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 Oct 2, 2026
155 of the 876 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 38 of those describe transmission shudder.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (31 reports)
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Transmission shudder 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 biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
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.
A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels.
The front axle halfshafts may have been incorrectly assembled, preventing the shaft from being properly secured to the constant-velocity (CV) joint.
All 12 recalls on the 2018 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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 17,000 and 46,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
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. 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 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
- 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