see and chrysler service says there is no fix without a code. Inability to diagnose and fix this important enhanced safety system is a safety failure at chrysler. Note that the failure has occurred in a variety of situations--day/night/sun/rain/cloud/snow/dirty/clean/fast/slow.

Filed Dec 7, 2017 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 7,000 miles · NJ

Car, with no warning, lost all acceleration while driving approximately 35 MPH and flashed several warning lights on dashboard including electronic stability control, forward collision warning, service forward collision warning, and electronic park brake failure. In addition, the shifter knob light blinks and switches to 'p'. At that point, I can only drift the car to a stop. In my case I was able to turn the car off, then restart it and the issue did not occur again for another 4 days. After 4 days, the exact same thing happened, this time while I was stopped at a red light. Took the car in for service and was told they performed a software update on the transmission and the car was fixed. I got about 1 mile from the dealer and the exact same thing happened while driving at approximately 30 miles per hour. Drove car back to the dealer and they have the car now again trying to figure out what is wrong.

Filed Dec 8, 2016 · 100 miles · IN

I have noticed several others complaining about they front collision warning not working. I have tried several times to get mine to go off at the different setting. I have driven other vehicles with this feature and so far the pacifica has not acted like those. My wife said it has went off twice on her and she really could tell why. I have also so had the issue with the passenger side rear door grinding from day one. Today when we got our first oil change they told us the balling bearing was busted and we have to take it back to get it replaced tomorrow. The rain sensing wiper feature does not work, and it is turned on in the uconnect settings. Also, after about a month of ownership I noticed that the beep on the rear gate as it closed changed to a higher pitched more annoying sound, but it still works.

Filed Oct 31, 2016 · Driver assistance · 6,000 miles · CA

The fcw (forward collision warnings system) appears to have an issue. The unit have not warned ones while driving after 6000 miles (and we have had close calls) also tested as we had similar system on other cars. The dealer have looked at it but can't find any issue, even when the car system showed that it was an issue with the fcw, the dealers technician did not get any error cod when logged in to the cars on-board computer system.

Filed Aug 17, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · SC

I have a 2017 chrysler pacifica equipped with a fcw (frontal collision warning system). I have owned and driven other cars with this system that have operated without issue. The fcw in the pacifica has three settings that can be selected by the driver for sensitivity. Near, medium and far. I have tried all settings without any difference. The system does not audibly warn the driver of a possible impending collision at any speed or distance under almost all daily driving scenarios. This includes heavy traffic, city and highway, and situations with frequent abrupt stops. I have driven 4,135 miles in two weeks in very heavy traffic with lots of emergency breaking with no warning from the fcw on the pacifica. The system has activated once with an approximate distance of 5-7 feet, upon approaching a chrysler 200 at at approximately 25 MPH. The dealer technician states no codes are in the system, and therefor it is functioning. I discussed this matter with the customer service manager at the local dealership who is escalating the matter to chrysler dealer support for further evaluation and follow-up after he experienced my issue on a test drive. In addition, this vehicle does not operate per the videos chrysler publishes on its website as an example of fcw on its cars. Based on my experience with other vehicles equipped with fcw, I believe the fcw on the pacifica is not properly calibrated to warn drivers of impending collisions via an audible alert as described in marketing materials and in comparison to other vehicles I have driven with this feature.