2022 Chrysler Pacifica: complete transmission failure

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Transmission · IL

Vehicle: 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Approximately 25,300 miles On Saturday 9/12/26 while driving at highway speeds the following message displayed "Stop Safely, Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon". When the message displayed the check engine light illuminated as well as the limp mode light. In limp mode the vehicle reduced speed rapidly and would not accelerate above 20 MPH. This happened at highway speeds on a multilane highway. We were able to get to the shoulder, but it was very dangerous changing lanes in limp mode. Turning the vehicle on and off several times cleared errors except the check engine light. We were able to get off the highway and get home without the message or limp mode triggering again. The check engine light stayed illuminated for 24 hours and went off when I refueled the vehicle the next day. For the next week I drove at local speeds with no issues. On Saturday 9/19/26 the vehicle would not start. This is a plugin hybrid and was fully charged. The electric motor would not start, and the check engine light illuminated again. I turned the vehicle off/on 3 times to get it to start. I did my errand and returned home. When I returned home, I turned the vehicle off then on again and the check engine light cleared. On Tuesday 9/21/26 I dropped the vehicle off for service, getting there without issue. The dealership stated the transmission will need to be rebuilt. Problem code is P0A43-00. This is the SECOND transmission failure since ownership. I've had the vehicle serviced only at the dealer where purchased. The dealership confirmed the FIRST incident with the same problem code was diagnosed on 1/30/24. The transmission was replaced at this time. The van had 12,134 miles. The 2024 incident also was triggered at highway speeds. If my memory is correct, I believe I reported the first incident to the nthsb at the time.

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · IL

Vehicle suffered sudden loss of motive power due to Diagnostic Trouble Code P0A43 (Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent). The failure is caused by thermal and chemical degradation of the internal transmission wiring harness, resulting in an internal electrical short submerged in transmission fluid. The vehicle is able to be powered on again and driving can be continued however certain speeds trigger the issue. The check engine light appears and remains for a short period. The vehicle was purchased through CarMax of Naperville, IL [XXX]. The vehicle began to experience the defined issue the last week of May 2026. The vehicle was brought to CarMax [XXX]. CarMax transferred the repair of the vehicle to Castle Chrysler of Naperville/Stellantis IL, and they conducted the initial repair. Stellantis attempted to mask this hardware failure via software recalibrations under the federal safety agency Recall 03A (23V‑010) rather than replacing physical parts. The vehicle was returned and appeared to be repaired. [XXX] the same issue occurred while on a cross country road trip. The vehicle was able to be driven but under specific speed conditions as not to activate the transmission failure. [XXX] the vehicle was brought to an independent technician at Stephens Automotive in Palatine, IL and they were able to verify the issue and documented it. The vehicle was then brought to Castle Chrysler on [XXX], and the vehicle has been there since. Stellantis later acknowledged the true physical failure via Warranty Extension XE1 and TSB 21-014-26, requiring Electric Rebuild Kit #68729719AB. The vehicle has been continuously grounded at Castle Chrysler since [XXX] (>30 cumulative days) because Part #68729719AB is on indefinite backorder. Stellantis's failure to supply hardware repairs leaves the vehicle inoperable and creates a severe safety hazard on public roads. Stellantis Case #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 8, 2026 · Transmission · CO

This vehicle has experienced three separate powertrain failures stemming from the same transmission defect (DTC P0A43 — Drive Motor Position Sensor, eFlite transmission). Incident 1 — April 19, 2026: Complete sudden loss of motive power on the highway with family aboard. Vehicle towed to Castle Rock Chrysler CDJR. Failed Repair — May 8, 2026: Chrysler corporate mandated a software flash rather than a hardware repair. Vehicle failed identically within 10 miles of pickup in live highway traffic. Towed back same day. Incident 3 — June 6, 2026: A replacement transmission was installed. Within one week of pickup, a progressive transmission whine developed followed by visible smoke from the engine compartment while driving. Vehicle was immediately pulled over and towed to avoid a third highway failure. Chrysler's own STAR engineering team (TSB 21-014-26) has documented this as a known defect requiring transmission rebuild or replacement. Chrysler blocked a full transmission replacement for over 5 weeks citing backorder, then located one within hours when a repurchase review was requested. This defect causes sudden loss of motive power at highway speeds with no warning, creating an immediate safety hazard. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate this defect pattern on 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vehicles and evaluate whether a safety recall is warranted.

Filed May 17, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · OH

My 2022 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV has experienced three separate complete losses of motive power at highway speed, each preceded only by a brief dashboard warning to pull over safely. First occurrence: April 18, 2026. Second: May 7, 2026 — vehicle towed to Spitzer Motor City (Cleveland, OH), an authorized Stellantis dealer. Dealer replaced the Power Inverter Module hardware under warranty (R.O. 42463CY). Third occurrence: May 17, 2026 — just five days after the repair. Notably, the battery was at 40% on the third occurrence, meaning the engine had not cycled on, distinguishing this failure from the prior two. The root cause is the internal transmission wiring harness connector short identified in the federal safety agency Recall 03A (23V‑010). Per the federal safety agency's own ODI investigation (RQ24-004), the software recall remedy does not prevent loss of motive power. TSB 21-008-23 / Warranty Extension XE1 identifies full transmission replacement as the correct fix. The dealer did not perform a transmission replacement. The safety risk is severe — complete, sudden loss of drive power at interstate speeds with minimal warning creates immediate rear-end collision risk. The defect has been confirmed by the authorized dealer. The transmission assembly is available for inspection. No police or insurance involvement. This VIN currently shows zero open recalls, suggesting the incomplete repair was logged as satisfying Recall 03A.

