Chrysler is recalling 16,741 Pacifica minivans due to a potential fire risk that could occur even if the vehicle is off. As a result, it recommends that owners park the vehicles outside and away from other vehicles and buildings.
The recall specifically affects the plug-in hybrid version of the van for the model years 2017 and 2018. Although Chrysler doesn’t yet know the root cause of the problem, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that owners not charge their batteries for the time being.
Chrysler first learned of the possible issue in August 2021, following reports of fires in the field. As of February 4, it had heard of 12 possible incidents related to this issue but, fortunately, it is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to them.
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Since first learning of the fires, Chrysler has been investigating the issue but it has not yet gotten down to the bottom of what’s causing it. That means that it’s still working on a solution. Once it is available, the company will provide customers with it.
Chrysler previously recalled the Pacifica Hybrid as part of a similar action in 2020. In that case, the fires were related to the 12-volt battery system and the company recalled 27,634 vehicles from the 2017-2020 model years. Another recall was issued for the 2017-2018 Pacifica Hybrid as a result of a fire risk related to the combustion engine, according to NHTSA documents.
A recent study suggested that plug-in hybrid vehicles are the most commonly involved in recall actions surrounding fires. That, perhaps, is because their drivelines carry all of the fire risks of both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles.
Chrysler expects to be able to start notifying dealers about a solution in early April and will reach out to owners soon thereafter.
