2017 Chrysler Pacifica: stuck in gear or won't shift

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 13, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · SC

While driving at highway speed, my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV suddenly entered limp mode, displaying a red turtle warning light and red battery icon, and lost propulsion. My family was forced to pull onto the shoulder of a busy expressway, creating an immediate safety risk to occupants and other drivers. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Chrysler dealership where it has remained for nearly four weeks. A wiTECH scan confirmed the Battery Pack Control Module is showing as unprogrammed. A second scan three weeks later confirmed the BPCM remains unprogrammed and three active DTCs are present. The dealership has confirmed these findings but is attempting to release the vehicle in this condition. Records show Recall 03A for loss of motive power was previously performed on this vehicle. The same symptoms have recurred, suggesting the recall remedy may not have been effective. The dealership is denying warranty coverage while refusing to program the BPCM that would confirm or deny that coverage. Stellantis customer care has closed my case twice without resolution. I have formally refused pickup on safety grounds.

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · FL

My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid entered limp mode and was taken to Central Florida Chrysler Dodge on XXX. The service advisor, [XXX], identified three recalls, which needed to be completed, after claiming they had completed them, the issue persisted. I authorized a coolant flush without being informed it involved the battery cooling system. Further diagnostics revealed a failed hybrid battery. However, Chrysler denied the battery replacement claim, citing contamination from “incorrect” coolant. I dispute this reasoning, as I was not properly informed about the coolant issue and believe there is no proof that it caused the battery failure. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a warranty or recall claim cannot be denied without clear evidence linking the fluid to the failure. I have opened a case with Chrysler (Case #XXX) and am requesting that the battery replacement be honored under the recall, especially since recall guidelines indicate that unresolved issues after software updates may require component replacement. After a days of back and forth, not the dealership claims the PIM is not the original part of the vehicle and for that reason it would be covered under warranty. However the law is clear and Chrysler is obligated to replace it since this part is also part of the recall they claimed was completed. Now the dealer wants US$ 5K to replace the PIM. I need the federal safety agency to intervene please. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 27, 2026 · Electrical · OK

We purchased the vehicle in 2020 with appx 33,000 miles. In fall 2023- winter 2024 it began having electrical glitches when the weather was cold. The car will start, but will not shift into gear. It throws alarms such as service Parking Brake, Shifter, Engine, Traction Control and that you must put it in Park. Although it obviously is in park or it wouldn't have started. The dealership kept it for a month Nov-Dec 2023 and could not get it to recreate the problem, but replaced the battery since it "failed". We went on vacation for Christmas and had issues with it not shifting after it sat all night in the cold. However, the problem is intermittent. But the cold seems to be the consistent factor. Once the weather warms up, it does fine. Although 1 time in sumer 2024 with very high temps 100+ it threw the same alarms and would not shift into gear upon starting the car. We continued to have issues in Fall 2024/Winter 2025. It did great throughout spring and summer, began issues again in Fall 2025 into this Winter 2026. It has left us stranded, unable to get the car to shift sometimes for 10-15 minutes while we "warm up the car" but sometimes it takes 30-60 minutes. We've began putting a space heater nearby it for a couple of hours each morning before we need to drive it, but that doesn't always work either. While extremely frustrating, it hasn't been considered dangerous until a week ago. We came out of church and it was chilly, so I expected it would not shift into gear. It surprised me when it started AND shifted. However, as soon as I got on the main road up to 40mph, the engine completely lost power and threw all the same alarms. The stretch of county road had no shoulders and deep ditches, so barely made it coasting to a neighborhood to pull over. Searching on the Internet, we narrowed it down to the CAN BUS star connector, replaced it, and it drove better than ever! Until it was cold that night! Likely needs soldered, can't reach it behind glovebox.

Filed Jun 23, 2025 · Electrical · IA

After driving, I can to a stop to park the van. The van would not shift to park and instead would go to neutral. I then could not turn the van off. It would only stay in accessory mode. Upon looking at this issue online, many Chrysler Pacifica owners have the same issue. Some people are able to fix the issue easily, while others needed to replace the transmission valve body. This is an incredibly expensive repair. There were no warning lights ahead of this problem happening, it happened out of the blue. No codes are shown when reading for codes in the van. The message that pops up when the van would not shift to park was “service trans press brake when stopped key off engine to engage park”. But the van will not turn off completely. To get the van to shut off, the battery needs to be disconnected. Safety is put at risk as I am not able to park the van or turn it off completely which would result in a dead battery.

