2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA Seats Problems

The mid-row driver's side seat release cable suddenly permenantly lost all tension, preventing the seat from latching into place both during operation and while stationary, leading to it sliding forwards/backwards with the vehicle in motion. The seat that experienced the failure is at present still avaliable for inspection - and the issue occurs frequently enough that a DIY fix can be found online. However, given that the faliure occured without any human interaction with the failed component, it seems prudent to report it here. No warning lights or prior symptoms appeared prior to the issue surfacing. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We had the seat fail on one of our middle row seats. It lines up with a dealer service, and we believe the dealer probably broke it while performing other work, but we don't have before/after videos or anything like that to prove it. The issue is that there is a plastic piece that breaks, which means that the seatback no longer locks. This is apparently a common problem in these cars: https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/broken-passenger-2nd-row-captains-chair-thoughts.54633/ https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/fix-for-stuck-easy-tilt-2nd-row.47300/ https://www.reddit.com/r/pacificahybrid/comments/1kmsiuj/both_of_my_middle_row_seats_are_defective_they/ The dealer wanted something like $900 to fix it. This is a major safety issue; if the seatback failed during a crash it would mean the other safety systems in the car couldn't do their jobs. We have the broken seat in the garage - we've been driving around without it. I think the pictures in the Pacifica threads above are pretty useful, but if seeing in person would help, happy to meet up or...

I am writing to formally report ongoing and unresolved electrical issues with my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. Despite replacing both the main and auxiliary batteries, several components continue to fail, including: •The third-row power seats, which do not function at all or operate intermittently, rendering them impossible to stow or adjust. There is no manual override, which is a serious design flaw for families. •The rear liftgate, which starts to open and then immediately closes without completing its cycle. •The passenger-side rear entertainment screen, which is completely non-functional while the driver’s side screen works normally. These issues have severely impacted the usability and reliability of the vehicle. The third-row seat and tailgate problems, in particular, compromise safety and convenience—especially for families with children. The third-row power seat design lacks a manual fallback, which could leave passengers stuck in emergency situations. The liftgate’s failure to open fully and the battery system’s unreliability...

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated while utilizing the cargo area, he noticed water inside the vehicle behind the third-row seats. There was an abnormal moldy odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and inspected. The mechanic located water in the bottom of the seam under the third-row seat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

Rear seat anchor broke out of floor board when a child sat in the seat. This is a major anchor point for the seat system. If there had been any sort of accident, the seat and occupant could have easily broken free from the vehicle. I took the vehicle to my local dealer, who took pictures and sent information to their area manager. The recommended repair was to take it to body shop and that they wouldn’t be responsible for the repairs. This is clearly a manufacturing defect that the weld on the anchor did not penetrate into the floor board. I can be contacted for more information and inspection.

This vehicle comes equipped with Stow N Go middle seats. It is a useful feature for sure. However, upon placing one of the seats back into its locked position, the headrest would no longer stay locked in its upright position. Upon taking the headrest apart to try to fix the issue, I found a very cheap plastic mechanism inside that had snapped. This very flimsy plastic piece is very much liable to fail in an accident, and cause the headrest to flop forward and not provide the support required.

THE ENGINE START/STOP FEATURE OF THIS VAN IS FAULTY AND CHRYSLER KNOWS IT. BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE THEY CANNOT PLACE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO MY PERSONAL VAN. OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 13,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 5 TIMES. 3 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WE HAVE STALLED OUT IN INTERSECTIONS 4 TIMES. ONE TIME WE (WIFE AND CHILDREN) WERE ALMOST STRUCK BY A TRUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN CHRYSLER IS AWARE AND ONLY OFFERED AN EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT.

3RD ROW PACIFICA SEATS HAVE A BUTTON TO RECLINE SEATS BACK AND FORWARD WITHIN REACH OF CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS WHICH CAUSES CAR SEATS TO BECOME LOOSE AND NO LONGER INSTALLED PROPERLY. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL CAUSE INJURY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE OR CHILD LOCK THE SEAT RECLINE. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS LED TO NO IMMEDIATE RESOLVE OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY TO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THE BUTTON IS AVAILABLE FOR USE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR PARKED.