Chrysler recalls thousands of Pacifica minivans for potentially dangerous engine problem

Chrysler is recalling nearly 154,000 Pacifica minivans in the U.S. because of a potential engine problem. The affected models include all 2017 Chrysler Pacificas, with the exception of hybrid models. The recall comes after complaints about the minivans’ engine stalling from dozens of drivers.

Chrysler explained the circumstances under which a stall is likely to occur in a statement:

“An investigation by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. has discovered that under a rare set of conditions, a vehicle’s engine control module (ECM) may incorrectly assess the engine’s operating status. If this occurs, the engine may stall,” the company stated. “Most such events known to FCA US reportedly occurred at idle or while starting, turning or driving at low, steady speeds. Further, most were singular events that occurred over thousands of miles of travel, and customers were able to restart their vehicles immediately afterward.”

The company says it is currently aware of one potentially related crash, but says no related injuries have been reported. The problem is believed to be caused by software built into the van that is misreading what the engine is doing.

Dr. Sid Patel told San Francisco’s KGO-TV that his Pacifica stalled in high-speed traffic when he was driving on a highway. Fortunately, he was able to coast to a shoulder. “I kinda braced for impact,” Patel told the news station. “And I just grabbed onto the steering wheel really tight and you know I thought, ‘Okay, something bad’s going to happen right now.'”

To rectify the situation, Chrysler will notify customers when they can get updated ECM software installed by a certified dealership. The company will service the vehicles free of charge. If you believe your vehicle may be affected and have questions, you can call FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

The Pacifica recall comes just weeks after Fiat Chrysler recalled millions of Ram pickup trucks over an issue that caused several crashes.

If you are unsure if your car may be part of an open recall, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. There, you can enter your 17-digit vehicle identification number, and it will tell you whether your vehicle is part of a current recall.

[h/t Consumer Reports]