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Chrysler Pacifica, 2004-2007

When I reviewed a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica last spring, I think it was clear that I wasn’t terribly impressed. It might be telling that, despite the Pacifica being one of the oldest names in the crossover segment, Chrysler has decided to stop building it, and give its Dodge brand a crossover instead (the 2009 Journey).

However, I get the feeling that the Pacifica’s perceived failure isn’t because it’s a bad vehicle. The problem, I think, is that Chrysler didn’t invest enough effort to keep it current. The result was that when GM and Ford (and about a million import brands) launched their own crossovers, they did it better, and made the Pacifica look and feel out of date.

The first Pacificas (it was introduced as a 2004 model) were powered by a 3.5-litre V6 (250 hp) engine that was also used in Chrysler’s old LH (Intrepid/Concorde/LHS) sedans. That motor was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. In 2005, a new, lower-priced base model got the company’s older 3.8-litre V6 (210), sourced from Chrysler’s minivans.

In 2006, the 3.8-litre disappeared again. Then, in 2007, it was once again filled the role of base engine (with 200 hp), while a new 4.0-litre V6 (253 hp) became the new uplevel motor. The 4.0-litre also came with a six-speed automatic transmission; you’ll find this powertrain in some versions of the new Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.

There was a mild styling update for the exterior in 2007. This also brought some very minor changes for the interior.

Chrysler doesn’t have the strongest reputation for durability, and while the Pacifica has its share of quirks, the basic mechanicals seem stronger here than in other models, particularly Chrysler’s minivans.

2007 Chrysler Pacifica; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

The Pacifica page over at Allpar.com mentions that the front power seats can fail due to a buildup of static electricity. This can be fixed by adding a jumper wire to the power seat module (apparently, this is only an issue in Pacificas with cloth seats).

This page also discusses using only the type of automatic transmission fluid recommended in the owner’s manual. In other words, this is the best way to avoid transmission problems. Going by Consumer Reports data, however, it seems that the transmission is a pretty solid part of the Pacifica. There are reports of a driveline “shudder” in vehicles both with the old four-speed automatic and the newer 2007-and-up six-speed. Some owners posting in the Pacifica forums at Edmunds.com say Chrysler’s fix for this was to pull the transmission to replace the torque converter and make some other adjustments. There’s another thread at Topix.net with general discussion around the Pacifica’s reliability.

Water leaks into the interior appear to be common; Chrysler (in the U.S.) has issued a few Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) related to this.

2004 Chrysler Pacifica; photo by Greg Wilson. Click image to enlarge

Noises emanating from the Pacifica’s front end – clicks or clunks, in particular – might be traced to either bad motor mounts, worn sway bar end links or suspension control arms that need replacing.

It also looks like the “electronic vehicle information cluster” or EVIC for short is prone to failure. One member at Allpar.com fashioned his own fix that avoids the need to replace the instrument cluster altogether. There are even photos.

Consumer Reports notes serious deficiencies in the fuel and electrical systems, with the brakes, and in the all-wheel drive system, but I couldn’t find much detail about these issues online.

2007 Chrysler Pacifica; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

While few vehicles are able to easily meet Natural Resources Canada’s fuel consumption ratings, many Pacifica owners complain of much higher than normal fuel use. For the record, NRCan’s ratings are about 14.1 L/100 km (city) and 9.4 L/100 km (highway) for a front-wheel drive 3.5-litre model. The older 3.8-litre is a little more efficient, at 13.4 L/100 km (city) and 8.7 L/100 km (highway), and the 4.0-litre is rated 14.4 L/100 km (city) and 8.8 L/100 km (highway). Opt for all-wheel drive, and consumption increases by a few percentage points in most cases.

Where the Pacifica does excel, at least in the eyes of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is in crash safety. That organization gave the Pacifica five stars all around in its frontal and side impact crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was equally complimentary, giving the Pacifica a “good” rating in that organization’s frontal offset crash test. The IIHS didn’t conduct side impact tests.

At the start, the Pacifica came standard with side airbags, but these were made optional in lower-priced models in the following years.

2004 Chrysler Pacifica; photo by Greg Wilson. Click image to enlarge

The Pacifica’s pricing is an interesting story. Slow sales in 2004 prompted Chrysler to add a lower-priced base model in 2005 (while also adding a more expensive top-end model – go figure). There was another price cut for 2007 that saw the entry-level price drop to $34,440. It doesn’t appear that this affected resale values significantly; Canadian Red Book values range from $16,725 for a 2004 front-wheel drive model, while a 2007 Pacifica Limited AWD is worth almost $35,500 (more than $10,000 less than its MSRP).

The rate of depreciation is high here; the midline Touring model has probably been the volume seller, and a 2005 version should come in at just over $20,000. You might be able to negotiate an even lower price than that.

Low prices or not, I wouldn’t recommend a Pacifica; not when there are other crossovers available now that do the same job and offer better reliability. Not to mention minivans, which carry three rows of people in more comfort (generally speaking) and can be found even cheaper: a well-optioned 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan is worth no more than about $15,000, and a basic (and more reliable) 2004 Toyota Sienna can be found for less than $17,000.

• 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
• 2004 Chrysler Pacifica

Test Drives

• 2007 Chrysler Pacifica Limited
• 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
• 2004 Chrysler Pacifica FWD

Day-by-Day Review

• 2007 Chrysler Pacifica

2004: On certain vehicles built with the Next Generation Controller (NGC) version 1 Powertrain Control Module, the software protocol used to test the vehicle exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system may lead to engine stalling during low speed, closed throttle cornering with a cold engine at cold ambient temperature. Correction: Dealer will install revised engine controller software.

Transport Canada Recall Number: 2003271; Units affected: 827

2004: On certain vehicles, the chassis fuel supply tube may have an improperly formed retention bead. 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. Correction: Dealer will install a secondary retention clip to the fuel line quick connect.

Transport Canada Recall Number: 2006309; Units affected: 4,889

2005-2006: On certain vehicles, the fuel pump module and/or the powertrain control module (PCM) software may allow the engine to stall if driven under certain operating conditions. This could result in a crash without warning. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the PCM.

Transport Canada Recall Number: 2005053; Units affected: 1,395

2005: Certain vehicles equipped with halogen headlamps may experience an intermittent and eventual total loss of headlamp function as a result of an incorrect terminal in the headlamp wiring harness. Correction: Dealers will inspect the wiring harness and replace if necessary.

Used vehicle prices vary depending on factors such as general condition, odometer reading, usage history and options fitted. Always have a used vehicle checked by an experienced auto technician before you buy.

For information on recalls, see Transport Canada’s web-site, www.tc.gc.ca, or the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA)web-site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

For information on vehicle service bulletins issued by the manufacturer, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

For information on consumer complaints about specific models, see www.lemonaidcars.com.