2018 Chrysler Pacifica Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
89/100
#2 most-complained of 10 Pacifica years
The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica ranks 2nd worst out of 10 model years, with 874 complaints and a complaint index of 89. NHTSA lists 12 recalls, with Engine problems (46% of complaints) and Electrical System issues (33%) the biggest concerns.
- Complaints
- 874
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes / fires
- 27 / 14
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 28 hwy
Top 2018 Chrysler Pacifica problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine406 (46%)
- Electrical System287 (33%)
- Steering178 (20%)
- Transmission & Powertrain155 (18%)
- Other118 (14%)
- Brakes65 (7%)
- Fuel System49 (6%)
- Structure & Body32 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras21 (2%)
What owners report
- Vehicles caught fire in the engine compartment or dashboard area following minor front-end or fender-bender collisions, sometimes with the car fully engulfed.
- Owners report sudden stalling at highway speed accompanied by an audible chime, requiring the driver to steer the vehicle to the roadside.
- The hands-free power sliding door opener reportedly overheated and ignited the plastic cladding underneath the body while the vehicle was parked.
- Some owners report the vehicle failing to shift into park or the brakes not stopping the van when pulling into a parking space, leading to a crash into a wall.
- Loss of power steering while exiting a highway reportedly caused a van to leave the road and hit an embankment.
- The park assist feature reportedly caused the van to back up too fast, resulting in a collision with a parked car.
2018 Chrysler Pacifica recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 19V886000Dec 12, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras20,441 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Pacifica vehicles equipped with an 8.4 inch radio display, 360 degree surround view camera system, and seat back video screens. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed on the radio after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VE2.
2018 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.
2018 compared with other Pacifica years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Pacifica ranks 2nd worst of 10 model years with a complaint index of 89 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other Pacifica years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica?
- Engine complaints are the largest category, making up 46% of the 874 total complaints, followed by Electrical System issues at 33%.
- Does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2018 Pacifica, covering areas including transmission welding defects, front axle halfshaft assembly errors, and electrical system faults, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2018 Pacifica compare to other years?
- The 2018 model's complaint index of 89 is close to the worst year, 2017, which had an index of 100, while later years like 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025 scored much lower, with 2024 and 2025 rated Best.
- What mileage do 2018 Pacifica problems typically show up at?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported issues for the 2018 Pacifica is 14,000 miles, with the Engine problem area showing a median of 11,142 miles.