America’s Best-Selling Minivan Recalled Over Concerning ESC Failure

Chrysler has announced a recall for its Voyager and Pacifica minivans as their electronic stability control (ESC) systems could fail. That’s not something you want to happen in a tall minivan packed with up to eight people, as such vehicles are more susceptible to losing control or being involved in a rollover. Only minivans built between June and late October 2025 are affected, so the heavily refreshed 2027 Pacifica isn’t included in this recall. Still, the issue affects what has been America’s top-selling minivan through the first half of the year.

Related: 2027 Chrysler Pacifica Arrives With New Look, Updated Tech, and New Pricing

Problem Traced To Brake Pedal Position Sensor

The recall report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that affected vehicles may be equipped with a brake pedal position sensor with a cracked capacitor. This condition can cause the ESC light to illuminate and the ESC system to become disabled, which could increase the risk of a crash.

The following models and model years are impacted:

• 2025-2026 Chrysler Pacifica (1,652 units)
• 2025-2026 Chrysler Voyager (357 units)
• 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid (8 units)

In total, 2,017 examples of the minivan are potentially affected.

The Voyager was essentially a cheaper, more basic version of the Pacifica, but it has been discontinued for the 2027 model year and replaced by the Pacifica LX trim. Some Pacifica models built until October 31, 2025, are the most recent models to be included in this recall; minivans built after this date have other brake pedal position sensors.

As of the 2012 model year, ESC became mandatory for all passenger vehicles sold in the United States, so a fault affecting this system will automatically lead to a recall in most cases.

What Owners Should Do Now

Drivers of these minivans may not notice any warning signs prior to the ESC system failing, but an illuminated ESC light can indicate this condition. Anyone with an affected Chrysler minivan should drive cautiously and immediately reach out to a dealer if the ESC light goes on.

The automaker will send out owner notification letters on September 29, 2026. As of September 9, owners of Chrysler minivans can use their VINs to search on the NHTSA site and determine if their vehicle is part of the recall group. Dealers will inspect the brake pedal position sensor in these models and replace them if necessary. 

Customers may also contact the automaker’s customer service at 1-800-853-1403 for more information.

America’s Favorite Minivan

The Chrysler Pacifica is currently the only model keeping Chrysler afloat in the U.S., and it’s also one of the best-selling minivans on sale. In the first half of 2026, Chrysler sold 67,120 units of the Pacifica, up by 16%. That puts it ahead of the Toyota Sienna (55,252), Honda Odyssey (42,846), and Kia Carnival (40,068), the only other gas-powered minivans on sale in the country.

The 2027 Pacifica was introduced earlier in 2026 with a bold new face, revised feature availability, and an enhanced safety specification. It still comes with the reliable 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 287 horsepower, but the plug-in hybrid variant is gone. Inside, the Pacifica has a large and versatile cabin, including segment-exclusive Stow ‘n Go seats. Unlike the Odyssey, the Pacifica is available with all-wheel drive.

Fortunately, the number of Pacificas involved in the recall is a small percentage of what Chrysler sells each year, so the minivan’s strong reputation need not be derailed by the ESC fault.

Related: I Drove the 2027 Chrysler Pacifica 500 Miles and Now Want More Minivans