[biuselectric]

Chrysler doesnt believe me

I am very thankful I found this forum, I have had this exact same issue with my 2017 Pacifica 3 times now, each time I bring it into the dealership and they run their tests and as everyone says, it has no error codes and they say nothing is wrong with my minivan and send me on my way, only for it to happen again. The minivan will lose all electronics and the engine will shut off or stall out, and will prompt me to shift to park and restart. The first time I was driving 45 mph and lost power steering, luckily no kids in the car, the second time I was in park, and the third time I was in drive but at a red light. The dealership each time said they couldn't reproduce the issue and Chrysler informed them that there is nothing wrong with the car. I was beginning to believe that my case was impossible to prove because it wont produce the codes for the technician but someone at Chrysler should be able to read these posts and realize that this is not a special case for one vehicle. If CHRYSLER is reading this please make sure the STAR technicians who keep telling our dealerships that there is nothing wrong with our minivans that they were wrong and need to address this issue right away. As someone else wrote earlier on in this post I thank God that A my kids weren't in the car and B that I was on a straight road only going 45mph, if I had been on a curve on the highway and lost power steering I would have crashed for sure. How can they stand by there product as being the #1 family vehicle if it shuts itself off in drive and their engineers and the dealerships selling them refuse to address the issue. To date I have taken the minivan in 5 separate times for this issue with no work being done, no updates, no parts, just excuses. I saw that CUSTOMER CARE contacted several others in this post, I would appreciate contact so maybe we can try to get this very real, very dangerous issue resolved.

 

[cue003]

This is to update my earlier post with the results of my unscientific tests.

With the engine off and the car in park, the transmission knob will not move regardless of the position of the ignition switch.

While there is not an audible click and the total steering wheel immobility that I had in previous cars, it is impossible to turn the steering wheel more than a couple of inches with the car standing still (and those inches probably just the mechanical slack in the system.) I can't tell if it is a deliberate locking of the system using the electrical assist mechanism or the mechanical advantage is just not there to turn the wheels. My car does have lane detection and therefore will move the steering wheel on its own if I approach the borders of a lane.

However the inability to move the car out of park with a stalled engine brings up a very troubling scenario. The car engine stops running for any reason and while you were trying to figure out what's going on you put the car in park. Now you want to physically push the car off the roadway, but the car's wheels are locked in park, the electric parking brake may have come on automatically and you may not have steering. This is a danger, not just to you but to other vehicles on the road and they may be coming up on you quickly.

There is a procedure to get out of Park...

It is in the owners manual. There is some panel you pop open and use a screwdriver etc etc etc. check it out.

 

[ChryslerCares]

I am very thankful I found this forum, I have had this exact same issue with my 2017 Pacifica 3 times now, each time I bring it into the dealership and they run their tests and as everyone says, it has no error codes and they say nothing is wrong with my minivan and send me on my way, only for it to happen again. The minivan will lose all electronics and the engine will shut off or stall out, and will prompt me to shift to park and restart. The first time I was driving 45 mph and lost power steering, luckily no kids in the car, the second time I was in park, and the third time I was in drive but at a red light. The dealership each time said they couldn't reproduce the issue and Chrysler informed them that there is nothing wrong with the car. I was beginning to believe that my case was impossible to prove because it wont produce the codes for the technician but someone at Chrysler should be able to read these posts and realize that this is not a special case for one vehicle. If CHRYSLER is reading this please make sure the STAR technicians who keep telling our dealerships that there is nothing wrong with our minivans that they were wrong and need to address this issue right away. As someone else wrote earlier on in this post I thank God that A my kids weren't in the car and B that I was on a straight road only going 45mph, if I had been on a curve on the highway and lost power steering I would have crashed for sure. How can they stand by there product as being the #1 family vehicle if it shuts itself off in drive and their engineers and the dealerships selling them refuse to address the issue. To date I have taken the minivan in 5 separate times for this issue with no work being done, no updates, no parts, just excuses. I saw that CUSTOMER CARE contacted several others in this post, I would appreciate contact so maybe we can try to get this very real, very dangerous issue resolved.

Hi biuselectric,

I'm so sorry to hear about this! Have you already contacted Chrysler Customer Care to open a case with us? If not, please go ahead and send a private message with your VIN and contact information.

Kori
Chrysler Social Care Specialist

 

[kellyk82]

@biuselectric Sorry you're dealing with this...I'll add you to the list. Chrysler absolutely needs to take your case seriously. I have not found the reps responding on here to be of any help. Try calling 1-800-334-9200 (press 1, then 2) and demand your case be escalated. An executive should call you back within 24 hours. I had to call daily for a week to get a call back, but I eventually did hear from them. Insist that they send an engineer from Detroit to look at it. They should also give you a loaner to fit your family and should offer to make a payment or two for your trouble. Don't take no for an answer...this is a "squeaky wheel gets the grease" situation. I had to refuse to pick up my vehicle when they said no codes were pulled. That's unacceptable.

