Chrysler Pacifica Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2017 draws 18.7 complaints per run and the 2019 5, a 3.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 68.8% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine, with 1,835 complaints, typically at 5.2 years.

Chrysler Pacifica years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chrysler Pacifica — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2026	1	8	8	too new
2025	1.22	28	23	too new
2024	1.44	46	32	too new
2023	2.58	152	59	too new
2022	4.04	214	53	too new
2021	5	375	75	too new
2020	2.43	165	68	yes
2019	5	350	70	yes
2018	8.42	867	103	yes
2017	18.7	1477	79	yes
2008	1.8	74	41	yes
2007	4.9	294	60	yes
2006	5.85	608	104	yes
2005	8.87	1091	123	yes
2004	12.21	745	61	yes

ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2017 Pacifica asks a median $10,900, against $11,999 for a 2018, the next model year: about 9% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 5 Chrysler Pacifica years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2017, 2005, 2018; the three worth hunting are 2019, 2006, 2018.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chrysler Pacifica — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	598	9.4%	covered
1 year	712	20.5%	covered
2 years	682	31.2%	covered
3 years	545	39.7%	you pay
4 years	470	47%	you pay
5 years	522	55.2%	you pay
6 years	551	63.8%	you pay
7 years	460	71%	you pay
8 years	524	79.2%	you pay
9 years	479	86.7%	you pay
10 years	320	91.7%	you pay
11 years	212	95%	you pay
12 years	120	96.9%	you pay
13 years	105	98.5%	you pay
14 years	63	99.5%	you pay
15 years	31	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 31.2% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 68.8% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 49% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Chrysler Pacifica, the early trouble is Electrical System and Power Train — reported at around 3.8 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine at 5.2 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chrysler Pacifica — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Engine	1835	5.2 yrs	18	32
Electrical System	1409	3.8 yrs	21	40
Power Train	1369	4 yrs	19	4
Structure	964	8.4 yrs	11	8
Steering	748	5.6 yrs	23	5
Unknown Or Other	719	5.1 yrs	14	13
Suspension	444	8 yrs	8	1
Fuel/propulsion System	410	5.2 yrs	3	9

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Pacifica's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Sienna draws 6.57, the Honda Odyssey 7.17 and the Kia Carnival 2.83, against 6.94 for the Pacifica.

FIG.05·Chrysler Pacifica — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Pacifica	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Sienna	8,640	165	1995–2026
Honda Odyssey	12,904	206	1995–2026
Kia Carnival	388	16	2022–2026
Chrysler Town and Country	4,148	174	1990–2016
Kia Sedona	2,544	70	2001–2021
Dodge Grand Caravan	7,201	103	1988–2023

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chrysler Pacifica

Recalls98 campaigns Fuel economy32 mpg best Common problems7,112 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Used prices3,527 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2004–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chrysler Pacifica reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 6.94 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Pacifica years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2017, 2005, 2018. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2019, 2006, 2018. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Pacifica problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Engine, typically at 5.2 years, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover Pacifica problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 31.2% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 49% of the complaints here.

Is the Pacifica more reliable than the Toyota Sienna?

No: 6.94 complaints per production run for the Pacifica against 6.57 for the Toyota Sienna.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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