NHTSA Complaint #11112040 — 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, ON AN OVERPASS RAMP CONNECTING TWO DIFFERENT FREEWAYS, DRIVING UPHILL AROUND A BROAD TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL OR APPLYING THE BREAKS. STEERING WAS STILL POSSIBLE. I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND CONTINUED TO STEER THE CAR AROUND THE BEND AS IT DECELERATED (IT WAS 25MPH OR LESS BEFORE I GOT IT RESTARTED). CONCURRENTLY, I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE (I INTENDED TO TURN THE KNOB TO NEUTRAL BUT OVERSHOT DUE TO NERVES), THEN BACK INTO NEUTRAL, AND BACK INTO DRIVE. AT THAT POINT, THE GAS PEDAL BECAME RESPONSIVE AGAIN, AND THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY SUBSEQUENTLY. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS IN ELECTRIC MODE (ALTHOUGH GIVEN THAT THE CAR WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE ON THE FREEWAY, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE GAS ENGINE KICKED IN BRIEFLY AND I DIDN'T NOTICE), WITH APPROXIMATELY 50% BATTERY REMAINING. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR WAS UNDER RECALL (U73/NHTSA 18V-332) FOR A CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM AND HAD NOT YET HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THE RECALL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED DURING THIS INCIDENT, AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THE PROBLEM I REPORTED WAS NOT PART OF THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW SIX MONTHS PREVIOUSLY, AND ITS FIRST MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED THE DAY FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED FROM THE INCIDENT, AND THE POLICE WERE NOT INVOLVED. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE OPTIMAL, WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC ON A SUNNY, DRY DAY.