Filed Aug 7, 2024 · OH

We continue to get errors with the Start/stop technology. Three times since 2018 the indicator light came on while driving stating start/stop errors. On one occasion we lost power on a freeway and had to quickly pull off the highway when the vehicle went into limp mode. That repair was covered by warranty. In other cases we have replaced batteries but they soon die and produce the same warnings before a normal life span of a battery. We have repair recipients to document.

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · FL

I purchased my 2017 in 2023. Within a few months, problems began. When we brought the van back to the Chrysler dealer to have it checked with their OBD2 code reader, multiple codes pulled up… First thing “needing” to be replaced was the hood sensor because the display said the hood was open (even though I was simply stopped at a red light). The auto start/stop light was also coming on and staying on. The dealer said that would go away after replacing the sensor. That repair was done (I believe) in April of 2024 at the Chrysler dealer (and the auto start/stop light came back on a week later, both batteries testing fine independently of one another). Next thing “needing” to be replaced was the accelerator pedal module because my van would start shaking, not accelerate, and go into (what I now know is) limp mode with all warning lights displaying on almost every right hand turn. This absolutely puts my safety and the safety of my four children at risk when it suddenly decides to not accelerate!! That repair was done in June 2024 at the Chrysler dealer. Next thing to happen is the check engine light illuminating. We checked the coolant and it was almost empty! This should NOT be happening! We filled with coolant, but have to do this every few days now. The check engine light has come back on and is still producing many codes, the worst of which is p0303. This code has pulled up every single time we’ve had the van scanned at the dealer. The dealer has had my vehicle on MULTIPLE occasions for MULTIPLE days each time and NEVER ONCE told me the severity of this problem. Their words: We just go down the list, starting at the top. P0303 was not at the top, and now I have to pay the price for their incompetency! My van would not start and had to be towed to the dealer yesterday, 7.17.2024. I’m waiting to hear from them, but I can guarantee this is a head gasket/engine failure issue. Who can afford to just replace an engine?! This is infuriating and beyond frustrating!!

Filed Jul 12, 2024 · Transmission · MI

The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the transmission position indicator started blinking while in drive(D), after which the vehicle lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 40 MPH. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle however, the failed to restart. The contact stated that the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not yet to diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Filed Dec 31, 2023 · Engine · WI

When going to accelerate, the car will not shift into gear. It g Jerks and it takes a few seconds to physically move foward. There are times when turning onto a road or highway it will not accelerate as it should.

Filed Jul 5, 2023 · Airbags, Electrical · OH

Losing power like the vehicle is in limp mode. Flashes the “service lights” for multiple things including shifter, airbags, breaking system, etc. it has set the park break while in motion as well. When a computer is attached is brings up can c bus codes and implausible assisted driving codes. Also will not go into reverse when this is happening. Sometimes the shifter doesn’t work either.

Filed Feb 22, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · TN

Intermittently the van when turned on has all error lights come on and will not shift into reverse. The sliding door will not close or open. Then the engine will loose power when finally getting the van to start and drive. All error lights go off after the van runs for a little while.

Filed Oct 14, 2022 · Transmission · TX

Since April 2018 the engine start / stop warning light has been illuminated about 80% of the time despite multiple repair attempts by the dealerships. The vehicle has been brought to the Chrylser dealerships multiple times for an ongoing, intermittent issue in which when attempting to accelerate, the vehicle has rough, delayed shifts and appears to temporarily stall and then jolts forward while your foot is steady on the gas pedal. This issue is getting worse to the point that I'm afraid to drive it. Furthermore, at interstate speeds the transmission will not shift gears sometimes. This causes the van to slow down rapidly especially on hills. This has almost caused accidents when I need to accelerate quickly when entering the highway or merging. It's very slow to accelerate and you have to press the pedal hard, then finally catches up and does a rough jolt. This can happen at any speed, but is especially bad when accelerating or driving on an incline. The check engine light is constantly illuminated. The dealerships appear to reset the transmission to turn off the warning light, but within a few miles of driving home from the dealership, the lights come back on. This has happened the last 2 times we have brought the vehicle in for repair. In addition, intermittently the vehicle will idle very roughly, making a louder than normal noise and shaking. When this happens the check engine light will begin flashing and making a dinging sound.