[thclimer]

I wonder if the following would help:

Chrysler Pacifica 2017 transmission problems solved

I have had my pacifica in the shop several times with hard shifting and bad performance. They kept for a week one time and several other days in the other times with no resolution. Then, I was perusing another pacifica forum and found a guy who used to be a salesman for bmw (I think). He said...

www.pacificaforums.com

 

[haleme]

Our '17 Limited with 56K is currently at the dealer for a 3rd time for this exact transmission issue; clunking/banging shifts between 30-35 mph. I took the tech out for a drive this afternoon and was able to reproduce the harsh shift with him in the car. His response, "oh, that is normal for the 9 speed transmission."

REALLY?

I expressed my dismay with the service writer that this behavior will be considered normal until the transmission dies 20 miles outside of the warranty.

What else can we do? This feels like a lose-lose situation.

 

[DisappointedEagle1]

There isnt a fix for this issue other than trading it for something different and if you want a minivan Toyata sienna and Honda Odyssey under carcomplaints . Com appear to be really good options. Perhaps not what someone wants to hear but there doesn't seem to be a better option.

 

[lutorm]

Perhaps not what someone wants to hear but there doesn't seem to be a better option.

There is: the hybrid doesn't have this transmission.

 

[karthik]

I had the same problem, but got it fixed by the dealer with a SW update. After the SW update that happened 2months ago, i am no more experiencing the hard shift issues.
When enquired the dealer on why dont they roll out the SW to all vehicles, their response was not all vehicle is experiencing the problem and they do it only to those report the problem. So, i would suggest talk to the dealer and get it fixed.

 

[DisappointedEagle1]

I had the same problem, but got it fixed by the dealer with a SW update. After the SW update that happened 2months ago, i am no more experiencing the hard shift issues.
When enquired the dealer on why dont they roll out the SW to all vehicles, their response was not all vehicle is experiencing the problem and they do it only to those report the problem. So, i would suggest talk to the dealer and get it fixed.

Thank you, I was seriously looking at other vehicles. As I said before there are many features of the van we love, one in particular are the stow away compartments. We are a family of six, so they get used. I will give this one more shot.

 

[Marion nguyen]

Yes I was wondering about my van, i recently purchase the van 3 months ago and lately I notice that I'll be at a stop and when I drive forward around 15-25 miles an hour my van would suddenly stop, the rpms would drop and then all of sudden it would go right back into rpms and would jerk the van really hard. It seems like when the transmission is shifting it slips then catches itself after a second or 2 and would jerk and shift really hard. It doesn't happen all the time it's real intermittent. But it's still an issue that I would like to resolve so it doesn't get worst. Is this a common issue with 2017 chrysler pacificas? I asked the dealership to look at it but they couldn't find anything wrong.

 

[SciTchr]

Yes I was wondering about my van, i recently purchase the van 3 months ago and lately I notice that I'll be at a stop and when I drive forward around 15-25 miles an hour my van would suddenly stop, the rpms would drop and then all of sudden it would go right back into rpms and would jerk the van really hard. It seems like when the transmission is shifting it slips then catches itself after a second or 2 and would jerk and shift really hard. It doesn't happen all the time it's real intermittent. But it's still an issue that I would like to resolve so it doesn't get worst. Is this a common issue with 2017 chrysler pacificas? I asked the dealership to look at it but they couldn't find anything wrong.

There may be a newer version of the bulletin in this link, but it should get the dealer headed in the right direction.

2017 Pacifica Transmission Problems (Heavy Jolt)

@SciTchr I called the number in your post 106 yesterday, and after a lengthy phone call, I was unfortunately assigned the same case manager as when @ChryslerCares escalated a case for me 9 months ago. I will likely cancel my appointment because it ended with a tremendous amount of frustration...

www.pacificaforums.com

Most likely it will be some sort of software update.

 

[ChryslerCares]

Yes I was wondering about my van, i recently purchase the van 3 months ago and lately I notice that I'll be at a stop and when I drive forward around 15-25 miles an hour my van would suddenly stop, the rpms would drop and then all of sudden it would go right back into rpms and would jerk the van really hard. It seems like when the transmission is shifting it slips then catches itself after a second or 2 and would jerk and shift really hard. It doesn't happen all the time it's real intermittent. But it's still an issue that I would like to resolve so it doesn't get worst. Is this a common issue with 2017 chrysler pacificas? I asked the dealership to look at it but they couldn't find anything wrong.

@Marion nguyen
If your still in the need of assistance, please feel free to follow up with us privately.

Lamar
Chrysler Cares

 

[Enrico Henry]

Hard shifting

Mine has been doing it since 10000 miles now have 36000. Been to the dealer 8 times for this problem along with regular maintenance and they were only able to duplicate it once gave it a update they said it would fix it but it isn’t 50 miles from the dealer and bang shifting problems again. There is no fix for this problem Chrysler knows this that is why we are pushed down the road with a phony software bandaid.

