The Pacifica Hybrid's Sudden Engine Shutdown Recall
Back in 2023, Chrysler announced a recall for its Pacifica Hybrid. The reason for that was the minivan's risk of shutting down the engine while in motion, potentially leading to an accident. It affects over 67,000 vehicles for the model years 2017 to 2023. Models from 2024 and later are not included.
The main issues revolved around an internal transmission wiring connector. That part suffered a short, resulting in an unexpected engine shutdown. At the time, Chrysler said it would repair the affected vehicles with a software update that would warn drivers that the engine is about to shut off. It was said that the warning would give enough time to pull over before things got any worse.
Afterward, Chrysler rolled out a software update to reflash the inverter module, reducing the risk of an unexpected shutdown. At the time of writing, no accidents have been reported due to the prior fault.
Unhappy Owners
A number of owners were unhappy with the company's solution. Car Complaints reports that a class-action lawsuit has been filed against Chrysler, alleging that it's playing "Russian Roulette with the lives of their vehicle occupants."
There are 30 plaintiffs involved in the class action lawsuit, and according to the report, "the minivans would not be properly repaired." The plaintiffs want Chrysler to buy back the vehicles, claiming they were "injured" because they overpaid for their Pacifica Hybrids. Not only that, the suit wants the company to buy back over 67,000 affected minivans as a resolution, not just those from those who filed the case.
What the Judge Said
In this case, the judge sided with the plaintiffs, citing that they "have suffered an injury in fact." However, the judge said that while the lawsuit can continue, it cannot under the current motion. The judge ruled, "The class action lawsuit will not cover all the vehicles nationwide." Instead, it can continue in "18 state-specific sub-classes."
With that, the buyback of over 67,000 Pacificas won't happen. However, Chrysler isn't completely out of the woods yet, and it will be interesting to see how this case unfolds. The minivan itself cannot afford another massive recall, as it remains the company's sole offering, although new models are expected soon.
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