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2021 Chrysler Pacifica: harsh or hard shifting

5 of the 381 complaints about the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints
5
of this car's complaints
1%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 43 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

What owners say

Filed Jan 27, 2026 · Steering · 70,432 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH and attempting to slow down to park in a parking spot, the steering wheel started shaking unexpectedly. There was a clunking sound coming from the steering wheel. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,432.

Filed Nov 10, 2025 · Steering · FL

More often than not, the steering wheel column gets stuck at 10-11 o’clock positions and 1-2 o’clock positions. So it typically happens when making slight bends on my local roads and highways. This requires a hard jolt on the steering wheel to get it un-stuck. This is extremely unsafe to do at high rates of speed and/or with traffic on either side of me and it feels only a matter of time before it results in an accident. When I brought the car into the dealer for a different repair, they noted in their follow-up inspection a, “rep clunk from steering gear the wheel both ways” and quoted me $4800 for repair. I’m assuming that’s to replace the entire steering column, which is pretty outrageous considering the part is less than $900 OEM and would be about 2-3 hours of labor. I purchased the car 6 months ago as a certified pre-owned car from a dealership and the CarFax report came back completely clear, recall repairs weren’t even mentioned on it. I’ve seen some discussions on online forums describing a similar issue.

Filed Sep 21, 2025 · Transmission · TX

The transmission stutters and searches from 15 mph - 30 mph. Dealer ship told us it was a known issue and they just reset the "learning" feature of the transmission. The fix gives you another 6 months and then the issue slowly returns. This causes undue wear on the transmission and leaves it open for catastrophic failure. Dealership refuses to repair after warranty expires even though it is a known issue. There are no warning lamps or messages just an slowly growing clunking at slow speeds over time.

Filed Jun 26, 2025 · Engine · NC

Hard shifting. Shifting then RPMs dropping to 1000 and not accelerating when hitting gas.

Filed Jan 22, 2025 · Transmission · TX

Hard shifting during de-deceleration and at lower speeds. Most likely between 25 to 45 miles per hour.

Questions about the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica harsh shifting

Is harsh or hard shifting a common problem on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?

5 of 381 owner complaints about the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica (1%) mention harsh or hard shifting. The model year with the most reports is 2017.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?

There are 0 recalls and 43 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

Check engine light 85Loss of power 55Stalling 34Backup camera 24Transmission failure 19Won't shift 14Won't start 14Adaptive cruise 10Engine failure 8Fuel smell 6Key fob 6Wipers 6Collision warning 5Fuel leak 5

All model years of the Chrysler Pacifica

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