The door is designed to reverse if it meets resistance. Test it by blocking the door from closing using a rolled up blanket or something similar - if it doesn't reverse then you definitely have a problem.

 

I do have a problem. One of which is the dealer doesn't seem to kow the door should stop/reverse when it meets resistance. Thanks for confirming. Back to the shop i go

 

lol (about the dealer)

Here's the quote from the 2018 manual - should be the same for 2017.

NOTE:
• If anything obstructs the power sliding side door while it is closing or opening, the door will automatically reverse to the closed or open position, provided it meets sufficient resistance.

 

The 'sufficient resistance' is high enough to mess up a child's finger.
But I think that's across the board with every manufacturer with those kind of doors.

 

I can attest to the truth in the statement from first hand experience. Not with a pacifica but with another minivan, and it takes a considerable amount of force to stop the door from closing. The sufficient resistance required is usually not something that a small child can muster, which often makes it a safety hazard. I hope you get it fixed before a child gets hurt

 

I tested the Pacifica door as well and it left bruises on my arm. It eventually stopped, but fingers and small children are definitely at risk. I tried it on the Odyssey too, and while it stopped with a little less force, it was a little finicky. I wish the sliding doors could be as sensitive as a garage door where it would stop if anything passed by a sensor (and have the sensors up and down the doors).

 

Hi there, i wanted to know if you still have the Pacifica? If so, what was your outcome on the door. Im asking because my 3 year old hand literally got crushed on the door. Im so upset with Chrysler but don't know where to start. The dealership doesn't know anything. Doesn't help me much. Turned my back for a second and this happened.. it's so upsetting that the price i paid for this van doesn't have a door sensor... isn't minivans made to be a family vehicle?? Safety should be #1, no? Please let me know how i can go about by voicing this to someone who can really hear all of our concerns about this issue

 

Hi there, i wanted to know if you still have the Pacifica? If so, what was your outcome on the door. Im asking because my 3 year old hand literally got crushed on the door. Im so upset with Chrysler but don't know where to start. The dealership doesn't know anything. Doesn't help me much. Turned my back for a second and this happened.. it's so upsetting that the price i paid for this van doesn't have a door sensor... isn't minivans made to be a family vehicle?? Safety should be #1, no? Please let me know how i can go about by voicing this to someone who can really hear all of our concerns about this issue View attachment 43572

You didn't clearly state whether or not the door opened by itself and worked as designed, but I'm assuming it didn't since you said their hand was crushed.

Even if the safety feature is/was working properly, it probably wouldn't have been able to prevent injury to your toddler's hand. Your picture leads me to believe your child was outside of the van and had their hand in the door jamb (in front of the door) when the sliding door closed on it. It would be nearly impossible to prevent injury in this situation IMO.

The way this safety feature works doesn't require the use of a separate sensor. The sliding door motor's current draw is monitored while the sliding door is opening or closing. If the door becomes obstructed, this will cause a spike in the current drawn by the motor, at which time the motor is programmed to reverse direction. The auto-up feature of the front power windows works similarly (except the motor stops instead of reversing direction).