The Lemon IndexCylinder 3 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. Full P0303 page
26 owner complaints · the #2 code Chrysler Pacifica owners name · 14% of Chrysler Pacifica complaints that name a code (every car: 2.4%)
2017–2020 Chrysler Pacifica · most: 2017 (13), 2018 (10), 2020 (2)
Chrysler Pacifica owners named P0303 in 26 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2017, 2018 and 2020 model years. The part they name most is the head gasket (20 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Chrysler Pacifica model years that report P0303
Owner complaints naming P0303, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the head gasket, in 20 of the 26 complaints (77%). 6 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 1 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: spark plugs (6) and ignition coils (5).
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder20 complaints6 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Chrysler Pacifica owners paid
- Spark plugs6 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
- Ignition coils5 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
3 complaints mention a recall and 4 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0303
65% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires65%17 of 26 complaints
- Overheats31%8 of 26 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode12%3 of 26 complaints
- Won't start or hard to start8%2 of 26 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0303 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Repair costs
Chrysler Pacifica head gasket replacement cost
Recalls on these Chrysler Pacifica years
- Transmission & drivetrain · 2018 · issued 2018
A component in the transmission may not have been welded properly, possibly causing the transmission to not transmit engine power to the wheels. NHTSA 18V492000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2018 · issued 2018
The front axle halfshafts may have been incorrectly assembled, preventing the shaft from being properly secured to the constant-velocity (CV) joint. NHTSA 18V493000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2017 · issued 2017
The rear pinion bracket on both sides of the vehicle may crack, causing the axle not to be centered and the wheel to wobble. NHTSA 17V482000
3 recalls for the same systems (engine and powertrain) on the Chrysler Pacifica model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0303. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0303: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Chrysler Pacifica reliability by year
- 2017 Chrysler Pacifica problems and recalls
Other codes Chrysler Pacifica owners report
P0303 on other cars
Ford Escape (62) · Ford Edge (34) · Honda CR-V (23) · Ford Fusion (22) · Honda Accord (20) · Honda Odyssey (16) · Kia Soul (14)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0303 means
Cylinder 3 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. A flashing check engine light means the misfire is serious enough to damage the catalytic converter, so slow down and get it checked right away.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Spark plug or ignition coil on cylinder 3
- Fuel injector on cylinder 3
- Vacuum leak near that cylinder
- Low compression (valve or piston ring problem)
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11730753, 11689900, 11629799, 11624336, 11620420, 11604045, 11603645, 11603156, 11590019, 11580016, 11566804, 11561469 and 14 more.
Quick answers
What does P0303 mean on a Chrysler Pacifica?
Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected. Cylinder 3 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. A flashing check engine light means the misfire is serious enough to damage the catalytic converter, so slow down and get it checked right away.
Which Chrysler Pacifica years have the most P0303 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2017 (13), 2018 (10), 2020 (2) Chrysler Pacifica named P0303 most (26 complaints in all, 2017–2020). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0303 on a Chrysler Pacifica?
Owners most often name the head gasket (20 of 26 complaints), then spark plugs and ignition coils. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
Can I drive my Chrysler Pacifica with P0303?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0303 on the Chrysler Pacifica, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.