Chrysler Recalls Pacifica and Voyager Minivans for Inadequate Windshield Adhesion

FCA US LLC's Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization became aware of this problem on January 13. The subsequent analysis determined that subject vehicles may have been produced with front windshields with low adhesion to the body. This, in turn, increases the risk of injury in a crash. Said condition also goes against Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 212 S5.1 and S5.2.

Sections 5.1 and 5.2 require the windshield mounting to retain at least 50 percent of the portion of the windshield periphery on each side of the vehicle's longitudinal centerline in the event of an impact with a fixed collision barrier. According to the Auburn Hills-based automaker, the masking tape used during the painting process left a residue that impairs windshield adhesion. The masking tape in question is 3M scotch masking tape model 2800, and the masking tape's part number is 7100194288.

Given the aforementioned, it should come as no surprise that dealers are required to replace the windshield in accordance with the approved service procedures. Chrysler dealers nationwide will be instructed to do exactly that on May 17, the day when owners will be informed about this recall via mail.

An estimated 223 suspect vehicles were shipped from Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada to dealer lots, with said vehicles comprising 143 units of the Pacifica and 80 units of the Voyager. Exclusively for fleets since the 2022 model year, the Voyager is exclusively front-wheel drive and internal combustion (3.6-liter Pentastar free-breathing V6).

The Pacifica is FWD by default with optional all-wheel drive, and prospective customers are further presented with a plug-in hybrid powertrain built around the aforementioned sixer. Owners can easily determine whether their 2024 model year Pacificas and Voyagers are recalled or not by entering the 17-character VIN on Chrysler's safety recall portal.

The Voyager's MSRP is $36,560 before destination charge, whereas the Pacifica will set you back either $39,400 or $53,620 at press time. Curiously enough, the ICE-only Pacifica offers more power than its plug-in hybrid sibling (287 hp versus 260 hp). A bigger difference between the two is the seating layout, with the ICE Pacifica seating up to 8 and the Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid up to 7 people.

We also have to remember that plug-in hybrid customers have to make do with a continuously variable transmission rather than a torque-converter automatic. On the upside, Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is more efficient at 30 miles per gallon (7.8 liters per 100 kilometers) on gas alone in the combined test cycle as opposed to 22 mpg (10.7 l/100 km) for the Pacifica FWD or 20 (11.8) for the Pacifica AWD.

The all-wheel-drive option isn't available on the entry-level Touring grade, but rather on the Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle. All-wheel drive adds $2,995 to the MSRPs of said trims, which start at $43,060, $50,330, and $56,185, respectively.