[dcloes]

Just looked up my window sticker. My engine that failed was from Mexico. I say was because my repair wasn't just the head. I needed a new long block.

 

[jeremu]

Please add me to the list.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L
Replaced the long block. Failed at 108,000/mi. I'm glad I got the Lifetime PowerTrain warranty. I didn't have my car for 6 months as they were getting approvals, doing repairs and waiting for backorders.

NOTE: The Lifetime Powertrain warranty doesn't exist anymore.

 

[achoksi]

Can you please add me as well. The CEL just came on our 2017 at 79, 265 miles P0301 error code. Also noticed coolant levels low.

 

[munchers65]

Add me as well! Replaced the engine last year unfortunately at 83,000 miles. Since the repair I am having new issues related to the shifter. Debating on when to move on from my vehicle, so sad as I love it so much.

 

[ChryslerCares]

Hello!

To anyone experiencing engine concerns know we are always more than willing to assist alongside a dealer appointment. Send us a private message at any time to start a dialogue.

Hannah
Chrysler Cares

 

[mpm808]

2017 Limited 55,000 miles. P0305 code that cylinder 5 was misfiring. Engine needs replacement. AUL will not cover due to signs of overheating!!!

 

[teji.catia]

Pacifica 2018 Model. The engine light started coming on. The car started shaking strongly at start but gets normal after some minutes. Took it to dealership.

Dealership said same problem you are discussing. Coolant was gone. Head gasket gone. The cylinder 5 misfiring. The engine needs to be replaced.

This problem is affecting just too many owners. Request Chrysler to acknowledge that it is a problem. My car has only done 73000 kms and I have taken very very good care of it with regular maintenance and got it fixed only from flagship dealerships.

Seems warranty just expired month ago. I am the second owner who purchased it at 21K km. The dealership told me that they may not fix it under goodwill as I am second owner. I am left with no options.

Please add my name to the list.

 

[2017Browns]

2017 Pacifica, bought used with 33k miles on it. Serviced it sooner than suggested for every oil change. At 73k the engine spiked to hot and immediately went back to normal temp. Low coolant. No signs of a leak. Then rough idle with the P303 misfire in #3 cylinder code. Had coil pack and spark plug changed. Kept having to add coolant till we could get it into the dealership. They misdiagnosed it and replaced the reservoir, which wasn't leaking. A few days later we noticed the new reservoir was low. Kept adding coolant every other day till we could get it back into the dealership. They wanted over $1,000 to tear down the motor to find the leak. Our 3rd party warranty wanted evidence. Then they denied our claim stating that the head was warped due to excessive heat. Duh, that was because of the terrible design flaw in the 3.6 motor. We reach out to Chrysler Cares and they denied us since we are 2nd owners. Add us to the list of casualties caused by a terrible design flaw in this motor. We are still fighting and looking at getting a lawyer involved. This vehicle should not have this type of problem when everything has been serviced timely and correctly and we have all the records to show it.

 

[teji.catia]

for everyone an easy fix for it.
I added the head gasket sealent through a mechanic and now my car is running like as fresh as a daisy with no engine light.
The mechanic took 300 Canadian dollars.
Just take care that you take out heat lines when you add sealent to coolant because sealent can jam the heat lines.

Note: adding sealent is just a temporary solution. Do not know how much it lasts. But still better then changing engine. If sealent blows up then you need to change engine. But even without it you had to change it anyhow then why not first run car as much as you can with sealant

 

[KimCoulter]

I have a 2017 Pacifica Limited and need to have the engine replaced due to an internal coolant leak. The estimate for this repair is just under $13,000.

 

[vsfan]

Looking thru all reports and saw 2017 and 2018 models. Any reporting or confirmed case from 2019 or newer? Thx

 

[Werd]

I've seen many 2019+ for sale locally with 60k+ miles on them which makes sense since people/fleets dump them once they get a few years old and are out of warranty. Just waiting to see if we have any confirmed similar issues. Hoping that there was some re-tooling or anything that would perhaps make this not an issue. I am in the market and want to pull the trigger and will get a CPO warranty regardless, but don't want to buy into an inevitable failure.

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

I've seen many 2019+ for sale locally with 60k+ miles on them which makes sense since people/fleets dump them once they get a few years old and are out of warranty. Just waiting to see if we have any confirmed similar issues. Hoping that there was some re-tooling or anything that would perhaps make this not an issue. I am in the market and want to pull the trigger and will get a CPO warranty regardless, but don't want to buy into an inevitable failure.

I'm not sure it is safe to assume the issue is a manufacturing problem. We just don't know yet. It could very well be a maintenance problem.

 

[M0Par]

I've seen many 2019+ for sale locally with 60k+ miles on them which makes sense since people/fleets dump them once they get a few years old and are out of warranty. Just waiting to see if we have any confirmed similar issues. Hoping that there was some re-tooling or anything that would perhaps make this not an issue. I am in the market and want to pull the trigger and will get a CPO warranty regardless, but don't want to buy into an inevitable failure.

Within the next 3 weeks I'll be getting an oil sample from a 2019 Pacifica with less than 30,000 miles. It's been absolutely babied and should not have any issues. If it has any coolant that won't be a good sign for 2019's. I'll post the results.

 

[Werd]

I'm not sure it is safe to assume the issue is a manufacturing problem. We just don't know yet. It could very well be a maintenance problem.

