2017 Chrysler Pacifica · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 132owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 10, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
535 of the 1,522 complaints on this car are about the engine. 132 of those describe overheating.
Narrower sheets: Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine (97 reports)
Tick what matches of 132 reports
Overheating on other Pacifica years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head gasket (96 reports), the coolant hose or reservoir (10 reports) and the radiator (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Pacifica
Stall/loss of motive power. Closed mar 1, 2018, led to recall 18V-049.
Engine stalling. Closed nov 29, 2006, led to recall 06V-432.
Engine stalling. Closed jun 22, 2006.
What owners paid
20 of the 132 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,700 to $6,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 64,000 and 85,000 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Water Pump & Chain Case Cover
Suspected Engine Coolant Leak
PUMP WATER For 2016-2024MY 3.6L Pentastar Upgrade with suspected coolant leak. PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT, PROCEED WITH INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE LATEST VERSION OF STAR ONLINE PUBLICATION S2307000002.
Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
4 more on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica page.
What owners wrote
“The engine failed at 57,400 miles. My wife was driving with our kids and engine locked up. I took to the dealership and they said that the engine block and head is warped and cracked. The engine needed to be completely replaced. My warranty period was over and company did not want to stand behind the product and help with any repairs. They said the vehicle overheated but that never happened during this time.”
Filed Apr 24, 2025 · 57,400 miles
“P0302 code triggered the CEL. Spark plug showed signs of coolant spark plug, and leak down pressure test presented a leaking cylinder head gasket. Disassembly of the air intake manifold revealed the oil cooler was leaking oil and mixing oil with coolant.”
Filed Apr 9, 2025
“Engine has a blown head gasket at 80k miles. Number 3 cylinder keeps misfiring due to the engine coolant being injected into the cylinder due to the blown head gasket. Poor engineering with this engine and Iâve read several others have experienced this same issue. Please do a recall for this issue due to the warranty not wanting to cover this!”
Filed Mar 15, 2025 · 80,000 miles
“2017 Pacifica has a blown head gasket @80k miles (diagnosed by a Chrysler mechanic when our check engine light came on). The van has never overheated and has been well maintained/ serviced regularly.”
Filed Aug 23, 2023 · 80,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 132 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 384 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 213 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 187 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 142 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 115 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 106 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 93 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 86 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 85 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 54 reports
- Sliding door won't open, close or latch 44 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 34 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 30 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 27 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 27 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 25 reports