I have had the exact same issue with my 2018. It has been in to the dealer once and they said they could see no issue with the vehicle. I have had it happen with the original tires as well as when I have my four snow tires on the car. I will sen it back to the dealer again. If you are in a parking lot and moving slow it stutters at time and almost feels like you are running over something . Very annoying. Will post after it goes to the dealer.
2017 Steering Problems
Hi, all. First time poster here. We have a 2017 Pacifica Touring L Plus that we bought used in March 2020. Over the summer we noticed the steering frequently sticking when driving around curves, and long story short the problem happens at various speeds 30-80mph. Ay first it seemed to only stick slightly off center, but on a longer road trip it stuck even closer to center repeatedly. When the weather got colder here in Iowa it seems to have be happening as frequently...
And now, we started getting a stuttering on the steering when making tighter turns at low parking lot speeds.
This van has been inspected at a local independent shop and two different Chrysler dealership service shops this year! All three places say they cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. One replaced the passenger side CV joint and axle after finding the CV boot was leaking, but that did not fix the steering problem.
We're very frustrated with this and at a loss of what to do. A web search shows that many people have experienced both of these issues, but there is no recall issued for vans without the electonic start/stop feature. Any advice?
Thanks!!
-Steve
And now, we started getting a stuttering on the steering when making tighter turns at low parking lot speeds.
This van has been inspected at a local independent shop and two different Chrysler dealership service shops this year! All three places say they cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. One replaced the passenger side CV joint and axle after finding the CV boot was leaking, but that did not fix the steering problem.
We're very frustrated with this and at a loss of what to do. A web search shows that many people have experienced both of these issues, but there is no recall issued for vans without the electonic start/stop feature. Any advice?
Thanks!!
-Steve
21 - 40 of 75 Posts
You mentioned the low speed stutter, but do you also experience the steering wheel sticking while driving? Looking forwaed tonhear what your service center says.I have had the exact same issue with my 2018. It has been in to the dealer once and they said they could see no issue with the vehicle. I have had it happen with the original tires as well as when I have my four snow tires on the car. I will sen it back to the dealer again. If you are in a parking lot and moving slow it stutters at time and almost feels like you are running over something . Very annoying. Will post after it goes to the dealer.
I haven't had waem enough temps to see if the new tires corrected my issue yet...
Just seeing this thread now, have read all the posts. And I'll be curious if the new tires... gets rid of the "sticky steering". Because my gf's Kia Sorento does the exact same thing you describe (but not the slow speed shuddering thing). She still has the OE tires, and it's been like this since new. She doesn't drive it much, so it doesn't bother her... but we've used it for road trips, and I notice it when I'm driving. Usually when going straight, all different road types, various speeds from 30-ish to 60-ish. It's not horrible, it's a light sticky-ness, always close to on-center position. Dealer didn't find anything.You mentioned the low speed stutter, but do you also experience the steering wheel sticking while driving? Looking forwaed tonhear what your service center says.
I haven't had waem enough temps to see if the new tires corrected my issue yet...
Well, the problem persists. After installing new tires, we had a couple days where the Temps were in the high 30s-40s. The steering stuck just off center, while curving in town netween 30-45mph, on two more occaisions.
No doubt that the new tires were needed anyway, but that didn't fix the sticky-steering problem. Any other ideas out there?
No doubt that the new tires were needed anyway, but that didn't fix the sticky-steering problem. Any other ideas out there?
Reading through all this again, two thoughts.
1st. The horrible looking tires that you "had" remind me of tires on "track cars". Like on the Porsche I used for Porsche Club driving day's at the race track. Good, high performance street tires... can look like that, after many track-day sessions. So either I'm totally wrong, but maybe, it's possible, that the former owner drove that van, very, VERY aggressively!
2nd. The current situation - you have new tires, but the sticky-ness continues. Can you find a driving route near a dealer, where this problem happens consistently? Then take a service advisor on a test ride. You drive first, to demo the issue, and so he can see it. Then let him drive, to experience the same thing.
