[RockyRaku]

Additional thoughts which helped my case: 1) I remember taking it in with similar issue (same symptoms) 27k miles; they replaced fuel injector on cylinder #1; the shop could not confirm or rule out that this was related to current issue with cylinder #1 requiring an engine replacement; 2) 5 year date expired 8/30/23 - recent & engine only 47.7k miles < 60k miles; 3) Car was originally purchased (from my wife's patient) as a 3yr lease - we bought out owner after 1year - paid remaining lease term then purchased - since original owner put down an F-150 - trade-in ($16k on lease)! - it was a deal I couldn't turn dwn - even though I told my wife that I wasn't so keen on Chrysler's engines! So ironic. 4) The shop told me to open up a ticket with Chrysler as he has seen exceptions made - I immediately called several times and made personal connections with the shop and case manager. I'm confident the shop and case manager assisted in my arguments - which are fairly valid.

Bottom line - no way a engine should need replacing after 47.7k miles. I wish I knew why this engine failed so early - we just drive locally - low mileage vehicle.

Moral to this lesson to me - buy extended warrantee; I have a 1500RAM 32k miles - 2021 I bought used in March; I'm seriously considering an extended warrantee.

Wow, sounds like you are getting an awesome deal! I put in a call to customer care last week and only heard back last night. Of course it was Thanksgiving week, so… See my earlier posts if you want the details. He was supposed to call me back tonight but it’s after 8 pm and I haven’t heard anything. Also called the dealership this afternoon about the heat tabs, but also no callback. The case guy was going to be talking to both the dealer and his superiors about goodwill assistance before he calls me back. You give me hope, but I’m not counting on anything. I had 56K on the second CEL issue, but I am a year out of the 5 year part.

New engine warranty is 3 years/100,000 miles.

 

[peterweb]

Seems like you really are getting a very good deal compared to others here especially given you are outside of warranty period. My only question is, on warranty work how can they charge sales tax?

As noted it is not warranty work. Chrysler is offering good will. Not the same. So nothing unusual about being charged tax.

 

[abjones12]

Wow, sounds like you are getting an awesome deal! I put in a call to customer care last week and only heard back last night. Of course it was Thanksgiving week, so… See my earlier posts if you want the details. He was supposed to call me back tonight but it’s after 8 pm and I haven’t heard anything. Also called the dealership this afternoon about the heat tabs, but also no callback. The case guy was going to be talking to both the dealer and his superiors about goodwill assistance before he calls me back. You give me hope, but I’m not counting on anything. I had 56K on the second CEL issue, but I am a year out of the 5 year part.

New engine warranty is 3 years/100,000 miles.

Thanks and good luck.

 

[zoomer]

Thanks and good luck.

I am new to this Forum. I have a 2017 non hybrid Pacifica Limited with 40,000 miles and no problems so far. How worried should I be concerning failed engines and transmissions? Your advice please.

Hal

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

I am new to this Forum. I have a 2017 non hybrid Pacifica Limited with 40,000 miles and no problems so far. How worried should I be concerning failed engines and transmissions? Your advice please.

Hal

Hi Hal. For now the best advice I would recommend is to heed the Advisory at the top of this thread. 🤞

 

[Barry A]

All,
2018 Pacifica Limited; 47.7k miles; Always take to same dealer for service. 2 years ago - ~ 27k miles - engine shook and drove slow; they replaced a fuel injector on cylinder #1. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago - similar issues driving reported by my wife - drove it immediately to dealer for diagnostic. Low and behold - dealer is saying engine should be replaced - cylinder #1 worm, melted, shot, cracked! All terms used by the technician. Dealer quoted $13,381 ($9,704 engine / $3676 labor) + sales tax $974 = $14.5k for total bill. Here is the kicker - 5yr/60k expiration by date 8/30/23 - so not covered. Dealer suggested I called Chrysler Care and open a case, which I did. Bottom line - Chrysler will pay $12k - leaving me with $1381 to pay - and I'm not sure about the sales tax? I'm trying to determine the following: 1) lead time of engine, 2) will engine be new or refurbed, 3) what warrantee comes with new engine? Do you guys think I should push for entire bill to be covered? Should I also push for a loaner car - no telling how long this replacement will take? Or....should I just be happy with the $12k since technically out of warrantee? Thoughts?

Sounds like they are treating you fairly. You now have a car with a new engine.

 

[mrcamaro]

Most recent post regarding failed engine:
"Meanwhile I was just given a dealer estimate for $11,500 to replace the engine. This is $6600 for the engine and the rest is labor.
...

While $6600 for a complete engine is reasonable, $5000 for labor is a ripoff. Book time to replace a Pacifica engine, both Hybrid and Standard is about 14 hours. So that dealer is trying to charge you $300/h for that. Independent shops can buy the engine (at a discount) and typically charge $125/H. Sure add some fluid costs too. My shop replaces these engines in 2 days for rental car companies when their customers take them scuba diving on flooded roads.

 

[Mad Mac]

I happened to be in the area and stopped by the independent shop that diagnosed mine today. The owner was telling me that they’ve had another three come in over the past few months with virtually identical symptoms to mine, similar age/mileage (5-6 years and 65-75k) and same outcome (engine replacement recommended as the only long-term solution). Chrysler were unwilling to work with any of the customers in question. I told her about this place and she plans to stop by for a browse

 

[RockyRaku]

And the body count continues to rise.

Too many failures with too many similarities.

 

[tibi500]

Do any of the failed engines come from an early 2016 manufactured Pacifica, that has no Start-Stop system yet?

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

Do any of the failed engines come from an early 2016 manufactured Pacifica, that has no Start-Stop system yet?

