Is the 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA reliable?

The 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA has 1298 complaints filed with NHTSA (4.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA?

Top problems: ENGINE (357 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (276 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (149 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA?

Yes, there are 12 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, EQUIPMENT, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:. Contact any Chrysler dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA?

The 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA gets 22 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2182. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA is approximately $1,432/year (minivan class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2018 Chrysler PACIFICA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA has 1298 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.0x the segment average of 323. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: we were driving home at night and stopped on a red light in an intersection on a highway. when it was 'go' our pacifica 2018 (400 miles on it) did not run. light is on 'run', dial shift on drive and i did not turn off the car. i stepped on the accelerator again but it just would not run. other driv. There are 12 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 19 fire reports filed.

19 fire reports 35 crash reports 10 injuries

1298

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

4.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

357 complaints

28%

• WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND STOPPED ON A RED LIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN IT WAS 'GO' OUR PACIFICA 2018 (400 MILES ON IT) DID NOT RUN. LIGHT IS ON 'RUN', DIAL SHIFT ON DRIVE AND I DID NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN BUT IT JUST WOULD NOT RUN. OTHER DRIV
• 2018 TOURING L PLUS TOWED. WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STARTED LOSING ALL POWER, SYSTEMS STARTED TO SHUT DOWN, VAN WAS LIMITED IN SPEED AND FUNCTION. BY THE END ALL WARNING SYSTEMS HAD FAILED, POWER STEERING WAS GONE, ABS WAS GONE, AFTER THE BATTERY HIT 8.9 VOLTS WE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE "
• CAR SHUT OFF WITH THE "PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART" MESSAGE. IT TOOK 2 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. CAR HAS ONLY 795 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH THE FUEL SAVER OPTION S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND STOPPED ON A RED LIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN IT WAS 'GO' OUR PACIFICA 2018 (400 MILES ON IT) DID NOT RUN. LIGHT IS ON 'RUN', DIAL SHIFT ON DRIVE AND I DID NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN BUT IT JUST WOULD NOT RUN. OTHER DRIV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA

Based on 552 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 13K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

406

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 13K mi · 139 reports

0-30K

102

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 11K mi · 129 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 13K mi · 53 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 13K mi · 51 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 18K mi · 48 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

In line with typicalmedian 12K mi · 35 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (12)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE14/06/2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) plug may be removed without a tool. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Risk: If the MPR is engaged unintentionally, the vehicle could roll away striking and injuring a bystander or cause a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MPR plug, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U50.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,182

Per month

$182

Per mile

18.2¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,667/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,715/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Chrysler PACIFICA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,432

Full coverage / month

$119

Liability only / year

$559

vs US avg

-14%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (minivan)0.91x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1432

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Chrysler New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Chrysler. If you're buying a used 2018 PACIFICA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chrysler dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1298 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND STOPPED ON A RED LIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN IT WAS 'GO' OUR PACIFICA 2018 (400 MILES ON IT) DID NOT RUN. LIGHT IS ON 'RUN', DIAL SHIFT ON DRIVE AND I DID NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN BUT IT JUST WOULD NOT RUN. OTHER DRIV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND STOPPED ON A RED LIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN IT WAS 'GO' OUR PACIFICA 2018 (400 MILES ON IT) DID NOT RUN. LIGHT IS ON 'RUN', DIAL SHIFT ON DRIVE AND I DID NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN BUT IT JUST WOULD NOT RUN. OTHER DRIV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2018 TOURING L PLUS TOWED. WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STARTED LOSING ALL POWER, SYSTEMS STARTED TO SHUT DOWN, VAN WAS LIMITED IN SPEED AND FUNCTION. BY THE END ALL WARNING SYSTEMS HAD FAILED, POWER STEERING WAS GONE, ABS WAS GONE, AFTER THE BATTERY HIT 8.9 VOLTS WE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE "
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: CAR SHUT OFF WITH THE "PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART" MESSAGE. IT TOOK 2 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. CAR HAS ONLY 795 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH THE FUEL SAVER OPTION S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 12 recalls have been completed — free at any Chrysler dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)