Welcome back to the blog. Work and family commitments have delayed this update (what’s new?!) but I hope to catch you up with what’s been happening with the Pacifica this year. There’s been a lot, and not much of it good.
The spring saw a flurry of activity as we finally got a couple of niggling issues fixed. First on the list was the faulty GPS. As previously mentioned, an internal failure in the navigation unit was placing us permanently well away from our true position. While we mostly use Google Maps through the cabled Android Auto connection, it’s useful to have the car’s own navigation system functioning for the times when we need map support.
As for the second fault, we were reminded of it every time we pressed the button to open or close the power tailgate. I believe I may now be the only person in Canada to have the words “dying cat sound” printed on a dealer service invoice!
The need for a new chime was the solution confirmed by Crowfoot Dodge, including a switch to a newer part number, so perhaps other people have experienced the same issue. After a short wait for the arrival of this and a whole new Uconnect head unit (I know, it seems wasteful), the PacHy went in for both items to be remedied under our extended warranty, in exchange for the excess.
This was the first time accessing the SecureDrive policy that we took out when we purchased the car, and the process was seamless. Particular thanks go to our always-helpful service advisor Graeme Hansen for doing the legwork. The Y40 Customer Satisfaction Notice – a software update for the powertrain control module (PCM) and power inverter module (PIM) – was implemented during the same appointment.
Other owners will have noted that the factory warranty was also extended in the spring. The unlimited years/mileage extension applies only to a transmission fault that puts the car into limp mode. Thankfully that’s a problem we’ve yet to experience.
The spring saw a flurry of activity as we finally got a couple of niggling issues fixed. First on the list was the faulty GPS. As previously mentioned, an internal failure in the navigation unit was placing us permanently well away from our true position. While we mostly use Google Maps through the cabled Android Auto connection, it’s useful to have the car’s own navigation system functioning for the times when we need map support.
As for the second fault, we were reminded of it every time we pressed the button to open or close the power tailgate. I believe I may now be the only person in Canada to have the words “dying cat sound” printed on a dealer service invoice!
The need for a new chime was the solution confirmed by Crowfoot Dodge, including a switch to a newer part number, so perhaps other people have experienced the same issue. After a short wait for the arrival of this and a whole new Uconnect head unit (I know, it seems wasteful), the PacHy went in for both items to be remedied under our extended warranty, in exchange for the excess.
This was the first time accessing the SecureDrive policy that we took out when we purchased the car, and the process was seamless. Particular thanks go to our always-helpful service advisor Graeme Hansen for doing the legwork. The Y40 Customer Satisfaction Notice – a software update for the powertrain control module (PCM) and power inverter module (PIM) – was implemented during the same appointment.
Other owners will have noted that the factory warranty was also extended in the spring. The unlimited years/mileage extension applies only to a transmission fault that puts the car into limp mode. Thankfully that’s a problem we’ve yet to experience.
Working hard during a Scouts bottle drive in April
However, further expense in the past few months was incurred by a puncture. Big thanks to whoever left a bunch of nails in that Walmart parking lot… A pair of new Continental VikingContact 7s were ordered from the Mr Lube next door, or so we thought: various mistakes and miscommunications later, it was 10 days before the correct tires were on the car. In fairness, the shop owned up to the errors and offered a discount, but it was still a pain to lose the Pacifica for so long.
Normally we wouldn’t have still been on the Contis at that point, but winter seemed to drag on forever this year, and we finally got them off the car in mid-May.
The good news kept on coming with the arrival in late-July of our 73B recall notice. It feels like we’ve been here before, because we have – the new recall has been issued because the remedy to the earlier Z11 fault hasn’t done the job in every case.
Normally we wouldn’t have still been on the Contis at that point, but winter seemed to drag on forever this year, and we finally got them off the car in mid-May.
The good news kept on coming with the arrival in late-July of our 73B recall notice. It feels like we’ve been here before, because we have – the new recall has been issued because the remedy to the earlier Z11 fault hasn’t done the job in every case.
And another one...
Asking owners to refrain from charging the battery pack and to park away from buildings and other vehicles, again for an indefinite period with no fix yet confirmed, is very disappointing. I hope that buyers of new Stellantis PHEVs are feeling the benefit of the Pacifica Hybrid owners’ role as guinea pigs for plug-in tech, and that more recent vehicle development teams have plugged the holes in their test plans.
If you’re interested in reading more about how the recall system works in Canada, please take a look at my recent article for the CAA/AMA magazines, which is available online here.
Coincidentally, I recently had a message from the selling dealer, Derrick Dodge, asking whether we’d be interested in trading in for a new model. We’ve no wish to swap the car, we love it. But by being repeatedly asked to stop using the specific functionality that we bought it for in the first place, you feel your goodwill being pushed to the limit.
Perhaps fortunately for Chrysler, PHEV or full-EV alternatives to the Pacifica Hybrid remain thin on the ground. It was interesting to be given the opportunity to spend a week driving the new Kia EV9 earlier this summer. My thoughts on that car are on TractionLife.com, go check out the review if you're interested!
More next time, thanks for reading!
If you’re interested in reading more about how the recall system works in Canada, please take a look at my recent article for the CAA/AMA magazines, which is available online here.
Coincidentally, I recently had a message from the selling dealer, Derrick Dodge, asking whether we’d be interested in trading in for a new model. We’ve no wish to swap the car, we love it. But by being repeatedly asked to stop using the specific functionality that we bought it for in the first place, you feel your goodwill being pushed to the limit.
Perhaps fortunately for Chrysler, PHEV or full-EV alternatives to the Pacifica Hybrid remain thin on the ground. It was interesting to be given the opportunity to spend a week driving the new Kia EV9 earlier this summer. My thoughts on that car are on TractionLife.com, go check out the review if you're interested!
More next time, thanks for reading!