Did you eventually solve this? I am very tempted to trade it in to avoid having to constantly worry having the gearbox give up on me 1000 miles from home on a road trip.

 

[SciTchr]

Did you eventually solve this? I am very tempted to trade it in to avoid having to constantly worry having the gearbox give up on me 1000 miles from home on a road trip.

Welcome to the forum.
If you put your van info in the signature line of account settings it will show up at the bottom of your posts and will help us answer your questions easier in the future.

How many miles does your van have?

Even though I had the hard shift in the past, it didn't strand me. (A dead battery has been the only issue to strand me temporarily until it could be jumped and replaced.) The hard shift tended to get worse over time until the software was reset and then it was fine for awhile.

 

[Enrico Henry]

Welcome to the forum.
If you put your van info in the signature line of account settings it will show up at the bottom of your posts and will help us answer your questions easier in the future.

How many miles does your van have?

Even though I had the hard shift in the past, it didn't strand me. (A dead battery has been the only issue to strand me temporarily until it could be jumped and replaced.) The hard shift tended to get worse over time until the software was reset and then it was fine for awhile.

Pacifica Touring L 2017 35k miles as of 2021.
Hi, thank you for your message.
When you say it was fine for a while you mean it's happened again and this time permanently?
Also, do you happen to know what software update was done to fix it?
My local dealer has no idea about this fault. In fact he states it's normal/they all do it...

 

[SciTchr]

Pacifica Touring L 2017 35k miles as of 2021.
Hi, thank you for your message.
When you say it was fine for a while you mean it's happened again and this time permanently?
Also, do you happen to know what software update was done to fix it?
My local dealer has no idea about this fault. In fact he states it's normal/they all do it...

See post 108 above for the link to the repair bulletin. If there is a newer bulletin related to the problem, the dealer should be able to find it with this info.
Another one to check:

2017 Pacifica Transmission Problems (Heavy Jolt)

Dealership wanted $150 to even look at it and maybe the warranty will cover what they find maybe it won't. Chrysler cares was dismissive and said they won't do anything without the diagnostic. Do you have a link to the November NHTSA report? See post 129 in this thread for the link to the...

www.pacificaforums.com

The jolt problem in my van was remedied for about 10,000 miles each time by resetting the transmission adaptations. The 4th time the transmission was replaced under the powertrain warranty at 54,000 miles or so. My van is at 65,000 miles now so we will see if the new transmission ends up with the same jolt problem as the other one.

Here is a link to what I posted in June 2020 before the above bulletin in post 108 of this thread came out.

2017 Pacifica Transmission Problems (Heavy Jolt)

Same problem. Jolting has gotten MUCH worse over time (currently at 56,000 miles). 6 months ago I moved to a steeper hill than the hill I lived on when I purchased the van. Horrible delay and jolting EVERY time I leave the driveway and I realized the delay is actually getting to be dangerous so...

www.pacificaforums.com

 

[amandaboughter]

@ChryslerCares My 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has had the hard shifting issue since we bought it in 2018. I’ve taken it to the dealership a few times for the issue but they’ve repeatedly said they can’t find any issues. Last week we traveled from Illinois to Florida for vacation, and in Tennessee, we had the hard shifting occur during interstate uphill driving and that caused the check engine light to come on and also be flashing, which was terrifying since we were traveling on the interstate. We made it to a dealership where they replaced a cylinder coil and the fuel injector from cylinder 6, and the check engine light is off, the van runs better, but the hard shifting is still occurring. I believe this hard shifting caused the cylinder and fuel injector issues. I had to pay several hundred dollars out of pocket for some of the repair, and the warranty covered some as well, but this is unacceptable. What can be done to correct this hard shifting issue that is plaguing my vehicle. I feel unsafe to travel with my family in my five year old, $40,000 van.

 

[JMGL0327]

I need to contact Chrysler Care. I have a 2017 touring L with a 2016 build date. I wonder if the software update would take care of my transmission clunking and hesitating. It won’t let me send a private message to them yet.

 

[peterweb]

I need to contact Chrysler Care. I have a 2017 touring L with a 2016 build date. I wonder if the software update would take care of my transmission clunking and hesitating. It won’t let me send a private message to them yet.

Now that you have posted here you have access to the forum messaging system.

 

[ChryslerCares]

Hello @JMGL0327!

We have since seen and responded to your private message and are here to listen and assist.

Should any user seek added support alongside their dealer appointment know we are here to help!

Hannah
Chrysler Cares

 

[tallentjon224]

Thank you Andrea, I'll let you know. This just doesn't appear to be normal, nor does it seem to be going away. I will contact you when I think I'm ready to take it to the dealer.

My 2020 pacifica started doing that and they replaced the valve body. 5k miles later it started again and is now waiting for the new transmission to come in

 

[ChryslerCares]

My 2020 pacifica started doing that and they replaced the valve body. 5k miles later it started again and is now waiting for the new transmission to come in

Glad to hear it!

If you experience any future vehicle concerns, please let us know via private message. We're always here to help.

Hannah
Chrysler Cares