2018 Chrysler Pacifica · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 160owner reports
- 72,000median miles
- $4,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
378 of the 876 complaints on this car are about the engine. 160 of those describe overheating.
Narrower sheets: Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine (125 reports)
Tick what matches of 160 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 (122 reports), the coolant hose or reservoir (11 reports), the radiator (8 reports) and the thermostat (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2018 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.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
62 of the 160 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $572 to $6,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 60,850 and 90,000 miles, from the 87 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 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.
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
2 more on the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica page.
What owners wrote
“Head gasket blown! Vehicle is under 100k miles, never overheated, service properly maintained. When researching symptoms, I discovered I am one of hundreds if not thousands of 2017-2018 model Pacifica owners who have suffered this issue. Heads are known to be faulty and Chrysler will not address the root of it. It's very possible this could lead to a locked engine while driving and cause harm to driver or others.”
Filed Sep 22, 2026 · 100,000 miles
“Blown head gasket cylinder #3. Same as reported by many on other forms. 108000 miles well maintain. Started throwing a code 2 weeks ago.”
Filed Jul 11, 2026 · 108,000 miles
“Car has 110k on it with regular documented maintenance. The head gasket is blown and requires new engine.”
Filed Jun 15, 2026
“The engine head gasket prematurely failed at 90,000 miles with excellent service / maintenance history.”
Filed Jun 5, 2026 · 90,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 160 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 221 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 172 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
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 30 reports