2017 Chrysler Pacifica Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 468 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, 31% of all 1,521 complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 27,000. One related recall (17V482000) covers pinion bracket cracking on VMI-modified lowered-floor vehicles.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 468
- 31% of 1,521
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 8
- Median mileage
- 27,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Vehicle suddenly loses power or stalls while driving, sometimes displaying a "shift to park" or check engine warning.
- Transmission drops into neutral on its own, with the engine revving but no forward or reverse response.
- Hard or jolting shifts, especially in 1st and 2nd gear, occasionally followed by the vehicle seizing up completely.
- Vehicle fails to shift into park, with the parking brake also behaving erratically.
- Shuddering and loud clunking noises during gear shifts, with rough idling at low speeds.
- Vehicle stops running randomly on the road with no way to restart except shifting to park first.
When 2017 Chrysler Pacifica transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 20, 2016, latest Aug 26, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
- NHTSA 17V482000Jul 28, 2017Transmission & Powertrain524 vehicles
Power train:driveline:differential unit
Vantage Mobility International, LLC (VMI) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica lowered floor vehicles modified by VMI. The rear pinion bracket on both sides of the vehicle may crack, causing the axle not to be centered and the wheel to wobble.
Risk: A wheel wobble may cause a possible loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: VMI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pinion brackets, free of charge. The recall began on August 14, 2017. Owners may contact VMI customer service at 1-800-488-9082. VMI's number for this recall is PAC20170728.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Pacifica model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many 2017 Chrysler Pacifica complaints involve the transmission and powertrain?
- NHTSA lists 468 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Pacifica, which is 31% of all 1,521 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica transmission?
- There is one related recall, 17V482000, but it covers pinion bracket cracking on VMI-modified lowered-floor vehicles, not the core transmission system.
- At what mileage do transmission problems usually show up on the 2017 Pacifica?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 27,000 miles.
- Are the 2017 Pacifica transmission complaints linked to crashes or fires?
- Among the transmission and powertrain complaints, NHTSA records 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 8 injuries.
- Does the transmission share of complaints get better in later Pacifica model years?
- The share of complaints in this area drops for several years after 2017, falling to 18% in 2018 and 22-23% in 2019 and 2020, though it rises again to 32-34% in 2021 and 2022.