Chrysler Pacifica won't shift problems

Filed Nov 7, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · CT

Car suddenly stuck in park for no reason. Everything in car works but suddenly unable to shift out of park (while garaged). Popped bezel off gear shifter to use pink emergency release but not only didn’t that work, the cheap pink plastic release tab broke off. Had to get special tow truck to get car out of garage w/o dragging it (cost $385). Towed to Chrysler dealer who ID’d cause as being a broken ‘pink thingy’ spring which prevents car from shifting. I’m in shock that to have this cheap plastic ($20) part repaired it cost $699 & this isn’t covered under my lifetime powertrain warranty which I’ve been diligent in maintaining.

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 Oct 20, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · GA

We purchased 2022 hybrid Chrysler Pacifica from Mountain View CDJR in June 2026 and around July 4th the car went into critical red turtle limp mode on the highway slowing from 65 to under 15 mph with all our children in the car. Thankfully my husband was driving and able to get us to the local CDJR who helped inspect the vehicle and discovered contaminated coolant issue and showed us the different colors that shouldn’t be there from a car purchased from a CDJR dealership. The issue was brought to Mountain View who initially attempted to charge us over $3,000 for an issue stemming from their own negligence. After agreeing to pay around $600 for new radiator and more back and forth I believed the car would be returned to us well serviced. There was a recall they were supposed to handle and also they had the vehicle during a prescheduled oil change and then failed to perform the oil change. After then vehicle had been returned to us the hybrid capabilities have failed, we cannot charge the vehicle, and gas mileage has continued decline. When brought to service manager, he asked me “well is it still going into limp mode?” As if the car not stalling in the highway was successfully servicing the vehicle. Car went into limp mode several times before Mountain View’s service, car has since continued to decline in gas mileage and does not charge at all, and though it has not gone into red turtle or limp mode I feel there are still underlying safety issues as coolant flush was never performed. Mountain View has lied and been very combative.

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 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 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · OH

My 2019 Chrysler Pacifica experienced repeated electrical/network communication failures. The first sign was erratic dashboard behavior and a check-engine light in our resort parking lot. We drove to Pep Boys, where it was evaluated and we were told it was okay to drive. We then drove to Chick-fil-A (.4 miles from Pep Boys). While stopped in the drive-thru in Drive with my foot on the brake, the vehicle began dinging, the engine revved, and multiple warning lights/messages appeared, including the check-engine light, red electronic throttle control warning, “Blind Spot Alert Temporarily Unavailable,” “Service Trans Stop Safely Shut Off Engine to Engage Park,” and “Stop/Start Not Ready.” After shutting it off, it would not reliably restart, and when it did, I could not shift it to move. The vehicle returned to Pep Boys, where DTCs U0001 (CAN C Bus) and U0401 (Implausible Data Received From ECM/PCM) were documented. It then went to a Chrysler dealership in Florida. They evaluated it and told us it checked out and was okay to drive. After leaving that dealership, the problem returned while my family and I were traveling at highway speed. The vehicle malfunctioned and began losing acceleration. I exited the highway. When I stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle died. It restarted but again would not shift. Eventually we were able to reach a nearby gas station. The problem continued intermittently as we tried to get home. Because we could not predict when it would happen again, we determined it was unsafe and had it towed. A Chrysler dealership in Georgia then documented numerous loss-of-communication codes and performed a PCM software update. The vehicle passed testing and was released, but the problem returned again after we returned to Ohio. The vehicle was ultimately towed to a Chrysler dealership in Ohio. The communication faults became active during diagnosis, and the dealer replaced both CAN-C and CAN-I splice-block connectors. The problem has not recurred since.

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Acceleration, Fuel system · MD

On Saturday July 25th, while driving at 70 mph on the highway, my van lost the ability to accelerate or maintain velocity. There was no warning or indication that this was going to happen. There was a beep and the screen flashed to a screen that said to pull over immediately and safely. Surprised and scared, I had to cut across 3 lanes of traffic while losing velocity cutting off a tractor trailer because my velocity dropped quickly. After restarting, the vehicle ran normally. I drove in the slow lane for a mile an it happened again. I was able to get the vehicle off the highway and drive slowly and safely on backroads to get the van to a Ourisman Chrysler in Clarksville, MD. The check engine light was on when I arrived at the dealer. Immediately upon arrival I was told by a service representative that it will most likely need a new transmission. On Tuesday he told me a tech verified it needs a new transmission. He told me the vehicle was classified as VOR (Vehicle Off Road) meaning it was unsafe or unable to be driven on the road and that parts were ordered and expedited. I did not hear back from the dealership until Friday at which point they surprisingly told me my vehicle was ready to pick up. In an email I was told: "what was found was a stored fault code P0A43-00 Drive motor "A" position sensor circuit intermittent. There is a TSB 21-037-26 for that fault code and vehicle going into limp mode and the repair is a rebuild kit for the transmission. " Despite this they also said in an email: "cleared codes and perform test drive. Code never came back and it states in the procedure you must verify the problem meaning it happened or is happening via active fault code which it is not." They refuse to fix the problem, despite acknowledging it happened. I was told to take the vehicle back and drive it as normal until it happens again, which I refused due to safety concerns. The vehicle currently has a bumper-to-bumper warranty.

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 Jul 21, 2026 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · WV

The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, shuddered, and then stalled. The message to "Stop - Pull Over Safely" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was an intermittent drive motor position sensor failure inside the transmission, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Transmission · MN

Vehicle repeatedly entered limp mode / lost power at highway speed a few days after the dealer performing the remedy for the federal safety agency Recall 23V- 010 (FCA Recall 03A, transmission internal wiring connector short). The recall remedy did not correct the defect. Prior to the recall work, the van entered limp mode on 2 other occasions. Timeline: On 7/10/26, Park Chrysler Jeep in Burnsville, MN performed the open recall remedy (Recall 03A / the federal safety agency 23V‑010) on our vehicle. We informed the dealer we were departing on a multi-week interstate family road trip, and the dealer released the vehicle as repaired. On [XXX], about 40 minutes into our trip, the vehicle entered limp mode with a severe loss of motive power while driving at highway speed on [XXX] between Northfield, MN and [XXX]. We were able to reach the shoulder safely. After multiple restart attempts, the vehicle resumed operation. On [XXX], the vehicle entered limp mode 2 additional times under the same conditions on [XXX] in IL, and on [XXX] in IN, again at highway speed and with heavy traffic present. In one case there was barely enough shoulder to pull over safely. Each event created a sudden, significant speed differential with surrounding traffic. On 7/16/26 the vehicle was taken to Bob Chandler Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Columbus, OH. The dealer's diagnosis is that the transmission must be replaced. The repair order ID is [XXX]. The vehicle is at that dealership awaiting parts. Safety concern: The vehicle lost motive power at highway speeds 3 times in two days after the recall remedy was performed and the vehicle was returned to us as repaired. Occupants at the time included 2 adults and 3 children. No crash, injury, or fire occurred, but each event presented a serious collision risk from sudden deceleration in traffic. This experience is consistent with the concern in the federal safety agency's reopened investigation that the software-only recall remedy does not address the underlying hardware defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(