While minivans have become less popular over the past decade, they are still invaluable for families. That’s why the Chrysler Pacifica has remained such a popular model. Chrysler has sold nearly half a million of these minivans, which are available as a standard gas-powered model as well as a hybrid engine.
However, this popularity comes with a price. Families are rightfully cautious about the vehicles they’ll use to transport their children, and the Pacifica has come under fire in the past few years for a number of serious recalls. These minivans may be considered lemons under California warranty law if Chrysler cannot successfully repair them.
If you think your Pacifica might be a lemon, the experts at Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys can help. You can call us at 866-761-2317 to speak with a lawyer in our Ventura office today to learn more about how our Southern California practice can support your lemon claim.
History of Chrysler Pacifica Problems and Recalls
The Pacifica has had a number of significant manufacturing problems in the past few years. Highlights from just the past five year models include:
2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica Recalls
The 2018 Pacifica year model has been subject to ten individual recalls. Certain recalls, such as one for an incomplete transmission weld and another for a faulty axle shaft, affected fewer than 100 vehicles total. Others affected tens or even hundreds of thousands, such as:
Engine Fires
Chrysler had to recall 16,700 2017-2018 hybrid minivans for potential engine fires that could start while the engine was turned off. These vehicles have an electrical flaw that may cause the battery to catch on fire even if it isn’t operating, potentially causing house fires if the car is parked inside a structure or near flammable objects.
Uncancellable Cruise Control
In one of the most extensive recalls in Chrysler’s history, the manufacturer recalled more than 4.8 million vehicles for a software flaw affecting the cruise control. In these vehicles, cruise control, once turned on, may not be able to be disengaged by the driver. The issue could be caused by a short circuit preventing the cruise control from being turned off manually or pressing the brake pedal. In vehicles with the problem, drivers using cruise control were potentially at risk of losing the ability to stop the car entirely.
Unintentional Vehicle Movement
Chrysler recalled more than 240,000 2017-2018 Pacificas for a faulty Manual Park Release plug. These plugs are responsible for preventing unintentional movement of the vehicle while still permitting cars to be moved if the engine won’t start. However, the plugs could be removed by hand, potentially allowing the vehicles to be stolen or to roll away and injure someone while parked.
Stalled Engines or Loss of Power Steering
Chrysler recalled more than 198,000 2017-2019 Pacificas for faulty battery ground connections. This massive recall was due to the dangers of incomplete battery grounds. According to the recall notice, the defective connection could lead to issues including intermittent and irregular loss of power steering and complete engine stalls.
Loss of power steering may cause drivers to lose control over their vehicles, particularly when the power steering may return unexpectedly. This can quickly lead to accidents as drivers under- or over-correct to keep their cars on the road.
Similarly, engine stalls put drivers and everyone else on the road at risk. If a car’s engine stalls at highway speeds, drivers may not have the opportunity to safely steer their vehicle off the road, particularly if the power steering has also failed.
Failing Voltage Regulator
Chrysler chose to recall more than 12,000 vehicles, including 2018 Pacificas, due to faulty voltage regulator chips in the powertrain control modules. These chips are prone to failure, causing the powertrain to fail unexpectedly. These failures can prevent cars from starting or lead them to stall while in operation, putting everyone on the road in danger of a crash.
2019-2020 Chrysler Pacifica Recalls
In a massive recall affecting more than 319,000 vehicles, Chrysler has announced that tens of thousands of 2019 and 2020 Pacificas need their rearview cameras repaired. According to the notice, all affected vehicles have a software error that causes the rearview camera image to remain on the console screen even after they have shifted out of reverse. According to Chrysler’s notice, the camera issue is known to distract drivers and put them at a greater risk of crashes. This was preceded by a similar recall affecting more than 20,000 2019 and 2020 Pacificas for the same issue.
2021-2022 Chrysler Pacifica Recalls
Chrysler has chosen to recall more than a thousand 2021 and 2022 Pacificas due to issues with the seat connections. According to the recall notice, the latch that allows the second-row seats to be removed from the vehicle may not be properly closed. As a result, those seats are unable to be adequately secured.
Should Pacificas with this issue get in a crash, people seated in the second row are significantly more likely to suffer serious injuries. In particular, children may be injured when the unsecured seats are launched forward in the event of a crash.
Is Your Chrysler Pacifica a Lemon? Talk to Our Experts
California lemon laws state that manufacturers are responsible for repairing, replacing, or refunding consumers for vehicles that have manufacturing defects. If you’ve attempted to get your minivan repaired by Chrysler and the problem keeps coming back, you may be eligible to file a lemon claim.
If so, it’s time to get expert legal help. At Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys, we specialize in helping clients throughout California pursue lemon claims to get their vehicles replaced or refunded when they can’t be fixed. We will help you decide the best course of action and take legal action if necessary.
Get in contact with our expert lawyers today by emailing us or calling our Ventura, California office at 866-761-2317. Let us help you fight for a vehicle that works and stop worrying about the defects that are Chrysler’s fault.
