The Pacifica is a practical vehicle that was produced from 2004 to 2008 and from 2017 onward.
Earlier versions combine the attributes of a wagon, minivan and SUV whilst the newer versions are simply minivans.
In this article, we’ll be going through all of the best and worst model years of the Pacifica.
Table of Contents
Here’s The Short Answer To What The Best And Worst Years For The Chrysler Pacifica Are:
The best Chrysler Pacifica model years are 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2008, 2007, and 2006. The worst model years of this model are 2017, 2005, 2004, 2018, and 2021. This is based on auto industry reviews, NHTSA statistics, reported problems, and consumer feedback.
What Are The Best Years For The Chrysler Pacifica?
2024, 2023, and 2022 Chrysler Pacifica
If it fits your budget, the best choices are the latest Pacificas all of which are practical, comfortable and undeniably stylish.
The 2024, 2023, and 2022 Pacificas are virtually the same, and there haven’t been any major changes or updates since its 2021 refresh.
These model years are popular for their Stow ‘n Go system, which allows you to fold the second-row seats into the floor in a matter of seconds.
These models have an upscale-looking interior, available all-wheel drive, and great all-around visibility.
There are four non-hybrid trim levels to choose from: Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle.
These variants are fitted with a 3.6-liter V6 engine (287 hp) mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission system.
The three hybrid options are Hybrid Touring L, Hybrid Limited, and Hybrid Pinnacle.
These models are equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 and two electric motors backed up by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery.
2023 Pacifica:
- Edmunds: 3.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.3 / 5.0
- JD Power: 70 / 100
2022 Pacifica:
- Edmunds: 3.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.3 / 5.0
- JD Power: 70 / 100
2022 Pacifica, Edmunds review:
“What an incredible van. Chrysler did everything right… Love the ride. Not one single problem. Grandkids love the DVD player. Mileage is incredible. Interior is huge. I dropped the third seat and put a huge crate in for my German Shepard. I love my van!”
2020 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2020 Pacifica is a reasonably priced minivan that is easy to transform from a people hauler to a cargo transport vehicle.
This model was given a 9.5/10 rating by Car and Driver as well as earning their coveted “Editors Choice Award”.
It is praised for its huge amounts of storage, excellent safety ratings, and upscale-looking interior.
Desirable features include Front/Rear Park Assist with Stop, Surround View Camera, and Blind Spot Monitoring.
It received a perfect 5-star NHTSA overall safety rating based on crash test results.
Owners have highlighted the following aspects of this model: comfort, interior, appearance, seating, infotainment system, safety, spaciousness, and technology.
- Edmunds: 3.6 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.3 / 5.0
- JD Power: 73 / 100
2020 Pacifica, Edmunds review:
“Nearly perfect. I traded in my 2018 Pacifica Limited for the Red “S” Limited edition. I personally like the red seats! I use mine for business and rarely carry more than one passenger. More apparent room and far more flexibility than any other minivan from what I saw. I didn’t look at published specs to bear that out but it seems to be the case. Stow and Go seating is worth the price of admission…”
2019 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2019 Pacifica comes with the world’s most clever stowable-seating system, great fuel economy and an unbeatable infotainment system.
It is unchanged from the previous year, however it is the more dependable option as proven by far fewer problems reported on the NHTSA website.
This modern-day minivan excels in the following areas: interior space, technology, seating capacity, and interior/exterior design.
There are 6 main trims: L, LX, Touring Plus, Touring L, Touring L Plus, and Limited.
Each variant comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine (287 hp) paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The plug-in (i.e., rechargeable) hybrid model equips a 3.6-liter V-6 and two electric motors backed up by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery.
- Edmunds: 3.7 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.3 / 5.0
- JD Power: 71 / 100
2019 Pacifica, Edmunds review:
“Edmunds rated Chrysler Pacifica #2 Best Minivan. I read somewhere else that the Pacifica was rated # 1 for safety in crash tests. After owning, over the years, several Mercedes, BMWs, Infinity, Porsche, Jeeps, etc. I can honestly say the Chrysler Pacifica is one of the absolute BEST vehicles I have ever owned. Bar none. Our other car right now is a 2018 Lexus and I absolutely prefer the Pacifica in every way…”
2008, 2007, and 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2008, 2007, and 2006 Pacificas are part of the first generation when the model shared the attributes of a wagon, SUV and minivan.