While I want to agree here, with my experience even lack of maintenance does not typically involve head gasket/cooling system failures. Other issues may happen sure, but the coolant system is typically a set-it and forget-it system and most maintenance on them are "change coolant at 100,000 miles." Not to mention these issues are happening in cars that are only a few years old and fairly low miles (I do not consider 60,000 miles high mileage). Plus we have had numerous reports of people doing all the maintenance and still having failures.

*EDIT Also to add that it is the same situation every time: rear head, cylinders 3 or 5. This is to me the smoking gun that there is a design flaw back there. Has anyone reported any other cylinders? I don't think anyone has mentioned cylinders 1,2,4,6. Maybe the rear back there gets the coolant last and it has heated up too much from the front and it being in the rear by the firewall means it isn't even getting much airflow either and it just can't get cooled down enough? Who knows. Chrysler knows for sure with the amount of failures we are seeing.

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

I'm not sure it is safe to assume the issue is a manufacturing problem. We just don't know yet. It could very well be a maintenance problem.

I think the issue is the same as in this video. Yes, this is a Ford engine, but the Pentastar has these same coolant channels between the cylinders, and torn-apart engines of the Pentastar failures look identical to the same failure in this video. Changing your oil will not stop a weak point in the block causing a head gasket failure, then causing low coolant overheating warping the block.

This video shows why they are failing and what Ford did to fix the issue.

The Pentastar:

I see ALL Penntastars with this cooling channel prone to failure. I also see a major class action coming.

Owners should not be left taking the bill for this replacing an engine with an inferior design that will fail the exact same way endlessly. It is not the owner's fault these engines are blowing head gaskets losing coolant overheating and warping the block.

Updated 11/06/2023: A new possible cause of this failure to a manufacturing defect and lack of quality control of a water pump gasket. You can view the updated info here: https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/2017-pacifica-engine-failure-owners-list.52928/post-683817

 

[vsfan]

Funny thing is my current drive is a ford escape with the 1.5L engine approaching 60000 miles… and I am looking to “upgrade” to Pacifica

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

I see ALL Penntastars with this cooling channel prone to failure. I also see a major class action coming.

Thanks, TSE, for the video, but I'm confused in that not ALL Penrastars have failed. There are some here who have over 100k miles without any problem.

Does anyone know what the percentage failure rate is for all Pentastars used across all models versus the Pentastars used in just Pacificas? I assume the block and head is the same for all of them, right? I tried looking at a Jeep forum and didn't see much indication of the problem.

If indeed Pentastars are the same across the board and the failures are only happening in Pacificas, then maybe there is something to the lack of air circulation between the engine and the firewall.

The reason I have been leaning towards the maintenance issue is:
1. Some minivan owner's tend not to be auto enthusiasts and therefore do not open the hood as often as those who are.
2. They may not have read in their owner's manual beyond how to use the various features of the vehicle.
3. Since they have been sold on the fact that the engine cooling system needs no maintenance for 10 years or 150k miles, they may ignore checking it altogether and let the reservoir run dry.
4. If they do check it and top it off, they may not know that using the wrong coolant can cause serious engine damage (as stated in the owner's manual).

So, in my mind the jury is still out as to what is causing these engine failures.

 

[Werd]

Thanks, TSE, for the video, but I'm confused in that not ALL Penrastars have failed. There are some here who have over 100k miles without any problem.

Does anyone know what the percentage failure rate is for all Pentastars used across all models versus the Pentastars used in just Pacificas? I assume the block and head is the same for all of them, right? I tried looking at a Jeep forum and didn't see much indication of the problem.

If indeed Pentastars are the same across the board and the failures are only happening in Pacificas, then maybe there is something to the lack of air circulation between the engine and the firewall.

The reason I have been leaning towards the maintenance issue is:
1. Some minivan owner's tend not to be auto enthusiasts and therefore do not open the hood as often as those who are.
2. They may not have read in their owner's manual beyond how to use the various features of the vehicle.
3. Since they have been sold on the fact that the engine cooling system needs no maintenance for 10 years or 150k miles, they may ignore checking it altogether and let the reservoir run dry.
4. If they do check it and top it off, they may not know that using the wrong coolant can cause serious engine damage (as stated in the owner's manual).

So, in my mind the jury is still out as to what is causing these engine failures.

Factors such as climate and driving style and type of driving all affect it. If you are doing a lot of highway miles, there is airflow over the radiator/in the engine bay and coolant and components won't stay as hot. If you are in a city or doing a lot of stop and go, or flooring it all the time that is more demanding of the engine and cooling system. Climate same thing, if you are in a cooler or hotter area, that affects everything. It shouldn't be problem as modern cars are designed for this, but here we are. This is also why those who are fine with well over 100k miles are because they probably have done a lot of highway miles. It is just easier on it.

As for the coolant system itself, it is a closed loop system as all cars are. I have had multiple cars where it stays at practically the same level for years and years over 100K miles. You shouldn't need to "top it off" periodically and definitely should not be that low before 60k miles unless you have a leak somewhere.

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

I have topped off the coolant in both our Pacificas with small amounts of Mopar MS-12106 to keep the level at MIN or slightly above. I do not believe it can be ignored for 100k miles, at least not in Pacificas. Perhaps there is indeed a tiny leak somewhere. That might be another possible explanation for the engine failures.

Edit:
Along the "tiny leak" theory, we must remember the number of cases where oil coolers have failed due to folks overtightening the oil filter cap. But, again, would not that be an issue across all Stellantis models with Pentastars?