I own a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid experiencing intermittent electric power steering problems consistent with the federal safety agency investigation PE25009. The steering wheel repeatedly sticks near the 11-o'clock position during gradual turns and when returning toward center. This has occurred at highway speeds and requires additional steering force to overcome the resistance. The steering can then release unexpectedly. There are no warning lights or DTC Codes related to this issue. We had a repair shop look at the issue and they suggested performing a wheel alignment. While this helped some at first, the issue has continued to occur and worsened in recent weeks. I have also experienced grinding noises when returning from a left turn, with vibration transmitted primarily through the vehicle floor and body. The condition is intermittent but recurring, and I am concerned about losing predictable steering control, particularly at highway speeds. I am requesting that this condition be investigated in connection with PE25009.
Chrysler Pacifica grinding brakes problems
72 of the 7,089 owner complaints about the Chrysler Pacifica describe grinding or squealing brakes, most of them for the 2005 model year.
- owner complaints
- 72
- worst model year
- 2005
- typical repair cost reported
- $3,000
- typical mileage
- 50,000
By model year
Often reported together
ABS 20Jerking 7Brake failure 7Harsh shifting 6Ball joint 6Slipping 4Check engine light 4Stalling 3
What owners say
While driving, the vehicle experiences a sudden and intermittent "catching" or sticking sensation in the steering wheel. This issue happens exclusively when initiating a slight turn to the left, specifically around the 11 o'clock steering wheel position. There is no noise (no clunking, clicking, or grinding) associated with the failure. When the steering wheel "catches," it requires additional physical force to pull the wheel past the sticking point. Once it breaks free, the electric power steering suddenly engages with a sharp jolt, which causes the vehicle to momentarily jerk or oversteer.
The car rapidly came to a stop as I was starting to press the brake lightly. The check engine light came on, the car made a grinding noise, and the screen said it was turning off cruise control when it had not been engaged.
2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The vehicle has ongoing steering, electrical, and power steering/EPS failures. The steering wheel intermittently jerks/pulls while driving, the vehicle has experienced random loss of steering assist, and the electrical system cuts out or malfunctions during normal use. The steering wheel lights and backup camera guidelines also disappear during driving sessions and only return after fully restarting the vehicle. The exact root cause is UNKNOWN, but the affected systems appear to include the EPS/power steering system, steering/suspension components, battery/electrical system, and possibly related control modules. My safety and others’ safety were put at risk because the vehicle has lost steering assist and had electrical failure while being driven, including a prior failure in an intersection. When the steering assist drops or the wheel jerks, the vehicle becomes difficult to control. This is especially dangerous because I transport my family in this vehicle. The issue has been reported repeatedly since purchase. The vehicle was inspected/repaired through Carvana/SilverRock’s repair process at Brockman Automotive, including rack and pinion/steering-related work. After that repair, the vehicle continued to drift and handle improperly. A later independent inspection at Davidson Automotive identified a loose/not properly secured tie rod, alignment problems, and a failed auxiliary battery. The shop could not complete deeper diagnostics until those prerequisite issues were corrected. The vehicle has also suffered abnormal front tire wear after the steering/alignment problems. Warning/symptoms before or during failures include steering wheel jerking/pulling, clunking/clanking/grinding/groaning noises, vehicle drift, service start/stop warning, electrical malfunctions, intermittent steering wheel control/light issues, loss of backup camera guidelines, and loss of steering assist. The vehicle/component is available for inspection upon request.
We bought our van new in 2019. It has always made a grinding noise when making hard turns. The dealer said it was normal. Flash forward to a few weeks ago when we hit 105k miles. We started noticing more grinding noises and sensations when turning the wheel. Additionally, we noticed a tugging sensation on the wheel when going over 60 mph. It felt like the lane assist was turned on, but it wasn’t. We took our van to our trusted auto repair garage. They did a series of tests which included isolating the sound of clicking and grinding to the electronic steering gear. We were told that this part would cost $5400 to replace. We believe that this part is going bad too early in the life of our van and would like the federal safety agency to investigate.
We bought this vehicle from a local dealer in March (9months ago) in the time we’ve had it… it’s been in the shop for about 6 of them. 1- About 3 weeks after the purchase it shut off while I was driving on the highway. We then took it to the dealership in Jasper, Ga bc the error code said the pcm needed to be reset. They couldn’t get it to reset so they embarked on a diagnostic that took 3 months to discover the fuel pump was “too small”. The dealership repair guy assured us this was a solve to the issue, they’re tech put 200 miles on it an had no issues. 2- The day we got it back the check engine light came on and while going around a curve to the right, the wheel locked up on me and almost drove me into a mailbox. We turned around and went right back to the dealership. They had it for another couple weeks and told us we needed a new rack and pinion. We couldn’t afford the $6000 they wanted to fix that. So we then called the guy we bought it from and he had a local repair shop take a look and they replaced some parts on the rack and said it was good to go. 3- got it back and the check engine came on again, they code said pcm needed to be reset. We couldn’t get the dealership to call us back so we went to the local shop o’reileys recommended and they deducted some gauges needed to be replaced. 4- within a couple weeks the van was sputtering and cutting off again, we took it back to the local shop and the only thing they could think to do was change the auxiliary battery. 5- we’ve had it for about 2 weeks… 2 days again I went to start it up and it cut off. I had to wait a few minutes to try again and it started. Then yesterday while driving we stopped a red light and something popped and the dash lit up with errors and a grinding noise started. We went to accelerate to turn and started rolling backwards while in drive. We slammed on the brakes, turned the cautions on and put it in park and still rolled backwards. We had to get a tow back to the local shop.
