2018 Chrysler Pacifica: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Mar 31, 2026 · Electrical · MD

Battery drains between starts and has to be jumped in order to start. Takes several attempts before vehicle will start when jumping after battery dies. Often have to reset dash display or media hub as screens go blank after jumping. Has fairly new batteries. Certified mechanics confirmed parasitic drain. Possbly connected to media hub system.

Filed Sep 25, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · NC

My 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has ongoing electrical problems that match the same symptoms described in existing recalls, but my VIN is not included in those campaigns. The issues began around 08/30/22. The vehicle has experienced stalling, electrical shutdown, dashboard warning lights, loss of power steering issues, failure of the start-stop system, dead batteries, loud creaking, popping, squeaking noises from the front suspension, especially when turning, backing up, steering lock, or going over bumps. These events began in 2021 and continue despite numerous repairs at mechanics and dealerships. Despite repairs and inspections, the problems continue. I have reviewed the federal safety agency recalls and found recall numbers 18V524000, 20V334000, 19V143000 as well as battery ground recall for 2017–2019 models, and my vehicle’s problems are identical to those safety issues. The dealer confirmed that my VIN is not covered, so I have been responsible for repair costs. These defects create a serious safety hazard, especially when the vehicle stalls or loses power while driving. It places my family and other drivers at risk of a crash. We have been stranded on highways and in the center of busy intersections due to loss of power. I strongly request that the federal safety agency investigate whether the existing recalls should be expanded to include additional VIN ranges, since many 2018 Pacifica owners (myself included) are experiencing the same electrical failures. I have had the vehicle inspected/repaired on: 4/15/21, 9/15/22, 10/2/23, 11/22/23, 8/10/24, 7/21/25, 8/7/25, 9/23/25 for battery ground, electrical module replacement, wiring repair, and strut repairs. The issues persist despite these attempts.

Filed Nov 1, 2023 · TX

I have had transmission problems with this van since I bought it. Had it in the shop several times. It jumps or pops and throws vehicle forward. I also have had to replace the large battery and the accessory battery multiple times. This has left me stranded many times bc it will shut off while driving. Last time was today 11/01/2023. Large battery and alternator was good. Accessory battery dead completely and replaced for free since it was in warranty still. But they say it has caused my van to misfire in cyclinder 3. Car has only been maintenance through Elliot Chrysler Dodge in Carthage Tx

Filed Jan 7, 2021 · Electrical · 32,000 miles · MO

Very frequently the utheater application will not work after shutting van off and restarting. We have gone through 1 battery a year even though it is supposed to have a 5 year life. After stopping at a red light the auto start/stop causes the van to die. I had to completely restart the van. Out of nowhere driving home doing about 50 MPH it flashed a low battery alert then died within 2 minutes while driving. Thank god I was only a block from home and it was downhill. My van just had the battery replaced again and again won't start. This battery is 2 weeks old. I had turned off the auto start/stop as directed by my dealership and it continues to drain batteries. After doing research I found about 100 cases with the same issues. If I would have still be on the highway when it died I could have been hit. This has happened about a dozen or more times in the year and a half we have had the van. The first time the battery died was less than 2 months after purchasing the van. New battery was put in at request at purchase. Died after going maybe 20 miles an hour.

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 12,872 miles · CA

Start/stop indicator comes on and van will some times just shut off while driving or while stationary. Dealerships have replaced the batteries main and ess battery 4 times in 3 years and problem continues to persist. Dates of occurrence, (stationary) march 9, 2018 (came off the lot with two dead batteries), (stationary) another time date unknown, (moving city streets & stationary) december 5-12, 2019, and (both moving highway & city street & stationary) september 7-15, 2020. (incident information below is of one of the many incidents. No crashes every, the times it stopped while driving on city streets, I was able to move over or get it started again before an incident occurred. All event where under 50 MPH, and between 0 miles and 36550 miles on the vehicle.

Filed Jul 8, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 30,000 miles · TX

While stopped at a red light, the auto stop engaged. When taking the foot off the brake to disengage auto stop, the vehicle stalled out in the middle of the road. Multiple attempts were made to restart the vehicle. Hazard lights were enabled; however, the entire vehicle eventually shut down, including the hazard lights. This vehicle had been driving on the highway and city streets for the previous 20 minutes without any indication of the impending failure. Dealership service department initially believes fault lies with the battery, but how did the car get 20 minutes from home on a dead battery???

Filed Jun 12, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 11,142 miles · VA

Electrical and sensor issues. When my 2018 pacifica is started in the morning I receive a fcw (front crash warning) after driving approximately one half mile and stopping at a stop light near my house. I have the gas saver on and my van will usually shut off. When I stop at the light, the console will flash fcw when no objects are in front or near me as well as two other censors flashing. The van completely shuts down and then flashes "start stop required". I then have to place the vehicle in park, turn it off, restart it, then shift back to drive all while in at an intersection. This has happened at least 12 times and creates a risk of being rear-ended. Since we purchased the van in august 2018, we have had: the uconnect center replaced on september 7 2018, the radio improperly activated or turned off incorrectly completely draining the battery requiring tow and service on april 12 2019, and the fcw was supposedly repaired on may 21 2019. Although it was "fixed" the fcw alert has occurred 3 times since it was returned less than 3 weeks prior.