Pacifica recall follows seven fires

After seven fires were reported, Chrysler is recalling the 2017-21 Pacifica PHEV. Fewer than 24,000 subject vehicles were sold.

Some of the affected minivans might have had a software update already. Later models, which are most of the Pacifica Hybrid’s production, have a newer manufacturing process which bypasses the problem.

The vehicles may still be driven, but owners should not charge the batteries and, “out of an abundance of caution,” the company is asking owners to park away from structures and other vehicles. The primary repair, which is still being tested and validated, is a software update to detect an abnormality in individual battery cells. If any problem is found by the software, Chrysler will replace the high-voltage battery at no charge to the owner.

The geographic breakdown is 19,516 in the United States, 2,912 in Canada, and 1,683 in the rest of the world.

The Pacifica PHEV has grown in sales in recent years; the newer models do not appear to have the same problem.

David Zatz

David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.

David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.