Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 40 safety complaints
about the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-IN Hybrid with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 18 complaints, 45% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 9,832 miles,
the median across the 7
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers January 2023 to June 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
40 complaints on file
40
Complaints
1
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
1
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 18 · 45%
18 45%
POWER TRAIN 15 · 38%
15 38%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 · 35%
14 35%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 13%
5 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 13%
5 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 · 13%
5 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 8%
3 8%
AIR BAGS 2 · 5%
2 5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 · 5%
2 5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 5%
2 5%
SEATS 2 · 5%
2 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 3%
1 3%
0815
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 40.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2024 at 27.
32 24 16 8
232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2023 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not crash tested the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-IN Hybrid. Its New Car Assessment Program
tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach
motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so
an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It
is not a low score.
What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a
different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people
inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke
during ordinary use.
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.
RQ24004
Still open recall query · opened February 27, 2024
the electrical system
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-008 regarding complaints alleging a loss of motive power condition potentially due to a transmission malfunction in Model Years 2019-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). On January 17, 2023, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) issued safety recall (NHTSA Recall 23V-010) involving 2017-2023 Model Years (MY) Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) produced between August 12, 2016, through January 9, 2023. The recall states that the loss of motive power condition in these vehicles is caused by an internal transmission wiring connector that may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown. An unexpected engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In discussions with FCA on Recall 23V-010, ODI confirmed the recall was related to investigation PE22-008. The remedy for 23V-010 is to update the Power Inverter module (PIM) and/or Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) software to provide drivers a message stating “Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon” followed by a chime and MIL, PRNDL blinking (on cluster and shifter knob), low SOC (State of Charge) warning and reduced power mode. The recall remedy does not replace the defective hardware that was described in Recall 23V-010, and the wiring connector short still exists on these vehicles. To date, ODI has received 132 reports for the population of vehicles subject to recall 23V-010. These reports allege a loss of motive power condition that reduces the vehicles speed, followed by dashboard warning lamps displaying messages associated with recall 23V-010. The presence of these warning lamps and messages indicates the vehicle likely had the recall remedy applied. Follow up discussions with FCA confirm their remedy does not prevent a loss of motive power, but instead limits torque to the engine and after an unspecified number of miles or period of time, the engine will shut down. When this occurs, FCA relies on the owner to transport the vehicle to a dealership after they experience a loss of motive power condition, at which time the defective hardware is replaced. Furthermore, the dashboard messages introduced in the recall remedy may cause the driver to pull over in an unsafe location. Pulling over in an unsafe location may expose the occupants to undue harm. The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to assess the adequacy, frequency, and safety consequence of the remedy for recall 23V-010. To review the ODI reports cited in the opening resume ODI report identification number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1 injured · crash · towed · 10,000 miles
The contact owned a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without the application of the accelerator pedal. The accelerator pedal depressed against the floorboard. The brake pedal was applied, but it failed to respond, and the vehicle continued to increase in speed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact crashed into a concrete barrier and crashed into a Ford, and another unknown van. The driver sustained an unknown injury and was taken to the hospital by ambulance to receive medical attention at the hospital. There was no reported fire. The air bags were deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was …
NHTSA complaint 11603753, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
towed · 8,500 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as indented. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. In addition, the check engine and low battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually shut off. The vehicle was started and driven to the nearest independent mechanic. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at the dealer due to the failure; however, the dealer was unable to …
NHTSA complaint 11607027, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEATS
18,062 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the granddaughter seated in the rear driver's seat, the seat unexpectedly fully reclined and slid back and forth. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 18,062.
NHTSA complaint 11743162. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in-Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V302000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint 11704679. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In-Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V302000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint 11675939. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle lost power with no prior warning at highway speeds. Vehicle then displayed "Stop Safely Vehicle will shut off soon" message. In order to attempt a reset, driver must turn off, leave vehicle with FOB and secure vehicle. Then return to vehcile and start up in an attempt to reboot. Check engine light remained, but functioned nromally for a day. Vehicle did the same on another freeway at 70 mph, and continued with the same events above several times, some producing immediate repeat message, or other times getting a half mile down the road. Depending on availability of a shoulder or center divide, this is extremly dangerous to fail unexpectedly on the highway. In California there are …
NHTSA complaint 11650515, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
This is the second time we received an alert that our 2023 Pacifica Hybrid minivan while driving sends an alert message to STOP SAFELY VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF SOON. A green Turtle and Red Hazard Triangle image accompanied the message. First time it occurred was Friday 3/7/2025 and again after servicing on 3/14/2025. Both times the vehicle was traveling at a lawful speed of 65 to 70. The first time it lost power and in order to get to side of road safely the gas pedal had to be pushed to floor to get a reaction and any power. The second time the power seemed to stay until we got to side of road. After turning vehicle off and then on- them message was off but the check engine light remained …
NHTSA complaint 11648261, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle had been operating less than 5 minutes. When I was on an on-ramp for a left entrance to a highway, several warning lights illuminated in addition to messaging on my dash. The car entered "turtle mode" which extremely limited the speed of the vehicle. I immediately pressed the button for my hazard lights to come on, but they did not operate correctly. They flashed so rarely that they did not warn vehicles behind me that I was having an incident. During this incident, the vehicle speedometer was inoperable, displaying "-- --" instead of a speed. I was lucky to be able to pull to the shoulder, but with the narrow shoulder and my child in the car I felt safer limping off the highway …
NHTSA complaint 11642219, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Compare
Other years of the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-IN Hybrid
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst