Hopefully this does fix it, we passed on the hybrid because of it.
Recall 03A An unexpected engine shut down resulting in a loss of motive power can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Run your VIN to see if you are part of the recall.
Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA
Jan 17,2023
Manufacturer Recall Number03A
NHTSA Recall Number23V-010
Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available
SummaryAn internal transmission wiring connector short could result in an unexpected engine shutdown under certain conditions.
Safety RiskAn unexpected engine shut down resulting in a loss of motive power can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
RemedyFCA US will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to update the Power Inverter Module ("PIM") software and, if necessary, update the instrument panel cluster ("IPC") software.
"Manufacturer's Notes"For more information, visit recalls.mopar.com or call 1-800-853-1403. Please have your VIN ready when calling.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles
(PHEVs). An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an
unexpected engine shutdown.
Number of potentially involved : 67,118
Estimated percentage with defect : 100 %
Vehicle Information :
Vehicle 1 : 2017-2023 Chrysler Pacifica
Vehicle Type :
Body Style : VAN
Power Train : NR
Descriptive Information : Some 2017-2023 MY Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles ("PHEVs")
may experience a loss of motive power.
The suspect period began on August 12, 2016, when production of the Chrysler
Pacifica began, and ended on January 9, 2023, when FCA US LLC ("FCA US") began
containing suspect vehicles under plant control. The suspect period was determined
using field data and engineering change records.
Similar vehicles not included in this recall are not PHEVs or were built after the
suspect period.
Production Dates : AUG 12, 2016 - JAN 09, 2023
Description of Defect :
Description of the Defect : An internal transmission wiring connector short could result in an unexpected
engine shutdown under certain conditions.
FMVSS 1 : NR
FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk : An unexpected engine shut down resulting in a loss of motive power can
cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Description of the Cause : NR
Involved Components :
Component Name 1 : Harness Assembly
Component Description : Low Voltage Wiring
Component Part Number : 05062444AI / 05062444AH / 05062444AG / 05062444AF / 05062444AE
Component Name 2 : Harness Assembly
Component Description : Low Voltage Wiring
Component Part Number : 05062444AD / 05062444AC / 05062444AB / 05062444AA
Supplier Identification :
Component Manufacturer
Name : General Cable Industries Inc.
Address : Industrial de las Maquiladoras 11
Nueva Nogales Foreign States 84094
Country : Mexico
Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : FCA US will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to
update the Power Inverter Module ("PIM") software and, if necessary,
update the instrument panel cluster ("IPC") software.
FCA US has a longstanding policy and practice of reimbursing owners who
have incurred the cost of repairing a problem that subsequently becomes
the subject of a field action. To ensure consistency, FCA US, as part of the
owner letter, will request that customers send the original receipt and/or
other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the
expense.
How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Remedy is a PIM and IPC software update for 2017-2018 model year
vehicles and a PIM software update for 2019-2023 model year vehicles
providing messaging to the customer and sufficient drive time to exit
traffic.
Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : NR
Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA
Jan 17,2023
Manufacturer Recall Number03A
NHTSA Recall Number23V-010
Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available
SummaryAn internal transmission wiring connector short could result in an unexpected engine shutdown under certain conditions.
Safety RiskAn unexpected engine shut down resulting in a loss of motive power can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
RemedyFCA US will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to update the Power Inverter Module ("PIM") software and, if necessary, update the instrument panel cluster ("IPC") software.
"Manufacturer's Notes"For more information, visit recalls.mopar.com or call 1-800-853-1403. Please have your VIN ready when calling.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles
(PHEVs). An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an
unexpected engine shutdown.
Number of potentially involved : 67,118
Estimated percentage with defect : 100 %
Vehicle Information :
Vehicle 1 : 2017-2023 Chrysler Pacifica
Vehicle Type :
Body Style : VAN
Power Train : NR
Descriptive Information : Some 2017-2023 MY Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles ("PHEVs")
may experience a loss of motive power.
The suspect period began on August 12, 2016, when production of the Chrysler
Pacifica began, and ended on January 9, 2023, when FCA US LLC ("FCA US") began
containing suspect vehicles under plant control. The suspect period was determined
using field data and engineering change records.
Similar vehicles not included in this recall are not PHEVs or were built after the
suspect period.
Production Dates : AUG 12, 2016 - JAN 09, 2023
Description of Defect :
Description of the Defect : An internal transmission wiring connector short could result in an unexpected
engine shutdown under certain conditions.
FMVSS 1 : NR
FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk : An unexpected engine shut down resulting in a loss of motive power can
cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Description of the Cause : NR
Involved Components :
Component Name 1 : Harness Assembly
Component Description : Low Voltage Wiring
Component Part Number : 05062444AI / 05062444AH / 05062444AG / 05062444AF / 05062444AE
Component Name 2 : Harness Assembly
Component Description : Low Voltage Wiring
Component Part Number : 05062444AD / 05062444AC / 05062444AB / 05062444AA
Supplier Identification :
Component Manufacturer
Name : General Cable Industries Inc.
Address : Industrial de las Maquiladoras 11
Nueva Nogales Foreign States 84094
Country : Mexico
Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : FCA US will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to
update the Power Inverter Module ("PIM") software and, if necessary,
update the instrument panel cluster ("IPC") software.
FCA US has a longstanding policy and practice of reimbursing owners who
have incurred the cost of repairing a problem that subsequently becomes
the subject of a field action. To ensure consistency, FCA US, as part of the
owner letter, will request that customers send the original receipt and/or
other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the
expense.
How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Remedy is a PIM and IPC software update for 2017-2018 model year
vehicles and a PIM software update for 2019-2023 model year vehicles
providing messaging to the customer and sufficient drive time to exit
traffic.
Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : NR
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21 - 40 of 388 Posts
Seems like this happens more on the post-2020's. I couldn't find any 2017-2019's in the threads talking about this problem. Any circa 2020's owners experience this fault?
Is this for when the transmission just freezes, rendering the car completely immobile, and you have to disconnect the battery to "reboot" the system?
This is the first time we've learned exactly how many PacHys Chrysler has produced.
Only 67,000.
Only 67,000.
It’s a little puzzling to me. The problem is a connector that can get shorted and the resolution is a software update. Doesn’t make sense.
67,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivans Recalled in U.S. over Potential Engine Stall Issue
About 67,000 U.S.-market Pacifica Hybrids from 2017 through 2022 model years could have a problem that could cause the engine to shut down unexpectedly.www.caranddriver.com
Looks like they found the source of the shutdown-while-driving issue and have a fix! See the article for full details.
Indeed upon searching Chrysler Canada website it does show my serial # as being involved in the recall. We all go into the waiting game and hope nothing untoward happens in my driving this winter.I logged into my Canadian MOPAR account and it shows the recall for my 2021 PacHy already. You will be hearing more soon.
This recall is being done voluntarily by FCA, it’s not being ordered by regulators. Search your VIN on the Canadian Chrysker site.
As mentioned in the recall document, the fixed connector is not ready yet.It’s a little puzzling to me. The problem is a connector that can get shorted and the resolution is a software update. Doesn’t make sense.
This update is to fix the "unexpected" part of the unexpected shutdown.
I assume there will be another recall later to replace the part. Manufacturing still has shortages and lead times, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 4-6 months to get a new connector produced.
I don't like it.
" internal transmission wiring connector which could short "
Does it mean that the entire transmission will have to be replaced? AFAIK Chrysler doesn't consider it field repairable.
" internal transmission wiring connector which could short "
Does it mean that the entire transmission will have to be replaced? AFAIK Chrysler doesn't consider it field repairable.
Good info from @alphawolff in another thread about this defect. I will copy his post here and provide a link.
Post
Hey everyone, factory tech here whose personally diagnosed these a decent amount of times this year.
To keep it simple the A drive motor has three resolvers: sin, cos, and excitement. In all cases I’ve seen, the cos resolver is shorting to the transmission case and causing a short to ground condition. It is either intermittent, and will cause a random stall, or shorts in such a way that you can instantly see it on a DMM and the vehicle won’t start and the code will be active
I believe the above poster is right is condemning the internal harness as faulty. It’s probably bad routing or some such.
I don’t see how a flash will solve this unless the flash is just to prevent the immediate stall condition. The problem isn’t common, but I do get about one of these a month coming into the shop and this is in socal with a **** high amount of hybrids on the road.
They might just send the recall flash and deal with the transmission failures as they come as they aren’t exactly common. The trans is covered under the 10 yr/150k mile hybrid warranty
Also, for those concerned with the dealers replacing the PIM, the reason for that is if the short isn’t present during testing the diagnostic flow chart leads to the replacement of the PIM. The first two I had we replaced the PIM first before replacing the transmission. Now when you go to make a Star case to order a PIM the star center will just tell you it’s the transmission and order that first to avoid that waste of time
Post
Hey everyone, factory tech here whose personally diagnosed these a decent amount of times this year.
To keep it simple the A drive motor has three resolvers: sin, cos, and excitement. In all cases I’ve seen, the cos resolver is shorting to the transmission case and causing a short to ground condition. It is either intermittent, and will cause a random stall, or shorts in such a way that you can instantly see it on a DMM and the vehicle won’t start and the code will be active
I believe the above poster is right is condemning the internal harness as faulty. It’s probably bad routing or some such.
