Chrysler Pacifica collision warning problems

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · TX

safety complaint regarding a severe CAN bus communication failure in the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica (gas model, base trim, no Engine Stop-Start) resulting in a sudden loss of transmission control while driving. The defect manifests as an intermittent loss of communication between the Electronic Shifter Module (ESM) and the Transmission Control Module (TCM). Without warning, the rotary shifter (PRNDL) indicator lights go dark and a "Service Shifter" message appears. This triggers a cascade of safety system failures, disabling Electronic Stability Control, Forward Collision Warning, and Blind Spot Alerts. Most critically, the loss of network data causes the vehicle to enter "limp mode," locking the transmission in its current gear and refusing to upshift or downshift, creating a severe crash hazard in active traffic. The root cause is a physical hardware defect in the CAN-C Star Connector junction block (Part No. 68321746AA) located behind the passenger-side glovebox. The pin receptacles inside this distribution block degrade and lose tension, allowing data wires to vibrate loose. Striking the passenger-side dashboard physically reseats the pins, instantly restoring network communication, shifter lights, and transmission function. Dealerships are misdiagnosing this defect by following factory diagnostic trees that mandate replacing the functional Electronic Shifter Module (an ineffective $1,400 repair) instead of addressing the faulty Star Connector. My vehicle has been at the Chrysler dealership since initial diagnosis with no resolution, as the dealer refuses to repair the known wiring defect without first replacing the functional shifter. The sudden loss of transmission control and active safety systems due to this faulty communication block is an extreme safety hazard. Chrysler must issue a mandatory recall to replace these degraded Star Connectors.

Filed Sep 4, 2026 · Driver assistance · FL

Car shows no warnings when vehicle in front slows very quickly. All selections to enable this function have been made. It is available for inspection provided it is local to central Florida. In my previous vehicle, a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, I relied on and received Forward Collision Warnings which prevented my crashing into another car no less than 4 times. Though this car has been ADAS scanned (3 times) with appropriate scanners, no codes are detected. It has been “calibrated” by a body shop recommended by the dealer where I was assured it was “working.” It is not. I’ve taken it to an iCar certified ADAS cal facility and was told it all checks out, there’s nothing they can do for me. Meanwhile, I do not have Forward Collision Warnings. As I have to have wheelchair accessibility, I’m stuck with this vehicle.

Filed May 26, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · FL

1. Most emergency lights come on while the vehicle's brake engages automatically. The brake then pumps up and down on its own if any pressure is applied. Shortly after, the vehicle goes into "limp mode". The vehicle is currently at a Chrysler Dealership service department and available for inspection. 2. This has occurred 8 times since the vehicle was purchased in October 2024. All but one time, it has happened while driving. Once it happened while on a major highway. I had to quickly veer into a turn lane so our vehicle was not rearended by another car. Another time, I was driving my children to school and it happened about 10 seconds before crossing the worst intersection in our city. That could have resulted in a major crash based on the history of that intersection. A third time, I was traveling at about 40 miles an hour when warnings came on and the brake started to engage. Luckily, I had just gotten off a major highway and I was able to get to the side of the road. 3. The problem has been confirmed by a dealer, since it happened while I was in their service parking lot. However, they have been unable to recreate, find the source of, or fix the issue after 7 times of servicing it. 4. I am unsure whether the manufacturer has sent anyone outside of the dealer's service department to inspect the vehicle. We have been in contact with the manufacturer directly since December 26, 2025 in relation to this issue. Our extended warranty company may have had an inspector out on the first visit to the dealership for the issue, but no one since that I am aware of. 5. Emergency messages have included: Service Electronic Stability Control, Service Charging System, Service Hybrid Electronic Vehicle System, Auto Emergency Braking Unavailable Service Required. Multiple emergency lights come on including: Check Engine, Electronic Throttle Control, Electronic Stability Control Active, Service Forward Collision Warning. The first incident was January 22, 2025.

Filed Apr 4, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OH

At Random, the dashboard will light up with a red brake light, the check engine light, front end collision warning, and the ABS warning light. IT gives me several messages as well. Service electronic stability control, Auto emergency Braking Active Braking off, Auto emergency Braking unavailable Service Required. When this happens the brake pedal is impossible to push and it takes every ounce of power to get the vehicle to stop. This is no warning that this is coming and it happens most often when you are driving. This puts myself and my family at risk as well as everyone that is driving near me when this happens. It has been repaired 6 times by 2 different dealerships, and it still isn't fixed.

Filed Mar 29, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MI

This is an intermittent issue that has been happening for a while now and the car was sent to the dealership twice but the issue still persists. The engine would shuts down or partially loses torque all of a sudden and the steering becomes very stiff. At the same time you would see all kinds of alarms, error messages, and check lights on the dashboard. I would then have to pull over to the side of the road, turn off the car, then try to start it back up. Usually after several attempts (one time that took nearly 30 minutes), the car works properly again with no error messages but sometimes I'd still have some persistent check lights on the dashboard. Error messages and check lights that I see include the following: -Service Electronic Stability Control -Autopark Engaged -Shifter Autocorrect Active -Park Brake Temporarily Unavailable -AWD System Temporarily Unavailable -Automatic Emergency Braking off check light -Forward Collision Warning off check light -Check Engine light The dealership has been unable to properly diagnose and fix this issue so far. On the first visit, they replaced the main battery, auxiliary battery, some wire harnesses that I was told had some corrosion, and the adaptive cruise control module. On the second visit, they replaced the CAN Bus star connector. The same issue still persists after replacing all above components.

