YearToAvoid

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 10 Pacifica years

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica ranks worst of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 1,521 NHTSA complaints. Engine issues make up 40% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 19,000 miles, and 11 recalls have been filed.

Complaints
1,521
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
46 / 10
Injuries / deaths
37 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 28 hwy

Top 2017 Chrysler Pacifica problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine602 (40%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain468 (31%)
  3. Electrical System397 (26%)
  4. Steering277 (18%)
  5. Other224 (15%)
  6. Brakes110 (7%)
  7. Fuel System77 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body73 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 (2%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras26 (2%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles unexpectedly roll or lurch forward while parking, sometimes striking objects with no error codes found.
  • Engine stalls suddenly at low speeds such as 30 mph, occasionally accompanied by visible smoke or a fallen engine component.
  • Wheels spin and the transmission shudders or slips when accelerating from a stop, especially on wet roads.
  • Electrical faults after a side-impact collision left windows, radio display, and lights malfunctioning while airbags failed to deploy.
  • A wiring break near the air compressor led to an under-hood fire in one reported case.
  • Brakes failed to respond when depressed, in one instance after the accelerator pedal appeared stuck, leading to a collision.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica complaints: complaints filed per quarter1362016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
2326 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q4 (136).

2017 Chrysler Pacifica recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V876000Dec 17, 2025Other86 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility:wheelchair restraints/securement:latch/anchor:

    Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

    Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.

  2. NHTSA 23V010000Jan 17, 2023Electrical System67,117 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEVs). An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown.

    Risk: An unexpected engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the Power Inverter Module (PIM) software and, if necessary, update the instrument panel cluster (IPC) and the electronic control module (ECM) software, free of charge. FCA US will notify dealers and begin notifying owners on or about: 03/21/2023 for 2021 model year vehicles, 05/02/2023 for 2019-2020 model year vehicles, and 06/15/2023 for 2017-2018 model year vehicles. FCA began notifying owners on February 23, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 03A.

  3. NHTSA 19V348000May 9, 2019Electrical System198,731 vehicles

    Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Pacifica vehicles equipped with engine stop/start systems. A loose battery ground connection may result in an intermittent loss of power steering assist and/or a stall.

    Risk: A loss of power steering assist or a stall can increase the risk of crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery ground surfaces, clean the contact surfaces as needed, and properly reassemble the ground connection, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US' number for this recall is V53.

See all 11 recalls for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica →

2017 Chrysler Pacifica fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other Pacifica years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016No verdict020—
2017Avoid1001,5211122
2018Avoid898741222
2019Caution56311722

All Chrysler Pacifica years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica reliable?
Among the 10 model years with data, 2017 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 1,521 complaints, the highest of any year listed.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica?
Engine complaints lead at 40% of all reports with a median failure mileage of 19,000 miles, followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 31% and electrical system issues at 26%.
Does the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica have recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2017 Pacifica, covering electrical system issues, engine control software, a seat belt buckle, and a manual park release plug, among others.
Which Pacifica model years are better than 2017?
NHTSA data shows 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025 rated Good or Best, with complaint indexes of 33, 44, 22, and 11 respectively, all well below the 2017 figure of 100.
Were there any fires reported for the 2017 Pacifica?
NHTSA lists 10 fire-related complaints for the 2017 Pacifica out of 1,521 total complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.