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Blown head gasket

2280 Views 22 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  ChryslerCares
I don’t understand how this is not a bigger concern for Chrysler. Going through these posts you see so many blown head gasket posts, but no recalls or solutions to prevent this from happening. We bought our Pacifica three years ago and it was the newest and most expensive vehicle are growing family. I never purchased it was to be my wife’s daily driver with our 4 kids. Now we’re questioning why we even bought it in the first place. Within one week her transmission started shifting extremely hard. We saw that that was a continued issue for the Pacifica’s. Then her car starts idling really hard the uconnect screen starts flickering and the check engine light comes on for a cylinder five misfire she gets the school to drop the kids off when she goes to leave now the car won’t start because the starter went out. I just don’t understand how there’s no permanent solution for a problem that doesn’t seem like it’s isolated.
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When they hydro lock it will burn out the starter.
I don’t understand how this is not a bigger concern for Chrysler. Going through these posts you see so many blown head gasket posts, but no recalls or solutions to prevent this from happening. We bought our Pacifica three years ago and it was the newest and most expensive vehicle are growing family. I never purchased it was to be my wife’s daily driver with our 4 kids. Now we’re questioning why we even bought it in the first place. Within one week her transmission started shifting extremely hard. We saw that that was a continued issue for the Pacifica’s. Then her car starts idling really hard the uconnect screen starts flickering and the check engine light comes on for a cylinder five misfire she gets the school to drop the kids off when she goes to leave now the car won’t start because the starter went out. I just don’t understand how there’s no permanent solution for a problem that doesn’t seem like it’s isolated.
@Tpuig83, have you had your Pacifica's engine diagnosed as to the cause of the cylinder five misfire yet?
Ya it’s at the dealership now. Just told us they found coolant in the oil. They have a rep from the warranty company to come and check it out in a couple days so I’ll be stuck without a car for another week at least.
@Tpuig83, have you had your Pacifica's engine diagnosed as to the cause of the cylinder five misfire yet?
@Tpuig83, have you had your Pacifica's engine diagnosed as to the cause of the cylinder five misfire yet?
@Tpuig83, have you had your Pacifica's engine diagnosed as to the cause of the cylinder five misfire yet?

Ya it’s at the dealership now. Just told us they found coolant in the oil. They have a rep from the warranty company to come and check it out in a couple days so I’ll be stuck without a car for another week at least
I don’t understand how this is not a bigger concern for Chrysler. Going through these posts you see so many blown head gasket posts, but no recalls or solutions to prevent this from happening. We bought our Pacifica three years ago and it was the newest and most expensive vehicle are growing family. I never purchased it was to be my wife’s daily driver with our 4 kids. Now we’re questioning why we even bought it in the first place. Within one week her transmission started shifting extremely hard. We saw that that was a continued issue for the Pacifica’s. Then her car starts idling really hard the uconnect screen starts flickering and the check engine light comes on for a cylinder five misfire she gets the school to drop the kids off when she goes to leave now the car won’t start because the starter went out. I just don’t understand how there’s no permanent solution for a problem that doesn’t seem like it’s isolated.
Not that I should be saying this to you your going through enough already and you have my sympathies but all this head gasket talk is really making me want to sell mine and be done with it and maybe these threads to on this topic, it's enough to depress you to the point everytime I start my car now I worry about some
f k g head gasket situation when I shouldn't be thinking about this at all .. I'm wondering what the real percentage is of these failures like 1 in 2-3000?? I'm really liking the Carnival I'll think I'll get that soon as much as I love the Pacifica, this is rediculous!!
Not that I should be saying this to you your going through enough already and you have my sympathies but all this head gasket talk is really making me want to sell mine and be done with it and maybe these threads to on this topic, it's enough to depress you to the point everytime I start my car now I worry about some **** head gasket situation when I shouldn't be thinking about this at all .. I'm wondering what the real percentage is of these failures like 1 in 2-3000?? I'm really liking the Carnival I'll think I'll get that soon as much as I love the Pacifica, this is rediculous!!
Your concern is understandable. I worry, too, as I have two of the darn things! Even though they are each covered by a Mopar extended warranty, my plan is to have the dealer flush/fill the cooling system in wife's '18 Pacifica at 50k miles or 5 years (it currently has 47k miles and will be 5 years old on May 1). I'm not sold that the newer long-life coolants are really living up to their hype, and might be losing some of their corrosion protection properties sooner than the 120k-150k miles or 10 years they claim. This is just my gut feeling. I have no evidence whatsoever to support this concern other than the number of head gasket failures reported on this forum and in FaceBook.

One would think that Chrysler is well aware of the problem, knows what causes it, knows how to fix it so it doesn't happen again, and knows what changes to make to the production line and/or maintenance schedule. The question is: will they actually do anything about it? If so, when? If not, then yeah, it's only a matter of time before owners such as me decide to dump the Stellantis brand once and for all. That would be a shame as Pacificas are nice vehicles.
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Your concern is understandable. I worry, too, as I have two of the darn things! Even though they are each covered by a Mopar extended warranty, my plan is to have the dealer flush/fill the cooling system in wife's '18 Pacifica at 50k miles or 5 years (it currently has 47k miles and will be 5 years old on May 1). I'm not sold that the newer long-life coolants are really living up to their hype, and might be losing some of their corrosion protection properties sooner than the 120k-150k miles or 10 years they claim. This is just my gut feeling. I have no evidence whatsoever to support this concern other than the number of head gasket failures reported on this forum and in FaceBook.

