There have been 7 reports of Pacifica PHEV fires, some of which occurred while charging
Stellantis has recalled 24,111 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vehicles due to a potential fire risk from the battery pack in the plug-in hybrid system. Until the issue is fixed, the company advises owners to stop recharging and park their vehicles outside.
The recall affects specific Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid models from 2017-2021, including both pre-facelift and facelift versions. Of the 24,111 impacted vehicles, 19,516 are in the US, 2,912 are in Canada, and the remaining 1,683 are distributed worldwide.
According to Thursday’s announcement, Stellantis found seven incidents of fires involving the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid after reviewing warranty data. All of the fires occurred when the vehicles were off, with some happening during recharging. Four customers reported “symptoms consistent with smoke inhalation” due to the fires in their minivans.
While the investigation is ongoing, Stellantis engineers found that the fires were caused by a “rare abnormality in individual cells of the high-voltage battery pack.” The fire risk decreases when the battery is depleted, so owners of affected vehicles are advised not to charge them. The carmaker also recommends parking the minivans “away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained,” although it considers them “safe to drive.”
The solution to the problem is a software update that can detect abnormalities within the battery pack. If an issue is detected, owners will receive a free battery replacement at the dealership. Interestingly, Stellantis mentioned that some of the affected Pacificas “may have been previously remedied with a similar software update.”
Starting July 24, owners can check if their 2017-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is included in the recall by entering their VIN on the recalls.mopar.com and checktoprotect.org websites. The company will also notify affected parties by mail and encourages those with further questions to call the customer care line.