1st. The horrible looking tires that you "had" remind me of tires on "track cars". Like on the Porsche I used for Porsche Club driving day's at the race track. Good, high performance street tires... can look like that, after many track-day sessions. So either I'm totally wrong, but maybe, it's possible, that the former owner drove that van, very, VERY aggressively!
2nd. The current situation - you have new tires, but the sticky-ness continues. Can you find a driving route near a dealer, where this problem happens consistently? Then take a service advisor on a test ride. You drive first, to demo the issue, and so he can see it. Then let him drive, to experience the same thing.
Something I just thought of is one or both strut bearings binding up. I'm pretty confident that this is your problem. A strut bearing usually consists of two flat plates with ball-bearings sandwiched between them. They're installed between the bottom of the strut mount and the upper coil spring seat to allow the coil spring and strut to twist freely when turning the steering wheel. If this is your problem don't let it go for too long. The coil spring can become displaced because the bottom is moving with the strut while the top wants to remain stationary. Pressure builds up in the coil spring when turning the steering wheel and causes the spring to studder/thump when it breaks free as it twists. Here's a video that demonstrates the problem in a Dodge Grand Caravan. FYI the 2017+ Pacifica uses the same part numbers as the older Grand Caravan/Town & Country for front strut mounts and bearings (68369289AA and 4721602AB, respectively).Well, the problem persists. After installing new tires, we had a couple days where the Temps were in the high 30s-40s. The steering stuck just off center, while curving in town netween 30-45mph, on two more occaisions.
No doubt that the new tires were needed anyway, but that didn't fix the sticky-steering problem. Any other ideas out there?
Dropped our Pacifica off at the Dealership for them to take another run at diagnosis. I gave them a list of all the ideas listed here so far for their consideration, so thanks again for the inputs thus far!
Their initial review shows no issues with the suspension (struts, coils, strut mounts, bearings). They're going to take it on an extensive test drive to see if they can experience the issue so my fingers are crossed...
My theory that it's only warmer weather went out the window this week. Just yesterday it happened again at ~35 MPH on an in-town curve. It was about 20 degrees outside. Curving off to one side, wheel stuck to the point that the van would have continued right off the road if my wife hadn't jerked it slightly back to center to un-stick it.
Their initial review shows no issues with the suspension (struts, coils, strut mounts, bearings). They're going to take it on an extensive test drive to see if they can experience the issue so my fingers are crossed...
My theory that it's only warmer weather went out the window this week. Just yesterday it happened again at ~35 MPH on an in-town curve. It was about 20 degrees outside. Curving off to one side, wheel stuck to the point that the van would have continued right off the road if my wife hadn't jerked it slightly back to center to un-stick it.
Dropped our Pacifica off at the Dealership for them to take another run at diagnosis. I gave them a list of all the ideas listed here so far for their consideration, so thanks again for the inputs thus far!
Their initial review shows no issues with the suspension (struts, coils, strut mounts, bearings). They're going to take it on an extensive test drive to see if they can experience the issue so my fingers are crossed...
My theory that it's only warmer weather went out the window this week. Just yesterday it happened again at ~35 MPH on an in-town curve. It was about 20 degrees outside. Curving off to one side, wheel stuck to the point that the van would have continued right off the road if my wife hadn't jerked it slightly back to center to un-stick it.
We would like to look into this further. At your convenience please follow up with us privately. Please provide your VIN# and servicing dealer.
Lamar
Chrysler Cares
Private message sent. Thank you.We would like to look into this further. At your convenience please follow up with us privately. Please provide your VIN# and servicing dealer.
Lamar
Chrysler Cares
We would like to look into this further. At your convenience please follow up with us privately. Please provide your VIN# and servicing dealer.I have had the exact same issue with my 2018. It has been in to the dealer once and they said they could see no issue with the vehicle. I have had it happen with the original tires as well as when I have my four snow tires on the car. I will sen it back to the dealer again. If you are in a parking lot and moving slow it stutters at time and almost feels like you are running over something . Very annoying. Will post after it goes to the dealer.
