2018 Chrysler Pacifica · symptom sheet

Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard

38owner reports
26,000median miles
1involved a crash

Newest report Apr 2, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

154 of the 863 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 38 of those describe transmission shudder.

Tick what matches of 38 reports

slips or revs without pulling

bangs or clunks into gear

hesitates when I accelerate

a dealer did a software update

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

18V-492Jul 26, 2018

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica non-hybrid vehicles. A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U85.

18V-493Jul 26, 2018

Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The front axle halfshafts may have been incorrectly assembled, preventing the shaft from being properly secured to the constant-velocity (CV) joint.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the axle shaft disengages from the CV joint, the vehicle will have a loss of drive or allow the vehicle to move while in the "Park" position. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right halfshaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 18, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U80.

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Pacifica

PE22-008opened Jul 22, 2022

Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2018 to 2024

Transmission fault leading to loss of motive power. Closed mar 27, 2024, led to recall 23V-010.

NHTSA summary

On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22008 to investigate allegation of loss of motive power, potentially due to transmission malfunction, in certain Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. In a January 17, 2023 letter to NHTSA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) submitted recall notice 23V-010 involving a transmission motor wiring defect in 67,118 model year (MY) 2017-2023 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) manufactured from August 12, 2016 through January 9, 2023. FCA determined that an internal transmission connector short could result in an unexpected engine shutdown under certain conditions. Follow up correspondence with FCA confirmed this defect results in an electric motor position trouble code that was the basis for opening PE22008, therefore NHTSA is closing this investigation. The 23V-010 recall remedy is a software update to address the hardware failure associated with PE22008. When a hardware failure is detected, the vehicle limits motive power while instructing the driver to pull over to a safe location. NHTSA is concerned that drivers will pull over to an unsafe location when the warning message associated with the recall remedy displays on the dashboard. Due to the nature of the recall remedy and related reports, NHTSA has opened Recall Query RQ24004 to assess the recall remedy. The reports and failure report summary values included with this closing action are related to allegations of Recall 23V-010 remedy inadequacy.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 17,000 and 46,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.

318

719

520

221

422

423

524

525

326

What owners wrote

“When beginning to move from a stop, the transmission occasionally does not engage for a few seconds and allows the vehicle to drift unexpectedly before it slips in gear and moves. Also, occasionally when shifting gears once moving, the transmission âpopsâ into gear, which feels as if I have been rear-ended. This has been happening for a few years and has been at the dealership 5 or so times with no resolution.”
Filed Sep 10, 2025

“At low speed 12-18 mph the transmission hard shifts. It slams so hard that you feel like someone rearended you.”
Filed Jul 8, 2024

“Bought my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica used on December 8, 2022, with 70,649 miles on it. I have had issues with a hard shift in my power train. It doesn't do it when transmission is cold and it doesn't do it all the time. My engine light comes on, but it doesn't show any codes for the hard knock. It has been to 2 different dealers including Chrysler on several occasions without the issue being resolved.”
Filed Jan 31, 2024 · 70,649 miles

“The transmission shifts hard when traveling around 14 mph then will jerk (like being rear ended), slows down then accelerates on its own. I'm afraid it will cause an accident. Chrysler said it is supposed to work like that and nothing is wrong with it. I have had 3 diagnostic tests done it and it shows nothing is wrong.”
Filed Jun 6, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 38 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.