They are extremely spacious, easy to drive, and performed well in safety tests.
There are 3 trims: LX, Touring, and Limited.
Depending on trim and drivetrain these models are equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 producing 200 hp or a much stronger 4.0-liter V6 that generates 253 hp.
According to owners’ reviews, these models perform well in the following areas: comfort, interior, spaciousness, seats, value, ride quality, safety, and overall driving experience.
2008 Pacifica:
- Edmunds: 4.1 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.2 / 5.0
- JD Power: 78 / 100
2007 Pacifica:
- Edmunds: 4.5 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.2 / 5.0
- JD Power: 79 / 100
2006 Pacifica:
- Edmunds: 4.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.2 / 5.0
- JD Power: NA
2008 Pacifica, Edmunds review:
“I, for the life of me, can’t understand why Chrysler stopped building such a great driving experience of the Pacifica. I’m totally amazed at how well this piece of equipment handles itself on the highway as well as in town. It’s not sluggish when you want to pass another car and the fact that it’s interfaced with Mercedes – Benz technology only adds to the driving experience. I just paid mine off, so the ride just got better!”
Consumer Scores For Best Chrysler Pacifica Years
| Model Year | Edmunds Consumer Rating | Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating | JD Power Consumer Rating |
| 2024 Chrysler Pacifica | NA | NA | NA |
| 2023 Chrysler Pacifica | 3.3 / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 | 70 / 100 |
| 2022 Chrysler Pacifica | 3.3 / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 | 70 / 100 |
| 2020 Chrysler Pacifica | 3.6 / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 | 73 / 100 |
| 2019 Chrysler Pacifica | 3.7 / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 | 71 / 100 |
| 2008 Chrysler Pacifica | 4.1 / 5.0 | 4.2 / 5.0 | 78 / 100 |
| 2007 Chrysler Pacifica | 4.5 / 5.0 | 4.2 / 5.0 | 79 / 100 |
| 2006 Chrysler Pacifica | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.2 / 5.0 | NA |
Related: How Long Do Chrysler Pacifica Last? (Solved & Explained)
What Are The Worst Years For The Chrysler Pacifica?
2017 and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2017 Pacifica is the most problematic model year produced based on data from the NHTSA and the 2018 model was close behind. They share a similar ratio of problems reported to vehicle sales.
It shouldn’t come as too much of a shock that these models had their share of teething issues. These were the first installments of the all-new second generation.
For these models, the most widespread complaints are transmission related. Owners reported issues with shifting, unexpected stalling while driving and loud noises coming from the transmission.
- “The vehicle slows down when trying to accelerate and then speeds back up when the transmission realizes it needs to shift gears. The car then jolts roughly after the gear shift while driving.”
- “During shifting it may stall/hesitate in shifting to the next gear.”
- “The van stalls and completely turns off while coming to a stop, while stopped, and while accelerating from a stopped position. I have to wait a few seconds, then push the brake and the ignition switch to restart the van.”
Headgasket failure was another common issue that caused internal coolant leaks.
“Low mileage vehicle, leaking coolant, fixed radiator. Mechanic says now blown head gasket and thermostat faulty. Looked on different forums and noticed the same problem with other Pacificas.”
A number of Pacifica Hybrid owners reported nuisance warning messages appearing, most commonly “service charging system” and the “service auto stop-start light” coming on.
- The 2017 Pacifica had a total of 181 complaints according to CarComplaints.com and 1,723 problems based on CarProblemZoo.com data.
- The 2018 Pacifica had a total of 49 complaints according to CarComplaints.com and 940 problems based on CarProblemZoo.com data.
Common problems:
- Hard shifting
- Failed head gasket
- Difficulty fueling
- Rust spots on hood
- Sudden loss of steering
- Transmission slips and jerks
- Engine shuts down while driving
- Steering failed
2005 and 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2005 and 2004 Pacifica models are both “clunkers” in the eyes of CarComplaints.com due to a very costly and damaging error – insufficient coating of the engine cradle which has led to what is known as engine rot.
As acknowledged by the manufacturer, those responsible for coating the engine frame and subframe of these models in anti-rust and anti-corrosion chemicals did not apply enough.
While most owners were able to adequately use the vehicle for at least 100,000 miles, most of the issues and consequences of severe rust and corrosion rendered the vehicle dangerous to drive unless the necessary parts were taken out and replaced.
