Chrysler Pacifica 2004–2008 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (crossover) · Chrysler CS
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,348 complaints, 2,829 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
Close- Median failure report
- 96,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 896
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2004
- Body structure323 reports · median 110,000 mi
- Engine141 reports · median 120,000 mi
- Suspension125 reports · median 110,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2004: Power train — automatic transmission; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
Close- Median failure report
- 97,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,244
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2005
- Body structure413 reports · median 116,000 mi
- Engine224 reports · median 120,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system211 reports · median 55,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2005: Power train — automatic transmission; Exterior lighting — headlights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
Close- Median failure report
- 93,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 726
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2006
- Body structure198 reports · median 108,000 mi
- Engine146 reports · median 107,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline109 reports · median 93,000 mi
1 recall campaign names the 2006: Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 380
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2007
- Transmission and driveline101 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Engine94 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Electrical system59 reports · median 90,000 mi
The 2008 Chrysler Pacifica
Close- Median failure report
- 78,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 102
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2008
- Electrical system24 reports
- Engine21 reports
- Transmission and driveline14 reports
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2005 reports latest and the 2007 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2005 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2004–2008 Chrysler Pacifica reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 92,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 155,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,829
- Recalls
- 4
Most reported
- Body structure29.0% of complaints · median 112,000 mi
- Engine18.7% of complaints · median 111,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system14.3% of complaints · median 59,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine — Rocker Arm Shaft2004–2008
- Transmission (41TE/41AE 4-Speed)2004–2008
- Structure — Front Engine Cradle/Subframe2004–2008
- Engine — Intake Valve Carbon Deposits2004–2008
Owners filed 3,348 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004–2008 Chrysler Pacifica; body structure leads with 29% of them, and half of the 2,829 that record an odometer reading came by 92,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,000 and 126,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2004–2008 Chrysler Pacifica last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2004–2008 Chrysler Pacifica, half of the 2,829 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 92,000 miles and 90% by 155,000 miles.
356 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 62 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Pacifica reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Chrysler Pacifica 2004–2008 · 2,829 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 143 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 62 complaints (2.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 20,000
- 25%
- 54,923
- Median
- 92,000
- 75%
- 126,000
- 90%
- 154,667
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 130 | 4.6% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 48 | 1.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 52 | 1.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 44 | 1.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 58 | 2.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 47 | 1.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 55 | 1.9% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 63 | 2.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 67 | 2.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 68 | 2.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 76 | 2.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 76 | 2.7% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 88 | 3.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 86 | 3.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 86 | 3.0% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 104 | 3.7% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 118 | 4.2% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 106 | 3.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 90 | 3.2% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 95 | 3.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 143 | 5.1% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 89 | 3.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 100 | 3.5% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 100 | 3.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 108 | 3.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 90 | 3.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 100 | 3.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 47 | 1.7% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 71 | 2.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 68 | 2.4% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 75 | 2.7% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 37 | 1.3% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 50 | 1.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 27 | 1.0% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 25 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 13 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 19 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 17 | 0.6% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 14 | 0.5% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 17 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 62 | 2.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Pacifica problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Chrysler Pacifica 2004–2008
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine and its cooling system480 reports59,00027,000–88,000Engine and its cooling system: 480 reports, median 59,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 88,000 miles.
- Electrical system343 reports78,00028,000–120,000Electrical system: 343 reports, median 78,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline450 reports80,00041,000–114,000Transmission and driveline: 450 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 114,000 miles.
- Suspension431 reports110,00083,000–134,000Suspension: 431 reports, median 110,000 miles, middle half 83,000 to 134,000 miles.
- Engine626 reports111,00089,000–139,000Engine: 626 reports, median 111,000 miles, middle half 89,000 to 139,000 miles.
- Body structure970 reports112,00088,000–138,000Body structure: 970 reports, median 112,000 miles, middle half 88,000 to 138,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise224 reports118,00091,000–140,000Problems owners could not categorise: 224 reports, median 118,000 miles, middle half 91,000 to 140,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 970 | 29.0% | 112,000 | 88,000–138,000 |
| Engine | 626 | 18.7% | 111,000 | 89,000–139,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 480 | 14.3% | 59,000 | 27,000–88,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 450 | 13.4% | 80,000 | 41,000–114,000 |
| Suspension | 431 | 12.9% | 110,000 | 83,000–134,000 |
| Electrical system | 343 | 10.2% | 78,000 | 28,000–120,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 224 | 6.7% | 118,000 | 91,000–140,000 |
| Steering | 201 | 6.0% | 85,000 | 52,000–120,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 179 | 5.3% | 121,000 | 89,000–152,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 162 | 4.8% | 72,000 | 46,000–101,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 92,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 29.0% of complaints (970 reports, 836 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 112,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 88,000 and 138,000 miles.
A single system taking 29.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine accounts for 18.7% of complaints (626 reports, 547 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 111,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 89,000 and 139,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 14.3% of complaints (480 reports, 419 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 59,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 88,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 13.4% of complaints (450 reports, 383 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 114,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 12.9% of complaints (431 reports, 350 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 110,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,000 and 134,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 10.2% of complaints (343 reports, 276 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 120,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2004–2008 Pacifica
Engine — Rocker Arm Shaft 2004–2008
A broken retaining pin on the rocker arm shaft blocks the oil passage, producing a loud top-end ticking noise and eventual valvetrain wear. Affects the 3.5L, 3.8L and 4.0L V6 across the whole run; the single most-reported engine complaint for this generation.
