American regulators are looking into Chrysler’s handling of a recall of 16,741 Pacifica Hybrids. They are asking why reports of ignition-off fires seem to be becoming more frequent after an interim fix designed to keep owners safe was implemented.
The Pacifica Hybrid has been a very important model for Chrysler, but it has also been the cause of numerous recalls. Perhaps the most concerning one was launched in February 2022, and related to fires stemming from the high-voltage battery pack in models made between August 12, 2016, and August 7, 2018.
The recall was particularly concerning, because reports suggested that an incident could occur while the vehicle was off. That meant that owners might not become aware of a fire until it was blazing. If the minivan was parked in a garage, it could also lead to more damage and danger.
Read: Chrysler Has A Fix For Pacifica Hybrid Models Recalled In February Over Fire Risk
Chrysler admitted that it had not figured out what was at the root of the issue but, in October 2022, said it had developed a software remedy that was designed to improve the minivan’s ability to detect unusual thermal activity. It believed that would ultimately make drivers safer, while it continued to look for a more permanent solution.
However, on January 16, 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a recall query, casting doubt on the efficacy of the interim software fix. It writes that in meetings with Chrysler and its supplier late last year, it became aware of a recent increase in “thermal events” related to the high-voltage battery.
Its own complaint section corroborated that finding. In fact, NHTSA’s data “indicated the post-recall [high-voltage] battery thermal event complaint rate now exceeds pre-recall levels,” it wrote.
As a result, it is opening a recall query to review the effectiveness of Chrysler’s initial fix. It also wants to better understand the root cause of the battery fires, and says it will monitor the automaker’s investigation more closely.