One would think that Chrysler is well aware of the problem, knows what causes it, knows how to fix it so it doesn't happen again, and knows what changes to make to the production line and/or maintenance schedule. The question is: will they actually do anything about it? If so, when? If not, then yeah, it's only a matter of time before owners such as me decide to dump the Stellantis brand once and for all. That would be a shame as Pacificas are are nice vehicles.
Yes on my "18 TL with 62k miles it's right at the edge of some of these complaints I should say most of them.. I have to take a step back and know that people that come on these threads are the ones with the problems though I think the numbers are really really with the ratio of millions made much like if you walked through a dealership and went in the service department you'd see nothing but broken cars but not representative of the whole bunch.. Go on YouTube and put in 500,000 Mi Pacifica you'll see this guy on his '17 that is still pretty much running strong that gives me hope on his original engine..
When you do your radiator flash just put in the Chrysler purple nothing else. It's not worth taking any chances for $7 more gallon. All in all those of us that have excellent running Pacificas it should stay that way.. I'm just a little more neurotic and will be getting a '23 Carnival soon. They're half SUV and look amazing with a 10-year 100,000 mile powertrain and 5/60 bumper to bumper
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This has just happened to me as well so I can empathize! 80K miles and cylinder misfire code along with losing coolant causing overheating. It's the dealer now. When I dropped it off the lady sighed when I told her what's wrong and she said it was the second one this month they've had. There is a thread on here somewhere asking for information with the hopes of getting enough customers to file a class action lawsuit. I'm surprised no lawyer has taken this up yet. I wish I would have done my research before buying this car because I would have stayed away. If it was something that was cheaper to fix I would have taken my chances, but a new engine!? I just want to get it fixed so we can have a family car again.
This has just happened to me as well so I can empathize! 80K miles and cylinder misfire code along with losing coolant causing overheating. It's the dealer now. When I dropped it off the lady sighed when I told her what's wrong and she said it was the second one this month they've had. There is a thread on here somewhere asking for information with the hopes of getting enough customers to file a class action lawsuit. I'm surprised no lawyer has taken this up yet. I wish I would have done my research before buying this car because I would have stayed away. If it was something that was cheaper to fix I would have taken my chances, but a new engine!? I just want to get it fixed so we can have a family car again.
Your probably out of warranty do you have the extended at least?
Your probably out of warranty do you have the extended at least?
Yes, I have an extended warranty to 125K!
Yes, I have an extended warranty to 125K!
Bravo 👏 👏 whew!!
Are the engines blowing up only on hybrids? Is it because engines start cold and they’re pressed into service cold? If I know I’m going to need the engine, I start it when sitting still. Brake to the floor and accelerator to the floor. The engine will run a bit to warm up without load
Are the engines blowing up only on hybrids? Is it because engines start cold and they’re pressed into service cold? If I know I’m going to need the engine, I start it when sitting still. Brake to the floor and accelerator to the floor. The engine will run a bit to warm up without load
No this doesn't apply to Hybrids, its ICE engines with the troubles
No this doesn't apply to Hybrids, its ICE engines with the troubles
There has been one hybrid owner report this problem a few days ago.
I start it when sitting still. Brake to the floor and accelerator to the floor.
Yeah, don't do that...
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Are the engines blowing up only on hybrids? Is it because engines start cold and they’re pressed into service cold? If I know I’m going to need the engine, I start it when sitting still. Brake to the floor and accelerator to the floor. The engine will run a bit to warm up without load
Why accelerator to the floor??? Why do you think that helps? I am quite sure that isn't good, revving the engine cold and before oil pressure is up.
There has been one hybrid owner report this problem a few days ago.
Thank goodness Rare!!
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Why accelerator to the floor??? Why do you think that helps? I am quite sure that isn't good, revving the engine cold and before oil pressure is up.
You cant rev the engine on a hybrid with the accelerator peddle. The accelerator peddle only controls the hybrid transaxle output. You can however force start the ICE by pulling a large amount of power in the transaxle by pushing the peddle down too far. With the amount of torque, the two electric motors put out I can not see the long-term outcome as good on brakes, engine mounts, struts, and subframe components. These actions could also damage the internal stators around the electric motors.
You cant rev the engine on a hybrid with the accelerator peddle. The accelerator peddle only controls the hybrid transaxle output. You can however force start the ICE by pulling a large amount of power in the transaxle by pushing the peddle down too far. With the amount of torque, the two electric motors put out I can not see the long-term outcome as good on brakes, engine mounts, struts, and subframe components. These actions could also damage the internal stators around the electric motors.
Thanks. Not having a hybrid, I was ignorant of this.
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