Transmission (41TE/41AE 4-Speed) 2004–2008
Failure of the externally mounted input/output speed sensors and of the solenoid pack, dropping the transmission into limp mode (locked in 2nd gear) with a P0700 stored. Common enough that P0700 is the signature code for this platform.
Structure — Front Engine Cradle/Subframe 2004–2008
Front engine cradle corrodes and can split apart in salt-belt states, in severe cases allowing the powertrain to drop. A structural rust failure mode, not a wear item.
Engine — Intake Valve Carbon Deposits 2004–2008
Carbon buildup on the intake valves of the 3.5L and 4.0L V6 causing misfires and check-engine lights.
Before you buy a 2004–2008 Pacifica: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,829 mileage-tagged complaints, 4 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine — rocker arm shaft on 2004–2008 cars. A broken retaining pin on the rocker arm shaft blocks the oil passage, producing a loud top-end ticking noise and eventual valvetrain wear. Affects the 3.5L, 3.8L and 4.0L V6 across the whole run; the single…
- Check transmission (41TE/41AE 4-Speed) on 2004–2008 cars. Failure of the externally mounted input/output speed sensors and of the solenoid pack, dropping the transmission into limp mode (locked in 2nd gear) with a P0700 stored. Common enough that P0700 is the signature code…
- Check structure — front engine cradle/subframe on 2004–2008 (salt–belt vehicles) cars. Front engine cradle corrodes and can split apart in salt-belt states, in severe cases allowing the powertrain to drop. A structural rust failure mode, not a wear item.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 55,000 and 126,000 miles, with a median of 92,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 111,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Pacifica problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi28% below | At 90k mi48% below | At 120k mi70% below | At 150k mi87% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 88,000–138,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 89,000–139,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 27,000–88,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 41,000–114,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Suspension | 83,000–134,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 28,000–120,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 91,000–140,000 | later | later | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Chrysler Pacifica 2004–2008 · 2,829 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 28% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 48% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 70% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 2.2% of reports (62) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2004–2008 Chrysler Pacifica recalls (4)
NHTSA records 4 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (2), the exterior lighting (1), the fuel system (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Nov 2006 · 2005–2006 · Power TrainThis could cause a crash to occur without prior warning.
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump module and the power train control module (PCM) software may allow the engine to stall under certain operating conditions.
What can happen. This could cause a crash to occur without prior warning.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the power train control module. The fuel pump module will also be replaced on vehicles built from august 1, 2004 through september 30, 2004. The recall began on november 21…
Mar 2005 · 2005 · Exterior LightingThe head lights may not operate properly which could result in intermittent or no headlight function.
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with halogen headlamps may experience an intermittent and eventual total loss of headlamp function.
What can happen. The head lights may not operate properly which could result in intermittent or no headlight function. This could impair a driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the wiring harness and low beam bulb on both headlamp assemblies free of charge. The recall began on march 28, 2005. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler…
Mar 2004 · 2004 · Power TrainThis could cause a crash without warning.
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with a ngc-1 powertrain control module, the software protocole used to test the vehicle exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system may lead to engine stalling under certain operating conditions.
What can happen. This could cause a crash without warning.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module software. Owner notification began on march 15, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Nov 2003 · 2004 · Fuel System, GasolineUnder certain engine and vehicle dynamic conditions, the fuel line may separate, resulting in a fuel leak and…
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles, the chassis fuel supply tube may have been incorrectly manufactured.
What can happen. Under certain engine and vehicle dynamic conditions, the fuel line may separate, resulting in a fuel leak and an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
The free fix. Dealers will install a secondary retention clip to the fuel line quick connect. Owner notification began on december 15, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,348 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 88 (2.6%)
- Fires
- 67
- Injury reports
- 58
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Pacifica problems by model year
The 2005 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,244, most of them about body structure, and the 2008 the fewest, 102. A typical year drew about 726.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 896 | 750 | 96,000 | Body structure (323) | 2 |
| 2005 | 1,244 | 1,042 | 97,000 | Body structure (413) | 2 |
| 2006 | 726 | 613 | 93,000 | Body structure (198) | 1 |
| 2007 | 380 | 334 | 75,000 | Transmission and driveline (101) | 0 |
| 2008 | 102 | 90 | 78,000 | Electrical system (24) | 0 |
What Pacifica owners reported
The contact owns a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle turned off independently but was able to be restarted. Additionally, the vehicle was difficult to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent shop, where the PCM was reprogrammed and an unknown fuel…
2006 · 95,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that upon start the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to operate as needed without warning. The contact called and informed several dealers of the failure and was informed that there was a defect with the power train. The manufacturer was not notified of the…
2005 · 73,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owned a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked in the driveway for a week when it caught fire. The contact's husband looked outside the window of their residence and noticed that the vehicle had caught fire from the engine. The fire also caused damage to the garage door…
2007 · 187,000 miles · Firerelated
The contact owned a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle as it went through a guardrail and crashed into a tree where it came to a stop. The contact stated that she lost consciousness as she could not remember went occurred in detail. A professional…
2006 · 102,000 miles · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Built from 2,829 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Pacifica generations
- Pacifica 2017–2025 1,482 reports with mileage, most about the engine