Used Vehicle Review: Chrysler Pacifica, 2004-2008

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

Also, watch for rear brake rotors that wear abnormally fast.

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, which can be found here.

Consumer Reports gives the Pacifica, at best, an average used vehicle rating (2005 and 2006) and at worst, a much-worse-than-average rating (2007 and 2008 models).

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.

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

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.

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. Canadian Black Book used values range from $12,725 for a 2004 base FWD model, to $26,250 for a 2008 Touring AWD version.

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

A 2006 base FWD model is worth $15,350, while the top-end Limited carries a value of just over $20,000, and if you really want a Pacifica, you could probably negotiate an even lower price.

Low prices or not, I wouldn’t recommend a Pacifica; not when there are other crossovers available now, domestics and imports, that do the same job better. Not to mention minivans, which carry three rows of people in more comfort (generally speaking) and can be found even cheaper: a well-optioned 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan can be had for about $15,000, and a basic 2005 Toyota Sienna is worth a little more than $18,000.

Pricing Black Book Pricing (avg. retail) October, 2009: Year Model Price today Price new 2008 Pacifica Touring FWD $21,200 $37,595 2007 Pacifica Touring FWD $19,350 $36,740 2006 Pacifica Touring FWD $17,450 $39,020 2005 Pacifica Touring FWD $14,550 $38,700 2004 Pacifica FWD $12,725 $39,995 Online resources The Pacifica section at ChryslerForum.com doesn’t seem terribly busy or to offer much truly useful information on common issues with these cars. The best bet is actually the Pacifica section at Topix.net. It seems to be the busiest, most current spot for Pacifica discussions. Recalls Transport Canada Recall Number: 2004086; Units affected: 2,236 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. Crash test results National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 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.

Related posts:

1. First Drive: 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
2. Test Drive: 2004 Chrysler Pacifica FWD
3. Day-by-Day Review: 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
4. Test Drive: 2004 Chrysler Pacifica AWD
5. Buyer's Guide: 2005 Chrysler Pacifica