- Thousands of 2017-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid models are being recalled due to a potential fire risk.
- The recall affects 24,111 examples of the plug-in hybrid minivan, with 19,516 of them being in the US.
- The fire may be caused by a “rare abnormality” in individual battery cells the company hopes to detect via a software update.
Stellantis issued a recall for 24,111 examples of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid due to a potential fire risk from the battery pack of the plug-in hybrid system. Until the issue is resolved, the company advises owners to refrain from recharging and park their vehicles outside.
The recall affects certain Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid models from 2017-2021, meaning it covers both the pre-facelifted and facelifted versions. Out of the 24,111 affected models, 19,516 are located in the US, with another 2,912 in Canada and the remaining 1,683 units spread elsewhere in the world.
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According to the announcement that went public on Thursday, Stellantis discovered seven incidents of fires involving the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid after reviewing warranty data. All of them occurred when the vehicles were off, and in some cases, during recharging. Four customers reported “symptoms consistent with smoke inhalation” due to the fire in their minivans.
While the investigation is still ongoing, Stellantis engineers determined that the fires were caused by a “rare abnormality in individual cells of the high-voltage battery pack”. The fire risk is reduced when the battery is depleted, which is why owners of the affected vehicle population are advised to not charge them. The carmaker also notes that owners should park their minivans “away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained”, although it labels them “safe to drive”.
The solution to the problem is a software update that will be able to detect the abnormality within the battery pack. In these cases, owners will get a free-of-charge battery replacement at the dealership. Interestingly, Stellantis said that some of the affected Pacificas “may have been previously remedied with a similar software update”.
Owners will be able to check if their 2017-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is included in the recall by entering their VIN on the recalls.mopar.com and checktoprotect.org websites after July 24. The company will contact the affected parties by mail and prompts those with further questions to call the customer care line. A defect notice is expected to be announced by NHTSA soon.
