YearToAvoid

2018 Chrysler Pacifica Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 287 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica, 33% of all complaints for the year. The median mileage at failure is 13,000, and reports include 10 crashes, 7 fires, and 3 injuries. Four related recalls cover wiring, battery ground connections, and control module software.

Electrical System complaints
287
33% of 874
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
13,000 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden stalling at highway speed accompanied by an audible chime, sometimes with loss of power steering assist.
  • Multiple complaints describe engine compartment fires starting near the radiator reservoir or under the hood on the passenger side, in some cases with no prior warning.
  • Some owners report the hands-free power sliding door mechanism overheating and igniting nearby plastic cladding while the vehicle was parked.
  • Dashboard electrical faults are described leading to fires that spread from the dash into the rest of the cabin after a minor collision.
  • Owners report the stop/start system triggering dash warning messages along with sliding doors that fail to open with the key fob or push button.
  • One owner reported a defective electrical control module for the front grill vent causing a fire that consumed the front of the vehicle at very low mileage.

When 2018 Chrysler Pacifica electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 20, 2017, latest Sep 15, 2026.

2018 Chrysler Pacifica electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter282017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q22026 Q3
287 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (28).

Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 18V524000Aug 9, 2018Electrical System12,779 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:front underhood

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.

    Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

  4. NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

    Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Electrical System complaints by Pacifica model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20161 (50%)
  2. 2017397 (26%)
  3. 2018287 (33%)
  4. 201995 (31%)
  5. 202065 (38%)
  6. 2021151 (41%)
  7. 202258 (27%)
  8. 202342 (28%)
  9. 202413 (31%)
  10. 20251 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have an electrical system recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists recall 19V348000 for a loose battery ground connection that can cause intermittent loss of power steering assist or stalling on 2017-2019 Pacifica vehicles, plus recall 18V524000 covering powertrain control module replacement and 18V332000 for a software flash on related FCA vehicles.
How common are electrical complaints for the 2018 Pacifica?
NHTSA lists 287 electrical system complaints for the 2018 model year, which is 33% of the 874 total complaints filed for that year.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for electrical system complaints on the 2018 Pacifica is 13,000 miles.
Are the electrical issues on the 2018 Pacifica dangerous?
NHTSA records tied to this complaint area include 10 crashes, 7 fires, and 3 injuries reported by owners.
Is the 2018 Pacifica's electrical complaint rate worse than other years?
Among Pacifica model years, the 2021 model has the highest share at 41%, followed by 2020 at 38%; 2018's 33% share is in the middle of the range compared to other years.

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.