2017 Chrysler Pacifica: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Engine, Steering · 50,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced reduced power and hard shifting. Additionally, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn while driving. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Mar 17, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · GA

This car has had so many issues in the 2 years that i have had it. Blown head gaskets, hard shifting, cruise control getting stuck in a high gear and not shifting. When fixing the head gasket it was apparent that it wasnt the first time being fixed. For such a nice vehicle it has way too many problems for the amount i purchased it for. There needs to be some sort of compensation for this. Upon looking into these issues there are thousands among thousands of people with the same head gasket issues and transmission issues as well.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · IL

The vehicle is experiencing multiple serious mechanical failures affecting the brake system, powertrain, and steering/wheel components. The brake system produces a constant hissing sound and appears to have lost braking assist. When the brake pedal is depressed the vehicle continues to roll forward and requires excessive force to stop. The vehicle has rolled forward while braking at intersections, creating a significant safety hazard for both the driver and surrounding traffic. These symptoms were first reported on February 4, 2026. Shortly afterward the vehicle was inspected by a Chrysler dealership, which documented a brake vacuum leak in the braking system. Despite that inspection and documentation, the braking condition has continued to worsen and the vehicle no longer feels safe to operate. The braking performance is inconsistent and stopping distance appears to be increasing. In addition to the braking failure, the vehicle experiences powertrain issues including transmission hesitation, delayed shifting, and loss of power during acceleration and when driving uphill. The vehicle also has severe vibration and instability originating from the front driver-side wheel or steering area while driving, which affects vehicle stability and control. These combined mechanical failures involving braking, drivetrain operation, and steering/wheel stability create a serious safety risk during normal operation, particularly while braking in traffic or attempting to maintain control of the vehicle. The vehicle currently feels unsafe to operate due to these worsening conditions and unresolved mechanical defects.

Filed Dec 17, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · WV

It loses power alot especially uphill. It smells like burnt oil all the time. Smokes out exhaust. Hesitates anytime you put the gas down. And then clunks around sometimes too

Filed Oct 14, 2025 · Transmission · IN

The transmission in our 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has had issues with slipping, or not engaging as well as violent, hard gear shifts for at least the last 40K miles. We have taken it to the dealership several times, but the dealership said they drove the van and could not replicate the issues. It is important to note that the issues are intermittent and there is no obvious reason why it happens sometimes and not others. There have been countless instances where the van starts rolling forward from a stop and effectively slips into a neutral position before hard shifting back into gear and moving forward. Sometimes when pressing the accelerator at a dead stop the engine revs up before the transmission engages and starts to move forward. Both of these issues create serious risk of being in the middle of an intersection when this happens as the slipping is most often when attempting to accelerate from a dead stop. The hard shifts are very abrupt and startling when they occur. There does not seem to be a certain speed or gear that is more or less likely to trigger the violent shifts but they are occurring more and more often as time goes by. There have been a handful of instances where the transmission shifted gears and initiated a shudder that went away upon the next upshift in gears.

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Transmission · GA

I took my vehicle to the Chrysler dealership to have it check out because I noticed a hard shift when taking off when accelerating in first gear but they told me they couldn’t duplicate the issues because their wasn’t a check engine light on I’ve explained to them what I was feeling so they had me drive the vehicle with one of their technician and he seen exactly what I was talking about but they did nothing they told me when the check engine light come on in there a code they can read then they can see about fixing it this was back in 2020 and 2021 now the vehicle is starting to feel like it slipping worse in first gear and it has this suction noise in when is does shift hard it throws you and the passengers forward and the van only has 42,000 miles on it

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Steering, Transmission · 125,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission slammed into gear while shifting. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel pulled to the left while the contact was attempting to go to the right. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed Mar 28, 2025 · FL

Hard shifts when accelerating. Constantly having issues where if I press on gas the vehicle hesitates and RPM jumps and jerks my children and I very bad.The vehicle Constantly stalls out to were we can be killed one day! I would like this reported due to the scary situation i have been having on the road with accelerating the vehicle and the car starts smelling like it's going to catch fire one day! I keep smelling oil burning and no one acts like they know about the thousands of recalls about the transmission failure that is not covered for my vin. This is a waste of money to be investigating my vehicle issue. This vehicle was poorly made to kill someone. No check engine lights have ever been displayed since I bought this vehicle

Filed Apr 5, 2024 · Body, Engine · 40,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate, and the transmission experienced hard shifting. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine misfired. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission was faulty and engine coolant was present inside cylinders number 1,3 and 5. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, the driver’s and passenger’s side sliding doors malfunctioned and erroneously opened after being closed. The doors were reprogrammed, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that after a cold start the brake pedal extended to the floor. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Mar 22, 2024 · Transmission · IN

Multiple events (over 5) have occured from December 2023 thru March 2024 involving the transmission clunk/jerk/bang with near total loss of speed when accelerating from a stop or low speed. Also several events with loss of acceleration (no reponse from the gas pedel). This happened with me turning left at a light and trying to clear an intersection. Van is available for inspection. Safety was put at risk by van stopping in moving traffic, and with being nearly rear ended several times. Also nearly being hit head on by not being able to complete the left hand turn thru the interesction timely. Vehicle has not been inspected by any dealer or law enforcement. There have never been any warning light given during these events. Dealer said by phone that without warning lights they would have nothing to trace the problem with. I have listed only the last event time below in Additional Details.

Filed Mar 21, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · NV

44110 miles. NO leaks, oil change every 2500 miles, all fluids are full and well maintained. Hard shift sometimes while in drive and accelerating. Engine light just came on yesterday with wife and 4 kids in vehicle, then engine light flashing. Pacifica felt sluggish and engine was rough. This happened driving on busy FREEWAY! Quickly pulled over at off ramp. Called tow and Mechanic neighbor pulled trouble code from ODB port using scanner P0306 which is engine misfire in cylinder 6. Car runs like crap and is unsafe to drive. Now need to tow to dealer for very expensive repair, just outside of 5 year warranty.

Filed Feb 11, 2024 · Transmission · UT

Hard shifting when stopping or driving at speeds under 30 mph