They come from all years.

 

[mrcamaro]

On the other side of the coin, our 2018 gas-only Pacifica with 98,000 miles has had no problems and never even been back to the dealer. Just independent oil changes every 5000 miles; and filters as needed. I just preventatively replaced the front struts and spark plugs before a recent cross-country trip. Just noticed that the rear window defogger no longer works and since I bought a "lifetime" warranty I'll see if the dealer will honor that. Most valuable feature is the stow-and-go. I will buy another new one when its the last year with gas-only and Stow-and-Go. Its our 5th or 6th Chrysler minivan going back to 1994, all of which have had excellent reliability.

 

[RockyRaku]

L l I

On the other side of the coin, our 2018 gas-only Pacifica with 98,000 miles has had no problems and never even been back to the dealer. Just independent oil changes every 5000 miles; and filters as needed. I just preventatively replaced the front struts and spark plugs before a recent cross-country trip. Just noticed that the rear window defogger no longer works and since I bought a "lifetime" warranty I'll see if the dealer will honor that. Most valuable feature is the stow-and-go. I will buy another new one when its the last year with gas-only and Stow-and-Go. Its our 5th or 6th Chrysler minivan going back to 1994, all of which have had excellent reliability.

That's what mine was supposed to do. Not need a new engine at 56K. I have loved my Pacifica right up until this happened to it out of the blue. I hope yours continues to behave itself. 😇

 

[Bananaman]

Does anyone know if the Mopar Maxcare warranty would cover these issues?

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

Does anyone know if the Mopar Maxcare warranty would cover these issues?

Yes, it would, as long as they don't try to weasel out of it, claiming you overheated the engine by allowing it to run low on coolant.

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

Yes, it would, as long as they don't try to weasel out of it, claiming you overheated the engine by allowing it to run low on coolant.

If an owner doesn't monitor the engine coolant level, and air gets into the system, would not that cause an engine to become overheated?

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

If an owner doesn't monitor the engine coolant level, and air gets into the system, would not that cause an engine to become overheated?

Yes, air pockets around the heads and cylinder tubes are the hottest locations critical for the most efficient cooling. Unfortunately, the most critical parts sit highest in the engine for air to cause pockets.

The temp sensor may show normal, and the coolant never overheats, but those metal parts with coolant not flowing around due to air pockets are getting freaking hot.

 

[zoomer]

Is it a fact that all years of Pacifica engines have exhibited these failures? Some have claimed that all years are involved.
Are all engines made in the same plant?
The fact that some are enjoying hundreds of thousands of miles without failure, and others are failing with low mileage proves the engines are not the same and that there is an out-of-control quality problem in the build process.
Stellantis/Chrysler Management should be ashamed of this dismal performance and get involved and solve it. Seven years is too long to allow this condition to exist.
I own a 2017 Limited, and I am considering selling it to avoid the expense and inconvenience of installing a second engine that may fail in the same way.
My dealer says there is no problem. In denial.
Very sad situation.
I have 26 year's experience and hundreds of thousands of miles with Lexus 400, 430 and 460s with not a single problem. But they don't make a van with fold in the floor seats.

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

Is it a fact that all years of Pacifica engines have exhibited these failures? Some have claimed that all years are involved.
Are all engines made in the same plant?
The fact that some are enjoying hundreds of thousands of miles without failure, and others are failing with low mileage proves the engines are not the same and that there is an out-of-control quality problem in the build process.
Stellantis/Chrysler Management should be ashamed of this dismal performance and get involved and solve it. Seven years is too long to allow this condition to exist.
I own a 2017 Limited, and I am considering selling it to avoid the expense and inconvenience of installing a second engine that may fail in the same way.
My dealer says there is no problem. In denial.
Very sad situation.
I have 26 year's experience and hundreds of thousands of miles with Lexus 400, 430 and 460s with not a single problem. But they don't make a van with fold in the floor seats.

To answer your question, the engine issues that have manifested themselves usually happen when vehicles go just past the 5 year/60k mile powertrain warranty.

Yes, it is indeed easy to get discouraged when reading about all of these failures. I also once believed that there was a systemic manufacturing error at the Mexican plant where the Pacifica engines are built. Now I'm not so sure.

I suggest that you follow the "Advisory" at the very top of Post #1 in this thread. If you do that and are not currently experiencing any issues, it is quite possible that you, like thousands of others, will enjoy many years without the engine problems reported herein.

For an example, please view my latest post in the "What Did You Do To Your Pacifica Minivan Today?" thread.

 

[M0Par]

Is it a fact that all years of Pacifica engines have exhibited these failures? Some have claimed that all years are involved.
Are all engines made in the same plant?
The fact that some are enjoying hundreds of thousands of miles without failure, and others are failing with low mileage proves the engines are not the same and that there is an out-of-control quality problem in the build process.
Stellantis/Chrysler Management should be ashamed of this dismal performance and get involved and solve it. Seven years is too long to allow this condition to exist.
I own a 2017 Limited, and I am considering selling it to avoid the expense and inconvenience of installing a second engine that may fail in the same way.
My dealer says there is no problem. In denial.
Very sad situation.
I have 26 year's experience and hundreds of thousands of miles with Lexus 400, 430 and 460s with not a single problem. But they don't make a van with fold in the floor seats.

That's part of the issue. Right now it's extremely unpredictable. There are many consistent factors and for every example there's also an outlier. Does it only affect the gas engine? Well no it turns out it also can happen to the hybrid. Does it only happen under 100,000 miles. No, turns out it can happen anywhere and even after 200,000 miles.

Eventually when Chrysler gets sued this will all come out in discovery.