Chrysler Pacifica park release plug can be pulled out

NHTSA campaign 18V395000 · Reported 2018-06-14 · Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

medium How serious is it? About this label

Serious but not urgent: the notice says the van could roll away and hurt a bystander or cause a crash, and it does not tell owners to stop driving, so you can keep driving while you wait for the free fix.

What's wrong, in plain English

On these minivans, the manual park release plug — the small cover you can pull to shift the transmission out of park by hand — can be taken off without any tool. Federal safety rules say it should not come off that easily. If someone pulls it out and the release gets used by accident, the van can slip out of park and roll away on its own, possibly hitting someone standing nearby. Dealers will install a new plug free of charge.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your minivan is included in recall 18V395000.
2. Call your Chrysler dealer, or Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 (recall U50), and book an appointment to have the park release plug replaced.
3. Have the work done — the new plug and the labor are free; you should not be charged anything.

Affected vehicles (1)

2018 Chrysler Pacifica

Who to contact

Chrysler — official Chrysler recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-853-1403

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Chrysler electrical recalls: hybrid fires, sudden stalling and cruise control · all 9 Chrysler recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) plug may be removed without a tool. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Safety risk: If the MPR is engaged unintentionally, the vehicle could roll away striking and injuring a bystander or cause a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MPR plug, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U50.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.