Despite being an error on the manufacturer’s end, most owners were still required to shell out money to carry out the necessary repairs, as mentioned in the report below:
“My engine cradle is rusted/rotted out and completely unsafe to drive. I was told it can’t pass inspection and will be approximately $2,000 to fix… A recall is needed.”
- The 2005 Pacifica had a total of 217 complaints according to CarComplaints.com and 1,598 problems based on CarProblemZoo.com data.
- The 2004 Pacifica had a total of 104 complaints according to CarComplaints.com and 1,145 problems based on CarProblemZoo.com data.
Common problems:
- Rusted out engine cradle
- Rusted frame and subframe
- Clunking sound in front suspension
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2021 Pacifica has received reports of various engine issues, including vehicle stalling, loss of power (limp mode), and frequent illumination of the check engine warning indicator.
“I have a 2021 hybrid Pacifica purchased in may 2021. I have been experiencing loss of engine power for months. I brought it to service in January, they said they fixed a recall and changed the oil, said I was good to go. The problem started happening more frequently after that…”
“Was driving when the vehicle produced an error message that said it was powering down. Coasted on the interstate to a stop. Was not able to restart the vehicle. Appears to be a common issue with this model, extremely dangerous.”
“Traveling at 60mph up a large hill/mtn in passing lane and car went into limp mode or lost power from engine.”
There are a number of recalls for this model however some owners have reported that despite having their vehicle “fixed” the problems are persisting.
The unexpected shutdown of the vehicle is potentially linked to an issue with a transmission wiring connector.
This has led to a recall of 76,000 Pacificas around the world, 67,000 of which are in the U.S – this recall affected models from 2017-2023.
- The 2021 Pacifica had a total of 6 complaints according to CarComplaints.com and 363 problems based on CarProblemZoo.com data.
Common problems:
- Differential failure
- Shutting down while driving
- Jerks and puts itself in park while driving
- Radio takes time to boot
Related: 21 Best & Worst Chrysler Town & Country Years (Explained)
What Years Have The Most Complaints?
| Model Year | Complaints (CarComplaints.com) | Problems (CarProblemZoo.com) | Recalls (NHTSA.gov) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chrysler Pacifica | – | – | – |
| 2023 Chrysler Pacifica | – | 14 | – |
| 2022 Chrysler Pacifica | 2 | 200 | 3 |
| 2021 Chrysler Pacifica | 6 | 363 | 2 |
| 2020 Chrysler Pacifica | 3 | 148 | 2 |
| 2019 Chrysler Pacifica | 14 | 286 | 5 |
| 2018 Chrysler Pacifica | 49 | 940 | 11 |
| 2017 Chrysler Pacifica | 181 | 1,723 | 9 |
| 2008 Chrysler Pacifica | 30 | 144 | 0 |
| 2007 Chrysler Pacifica | 105 | 538 | 0 |
| 2006 Chrysler Pacifica | 197 | 980 | 1 |
| 2005 Chrysler Pacifica | 217 | 1,598 | 2 |
| 2004 Chrysler Pacifica | 104 | 1,145 | 2 |
What Problems Do Chrysler Pacificas Have?
- Rusting frame and subframe
- Rusted-out engine cradle
- Hard shifting
- Difficulty fueling
- Sudden loss of steering
What Are The Best Alternatives To The Chrysler Pacifica?
| Make & Model | Score | MSRP | Fuel Economy (MPG) |
| Honda Odyssey | 9.0 | $37,490 – $49,620 | City: 19 /Highway: 28 |
| Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid | 8.6 | $50,495 – $59,995 | Electric: 82 /Gas: 30 |
| Kia Carnival | 8.5 | $33,200 – $46,300 | City: 19 /Highway: 26 |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 8.4 | $37,020 – $56,780 | City: 17 – 19 /Highway: 25 – 28 |
| Toyota Sienna | 8.0 | $35,385 – $51,605 | City: 35 – 36 /Highway: 36 |
Source: cars.usnews.com, edmunds.com
Related: Chrysler Pacifica in Snow & Winter Driving? (Explained)
References
https://www.caranddriver.com/chrysler/pacifica
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chrysler/pacifica
https://www.edmunds.com/chrysler/pacifica/
https://www.kbb.com/chrysler/pacifica/
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2023/chrysler/pacifica
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Chrysler/Pacifica/
https://www.carproblemzoo.com/chrysler/pacifica/
https://www.cars.com/research/chrysler-pacifica/recalls/
