2025 Chrysler Pacifica: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TN

While driving a 2025 Chrysler Pacifica rental vehicle at highway speeds on the interstate, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic electronic throttle/cruise control failure resulting in sudden, violent, and sustained unintended acceleration. The cruise control system completely locked up and would not disengage. When the accelerator stuck, I heavily depressed the service brakes, but the braking system was completely unable to overcome the wide-open throttle of the engine. The vehicle refused to decelerate. To prevent a catastrophic high-speed collision, I was forced to shift the transmission into Neutral while traveling at highway speeds to disconnect the engine from the drivetrain. The incident lasted continuously for over 30 minutes on the interstate as I managed the runaway vehicle. Post-Incident Behavior and Diagnostics: Upon bringing the vehicle to a stop on the shoulder of the highway, the transmission locked and the engine continued to race wildly, pinned at a constant 3,200 RPMs while in stationary Neutral. Tapping or shifting the transmission was impossible. The vehicle refused to shut down normally, forcing me to repeatedly cycle the electronic ignition button under extreme duress before the engine completely turned off. Upon restarting the vehicle, the electronic glitch reset itself and did not immediately replicate. There were 3 passengers inside the vehicle and 2 trailing eyewitnesses in a separate vehicle who observed the illuminated brake lights during the uncontrolled acceleration. This vehicle is a severe public safety hazard and represents a failure of the brake-override safety logic. I have preserved hard video evidence of the dashboard diagnostics and the 3,200 RPM engine racing while stopped.

Filed Oct 9, 2026 · Driver assistance · GA

Vehicle unexpectedly disengage, adaptive, cruise control, and accelerated without driver input to the accelerator pedal. After applying break, vehicle continued to accelerate without driver input to the gas pedal. Vehicle accelerated from approximately 65 mph to over 80 mph.Brake had to be applied to bring vehicle to a full stop, even though engine continued to rev. After releasing break pedal, vehical lunged forward and accelerated to 18 mph unexpectedly. After stopping the vehicle again the only way to control the vehicle was to turn off the automatic start button. After restarting the vehicle, the problem seems to have gone away on its own.

Filed May 28, 2026 · Driver assistance · MN

Adaptive cruise control stops working for no apparent reason flashes forward collision system not working. will start up again for no reason from 5 to 15 min. had this problem for some time starting with our 2021 2023 2025 Chrysler pacifies some times you have to stop and restart to get cruise to work . dealer cant fix

Filed Feb 16, 2026 · Driver assistance · TX

On two separate long trips (over 4,000 miles total in recent months), the adaptive cruise control system has failed while driving on the freeway. This is the most dangerous situation I have ever experienced while driving. When the failure occurs: All cruise control and lane-assist buttons become unresponsive. Dynamic cruise control remains engaged. When I press the brake, the vehicle slows—but as soon as I release the brake, it begins accelerating again. There is no way to turn the system off. The first time this happened, I attempted for several miles to reset the system while controlling speed using the brake. I exited the freeway. At a traffic light, when I began to release the brake after stopping, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and nearly struck the truck in front of me. With the brake fully depressed, I shifted into neutral. The transmission made a loud clunk as the engine began revving. I then shifted into park, which caused another loud clunk. I turned the vehicle off while sitting in a turn lane, waited a moment, and restarted it. The system appeared to reset, and I was able to continue driving. Approximately two weeks later, while returning from California, I tested the cruise control system again during a long drive. After about three hours, the exact same failure occurred. This time, I recorded video of the incident and have documentation of the malfunction. This system is extremely dangerous in its current state. I paid a significant amount for this vehicle and its safety systems. A failure like this could easily result in a serious accident or loss of life. I do not believe I should be responsible for paying for a vehicle or system that is defective and poses a safety risk. I have video but could not upload it..

Filed Jul 11, 2025 · Acceleration · 23,000 miles · IN

The contact rented a 2025 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with the adaptive cruise control mode activated, the message "Adaptive Cruise Control Off" was displayed, and the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration. The contact stated that the vehicle exceeded 100 MPH and failed to decelerate upon depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle speed continued to increase, nearly causing the vehicle to crash into a semi-truck. The contact was able to drive onto the shoulder of the road, where the contact shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was later towed to the rental car facility. The manufacturer and the local dealer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Mar 8, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

1215 miles . The adaptive cruise control system was acting sketchy. It failed to maintain proper distance and speed between the vehicle in front. We took it into the dealer who said that the sensor had failed on this brand new vehicle and they replaced it on 2/12/2025. After driving the vehicle when we got it back. There does not seem to be much different. The van tends to accelerate extremely quickly only to get behind the vehicle in front sometimes not keeping proper distance with the way it's set, as well as waiting to the last possible moment maybe 2 or 3 car lengths to break which is extremely scary. Sometimes the warning comes up that says break break . Even with the system said it maximum a car cutting in the system is extremely slow to react. This has led to numerous close calls of rear end collision. We took it back to the dealer on 2/24/2025 1802 miles, who said they couldn't find anything wrong.