I don’t see how a flash will solve this unless the flash is just to prevent the immediate stall condition. The problem isn’t common, but I do get about one of these a month coming into the shop and this is in socal with a **** high amount of hybrids on the road.
They might just send the recall flash and deal with the transmission failures as they come as they aren’t exactly common. The trans is covered under the 10 yr/150k mile hybrid warranty
Also, for those concerned with the dealers replacing the PIM, the reason for that is if the short isn’t present during testing the diagnostic flow chart leads to the replacement of the PIM. The first two I had we replaced the PIM first before replacing the transmission. Now when you go to make a Star case to order a PIM the star center will just tell you it’s the transmission and order that first to avoid that waste of time
Here is the internal wiring harness from the excellent Pacifica transaxle teardown done by the WeberAuto YouTube channel.
I don't understand, based on Title 49 of US Code, Subchapter II, section 30120 (49 U.S. Code § 30120 - Remedies for defects and noncompliance and section (a) listed below for convenience), how the remedy of updating software on the PIM / IPC is considered a repair, or allowed to be considered a repair, by the NHTSA. It does not fix the problem.
There is a provision in this section (section (e)) that appears to allow for individuals to petition the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a hearing to decide on if the manufacturer's remedy has met requirements.
(a)Ways To Remedy.—
(1)Subject to subsections (f) and (g) of this section, when notification of a defect or noncompliance is required under section 30118(b) or (c) of this title, the manufacturer of the defective or noncomplying motor vehicle or replacement equipment shall remedy the defect or noncompliance without charge when the vehicle or equipment is presented for remedy. Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the manufacturer shall remedy the defect or noncompliance in any of the following ways the manufacturer chooses:
(A)if a vehicle—
(i) by repairing the vehicle;
(ii) by replacing the vehicle with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle; or
(iii) by refunding the purchase price, less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.
(B)
if replacement equipment, by repairing the equipment, replacing the equipment with identical or reasonably equivalent equipment, or by refunding the purchase price.
----
(e)Hearings About Meeting Remedy Requirements.—
On the motion of the Secretary or on application by any interested person, the Secretary may conduct a hearing to decide whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the remedy requirements under this section. Any interested person may make written and oral presentations of information, views, and arguments on whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the remedy requirements. If the Secretary decides a manufacturer has not reasonably met the remedy requirements, the Secretary shall order the manufacturer to take specified action to meet those requirements and may take any other action authorized under this chapter.
There is a provision in this section (section (e)) that appears to allow for individuals to petition the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a hearing to decide on if the manufacturer's remedy has met requirements.
(a)Ways To Remedy.—
(1)Subject to subsections (f) and (g) of this section, when notification of a defect or noncompliance is required under section 30118(b) or (c) of this title, the manufacturer of the defective or noncomplying motor vehicle or replacement equipment shall remedy the defect or noncompliance without charge when the vehicle or equipment is presented for remedy. Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the manufacturer shall remedy the defect or noncompliance in any of the following ways the manufacturer chooses:
(A)if a vehicle—
(i) by repairing the vehicle;
(ii) by replacing the vehicle with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle; or
(iii) by refunding the purchase price, less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.
(B)
if replacement equipment, by repairing the equipment, replacing the equipment with identical or reasonably equivalent equipment, or by refunding the purchase price.
----
(e)Hearings About Meeting Remedy Requirements.—
On the motion of the Secretary or on application by any interested person, the Secretary may conduct a hearing to decide whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the remedy requirements under this section. Any interested person may make written and oral presentations of information, views, and arguments on whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the remedy requirements. If the Secretary decides a manufacturer has not reasonably met the remedy requirements, the Secretary shall order the manufacturer to take specified action to meet those requirements and may take any other action authorized under this chapter.
I don't see how that part can short to the transmission housing.Here is the internal wiring harness from the excellent Pacifica transaxle teardown done by the WeberAuto YouTube channel.
Combined with another tech's comments, I'm pretty sure the part that experiences failure is this one:
Motor Resolver
Specifically that 90 degree connection wouldn't be very robust.
I can't find the listed part numbers on Chrysler's website so they don't make it easy.
I'm guessing there's a definition of "defect" somewhere that would be good to find. It also appears that not all the wiring harnesses are bad, otherwise a lot more vans would have had the problem. And there's no way for FCA to figure out which ones are bad, otherwise they probably would have done that as well. This remedy fixes the safety issue of a sudden shutdown, which then allows FCA to replace these transaxles like any other part that breaks.I don't understand, based on Title 49 of US Code, Subchapter II, section 30120 (49 U.S. Code § 30120 - Remedies for defects and noncompliance and section (a) listed below for convenience), how the remedy of updating software on the PIM / IPC is considered a repair, or allowed to be considered a repair, by the NHTSA. It does not fix the problem.
