2017 Chrysler Pacifica · symptom sheet
Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear
- 152owner reports
- 30,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Apr 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
152 of the 213 reports of transmission shudder on the 2017 Pacifica describe jerking or hard shifts.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (213 reports) · also: transmission slipping
Tick what matches of 152 reports
Jerking or hard shifts 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
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for shifts that jerk, lurch or bang. Where the wider sheet also takes in slipping and vibration, these reports are about a shift that arrives too hard: the car lunges forward, or a clunk comes through the floor as it drops into gear.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the mounts (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Vantage Mobility International, LLC (VMI) is recalling certain 2017 Chrysler Pacifica lowered floor vehicles modified by VMI. The rear pinion bracket on both sides of the vehicle may crack, causing the axle not to be centered and the wheel to wobble.
All 11 recalls on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Pacifica
Transmission fault leading to loss of motive power. Closed mar 27, 2024, led to recall 23V-010.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 17,000 and 44,000 miles, from the 108 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“It loses power alot especially uphill. It smells like burnt oil all the time. Smokes out exhaust. Hesitates anytime you put the gas down. And then clunks around sometimes too”
Filed Dec 17, 2025
“Backup camera - blue screen or black screen. This has been reported several times and was recalled for the 2021-2023 Pacifica. This is dangerous. The transmission jerks really hard between 2-3 great which has also been reported as a normal occurrence that Chrysler has not addresses.”
Filed Oct 26, 2025
“Transmission stalls, doesnât change from park to, reverse neutral to drive correctly. If I put my vehicle into drive it will go backwards and vise versa not always but a lot and then al a sudden it will jerk and switch to correct gear. It doesnât accelerate correctly.”
Filed Nov 15, 2022
“Transmission jerks or shudders when pressing accelerator. Has almost caused several accidents.”
Filed Oct 31, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 152 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 384 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 187 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 142 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 132 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