2018 Chrysler Pacifica · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 31owner reports
- 15,300median miles
- 6involved a crash
Newest report Feb 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
31 of the 876 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Brake wear 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: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the booster (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 4,000 and 29,605 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 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.
CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminates, Recent PCM Replace or Flash Update Performed, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P057B Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit Performance, P1572 Brake Pedal Stuck, C0042-54 Brake Pedal Missing Calibration
A/C Pressure Transducer A/C inoperative and diagnosis leads to pressure transducer. Call Steve Rice at cell (248) 867-0061 before replacing the pressure transducer. If no response in 15 minutes, please proceed with repair.
What owners wrote
“Well driving down the interstate my van slammed on brakes stated safety mode engine will.shut off soon. Now it will not start. It could have caused us to get in a serious wreck.”
Filed Nov 20, 2025
“I have been experiencing a brake surge when I come to a stop, it has been a few weeks now (or maybe months). It feels like the regenerative braking is disengaging and the friction brakes are not engaging immediately. I am concerned this is a brake handoff issue and a major safety problem.”
Filed Oct 28, 2025
“At a stoplight the FCW ( forward, collision), warning dash light went on and engaged the brakes, thankfully, no movement was taking place.I had to put the car in park and then drive to be able to resume.This indicates that it could have occurred at high speeds, potentially causing a collision”
Filed Oct 25, 2025
“I have recognized at least 6 times within the first ten minutes after propulsion on, when I apply the brakes on dry pavement, with even brake pedal pressure, the brakes do not grab properly and the car continues to glide forward for a few moments, Then I put the car in park (often at a traffic light) to try to clear or reset the problem.”
Filed Apr 29, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 6 of 31 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 221 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 172 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 160 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 96 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 95 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 73 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 71 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 69 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 39 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 39 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 38 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 37 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 30 reports