The vehicle is unsafe to operate and presents an immediate highway safety risk. Shortly after purchase, the vehicle experienced multiple safety-related failures. Headlights were inoperable from the time of delivery, requiring use of high beams at night to see the roadway. This created visibility and traffic safety issues from day one. Within the first month of ownership, the vehicle required towing. The vehicle is a hybrid and could not be shifted into neutral, yet it was dragged with the wheels locked during towing rather than transported on a flatbed. This caused damage to multiple systems. Following the tow, all four tires developed visible bulges consistent with being dragged while immobilized, creating a significant risk of tire blowout at highway speeds. Steering and alignment became unstable, with grinding noises and loss of predictable control. The hybrid underbody shielding was also damaged, leaving components exposed. These conditions have persisted despite repeated notice to the seller and service administrator. A repair facility has confirmed the vehicle is not safe for long-distance or highway travel. The vehicle must regularly be driven at interstate speeds, and continued operation poses a serious risk of crash or injury. The vehicle remains in service only due to lack of alternatives, despite known safety defects affecting steering, lighting, and tires.
My 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has ongoing electrical problems that match the same symptoms described in existing recalls, but my VIN is not included in those campaigns. The issues began around 08/30/22. The vehicle has experienced stalling, electrical shutdown, dashboard warning lights, loss of power steering issues, failure of the start-stop system, dead batteries, loud creaking, popping, squeaking noises from the front suspension, especially when turning, backing up, steering lock, or going over bumps. These events began in 2021 and continue despite numerous repairs at mechanics and dealerships. Despite repairs and inspections, the problems continue. I have reviewed the federal safety agency recalls and found recall numbers 18V524000, 20V334000, 19V143000 as well as battery ground recall for 2017–2019 models, and my vehicle’s problems are identical to those safety issues. The dealer confirmed that my VIN is not covered, so I have been responsible for repair costs. These defects create a serious safety hazard, especially when the vehicle stalls or loses power while driving. It places my family and other drivers at risk of a crash. We have been stranded on highways and in the center of busy intersections due to loss of power. I strongly request that the federal safety agency investigate whether the existing recalls should be expanded to include additional VIN ranges, since many 2018 Pacifica owners (myself included) are experiencing the same electrical failures. I have had the vehicle inspected/repaired on: 4/15/21, 9/15/22, 10/2/23, 11/22/23, 8/10/24, 7/21/25, 8/7/25, 9/23/25 for battery ground, electrical module replacement, wiring repair, and strut repairs. The issues persist despite these attempts.
Often when making a gradual turn such as exiting an interstate onto the off ramp, the steering wheel will stick/lock at the 3 o clock position. This requires considerable force to return the wheel to the 12 o clock and straight position. I took it into the dealership and they found nothing wrong but it seems like an issue with the steering rack. I've heard numerous reports of others encountering this as well and I want it to be known this is a common issue. There is no grinding, scraping or noise indicating something is broken but seems to be a manufacturing defect. It is extremely dangerous and can sometimes be rather difficult to correct the wheel.
The steering wheel sticks in a slight right turn around the 1 o'clock position. I have not felt it on left turns. There is no noise, scraping, or grinding. There is one slight right bend in the road on my way home and it consistently does the stick thing as I straighten out the wheel. I've searched and found many references to the same problem. I know the federal safety agency has started an investigation on this for Pacificas made in other yrs.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage Mobility) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica lowered floor vans modified by Vantage Mobility for wheelchair accessibility. The affected vans have rear brake lines that might have been crossed during the modification. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Risk
- The crossed rear brake lines will cause the rear anti-lock brake system to be ineffective, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Vantage Mobility will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear brake line attachments, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1‑800‑488‑9082. Vantage Mobility's number for this recall is Pac-20170525.
Recall number 17V342000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chrysler Pacifica grinding brakes
Which Chrysler Pacifica years have grinding or squealing brakes problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2005 (16 complaints), 2018 (11 complaints) and 2006 (9 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix grinding or squealing brakes on the Chrysler Pacifica?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,000 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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