2021 Chrysler Pacifica: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Sep 28, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · MO

Our van will not charge when plugged in and a message on the dashboard says "Service Charging System". Also, the car will not go into reverse when turned on and the gear is showing in "R", reverse. It will not let me back up out of our garage.

Filed Jul 30, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · MD

Driving on the interstate at high speed, when check engine light comes on, warning message - Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off - and red turtle warning indicator (limp mode). After a short time, vehicle will no longer accelerate. I pulled over to the shoulder, stopped and shut off engine. Restarted after a few minutes and everything appeared to work fine, with check engine light on. About 15 minutes later, it happened again. The dealership serviced the vehicle. Found error code P0A78 for driver moteo "A" inverter performance. Used Stellantis Technical Service Bulletin 08-253-24 to diagnose (both modules were out of date) and complete the indicated updates. This is a known issue that has affected many vehicles (per internet forums and that Stellantis has created a TSB. It is an extremely dangerous situation causing the vehicle to enter "limp mode" and requiring the driver to stop in a matter of minutes. Stellantis should recall all potentially affected vehicles to update the modules proactively.

Filed Mar 19, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · PA

While driving at normal road speed, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion and entered limp mode. A turtle warning icon appeared along with multiple system fault messages. The vehicle began slowing down on it's own and was unable to accelerate. I pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle displayed an error "Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon". After sitting for a period of time, the vehicle restarted and was able to be driven again, but the failure occurred without warning and created a dangerous situation in traffic. Diagnostic trouble codes were present related to the hybrid system and high-voltage battery, including P1D43, P1A21, U029A, and U0412. These codes indicate faults in the hybrid control system and battery communication. A Chrysler service department inspected the vehicle, confirmed the trouble codes, and returned it to me without repair because the issue was not immediately reproducible at the dealership. The vehicle has a history of similar intermittent issues, including prior loss-of-power events and repeated service visits for hybrid system faults. The condition is not consistently reproducible, but when it occurs it results in a sudden loss of motive power while driving. This creates a significant safety risk due to unexpected loss of propulsion in active traffic.

Filed Jul 10, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NC

On [XXX], I was driving uphill on the interstate at around 70 mph on gas power (hybrid battery was discharged) and warning came up "Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Down Soon" and lost power (Limp mode). I was able to move safely to the shoulder, but with 5 passengers (3 young kids) and a dog and a full load of camping gear it was a bit nervewracking. Could not get the car started again (stayed in limp mode) and used an OBDII scanner I had which popped up error code (P0A43 - "intermittent issue with the drive motor "A" position sensor"). The vehicle was towed to the dealer ( 4 hours from home) and after a few days they said the vehicle was fixed and I pushed for them to test drive it on the interstate. Was returned with this comment: " FOUND CODES FOR DRIVE MOTOR "A" POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT INTERMITTENT AND HYBRID BATTERY PACK STATE OF CHARGE LOW. CHECKED TRANS PLUG AND WIRING VERIFIED OPERATING CORRECTLY. FOUND THAT RESOLVER NEEDS TO HAVE RELEARN PREFORMED. PREFORMED RELEARN ON RESOLVER AND CHARGED HYBRID BATTERY. TEST DROVE VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE AND VERIFIED THAT ISSUE DID NOT RETURN. VEHICLE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." I received a notice of an unlimited mile/year warranty on the transmission for this car, and from what I read on the internet, this is a recurrent issue with a known cause. We were able to get off the road safely in this case, but it is nerve-wracking to drive, especially with my family, in the current state. This is related to an open the federal safety agency investigation: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 7, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MI

While driving 70MPH on the expressway the dash randomly sent a message saying “Pull over vehicle shutting off” and then it put itself into limp mode. Thankfully we were able to coast to the small shoulder and put on our hazards. This happened at 2am with 4 kids in the car. Nothing in the car would work, it wouldn’t turn on, shift, nothing. We had to sit on the side of the expressway for hours waiting for a tow. While waiting it had the check engine light on, limp mode light, and messages to service hybrid system & plug in battery for reconditioning. It is waiting to be serviced, but there is a very limited amount of techs that will service it due to being a hybrid.

Filed Apr 11, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NC

We noticed our van having issues getting stuck in gear and then jerking to get out of the gear. After doing further research it seems to be a common issue in 2021 Pacifica vans. The next issue is electrical. Our van rear door opens if we are too close to it with the keys and now the sliding door will not open. They just fixed a recall regarding the entertainment system and back up camera. The entertainment system is still having issues. When we start the car up the system will reboot itself.