There is a provision in this section (section (e)) that appears to allow for individuals to petition the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a hearing to decide on if the manufacturer's remedy has met requirements.
(a)Ways To Remedy.—
(1)Subject to subsections (f) and (g) of this section, when notification of a defect or noncompliance is required under section 30118(b) or (c) of this title, the manufacturer of the defective or noncomplying motor vehicle or replacement equipment shall remedy the defect or noncompliance without charge when the vehicle or equipment is presented for remedy. Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the manufacturer shall remedy the defect or noncompliance in any of the following ways the manufacturer chooses:
(A)if a vehicle—
(i) by repairing the vehicle;
(ii) by replacing the vehicle with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle; or
(iii) by refunding the purchase price, less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.
(B)
if replacement equipment, by repairing the equipment, replacing the equipment with identical or reasonably equivalent equipment, or by refunding the purchase price.
----
(e)Hearings About Meeting Remedy Requirements.—
On the motion of the Secretary or on application by any interested person, the Secretary may conduct a hearing to decide whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the remedy requirements under this section. Any interested person may make written and oral presentations of information, views, and arguments on whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the remedy requirements. If the Secretary decides a manufacturer has not reasonably met the remedy requirements, the Secretary shall order the manufacturer to take specified action to meet those requirements and may take any other action authorized under this chapter.
Unlikely they are just going to replace every transaxle. The remedy fixes the sudden shutdown and that’s it. If you have this problem the transaxle will need to be replaced.I don't like it.
" internal transmission wiring connector which could short "
Does it mean that the entire transmission will have to be replaced? AFAIK Chrysler doesn't consider it field repairable.
So the “fix” is to not shut down the engine immediately but to allow a few seconds for you to pull over to the side of the road? This is starting to sound like another one of those recalls where I will wait awhile to see how everything pans out.
So there is a connector inside the transmission that fails sometimes and causes the vehicle to shutdown. And the fix is to not really fix the problem by replacing a connector that has been known to short out. The fix is for the software to ignore the problem for long enough that you can safely pull the vehicle over. That translates to, the problem is rare enough and difficult enough to fix that we don’t want to do the right thing and fix it properly so we’ll just take away some of the danger involved with the failure and only fix the ones that actually fail.Unlikely they are just going to replace every transaxle. The remedy fixes the sudden shutdown and that’s it. If you have this problem the transaxle will need to be replaced.
This is another example of where transparency would go a long way. Instead of explaining the problem in vague terms tell us exactly what happens to the connector when it fails, why the engine needs to be shut down, and why it makes sense to not fix it completely and properly, etc.
Because to me with the little amount of information I have on this issue, it appears that Chrysler doesn’t want to really fix the problem because it’s too costly and time consuming.
Because to me with the little amount of information I have on this issue, it appears that Chrysler doesn’t want to really fix the problem because it’s too costly and time consuming.
Our 2018 PacHy is a part of this recall. I was just in the Mopar web portal for my vehicle and it says "Incomplete but repair parts are not available"
I never got an email from Chrysler...only noticed this because troubleshooting another noise.
Do I just keep logging into the portal until it says "parts available?" or do I call the local dealership?
I never got an email from Chrysler...only noticed this because troubleshooting another noise.
Do I just keep logging into the portal until it says "parts available?" or do I call the local dealership?
Thank you for the great information in this thread! Knowing what's happening makes me feel better. I see how Chrysler might argue that the software change prevents the sudden stall at speed, and mitigates the accident risk. But for ourselves and our families on the road, having a cellphone, flares/lights, and other breakdown safety gear in our PacHy's seems a wise precaution.This remedy fixes the safety issue of a sudden shutdown, which then allows FCA to replace these transaxles like any other part that breaks.
Since the software change allows the van to keep running for a short time, I wonder why it can't be programmed to allow a "limp home" mode for a longer time? I've heard some transmissions in other cars provide that. It's not a question of preventing further damage to the transmission, since it's going to get pulled out anyway.
I don't think anything I've seen so far indicates what the software change will actually do, beyond not killing the vehicle immediately. Perhaps a short time is two minutes to get off the road...or perhaps it's two weeks to get to the dealer. I think we'll just have to wait until we get official word from Chrysler or until someone encounters the problem after their software has been updated.Since the software change allows the van to keep running for a short time, I wonder why it can't be programmed to allow a "limp home" mode for a longer time? I've heard some transmissions in other cars provide that. It's not a question of preventing further damage to the transmission, since it's going to get pulled out anyway.
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