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Chrysler Pacifica or Pacifica Hybrid defects in California? Margarian Law has handled 6,000+ lemon law cases. Free case review.
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Chrysler, part of Stellantis (FCA US LLC), is represented in California lemon law primarily by the Pacifica minivan and its PHEV variant. The Pacifica Hybrid has been the subject of multiple NHTSA recalls for battery fire risk and a transmission wiring connector defect causing unexpected engine shutdown, with NHTSA reopening its investigation in 2024 after the initial recall remedy was found insufficient. California consumers who purchased or leased a defective Chrysler under warranty may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, with attorney fees paid separately by the manufacturer upon a successful outcome.
The recurring, documented problem areas across the lineup — the patterns behind many California claims.
Each page lists that model’s documented defects, its full NHTSA recall history, and what they mean for a California lemon-law claim.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires a manufacturer to repurchase or replace a vehicle it cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts under warranty. If your Chrysler qualifies, the manufacturer — not you — pays the attorney fees.
Tell us what the dealer hasn’t been able to fix. We’ll tell you if you have a case — for free.
Recent Chrysler lemon law claims in California have most frequently involved the Pacifica Hybrid transmission wiring shutdown defect (NHTSA 23V-010), Pacifica Hybrid battery fire risk (NHTSA 21V-701 and 22V-063), 9-speed transmission shudder on gasoline Pacifica models, Uconnect infotainment defects, sliding-door latch failures, and the 2017–2019 Pacifica battery ground connection recall (NHTSA 18V-762). Whether any of these qualifies in your specific case depends on your repair history and warranty status.
California lemon law claims are filed against FCA US LLC (Stellantis) under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. The process typically begins with gathering all repair orders, confirming warranty status, and documenting the defect history. An attorney who focuses on lemon law can evaluate whether your case qualifies and handle the demand and negotiation process with the manufacturer.
NHTSA reopened its investigation into the Pacifica Hybrid transmission shutdown recall (23V-010) in 2024, finding that the software remedy may not fully resolve the underlying hardware defect. If your Pacifica Hybrid has continued to experience shutdown events after the recall remedy was applied, you may have a California lemon law claim under the Song-Beverly Act, even though the recall remedy was technically performed.
When a lemon law claim is successful under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the manufacturer is responsible for paying the consumer's reasonable attorney fees and costs separately, in addition to the recovery. This means qualified Chrysler consumers can pursue representation at no out-of-pocket cost when their case is successful. There is no guarantee of any particular outcome.
Owners of recalled Pacifica Hybrid PHEV models have at various points been instructed not to charge the vehicle and to park it away from buildings and other vehicles pending the recall remedy. If you are in California and currently subject to a battery recall on your Pacifica Hybrid, follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. The recall history does not bar a lemon law claim — in fact, it can support one.
In a Chrysler lemon law buyback under California law, FCA US LLC repurchases your vehicle and refunds the purchase price, less a statutory usage fee based on the mileage at the time the defect was first reported. The typical buyback may include reimbursement of payments made, payoff of the remaining loan or lease balance, sales tax, registration fees, finance charges, and documented out-of-pocket costs. Specific amounts depend on the facts of your case; there is no guarantee of any particular result.
Sliding-door latch and motor failures have been a recurring complaint on the Chrysler Pacifica across multiple model years. When the failure substantially impairs use or safety — such as the door opening or failing to latch with passengers inside — and Chrysler has been unable to repair the defect after a reasonable number of attempts under warranty, the defect may support a California lemon law claim.
Timelines vary based on the strength of the documentation, Chrysler's response, and whether the case settles or proceeds to litigation. Some cases resolve in a matter of months; others take longer. There is no guaranteed timeline for any lemon law matter.
Yes. California's Lemon Law covers both purchased and leased Chryslers, including Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, so long as the defect appears during the original manufacturer's warranty period and the other statutory requirements are met.
Compensation under California's Lemon Law may include a manufacturer buyback, a replacement vehicle, or a cash settlement, depending on the facts of your case. Recovery may also include reimbursement of related out-of-pocket expenses, payoff of loan or lease balances, and attorney fees and costs paid separately by Chrysler when the case is successful. There is no guarantee of any particular outcome; results vary based on the facts of each matter.
A closer look at the Chrysler issues our attorneys have covered.
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