Filed Jan 3, 2025 · CA

Car warning flashed while driving on on highway ‘stop safely’ and car powered down and went to limp mode.

Filed Jul 23, 2024 · Transmission · KS

On [XXX], I was driving the vehicle on a busy highway with a posted speed limit of 70mph. While operating the vehicle at ~70mph, the front display showed a message that the vehicle was going to stop and to pull off safely. Unknown at what point the vehicle will stop, in a panic, I pulled off on the highway and immediately called road assistance for a tow. After calling the dealership, they told me to start the vehicle again, which I did and it showed the check engine light illuminated on the dash. He advised that the vehicle should be able to be driven to the dealership rather than needing a tow, so I cancelled the roadside assistance. On May 12, 2023, the dealership informed me that they did not find anything wrong and said I could pick the vehicle back up since they couldn't replicate the issue. On my drive home, the exact same issue happened and in a panic I pulled off on the same highway with posted speeds of 70mph. The car was at the dealership from May 12 2023 - June 26 2023. The dealership replaced the valve body and transmission. On [XXX], while driving with two young children [XXX] and [XXX] ) on the same highway with posted speeds of 70mph, I received the same dash message. The highway was very busy that day and the concern was escalated with my young children in the vehicle. I was able to pull off. I turned off my vehicle, turned it back on, which put it in limp mode so I could putter to a safer spot than the middle of an off-ramp. I turned it off once more and restarted it, and it allowed me to drive with the check engine light. The next day (XXX), I took it to the dealership and they just confirmed today (7/23/24) it once again needs a new transmission. So I have been put in an extremely unsafe condition 3 times in just over a year with no new resolution beyond just trying to replace the transmission once again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 16, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · PA

Chrysler recall 03A is installed on my pacifica hybrid. Since then, the past two times the van has been driven at highway speed, it has suddenly notified me that vehicle shutdown is imminenent and put the vehicle into limp mode. In both cases, turning the car off and on again allowed normal operation, with the check engine light locked in. The first time the code was P0A43, to be determined what the code is for this most recent event.

Filed Jul 25, 2023 · Electrical · WV

Vehicle thinks it is charging mode when it is not, sitting in a parking lot. Vehicle when attempting to start says 'Service Charging System' and won't go into drive or even neutral appropriately. Vehicle is stranded otherwise. Under 40,000 miles on vehicle. Online this appears to be a very common problem that Chrysler is yet to adequately address with a recall.

Filed Jul 14, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Recalls 23V‑010 and FCA campaign Z76 was completed on 7/11/23. On 7/13/23 check engine light and turtle warning light (limp mode) was illuminated and vehicle will either not move at all or move only 5mph. This happened without warning and could have left me in a dangerous location in lanes of traffic. Vehicle has only 25,000 miles and is under OEM warranty.

Filed Apr 28, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · MI

The 03A recall has now been performed on our vehicle, and we are not sure if we will pick it up to drive again or not. We are not sure if we trust it. Hybrid system faults have happened three times, this is the best of my memory. April 2022 I had noticed the battery wasn't really being used driving regular routes & made a service appointment. Before the appt we saw a Hybrid System Fault. The dealership in (Town Y) could see the fault, but thought it was a false alarm. They did the prescribed fix for the false alarm, but the fault was still there so they did a repair of some kind. Sept 2022, pulling out from home &at the bottom of the driveway it gave a hybrid system failure or alert, put itself in turtle mode. I pulled back into the garage and parked. Next day I drove 9-10 miles from home to dealership in turtle mode. As I was pulling up to the (state highway) & Main St intersection (was on an incline), the car went from turtle mode to park, lights and alerts were flashing, and it was quite scary. I couldn't get the out of park into neutral to move to the side of the road. I couldn't turn it in or off, it was in a weird kind of limbo or perpetual computer restarting kind of mode. After 15-30 minutes, the wipers started to go on their own volition. The car seemed to have a mind of its own. Had to get towed, 12V battery replacement, radio replacement. Jan 2023, I was driving to school for pickup, <8 miles, neighborhood & highway. Hybrid system fault happened while I was driving on the highway, 4-4.5 miles from home. The alerts were popping up and warning me to pull over now, I did that as fast and safely as I could. The car then seemed stuck in park, I hit the button and opened the door to really turn it off. After a few minutes tried turning it on again. It did turn on. There were still some warnings on the screen I think, but I drove to the dealership.