Filed Apr 21, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA

I was traveling on the freeway at approximately 65 miles per hour. I slowed to approximately 50 miles per hour to pass a disabled vehicle and began accelerating again when the dash displayed a message that said "Stop Safely- Vehicle will Shut off soon" the check engine light, a red turtle light also lit up. I had to make a quick maneuver to the far right lane putting myself and other vehicles at risk to avoid the car shutting down in the middle of the freeway. I wanted to get closer to an exit so I continued driving slowly on the shoulder. The wouldn’t accelerate, so whatever speed I let it get down to was the fastest it would go. At the exit I was concerned I wouldn’t have enough power to make it up the hill so I shut off the car. I let it sit for a couple of minutes and then turned it back on. It turned on with the check engine light still on . I then drove it straight to the dealership using surface streets and keeping my speed around 40-45 miles per hour. This was the second time this vehicle has experience this kind of loss of power. The first time happened in July 2024 and resulted in a full transmission replacement. This incident constitutes a dangerous loss of motive power at highway speeds. The failure mode appears identical to the issues described in the federal safety agency Safety Recall 23V‑010 (Chrysler Recall 03A), yet this vehicle has already had a full transmission replacement for this exact issue in the past.

Filed Feb 22, 2026 · Transmission · OH

I was driving on the highway when an alarm sounded and warning message displayed: "Stop Safely, Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" At the same time, a turtle icon came on, along with the check engine light. I lost all power in the gas pedal. I pulled over, and after shutting my van down for a few minutes, I was able to turn it back on and get to my destination. However, the same exact issue happened on my way home. That time, I had to pull over -- still on the highway -- during rush hour and I did not feel safe as other cars zoomed by me. I often travel with my show dogs, which was my main reason for purchasing a new van. Naturally, I am concerned about their safety and well-being too. After this happened, I took my van -- which has less than 36,000 miles on it -- to my local dealership. They performed a software update and sent me home. I took my van on a "test ride" and the same alarm sounded and warning message displayed. I brought it back to the dealership and they investigated the problem further. I now have to replace the transmission -- a $7,000 repair -- on a van that is less than five years old with very low milage. I had NO prior issues, odd noises, or warnings indicated by my van.

Filed Feb 21, 2026 · Transmission · MI

Driving on the freeway vehicle suddenly enters limp mode with stop safely vehicle will shut off soon displayed. Transmission was replaced once already for this issue, a year later and I am experiencing the same thing. Very dangerous to lose all power while going 80mph in the third lane of a three row freeway and have to attempt to get all the way across lanes of traffic to safely stop while losing all power. Family vehicle loaded with kids. Has entered turtle mode 3x on the freeway after transmission was already replaced once. If I drive under 65mph it goes fine, but who wants to drive behind semis all the time on the freeway? Untrustworthy vehicle.

Filed Oct 21, 2025 · Transmission · MD

This car has lost power train at highway speeds several times almost casing accidents in major interstates intersections with no left shoulder. Chrysler has more than reasonably failed to repair this car transmission 9 times. This car has been in repair for 7 months in 2023 waiting for a new transmission. It has now spent more than 30 accumulative days just this year, and it is now at the dealership having its transmission replaced for the second time. I am submitting the second transmission replacement notice as evidence and first repair order as evidence. I have been able to avoid collision but have had to many close calls to the point that I feel unsafe driving this car and my wife won't drive this car anymore.

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MO

Unexpected engine shut down electrical system, short circuit and the internal transmission failure loss of motor power while driving, losing control of all drive power breaking on its own increasing the risk of crash. Electrical system went haywire.

Filed May 29, 2025 · Transmission · SD

My wife was driving our 2022 Pacific PHEV Limited with 4 kids on board suddenly went into limp mode while driving northbound south of [XXX] on [XXX]. Turtle signal was on dash with just seconds to get off freeway on limp mode. Pacifica had to be towed to Woodhouse Chrysler in Sioux City where it remains to this day. Changed PCIM and remains in limp mode. Chrysler approved hybrid transmission repair under hybrid warranty but dealer found not repairable and needs new transmission. Now Chrysler refusing to have transmission replaced under warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 1, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · MA

In 2024, our vehicle displayed a critical warning stating: “Stop safely. Vehicle will shut off soon.” While driving on the highway, the vehicle began losing engine power—a terrifying and dangerous experience. We immediately took it to the dealership, where they diagnosed a transmission failure and proceeded to replace the transmission. Unfortunately, we are now experiencing the same issue again this year. The vehicle continues to lose power and shut off while in motion on the highway, creating an extremely hazardous situation that nearly resulted in a serious accident. This ongoing malfunction poses a significant risk to the safety of drivers and passengers. Chrysler must take immediate responsibility by recalling these vehicles and replacing them with safer alternatives to prevent further danger to human life.

Filed Apr 15, 2025 · Transmission · KS

My 2022 Pacifica Hybrid is experiencing a known transmission issue as identified in TSB 21-042-24 My VIN falls squarely within the build date window. The bulletin instructs dealers to replace the transmission—not rebuild it. I am refusing an inferior repair that contradicts the manufacturer’s own instructions. I am requesting immediate escalation, in writing, confirming that my vehicle will receive a factory-new transmission in accordance with the TSB