2021 Chrysler Pacifica: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jan 20, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · GA

I am reporting a safety defect involving my 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The vehicle experiences repeated hybrid system failures, including “system charging” errors, rapid battery depletion from full to zero within minutes, and vehicle stalling. These failures have occurred multiple times, even after dealership repair attempts. The vehicle has stalled and been towed more than once, most recently on September 26, 2025. Now, today, January 20, 2026, the vehicle has once again stalled and will have to be towed for the third time since purchasing in August 2024. This has left us stranded once again. This is a serious safety concern, especially given the risk of stalling while driving. I transport elderly family members and depend on this vehicle for medical appointments. I am requesting the federal safety agency document this issue and review whether this represents a broader safety defect.

Filed Feb 5, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · CA

The vehicle stalled on the freeway while traveling 75 mph in the HOV lane. After the engine shut off, I recalled an error message on the dash that stated, "Motive power will stop and pull over quickly.” I needed to take evasive action to bring the vehicle to the side of the 5 freeway. I could not restart the engine in Neutral while the car was in motion. The car showed a charging error on the first and second attempted restart on the side of the road with the transmission in Park. After letting the vehicle sit for a few minutes, I successfully restarted the engine, but the dash continued showing an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). We were traveling at 75 mph in the HOV lane (lane #1) when the vehicle engine cut off without warning. Once the engine was off, I saw a warning on the instrument cluster that the vehicle would lose all motive power (it's a hybrid) and that I should immediately stop it. I needed to take emergency action, cross over 5 lanes of freeway traffic, and then stop on the side of the road. The vehicle did not allow an engine to restart while in Neutral, with the car moving. The vehicle was brought in for the recall of 03A/the federal safety agency 23V‑010. From what I understand, this recall did not fix the problem (reported to be a faulty wiring harness in the transmission). I installed a software update to display the error message that instructed me that all motive power would be lost and that I should stop the vehicle.

Filed Dec 20, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · WV

While driving early in morning on local highway (70mph speed limit), car flashed "Service Charging System" shut off the engine and power to the vehicle including acceleration, and check engline light illuminated. Thankfully early hours made it possible to drift to side of road to put car in park. Engine light illuminated dash and dash flashed "shift to P to start." Car would not shut off after pressing the start button nor depressing the break either (hazards were engaged at this point). Hazards had to be shut off in order to completely shut off the vehicle to restart it. Dangerous on major highway with no lights or hazards on side of road. 25 degrees outside. This is the Second time this has occurred to this vehicle. The last time occurred on 1/20/2023 the exact same way shutting off power and engine of the car on the same local highway with similar cold temperature (always issues with this car in the cold, hybrid battery system fails in cold below 40 or temperatures higher than 90). Last time a grounding issue was found in the transmission and was replaced. I will be contacting the dealership for repair today will update if it is still grounding issues or something new causing same problem. As i made in my last the federal safety agency report in january on this vehicle, the fact this car shuts down while in motion and you have no control over the car is dangerous and can cost people their lives. As a hybrid system, the van should automatically switch to gas only and bypass the hybrid charging system to continue functioning as any car would. By shutting down the engine and everything you are jeopardizing the lives of everyone on the roads. Both incidents of mine occurred on a highway at high speeds. I am just thankful I was not on a bridge at the time it failed as it would have caused an accident. I heard nothing about or from my last the federal safety agency report. Please for the safety of everyone look into these hybrids. Look into this car history and you'll see the constant repairs it has had.

Filed Nov 18, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · PA

While driving 70 mph on the highway with my three children in the car, my engine suddenly and without warning, shut off. I had to coast over to the shoulder and wait for help. The dash displayed the warning "service charging system" and would not let me put the car in drive. I was VERY lucky that there weren't any cars around me when my acceleration suddenly stopped so I was able to get over on the highway. The car stalled in an unsafe place and left my children and me at risk of being hit from behind while waiting for help. I got the car to the dealer and they have informed me that this was caused by total transmission failure. This was a HIGHLY unsafe situation and it could have ended much worse for my family, and those in vehicles around us!

Filed Oct 12, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Was driving at 72-74mph on Dallas North Tollway on Oct 6th. Vehicle is a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2021 model - Limited Plug in Hybrid trim. Battery charge was 2% (less than 1 mile range) Fuel was 95% showing 395 miles of range left After the battery depletes, the vehicle is supposed to switch over into ICE mode (Gas engine kicks on) Car was running only on Electric power and when the battery hit 0%, the car stalled on the highway and showed multiple warning lights Service Hybrid Electric System Charge system not available EBD2 Engine Malfuction Transmission Temperature Automatic Transmission Fluid overheating Check Engine light Car still had power (power steering and brakes working) but lost all propulsion suddenly Luckily i was able to safely pull over on the shoulder Turned car off and on and still had same warning lights and car's engine would not start Finally waited 15 minutes, disconnected battery (12v) and tried it and now engine started Came home and charged battery to 100% (showed 32 miles of range) but now car will never run on Electric motors - Only via Gas engine This is a serious safety issue - I had the same exact problem on my 2018 Pacifica Plugin Hybrid which was diagnosed as a HCM (Hybrid Control Module) issue. It was the subject of a recall. This is the 2021 model with less than 25,000 miles and its still a major safety concern. Chrysler should immediately address the problem and issue a safety recall Car is currently at Frisco Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for the last 7 days waiting to be diagnosed

Filed Sep 22, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · NY

While driving my 2021 Chrysler Pacifica the vehicle stalled while going through an intersection. There was no warning lights on the dashboard or any indication that the vehicle was about to stall. The van had to come to a complete stop put in park and then restarted before I can get out of the intersection. This was highly unsafe as I have small children in the car. I took the vehicle back to the dealership I bought it from and they cannot find anything wrong with the car. This is very frustrating and highly unsafe.