Lamar
Chrysler Cares
Has there been any updates? My 2018 Pacifica is doing the same thing
Dropped our Pacifica off at the Dealership for them to take another run at diagnosis. I gave them a list of all the ideas listed here so far for their consideration, so thanks again for the inputs thus far!
Their initial review shows no issues with the suspension (struts, coils, strut mounts, bearings). They're going to take it on an extensive test drive to see if they can experience the issue so my fingers are crossed...
My theory that it's only warmer weather went out the window this week. Just yesterday it happened again at ~35 MPH on an in-town curve. It was about 20 degrees outside. Curving off to one side, wheel stuck to the point that the van would have continued right off the road if my wife hadn't jerked it slightly back to center to un-stick it.
Zero updates. The Dealer couldn't find anything and the wheel still sticks while driving all the time. Never heard back from ChryslerCares on here since our initial interactions...
Zero updates. The Dealer couldn't find anything and the wheel still sticks while driving all the time. Never heard back from ChryslerCares on here since our initial interactions...
We have a 2017 with the exact same problem as yours. Exactly the same!
however, i bought mine near new in 2017 and didn’t start having problems until 2021.
any luck figuring this out?
Cwillis, we are bringing it to a different shop this week for analysis. I'll post here with their findings!
Having same exact problem. Any luck with a solution?
Hey, everyone. Quick update on my van's status.
We took it to another independent shop, and of course the issue didn't replicate itself during the owner's test drive. However, he asked if we were experiencing vibrations when turning at slow speeds like in a parking lot, which we are. He said when the van was up on the lift and he turned the steering wheel, thing started shaking quite a bit. He asked if he ever had an airbag deployed, as he also found some service bulletin information stating sticky steering can occur after that due to non-visible damage; the remedy is to replace the steering column assembly. According to the CarFax report when we bought the car, there's never been an airbag deployment but there was some minor front end damage that was repaired.
This shop owner is doing more research to see if the steering column replacement requires any unique programming that only a dealer could do. He's going to get back to me. I'm at the point of desperation that I'm willing to throw money at swapping this out in hopes it fixes the issue.
I'll update this thread as our journey progresses.
We took it to another independent shop, and of course the issue didn't replicate itself during the owner's test drive. However, he asked if we were experiencing vibrations when turning at slow speeds like in a parking lot, which we are. He said when the van was up on the lift and he turned the steering wheel, thing started shaking quite a bit. He asked if he ever had an airbag deployed, as he also found some service bulletin information stating sticky steering can occur after that due to non-visible damage; the remedy is to replace the steering column assembly. According to the CarFax report when we bought the car, there's never been an airbag deployment but there was some minor front end damage that was repaired.
This shop owner is doing more research to see if the steering column replacement requires any unique programming that only a dealer could do. He's going to get back to me. I'm at the point of desperation that I'm willing to throw money at swapping this out in hopes it fixes the issue.
I'll update this thread as our journey progresses.
I took mine in yesterday, and they couldn't replicate the problem, but they found a bulletin about the power steering, so they did the recommended fix, and I'll see if it works. I have attached the bulletin they found.Zero updates. The Dealer couldn't find anything and the wheel still sticks while driving all the time. Never heard back from ChryslerCares on here since our initial interactions...
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Biga117, does your van have auto start/stop? Mine doesn't, so the dealer wouldn't consider applying the service bulletin for our 2017 since it calls that out as part of the issue...
I thought the start/stopwatch standard in all Pacifica’s? Well, I’m still hoping this fixes the problem.Biga117, does your van have auto start/stop? Mine doesn't, so the dealer wouldn't consider applying the service bulletin for our 2017 since it calls that out as part of the issue...
Some of the early 2017 models did not have the ESS system.I thought the start/stopwatch standard in all Pacifica’s? Well, I’m still hoping this fixes the problem.
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