Filed Feb 4, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OH

In May 2025 shortly after purchasing this vehicle I had complete Brake failure while driving down the road. I was driving approximately 65 mph when the forward collision warning, ABS warning, Brake Warning, Auto Emergency Brake warning lights came on and when I pushed on the brake pedal it was hard as a rock and wouldn't stop the vehicle. It was returned to the purchasing dealership, and they replaced the Brake Booster. On November 27th of 2025 I was driving down the road and the exact same problem occurred with a complete loss of brake function. It went to the local Chrysler Dealership; they replaced the Master Cylinder. I picked it up 12/10 drove it 5 miles home and parked it. I got in the vehicle the next morning to go to work and on my way to work all the same dash lights came on and I had a complete loss of Brake function. It was towed back to the dealership again; this time they replaced the ABS module. I picked it up on 12/30 drove 5 miles home, parked it, tried to leave 3 hours later and couldn't push the brake pedal far enough to get the van started. When I did finally get it started all the same dash lights were on and the brakes were not functional. It was towed back to the dealership again and this time they replaced the wiring Harness. I picked it up 1/16. Drove it minimally over the weekend, on 1/19 the front-end collision warning lights came on and the check engine light came on while driving 70 mph. The brakes didn't lose function this time, however. The following day I was sitting in line at an elementary school waiting to pick up my daughter when all the same dash lights came on again and I had a complete loss of brakes, it was towed back to the dealership, where it still is. There was contact made with Chrysler engineering during the 2nd repair. The dealership has been able to recreate the problem more than once since they have had it. This put myself and my children a significant risk of injury, and other cars if there was an accident.

Filed Jan 21, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MI

While driving the indicator light for Forward Collision Warning (FCW or Pedestrian Emergency Braking (PEB) illuminated. This is an intermittent issue and has appeared during snowy or wet road conditions. The owner's manual states description states: Warning light indicates a fault in the FCW/PEB warning system. Contact an authorized dealer for service.

Filed Oct 12, 2025 · Driver assistance · CA · crash

CRASH INFO - 12:50 am, 2024. 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L Components failed: Airbags non-deployed; Steering Control Module; TCS System; Fwd Collision Avoidance & Lane Departure; + Not avail to inspect. Car sold at auction. Obtained Black Box & OBD info. Car owned by EAN Holdings, LLC. - Enterprise RAC. Problem not reproduced, car not drivable after crash. Did not notice any warning lamps, too busy trying to keep car on road. My wife was heading home after some late-night shopping when crash occurred on 2-lane dry & clean asphalt country road. Weather was a cool and clear moonlit night. Posted speed limit 45mph. With her headlights on she could see very well far up ahead & knew her surroundings, where the roadside became grass on the left, & a drainage ditch to the right side. She chose out of caution to drive near the center line in the roadway to give ample distance between the passenger side of the car and the soft shoulder to the right. Approx. 150 ft before she approached the turn to the left, she felt a sudden & very intense TUG from the right rear wheel. This caused the car to jerk out of control, shoving its back end to the right. It was impossible to correct the vehicle's course & what the car decided to do on its own accord. The car then proceeded to yank the steering wheel hard to the right (while she fought to keep the car turning left), and it forced her off the right shoulder of the paved road, across a 3-foot soft shoulder on the passenger side of her car. The car continued traveling off the road and over a gravel and corrugated drainpipe, landing her in a deep 5-6' irrigation ditch, and abruptly stopped on an uphill slant, making contact with a small sapling tree/weeds. The ride was so violent from all the jarring & bouncing that everything inside the car was flying around like in a front-loading washing machine. She had to exit via the back pass side door. Airbags did not deploy & car required towing. By the Grace of God, she did not die!

Filed Sep 30, 2025 · Engine · 129,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the message “Engine would Shutoff Soon” was displayed. The START/STOP, engine, Forward Collision Avoidance, and 4WD warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the power steering functionality had become inoperable. The vehicle had stalled on several occasions. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V348000 (Electrical System). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who scanned the vehicle and determined there was a code that “Voltage-too-High” was displayed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Filed Aug 24, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · GA

Electrical adaptive, cruise control, forward collision warning, and shifter all malfunctioned. It is available for inspection. There was failure to accelerate at an intersection which almost caused vehicle to be rear ended. The error codes have been pulled and shown by O’Reillys auto parts. The vehicle is pending inspection by an independent mechanic. The adaptive cruise control the Ford collision, warning and service shifter warning lamps all appeared shortly before this problem occurred.