Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Fire Recall: Used Buyer Check

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids from 2017 through 2022 have been hit by a string of battery fire recalls, and the newest one, filed in June 2026, still has owners being told to stop plugging in and to park outside until the fix is done. Before you buy one used, run the VIN on NHTSA's site, then get a Chrysler dealer to confirm in writing which battery campaigns are complete. An open battery recall on a plug-in minivan is a reason to wait, not a bargaining chip.

The Pacifica Hybrid was one of the few plug-in minivans you could buy. InsideEVs lists it at about 32 miles of electric range from a 16 kWh pack, and notes Chrysler dropped the plug-in version for the 2026 model year. That leaves a pool of used ones, many with a messy recall history that a listing will usually skip.

The recall history, in order

It started with NHTSA campaign 22V-077, FCA recall Z11, filed in February 2022. It covered 16,741 model year 2017-2018 Pacifica Hybrids that could catch fire even when parked with the ignition off. Owners were told not to recharge them and to park outside. NHTSA's October 2022 consumer alert described the remedy: a software update to the battery pack control module and an inspection, with the high-voltage battery replaced where needed.

That fix did not close the book. In July 2024, recall 24V-538 (FCA 72B) expanded the same problem to 3,606 model year 2019-2021 vans. Then 24V-536 (FCA 73B) came back to 15,910 of the 2017-2018 vans that had already received the Z11 remedy. FCA's report traced fires to a folded or torn anode tab inside cells, plus at least one more factor it had not identified. It excludes vans that already got a replacement battery.

The newest one is 26V362 (FCA 52D), filed June 4, 2026. It covers 17,277 model year 2020-2022 Pacifica Hybrids built between August 5, 2020 and May 2, 2022 with cells from an alternative LG Energy Solution production line, which FCA says can go into thermal runaway. FCA's report counts four fire reports and no known injuries. The remedy is again a battery control module update with inspection and, if needed, a new pack, and it comes with a battery warranty extension with no time or mileage limit for vans that show the defect messaging. Owners were to be notified around June 23, 2026, and NHTSA says VINs became searchable on June 11.

What the interim advice means for a buyer

Until a recall like 26V362 is fixed on a given van, FCA tells owners not to charge the battery and to park away from structures and other vehicles. Think about what that means on a test drive. The seller may have been running it as a gas-only van for months, and you cannot really judge the plug-in side. You also inherit the parking problem the day you sign.

There is also a reason to expect more paperwork. FCA's June 2026 report says NHTSA opened a recall query on Pacifica Hybrid battery fires in January 2024 and widened it in March 2026 to cover the 2017 through 2026 model years. A recall query is NHTSA asking whether the fixes so far went far enough. That does not mean every van is bad, but it does mean a clean recall screen today may not stay clean. Autoweek's June 2026 write-up of the Stellantis plug-in recalls is a readable summary if the NHTSA documents feel dense.

Confirm it is actually a hybrid

Gas Pacificas were never part of these battery recalls, so make sure of what you are looking at. Chrysler's VIN guide for 2022 shows the hybrid with engine code 7, a 3.6L plug-in hybrid rated at 260 horsepower, in the eighth position, and model codes in positions five through seven like C1H, C1L, C1R, C1N, C1S or C1K. The gas van uses engine code G. Our Chrysler VIN decoder goes into the full pattern.

Step-by-step check

• Run the VIN at NHTSA. Look for Z11, 72B, 73B and 52D, or the NHTSA numbers above.
• If any show open, ask whether parts or an appointment exist. Do not count on a fast fix.
• If they show closed, ask a Chrysler service desk for the repair order and whether the pack was replaced or only reflashed.
• Scan the dash for battery or hybrid system warnings, since the 52D warranty extension is tied to defect messaging.
• Look at the history report for fire damage or a total-loss event; see fire damage title brands.

A few cautions about what NHTSA can tell you. Its lookup only lists unrepaired safety recalls, and a completed recall drops off. Our guide on how to check if a recall was completed covers getting proof. Dealers have their own rules on selling vans with open recalls; see dealer open recall rules. If you are cross-shopping a Jeep plug-in, the Jeep 4xe battery fire recall check is the companion piece, and the used Pacifica buying guide covers the rest of the van.

Reports, prices and who we are

We resell official CARFAX and AutoCheck reports under license here at CarVins. None of those companies, Experian included, owns or runs us, and we do not give away full reports for free. Edmunds' June 2026 check found retail at $44.99 for a single CARFAX and $29.99 for a single AutoCheck; our prices are lower, and you should confirm at checkout because they change. A report will not tell you whether the 52D fix is done, but it can show prior fire claims, dealer visits and title trouble.

Sources

• NHTSA 26V362 safety recall report, Pacifica Hybrid battery (June 2026)
• NHTSA 24V536 recall report, 2017-2018 vans after Z11
• NHTSA 24V538 acknowledgment, 2019-2021 expansion
• NHTSA 22V077 acknowledgment, original 2017-2018 recall
• NHTSA consumer alert on the Pacifica PHEV remedy, October 2022
• InsideEVs on the 2026 Pacifica Hybrid recall
• Autoweek on Stellantis plug-in hybrid recalls
• FCA US 2022 VIN coding guide (NHTSA vPIC MID)
• NHTSA recall lookup
• Edmunds: comparing history reports, June 2026 pricing