Is the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica a bad year?
1,546 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 538, 9.6× a quiet Pacifica year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 7k–45k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 17 of 538 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Pacifica owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 20,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 538 (35%) | 7k–45k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 474 (31%) | 15k–45k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 397 (26%) | 10k–45k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 289 (19%) | 13k–70k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 90 (6%) | 7k–34k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 86 (6%) | 8k–49k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 74 (5%) | 6k–40k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 63 (4%) | 12k–42k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 27 (2%) | 8k–49k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 25 (2%) | 9k–45k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Collision avoidance | 16 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 20,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,546 complaints: 46 mention a crash · 11 mention a fire · 22 report an injury · 46 say the car was towed.
160 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
On multiple occasions over the past 6 months, this vehicle has lost power, causing the driver to have no ability to steer the vehicle, accelerate, or brake until it comes to a complete stop.
I was turning into a parking lot and my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica suddenly turned off. The display said something along the line of "Car must be in park." I had to put my car back in park and restart the engine.
The vehicle has made transmission noises from 11k miles on. They immediately replaced the first transmission, then second one behaved the same.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 20,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica: 11
The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured. An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
An internal transmission wiring connector may short circuit, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown. An unexpected engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
A loose battery ground connection may result in an intermittent loss of power steering assist and/or a stall. A loss of power steering assist or a stall can increase the risk of crash.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The Manual Park Release (MPR) plug may be removed without a tool. If the MPR is engaged unintentionally, the vehicle could roll away striking and injuring a bystander or cause a crash.
If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The engine control software may become out of sync with the crankshaft position sensor, possibly resulting in an engine stall. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
In certain passenger seating and vehicle situations, the second-row center seating position seat belt buckle could cause the left outboard seat belt to become unlatched. Inadvertent unlatching of the left outboard seat belt can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The rear pinion bracket on both sides of the vehicle may crack, causing the axle not to be centered and the wheel to wobble. A wheel wobble may cause a possible loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vans have rear brake lines that might have been crossed during the modification. The crossed rear brake lines will cause the rear anti-lock brake system to be ineffective, increasing the risk of a crash.
The center overhead seat belt stow clip may fracture and prevent use of the seat belt in the third-row and/or second-row center passenger seat (if so equipped). If passengers occupying the third-row and/or second-row center seats cannot use a seat belt, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chrysler: 301
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
948TE Transmission Reaction Shaft Service Bushing Kit Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
ADJUSTER Valve Lash Customer's complaint may include a ticking noise coming from the engine
Vibration From Engine Or Powertrain
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
Ignition-off high voltage battery fire (Remedy effectiveness of Recall 22V-077)
Stall/Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2018 Pacifica: 896 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chrysler Pacifica year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pacifica years side by side
Other Chrysler models: Chrysler 200 · Chrysler 300 · Chrysler 300C · Chrysler 300M · Chrysler Aspen · Chrysler Concorde · Chrysler Crossfire · Chrysler Crossfire Roadster · Chrysler PT Cruiser · Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid · Chrysler Sebring · Chrysler Sebring Conv · Chrysler Sebring Convertible · Chrysler Town and Country · Chrysler Voyager. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica a bad year?
1,546 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 538, 9.6× a quiet Pacifica year. At 20,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 7k–45k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 17 of 538 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (538), transmission and drivetrain (474), electrical system (397), steering (289), speed control (90). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 7k–45k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Adaptive equipment (NHTSA 25V-876), Hybrid system (NHTSA 23V-010), Electrical system (NHTSA 19V-348), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-524) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.