Diagsheet

2018 Chrysler Pacifica · symptom sheet

Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine

  • 122owner reports
  • 76,000median miles
  • $4,600median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Sep 5, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

122 of the 157 reports of overheating on the 2018 Pacifica describe head gasket failure.

Part of Engine overheats or leaks coolant (157 reports)

Tick what matches of 122 reports

23
23
3
119
7

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head gasket (119 reports), the engine (7 reports) and the radiator (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2018 model year as of Sep 19, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Pacifica

DP17-003opened Dec 1, 2017
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2017

Stall/loss of motive power. Closed mar 1, 2018, led to recall 18V-049.

NHTSA summary
By letter dated November 30, 2017, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requesting it open an investigation into allegations of engine stalling in the model year (MY) 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, a new vehicle platform. In support of its petition, CAS cited 57 NHTSA complaints alleging an engine stall in the subject Pacifica vehicles, in addition to other information it provided.On December 1, 2017, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Defect Petition 17-003 as requested by CAS.ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the manufacturer of the subject Pacifica vehicles, on December 12, 2017 requesting information related to engine stalling in Pacificas.The letter requested FCA provide the information by January 23, 2018.On January 11, 2018, and after technical discussions with ODI, FCA filed a defect information report advising the agency that it would conduct a safety recall of certain MY2017 Chrysler Pacificas to address a condition resulting in engine stalling without warning.The recall would address nearly 154,000 MY2017 Pacificas manufactured with engine control software that did not contain a routine intended to address loss of crankshaft position information required to keep the engine from stalling.FCA noted the condition could lead to a stall without illuminating a Malfunction Indicator Lamp, and without setting any Diagnostic Trouble Code.Given these conditions, dealer tec
EA06-013opened Jun 22, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2005 to 2006

Engine stalling. Closed nov 29, 2006, led to recall 06V-432.

NHTSA summary
IN A NOVEMBER 8, 2006 LETTER, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING TWO SEPARATE DEFECT CONDITIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005-2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-432).MY 2005 VEHICLES BUILT IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 2004 ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A DEFECT IN THE SECONDARY FUEL PUMP MODULES, WHICH MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER PRESS FITTING ON THE INLET THAT CAN BECOME DISLODGED AND SHUT-OFF FUEL FLOW.ALL MY 2005-2006 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN JULY 8, 2004 AND NOVEMBER 11, 2005 ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) SOFTWARE ISSUE WITH THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM WHICH CAN ALSO CAUSE STALLING.FOR BOTH CONDITIONS, ENGINE STALL INCIDENTS TEND TO OCCUR DURING LEFT TURNS. THERE WERE 17,375 VEHICLES BUILT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004 THAT WERE AFFECTED BY BOTH THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND PCM SOFTWARE CONDITIONS.THERE WERE 30 VOQS SUBMITTED TO ODI, 58 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO DCC AND 829 FIELD REPORTS RELATING TO VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING THIS PERIOD.WHILE THESE ARE MOSTLY RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP CONDITION, SOME MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE SOFTWARE FAULT.THE RESULTING STALL WHILE DRIVING FAILURE RATE FOR THIS PERIOD IS 5,278 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.THERE WERE TWO CRASHES ALLEGED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THESE INCIDENTS.THERE WERE 1,021 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACEMENT THAT APPEAR RELATED TO ENGINE STALL (5.9% CLAIM RATE). THE
RQ06-002opened Feb 27, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2004 to 2006

Engine stalling. Closed jun 22, 2006.

NHTSA summary
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006 RQ06-002 WAS OPENED IN RESPONSE TO 60 COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE STALL, MOSTLY DURING LEFT-HAND TURNS, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TO 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF RECALL 04V-113.IN MARCH 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER INITIATED RECALL 04V-113 ON 34,561 MY 2004 PACIFICA VEHICLES TO CORRECT A CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AFTER A COLD-START.DURING RQ06-002 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RECALL 04V-113 DID CORRECT THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING CONDITION FOR THAT SPECIFIC POPULATION.HOWEVER, TWO OTHER CONDITIONS WERE IDENTIFIED THAT COULD ALSO CAUSE ENGINE STALLING DURING TURNING MANEUVERS:(1) AN ISSUE WITH MISBUILT FUEL PUMPS THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTED ABOUT 17,000 MY 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004; AND (2) A SOFTWARE CONDITION AFFECTING VAPOR PURGE IN ABOUT 131,000 MY 2005-06 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JULY 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2005. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA06-013, HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE CONDITIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.

What owners paid

33 of the 122 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,500 to $7,800.

$3,500$4,600$7,800
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 60,850 and 90,000 miles, from the 70 reports that gave a mileage.

321
922
2823
3724
2525
2026

What owners wrote

“Vehicle is 5 years old and at 90,000 miles. Head gasket blew causing several thousand dollars in damage. This seemed very early to have to do this to the engine. I wanted to report in case this is a persistent issue with this particular model of car. If it is a consistent issue I would like to see. A recall issued.”

Filed Aug 29, 2023 · 90,000 miles

“A blown head gasket (and possibly warped head) were causing a cylinder 3 misfire. The vehicle has only 70,000 miles and has had regular maintenance performed. It appears the motor design is faulty, likely causing a build up of heat in the engine compartment or internal to the motor resulting in blown head gaskets. This is apparently a common problem and Chrysler should develop a solution to handle the issue.”

Filed Aug 9, 2023 · 70,000 miles

“Currently have 62,254 miles on my car and the head gasket is now faulty requiring a repair that’s almost $4,000. Check engine light came on prompting it to be looked at and head gasket was root cause. Appears to be a very common issue with Pacifica’s but no service bulletins or recalls associated with this issue yet.”

Filed Jul 21, 2023 · 62,254 miles

“Got a check engine light for misfire cylinder 4. Take it to a dealer and told its blown a head gasket at 76k miles. They act like this has never happened. Start reading all the forums and it’s a widely known issue that the manufacturer won’t correct. Could have an accident or catastrophic failure caused by their negligence.”

Filed Jun 27, 2023 · 76,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 122 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.

Other problems on this car