VehicleVerdict

2021 Chrysler Pacifica problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica carries two red flags at once: 650 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 2.0× the Pacifica norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.). It is one of the Pacifica years to avoid. Complainants reported 18 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (141), engine (137), and transmission (117), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

650

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

20

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

18

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2021 compare to other Pacifica years?

Pacifica NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted2,315 complaints2003: 1 complaints2004: 1,332 complaints2005: 1,802 complaints2006: 1,056 complaints2007: 481 complaints2008: 155 complaints2016: 6 complaints2017: 2,315 complaints2018: 1,303 complaints2019: 446 complaints2020: 255 complaints2021: 650 complaints2022: 326 complaints2023: 225 complaints2024: 58 complaints2025: 30 complaints2026: 9 complaints
Pacifica NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Pacifica years to avoid →

What are the most common 2021 Chrysler Pacifica problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System14122%
Engine13721%
Transmission11718%
Fuel System7311%
Driver Assistance538%
Other498%
Speed Control223%
Steering122%
Brakes112%
Seats102%
Body & Structure81%
Visibility & Wipers61%
Tires & Wheels41%
Airbags41%
Lighting20%
Suspension10%

Does the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V362000Electrical SystemJune 4, 2026 · 17,277 units

Defect

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The battery pack may cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.

Consequence

A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the battery pack assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 23, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 52D. The Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 11, 2026.

25V876000OtherDecember 17, 2025 · 86 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

25V877000OtherDecember 17, 2025 · 1,019 units

Defect

Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Consequence

An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.

24V793000AirbagsOctober 24, 2024 · 26 units

Defect

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Pacifica and 2020-2021, 2023 Voyager vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the side curtain air bags may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Consequence

An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will secure the connector, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A8B.

24V436000Driver AssistanceJune 13, 2024 · 1,033,433 units

Defect

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.

23V010000Electrical SystemJanuary 17, 2023 · 67,117 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

22V181000SeatsMarch 24, 2022 · 1,160 units

Defect

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Pacifica and 2021 Voyager vehicles. The second-row seat-to-floor mounting latch may bind and stick open, preventing the seat from properly securing to the floor. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Consequence

An unsecured seat increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Z22.

Open NHTSA investigations

RQ24004

Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will lose all power while driving. I have had it back to the Dealer for this Problem. I got a Recall for this in April. I took it in to the Dealer to do. They told me that Chrysler does not have a fix for this yet. Within 400 miles after that it done it again while…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 3, 2023 · crash

“The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will lose all power while driving. I have had it back to the Dealer for this Problem. I got a Recall for this in April. I took it in to the Dealer to do. They told me that Chrysler does not have a fix for this yet. Within 400 miles after that it done it again while…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 3, 2023 · crash

“This vehicle quit driving and you can move it. Confirmed bad transmission. I bought it this way from the insurance company because it bounced off a concrete barrier. I suspect this happened when the transmission failed. Unsure of a police report due to it happening to the previous owner.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · November 23, 2025 · crash

“While driving above referenced vehicle, I was driving southbound on Hwy 515 when i noticed a vehicle driving northbound began to lose control, so i slowed down and then began to watch the vehicle cross the median and headed straight for me. I pushed the pedal to the floor to accelerate to get out…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · March 8, 2022 · crash

“I was backing out of the driveway. I had all the safety features on, and I was checking my surroundings. Typically, the blind spot and front sensors would alert me to dangers. However, on this and many other occasions the warnings didn't alert me to danger on my passenger side that I couldn't see.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · June 9, 2024 · crash

2021 Chrysler Pacifica — common questions

Is the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 650 complaints put the 2021 model at #6 of 17 Pacifica years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Pacifica years to avoid.

What are the most common 2021 Pacifica problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (141 complaints), engine (137 complaints), transmission (117 complaints).

Does the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Chrysler Pacifica years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Pacifica years to avoid are 2017, 2005, 2004, 2018, 2006, 2021, 2019, 2022, 2020, 2023. The cleanest record among Pacifica years belongs to 2003.

How safe is the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.