Also, file a report with the NHTSA. I just got a call back after two months, but they're investigating this issue. You can report online.

 

[jerry17]

There is a procedure to get out of Park...

It is in the owners manual. There is some panel you pop open and use a screwdriver etc etc etc. check it out.

Yes-- the procedure is on page 494-495 of the paper owners manual (6th edition) if you ordered it.

The cover is down to the left of the steering wheel according to the manual. You have to pry off the cover with a screwdriver, and pull the strap (after securing the car. Hard to remember in the middle of a busy intersection. And I don't know how that affects the steering.

And speaking of steering, I have a slight update to my earlier post -- immediately after shutting off the engine, you can move the steering wheel. Rapidly, the available movement diminishes until it is effectively locked. Still not clear how much control you have after a shutdown at speed --the reports seem to vary.

 

[bhiggs72]

Hello,

We have owned a 2017 Pacifica for just 10 days and it has stalled twice. Once at a red light - we brought to the dealership on Saturday. They checked it out and said that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. Today (Tuesday), the vehicle stalled on the highway at 70 miles per hour. Needless to say, we are very upset. My wife and my two children were in the care as my wife steered towards the side of the road. Vehicle is again at the dealership. They gave us a loaner.

 

[kellyk82]

@bhiggs Please file a report with the NHTSA. It's really easy to do online. I'll add your family to our growing list. A couple posts above I outlined how I finally got Chrysler to take me seriously. They eventually had an engineer from Detroit check it out and replaced the SCCM, but it took a week of calling, posting, and emailing relentlessly. Another family had a faulty crank trigger replaced. I've put about 1200 miles on mine since it was allegedly repaired (never could recreate it or find any codes, so I'm a bit nervous still) and the problem hasn't occurred again. Good luck! Keep us posted!

 

[biuselectric]

so the latest suggestion from Chrysler to fix this issue is to borrow a micropod from the dealership which will catch the code while the error occurs. Which at first seemed like progress, however the dealership requires a $1500.00 deposit to borrow it. Chrysler was unwilling to help me with the deposit naturally. Not only that but they are practically asking me to continue driving the minivan until it shuts down while driving which sounds like a dangerous proposition to get an error code that either Chrysler or the dealership should be in charge of getting on their own.


Has anyone else wondered why others in this post with the exact same issue had parts replaced or updates performed and others are told nothing is wrong with the minivan and sent away? In my case I was told by both the dealership and Chrysler that they have never heard of this issue with the Pacifica. Everyone else is bringing their minivans to the dealerships, filing paperwork with Chrysler and their Star engineers ... where is the disconnect in communication? Id imagine when one of us finally has their minivan shut down while driving and gets into an accident Chrysler should be facing a lawsuit for negligence. They are aware of this flaw with their product, yet send some of us on our way and fix those of us who complain enough to get their attention ... extremely disappointed in the Chrysler Corporation for allowing this issue to go unaddressed.

 

[dmg2010]

The disconnect is that hardly anyone has reported the issue to the NHTSA, so there is no pressure on FCA to acknowledge or fix the issue.

 

[kellyk82]

@biuselectric That's ridiculous. Personally, I'd refuse to pick up my vehicle. They should be testing your vehicle, not putting your family in the test-dummy business. Did you get your case escalated using the 1-800 number? They kept mine for 2.5 weeks and put over 200 test miles on it. You can't take no for an answer. I was also given a loaner and Chrysler sent me a check for 2 lease payments. Chrysler Corporate knows about this issue, I assure you. Just a reminder that at least 124 people died before GM recalled their faulty ignition switch. Don't let your family be the catalyst for a nationwide recall.

@dmg 42 NHTSA reports on the 2017 Pacifica, 16 of those are engine shut off reports. I just spoke with Samual Wilson, the NHTSA agent handling this issue. He is contacting all customers and requesting dealership paperwork. It would definitely help our case if everyone would report the issue if you've experienced it!

 

[ChryslerCares]

Hello,

We have owned a 2017 Pacifica for just 10 days and it has stalled twice. Once at a red light - we brought to the dealership on Saturday. They checked it out and said that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. Today (Tuesday), the vehicle stalled on the highway at 70 miles per hour. Needless to say, we are very upset. My wife and my two children were in the care as my wife steered towards the side of the road. Vehicle is again at the dealership. They gave us a loaner.

