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Engine & cooling

2004 Chrysler Pacifica Engine problems

Owners have filed 258 complaints about the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 29% of all its complaints, most recently on December 13, 2020. They describe 4 crashes, 13 fires and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
258
Recalls
0
Crashes
4
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine & coolingCrashFire

Driving down interstate when the cruise cut out and the engine skipped. Pulled over to check engine fluids and all were ok. No engine warning lights or any other indication of something being wrong. Continued at approx 70 mph when there seemed to be an internal explosion within the engine causing the engine to stop and all front airbags to deploy. Vehicle then caught fire and was totally destroyed.

Filed Incident Power train · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11383210
SuspensionBody, doors & structureEngine & cooling

The under carriage that holds engine in place is completely rusted through. I bought brand new tires from belle tire on september 9, 2020. By november 1 2020 I was observing extreme wear on the brand new tires. Went to my mechanic and was told the car is unsafe to drive due to the cradle rust rot, and the engine is about ready to fall out and would cause catastrophic emergency I and my family could die. Trying to find replacement and am being told it is such a problem that there is no parts available to fix this problem

Filed Incident Suspension · Structure · EngineNHTSA 11373618
Electrical systemEngine & coolingVisibility & wipers

I was driving on the highway, and my lights all lit up, car stalled, and my dash board said no bus

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11364713
Engine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 chrysler pacifica. The contact stated that when he purchased the vehicle the check engine warning light was illuminated, he had taken it to chrysler jeep dodge ram brunswick georgia (5400 altama ave, brunswick, ga 31525) for a full inspection. A week later while at a stop sign, the check engine and an unknow red warning lights illuminated a second time. There was smoke and fire coming from underneath the front hood area. The contact was occupying the vehicle as the driver and managed to...

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exit the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel line caught on fire and burned the vehicle causing to ignite into flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire and police report were filed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard where it was being investigated. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided a case number. The contact mentioned that there was a similar recall but the vin was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 170,503.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11364337
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

Its throwing a pcm code an the car is stalling so bad in the moddle of driving I have been stuck severeal times an I thunk there is a fuel leak I smeell gas so bed its throing po300 code an wont chanfe even when I got all the parts I see there is a recall on my year of car can somwonw hwlp mw I cant keeo cutting off ill wreck

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11353350
Body, doors & structureEngine & cooling

Upon taking a the vehicle to a mechanic, I was informed the subframe which supports the engine is rusting to the point it will not hold the engine causing catastrophic failure. I have become aware chrysler is aware of the future failure and will not fix it.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 11350021
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle decelerated independently and stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on four occasions however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. Additionally, while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was towed to brookfield chrysler dodge jeep ram (1845 pipestone rd, benton...

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harbor, mi 49022), to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the oxygen sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The oxygen sensor was replaced seven times however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11342058
SuspensionBody, doors & structureEngine & cooling

Vehicle was taken to service. Shop would not work on vehicle stating the deterioration of the subframe was to extensive and they would not work on it. Upon closer inspection showed the frame in a great state of decay, with some places only being held together with thin strips of metal. These vehicles were recalled in the past for defective frames however not all were recalled and this is one vehicle that was not. The motor in these vehicles will fall out and could cause an accident which could result in serious...

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injury or loss of life. These frames are defective in workmanship from the factory and should be handled by the factory across all 2004-2008 chrysler pacifica's affected by defective equipment knowingly installed by the factory that will lead to an accident and cause serious injury or death. Thousands of these vehicles are on the road today with occupants unknowingly driving these vehicles which are "ticking time bombs". *Tr

Filed Incident Suspension · Structure · EngineNHTSA 11329184
Engine & coolingFuel system

Engine stalls for no reason indicated by engine codes. Vehicle was coming to a stop. Was backing up once. Just idling and stalled. Sometimes when driving it feels as if nothing is happening when I attempt to accelerate. Has done this before the date submitted. Different dates.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11318173
Engine & coolingFuel system

Vehicle.Just quit running.And wouldn't start.Again. The vehicle was in motion

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11252994
Engine & cooling

I was driving on a city street and I was turning at a stop light when my car made a very strange sound. I could not steer the car so I pulled over and upon looking underneath the vehicle and under the hood the motor had shifted due to a rotting cradle mount.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11119746
SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

K-frame is rotted out not safe to drive engine could fall out

Filed Incident Suspension · Power train · EngineNHTSA 11118605
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & coolingFuel system

Have 2004 chysler pacifica having issues with fuel system truck drives then sputter shuts off take long time starting up also over heats no reason trucks shifts into gear 2 but don't go speed think I'm going transmission slips can be riding up street shuts off on me shifts into drive with rpm saying 2

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11110786
Electrical systemEngine & coolingVisibility & wipers

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. While driving approximately 55 mph in the rain, the instrument panel lighting and the abs indicator began to flash. In addition, the windshield wipers stopped working, the vehicle suddenly jolted forward, and stalled. The next day, after restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11104071
Engine & cooling

2004 Chrysler pacifica. Consumer writes in regards to safety recall that was never repaired which resulted in vehicle fire. *Ld consumer sent additional correspondence. *Ld *tr *js *js the manufacturer was notified, but had not offered any assistance. *Js

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11074814
SuspensionEngine & cooling

We own a 2004 chrysler pacifica with around 117k miles on it. My daughter drives it. While changing the engine oil on it last weekend, I noticed severe corrosion (perforation actually) of the vehicle engine cradle. The passenger side of the cross member is rusted completely through on the bottom and the driver side is about 70% rusted through. As this cross member is what holds the engine in the vehicle and acts as the base of the front suspension, I don't believe this vehicle is safe to drive anymore. Should...

