Is the Chrysler Pacifica more reliable than the Lexus NX?

No. The Lexus NX is more reliable, and the gap is large. Owners filed 321 complaints on the NX against 2,387 on the Pacifica. The Pacifica also has more recalls and more serious patterns, including head gasket failures, steering assist loss, and fires.

Which has more recalls, the Pacifica or the NX?

The Pacifica has more. Federal recall records show 67 recalls across its nine model years from 2018 to 2026, against 47 for the NX over the same span. Check any specific vehicle's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

What is the most common Pacifica problem?

Power train is the largest category, with 576 complaints. Reports describe hard shifts, transmission leaks, limp mode, and vans surging when put into gear. Electrical faults are close behind, with 562 complaints, including stalls and fires. Head gasket failures on the 3.6L V6 are the main engine issue.

What goes wrong on the Lexus NX?

Fuel pump failure is the clearest pattern. The engine loses power and the car stalls, sometimes at highway speed, with no warning. Owners say it can return after replacement. Electrical faults, brake noises, and a few brake failures are reported, but each category has only a small number of complaints.

Which Pacifica and NX years should I avoid?

On the Pacifica, avoid 2018 and 2021, its weakest years. On the NX, avoid 2022 and 2025. The NX's 2021 is among its strongest years. The newest years of both models have had little time to collect complaints, so their clean records prove less.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX: Reliability Compared

Chrysler Pacifica

Good

More Reliable

Lexus NX

Good

The Lexus NX is far more reliable than the Chrysler Pacifica. Owners filed 6.3 complaints per 10,000 NX sold, versus 27 for the Pacifica. The minivan's engine, steering, and fire reports drive that large gap.

How Do the Chrysler Pacifica and Lexus NX Generations Compare?

Most used NX shoppers will land in the late first generation, which covered US model years 2015 through 2021 and received a facelift for 2018. Anyone looking at 2018 to 2021 is buying a facelifted car, and 2021 is among the strongest years. The second generation arrived with model year 2022, and 2022 ranks among the weakest years. Very new years have had little time to collect complaints, so a clean record there says less than it does for older cars.

Verdict

The Lexus NX is more reliable than the Chrysler Pacifica, scoring 79/100 vs 65/100.

Far fewer complaints and fewer recalls make the Lexus NX the more reliable choice, and the gap is large. Owners filed much less trouble per vehicle sold, and federal recall records show fewer recalls across the same nine model years. The Pacifica has serious, repeated patterns: head gasket failures, power steering cutting out, stalls, and fires. The NX has real problems too, mainly fuel pump failure and a few electrical and brake reports, but they are spread thinly. Both hold a good standing, yet the NX holds it with much less trouble behind it.

Key Differences

1Lexus NX has 20.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Lexus NX has 20 fewer total recalls
3Lexus NX scores 14 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Chrysler Pacifica

—

3Lexus NX

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX: Which Is More Reliable?

Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chrysler Pacifica	Lexus NX
Reliability Score	65/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	67	47
Complaints per 10k Sold	27	6.3
Year Wins	0	9

What Are the Common Problems With the Chrysler Pacifica and Lexus NX?

Heavy, concentrated trouble defines the Pacifica, while the NX shows thin, scattered reports. The Pacifica's 3.6L V6 suffers head gasket and cylinder head failures, with coolant loss, misfires, and sudden power loss. Power steering cuts out without warning. Vans surge in reverse or drive, and some burn in garages or driveways. Power train, electrical, steering, and brake complaints are all crash-linked. The NX's worst pattern is fuel pump failure, which stalls the car with no warning and sometimes returns after replacement. It also has a few electrical and brake reports. Steering and power train do not appear among its top problems.

Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX common problem areas comparison
Component	Chrysler Pacifica	Lexus NX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	6.4Average	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	6.5Average	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	3.5Average	—None
STEERING	2.5Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2Low	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.9Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.5Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.5Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
SEATS	0.4Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.3Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX Reliability Compare by Year?

Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chrysler Pacifica	Lexus NX	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 2C	88/1000R / 0C	Lexus NX
2025	71/1008R / 13C	77/1007R / 13C	Lexus NX
2024	70/1007R / 52C	77/10014R / 129C	Lexus NX
2023	65/1008R / 148C	77/10010R / 27C	Lexus NX
2022	62/1006R / 284C	75/10013R / 19C	Lexus NX
2021	57/1006R / 355C	82/1000R / 30C	Lexus NX
2020	64/1005R / 201C	82/1000R / 26C	Lexus NX
2019	60/1009R / 352C	77/1002R / 41C	Lexus NX
2018	51/10018R / 980C	79/1001R / 36C	Lexus NX

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica scored 70/100 and the 2021 Lexus NX scored 82/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chrysler Pacifica vs the Lexus NX?

Pick the NX if you want the lowest chance of a big, unexpected problem. Its complaint rate is far lower, and its recall count is lower too. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2022 and 2025, its weakest. Before you buy, ask whether the fuel pump has ever been replaced, since owners report that failure coming back. Pick the Pacifica only if you need minivan space and can accept more risk. Avoid 2018 and 2021, its weakest years. Skip any van with coolant loss, misfires, or a history of steering assist cutting out. If you consider a plug-in hybrid, note that some fire reports involve overnight charging. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rank well, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat that as proof they are better. Have a mechanic check for head gasket trouble before you pay.

Chrysler Pacifica vs Lexus NX: Common Questions

Is the Chrysler Pacifica more reliable than the Lexus NX?: No. The Lexus NX is more reliable, and the gap is large. Owners filed 321 complaints on the NX against 2,387 on the Pacifica. The Pacifica also has more recalls and more serious patterns, including head gasket failures, steering assist loss, and fires.
Which has more recalls, the Pacifica or the NX?: The Pacifica has more. Federal recall records show 67 recalls across its nine model years from 2018 to 2026, against 47 for the NX over the same span. Check any specific vehicle's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
What is the most common Pacifica problem?: Power train is the largest category, with 576 complaints. Reports describe hard shifts, transmission leaks, limp mode, and vans surging when put into gear. Electrical faults are close behind, with 562 complaints, including stalls and fires. Head gasket failures on the 3.6L V6 are the main engine issue.
What goes wrong on the Lexus NX?: Fuel pump failure is the clearest pattern. The engine loses power and the car stalls, sometimes at highway speed, with no warning. Owners say it can return after replacement. Electrical faults, brake noises, and a few brake failures are reported, but each category has only a small number of complaints.
Which Pacifica and NX years should I avoid?: On the Pacifica, avoid 2018 and 2021, its weakest years. On the NX, avoid 2022 and 2025. The NX's 2021 is among its strongest years. The newest years of both models have had little time to collect complaints, so their clean records prove less.

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How we score the Chrysler Pacifica and Lexus NX

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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