Filed Jul 16, 2023 · CO

Related to the 03A recall for vehicle for the condition that it will suddenly stall and become inoperable. 03A recall work, which was performed on my vehicle, does not fix the stall condition but only alerts the driver when it is occurring. It does not alert prior as the recall states, there is not time to get to safety once the alert is displayed- the vehicle has already stalled at that time. Since having the 03A recall work performed 1 week ago, my vehicle has stalled an additional 7 times. 5 times in heavy traffic and was not able to get to safety. A sheriff deputy had to help push the vehicle from active traffic off the road. I would like to understand if the underlying condition is still being actively worked with Chrysler and the federal safety agency for a fix, the recall for the alert has not accomplished creating a safer condition for this vehicle. It may be worth adding while not every owner of a minivan has small children, many do and this is a very upsetting condition to be putting a child in. Certainly if not already it is only a matter of time before this condition causes injury or death if stalling in active traffic. Condition has been inspected by dealership, they have ordered a part but sent me back out on road with the impacted vehicle- which did continue to stall. The warning indications do appear following the recall 03A software update, but I would like to stress that this 'fix' did not provide for additional time to get to safety. The vehicle was already stalled at the same time the message appears.

Filed May 12, 2023 · Transmission · CA

Chrysler have used a recall for my vehicle stating that there may be “An unexpected engine shut down resulting in a loss of motive power can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.” I had the recall done by the dealer, but I understand that it does not remedy the root cause of the issue; all the recall does is change the message of the dashboard display to the driver when the failure occurs. I do not feel safe driving in this car on the freeway with my children in it. What good does a dashboard message do when my car has stalled on the freeway traveling at high speed? Or on a remote road where I’m stranded with my children on the car. Please require Chrysler to issue a repair that will resolve the root cause of this problem, instead of simply updating the error message that is shown when it does.

Filed May 2, 2023 · Transmission · NY

The car has stalled MULTIPLE times starting on 2/17/23. It's happened on highways and local roads and as soon as it happens the car loses all power and the ability to accelerate. In the case where there is no shoulder, you are stuck on the road until you can get it to start again. In order to start it, you have to hit the ignition button a few times, open the door, close it and wait about a minute before starting it again. It has caused a LOT of danger to my family and has been at the shop multiple times. We are now being told it needs a new transmission with no timeline as to when we'll get the car back. We were denied a loaner and are now stuck with 4 kids and no car.

Filed Apr 6, 2023 · Acceleration, Transmission · WI

On Wed, April 5th, 2023 at approximately 10:15 pm I was returning home from a class in my 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. I was on local roads and had just transitioned from EV mode to gas mode (having used up all of my battery after about 30 miles of driving) when the car flashed the attached warning sign and I had very little power provided by my accelerator. Note that something similar to this has happened 5x before. All of these incidents had been at highway speeds (70+ mph) with one at about 40 mph. All had complete shutdown of power in the accelerator. In the current case I was able to still have a bit of power left and pulled over to the side of the road. Fortunately, it was late and there weren't too many other cars out so I didn't have as many safety concerns as I had in the past when I stalled on the highway. After I pulled the car over I stopped the car, turned the car off via the ignition button, unbuckled my seat belt and opened my door. Then I restarted my car and the error message attached had disappeared and I was able to return home. Note that I had had the dealer apply Recall 03A a week earlier and this seemed to be what was supposed to happen under that Recall which is NOT identified as a complete fix. Still, it is very disconcerting to lose full power. In my case, I was thankful to not have gotten into an accident.

Filed Mar 20, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · MD

I was driving on the highway ~57mph and the dash flashed warnings "Service Charging Station", and then I lost control of the accelerator pedal. It seems like the engine stalled, and I could no longer use the gas pedal. I coasted off the highway, then restarted the engine by turning it off/on. Once it was back on, I continued to drive, and I experienced the same exact thing. This is the 3rd time I've had an issue with the dash warning "Service Charging Station". This car has been in-and-out of service for ~2 months, since purchasing the new car around June 2021.

Filed Feb 14, 2023 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

The vehicle constantly stalls out when we driving on the freeway. The vehicle loss of the power on the freeway put me and my family's life in very dangerous situation when we drove the vehicle. Brough my vehicle to the dealership, and it verified the problem with engine light error code P0A43-00. The dealer stated that they are not able to fix it due to the issue was related to a active recall 03A. However, the remedy was not available.