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this structural component fail during highway driving, I believe the vehicle would become unstable and uncontrollable which would be a hazard to the driver, passengers and other motorists. Yes, we live in wisconsin (part of the salt belt), but this amount of corrosion on such a crucial structural component is crazy! The vehicle has only been on the road for 14 yrs and for only 117k mi. I would understand if the body started to deteriorate in that amount of time, but not a supporting frame member. I don't believe the engine cradle was properly treated against corrosion, or the design of the cradle made it susceptible to excessive localized corrosion and the manufacturer should be held liable for repairs.

Filed Incident Suspension · EngineNHTSA 11078247
Engine & cooling

Chrysler dealership serviced my car with a oil change. I was told my car was unsafe to drive due to motor mount rusted. I had to sign a papers that this car is unsafe to drive, they can't release the car to me. Frame is rotted and unsafe to drive. I didn't expect this and wasn't ready to buy another car. I don't know if this problem was a recall for chrysler pacifica. Thankfully I was told before something happened.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11055635
Body, doors & structureEngine & cooling

I have chrysler pacifica 2004. Have taken good care of vehicle, no accidents. Vehicle began shaking violently when driving down road. I have brand new tires . Had them rebalanced couple of times . Still vibrating violently. My mechanic could not find any problems except that engine cradle for engine is badly rotted out with rust. I looked on line for problem and see that chrysler had not properly coated the engine cradle and has led to frequent problems and dangerous driving conditions, due that the engine could...

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fall out of vehicle. This is of no fault to owner. I didnt feel safe driving a vehicle that the motor could fall out of. This is a safety issue that chrysler should be responsible for. A consumer should not have to worry that there seat belt or air bag might fail and they definitely shoudnt have to worry about there engine falling out of there car while driving down the road, which could lead to a wreck or fire. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 11021366
Engine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. The contact arrived home and was notified by an eyewitness, approximately 15-20 minutes later, that smoke was coming from the vehicle. The contact observed major smoke and flames underneath the front of the vehicle. The fire department was called and determined that the fire started from the engine area. A fire report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was still parked outside of the owner's home. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. It was not determined whether or not the vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11020522
SuspensionEngine & cooling

Engine cradle rusted out to the point the engine dropped. My daughter was driving home from work on i94west out of milwaukee when she heard a clunk. She was able to dive to our restaurant and park. I had the vehicle towed to an auto mechanic and that is when he told me that it engine cradle was rusted out.

Filed Incident Suspension · EngineNHTSA 11010830
Engine & cooling

Engines stalls intermittently while driving then shutters and continues to run. Happens 3 to 4 times during say a 25 mile drive . I feel it is very unsafe . Also stalls at idle at stop sign but restarts immediately and runs as if nothing happened . I got online to see if others had similar problem and seen other similar problems where they said it was software related and had to go to dealership to be reprogrammed.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11003802
SuspensionEngine & coolingFuel system

A popping sound coming from the front end when turning while mageing turns. It is so loud you think something fell off. This has been happing for at least 4 years I always take it to the shop and they say they caint find anything wrong but I know it is the shop keep computer records so I know they will have the times I kept returing with this problem it never do it when I take it so they say they caint digonose my problem. You will never know when it will make that loud popping sound but when it dose it you will ...

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be starteld you because you think your wheel is off. It also will not start occasionaly you never know when this will happen I replace my battery every year because it will kill your battery all the time .I have replaced my gas pumps they went out 5 years ago

Filed Incident Suspension · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11002610
Body, doors & structureEngine & cooling

I purchased a used vehicle from a local auto dealership on january 30, 2017. After driving the vehicle everyday for about a week I began noticed the car would shake and pull to the left even while driving at very slow speeds.On february 23, 2017 I took the newly purchased chrysler pacifica in for an oil change. I received a call from the mechanic about 15 mins after I dropped the vehicle off and he informed me that my front engine cradle was severely rusted and if I continued to drive it the engine could fall out...

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at any minute. I rushed back to the location that my vehicle was being serviced and I was shocked at how bad the engine cradle actually was. There was at least an inch gap indicating it was beginning to separate from the body of the car. I took pictures of the damage and emailed them to the dealer that sold me the vehicle. I also did a quick internet search for front engine cradle damage in 2004 chrysler pacifica's and came across numerous consumer complaints having the same issues with 2004 pacifica's. I also found chrysler previously issued an extended warranty to resolve defective engine cradles for owners residing in salt belt states and vehicles with under 150k miles. Confident that my vehicle qualified for the extended warranty I contacted chrysler directly. I was informed by the chrysler representative that the pacifica I currently own does not qualify to receive repairs under the extended warranty because it was built in january of 2004 and warranty only covers front engine cradle damage to vehicles that were built after february 23, 2004 and before march 31, 2004.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 10956671
Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel systemFire

I drove to my friends house, and 15 minutes later my car was engulfed in flames! The fire chief said it was an electrical problem that started the fire. My car was not running, and I was not in it.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10945487
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. While driving in reverse, a very loud scratching noise emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine separated from the cradle and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 216,000. The vin was not available.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10910585

Chrysler Pacifica engine complaints by year

Pacifica engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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