Hi bhiggs72,

I'm sorry to hear about your concerns with your vehicle, have you had a customer care case opened to further address your concerns? If not please PM our page with your VIN so I can begin that process for you.

Andrea
Chrysler Social Care Specialist

 

[kellyk82]

^ More evidence that Chrysler HAS heard of this issue...

 

[shelly berman]

2017 Pacifica Touring Plus van shut off three times... twice on 6/19 with 5,700 miles (once while parked and another time going 50 MPH merging onto highway I-76 in Philadelphia) and again on 7/4 with 6,200 miles while going 20 MPH in traffic. Took to dealer on 6/20 for this issue and a engine warning light. They fixed the light (fuel rail sensor) but could not recreate the "shut off" after an 80+ mile test drive. Reading these comments as well as other places it seams this is a widespread issue and is DANGEROUS to every person out there that has to drive in or with these faulty vans. Will Chrysler recall these weapons of driving destruction?

I have the Pacifica 2017 (not hybrid) and this happened to me last night on the highway. I was driving with kids in the backseats and the car just turned off on the highway (I lost power steering, engine, headlights etc.). Thankfully, I was able to partially pull off to the side of the highway put the car in park and restart it. (It actually happened again a few minutes later but then the power came back on without me having to do anything.) I already filed a complaint on the NHTSA website.

Have there been any responses yet from Chrysler or NHTSA yet?

Thanks a lot.

Marc

 

[kellyk82]

Marc,

This happened to me a few months ago. I recently heard from the NHTSA agent handling the Pacifica case. They're still collecting information, but they are investigating. As far as Chrysler goes, they were very difficult to work with. Most are being told that no codes were pulled, the problem can't be recreated, and to continue driving. I had to refuse to pick up my car and called their customer service daily (in addition to emailing and posting on Facebook) before I finally heard from an executive in Detroit. Eventually my SCCM was replaced (per recommendation of Chrysler engineer from Detroit) and I was sent a check for 2 lease payments for my troubles. So far the problem has not reoccurred but there have been no other reports of the same diagnosis/fix.

 

[hector69]

Did you get this resolved because the same thing just happened to me today on my Pacifica 2017.

 

[kellyk82]

@hector Post #254 on this thread has a list of affected customers and their resolutions to this problem (if posted). So far no two customers have had the same diagnosis/repair. This is a long thread, but there's lots of good information posted.

 

[Tuskwhite1]

Marc,

This happened to me a few months ago. I recently heard from the NHTSA agent handling the Pacifica case. They're still collecting information, but they are investigating. As far as Chrysler goes, they were very difficult to work with. Most are being told that no codes were pulled, the problem can't be recreated, and to continue driving. I had to refuse to pick up my car and called their customer service daily (in addition to emailing and posting on Facebook) before I finally heard from an executive in Detroit. Eventually my SCCM was replaced (per recommendation of Chrysler engineer from Detroit) and I was sent a check for 2 lease payments for my troubles. So far the problem has not reoccurred but there have been no other reports of the same diagnosis/fix.

Sccm stand for ? Thanks

 

[TMaclay]

Sccm stand for ? Thanks

Steering Column Control Module - This holds the turn signal and wiper control stalks as well as the steering angle sensor. In Kellyk82's case, it's my own idea that the potential cause of engine cutoff may have been that this module caused the CAN-C communication bus (which the engine in the gas version of the Pacifica relies on to know the car is in "Run" status to malfunction. The dealer appears to have simply found a code and replaced that module and declared that the problem was solved. Though seemingly improbable to me, that appears to be the case so far. I can't claim to be much of an expert on this as I come from an era where you tested whether you had juice by sticking the wire on your tongue.

 

[kellyk82]

To add to TMaclay's response, they actually were never able to pull a code. I was told that they did diagnostics on "pressure" (?) and detected a pressure issue which led to the replacement of my SCCM. Not sure if that's helpful information or not, since it's all Greek to me.

 

[ChryslerCares]

I have the Pacifica 2017 (not hybrid) and this happened to me last night on the highway. I was driving with kids in the backseats and the car just turned off on the highway (I lost power steering, engine, headlights etc.). Thankfully, I was able to partially pull off to the side of the highway put the car in park and restart it. (It actually happened again a few minutes later but then the power came back on without me having to do anything.) I already filed a complaint on the NHTSA website.

Have there been any responses yet from Chrysler or NHTSA yet?

Thanks a lot.

Marc

Hi Marc,

Have you let your dealership know about what happened? We'd like to make sure this is documented and addressed.

Kori
Chrysler Social Care Specialist