2018 Chrysler Pacifica: Brakes, Low Oil & Radiator Support

Philip Defatta • September 24, 2026

A 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with just over 151,000 miles recently came into PROFIX Auto Repair in Norman with several concerns. The customer reported a check engine light, squeaking while driving, a need for brakes, and an oil change.

As we do with every vehicle, we started with an inspection.

That inspection turned up several issues — but just as importantly, they were not all equally urgent.

On a higher-mileage vehicle, that distinction matters. The goal should not be to hand someone a giant list and make everything sound like an emergency. The goal is to identify what needs attention now, what needs further diagnosis, and what can reasonably be planned for later.

This 2018 Chrysler Pacifica came into our Norman shop with more than 151,000 miles for several concerns, including brakes, a check engine light, squeaking and an oil change.

First Priority: An Engine Extremely Low on Oil

One of the first things our technician found was that the engine oil level was extremely low. There was essentially no oil showing on the dipstick.

That immediately moves toward the top of the priority list.

Engines depend on the correct oil level for lubrication, cooling and protection of internal components. Continuing to operate an engine when the oil is this low can cause serious and expensive damage.

The vehicle received its oil change, but we also found evidence of oil leakage underneath the engine.

The engine oil level was extremely low, with essentially no oil registering on the dipstick.

Oil Leaks: Diagnose Before Replacing Parts

There was clearly oil present around the underside of the engine, but an oily engine does not automatically tell you exactly where the leak originates.

Instead of immediately recommending a collection of seals and gaskets based on appearance alone, we recommended cleaning the affected areas and reinspecting the vehicle.

Once old oil residue is removed, fresh leakage is much easier to trace back to its actual source.

That can save a customer from paying for repairs based on an educated guess rather than a confirmed diagnosis.

Oil residue was visible underneath the engine. The area will be cleaned and reinspected so the source of the leak can be identified accurately.

Rear Brakes Were Already Metal-to-Metal

The brake inspection revealed another issue that could not reasonably be postponed.

The rear brake pads were completely worn out and metal-to-metal against the rotors.

At that point, this is no longer simply routine brake maintenance. With the friction material gone, the metal backing of the brake pad contacts the brake rotor directly. Braking performance can deteriorate, noise typically becomes severe, and continued driving can cause additional damage.

We recommended replacement of the rear brake pads and rotors, and the customer approved the repair.

The front brakes were also getting low, at approximately 15–20% remaining, but they had not yet reached the same condition. Those were documented so the customer knows they will need attention rather than treating both axles as though they were in identical condition.

Brake components were inspected as part of the vehicle's digital inspection. The rear brakes had worn to metal-on-metal and required immediate attention.

A Broken Lower Radiator Support

The inspection also uncovered a less obvious problem underneath the front of the Pacifica.

The lower radiator support was broken.

This lower support helps locate and support the radiator assembly at the bottom of the vehicle. When we inspected this Pacifica from underneath, the damage to the support was clearly visible.

The lower radiator support on the Pacifica was broken and needed to be replaced.

The correct repair was to replace the damaged lower support with a new OEM Chrysler component.

And this repair gave us a good example of why the little details matter.

Sometimes an $8 Part Is Still an Important Part

The replacement lower radiator support did not come with every piece required to reinstall the radiator exactly as designed.

One of the lower radiator isolators was also needed.

This is a small rubber mounting piece that installs into the lower support and provides a cushioned mounting point for the radiator. It helps properly locate the radiator while isolating it from direct hard contact with the support.

It's a small component — the OEM part itself costs only a few dollars — but leaving it out simply because it is inexpensive would not be a complete repair.

We identified and sourced the correct Mopar radiator isolator separately before reassembly.

The lower radiator isolator may be a small part, but it provides the proper cushioned mounting point between the radiator and its lower support.

The new lower radiator support uses this opening for the separate radiator isolator.

This is one of those details customers may never see once the vehicle is back together — but it still matters.

Check Engine Light Diagnosis

The Pacifica also arrived with its check engine light illuminated.

Our initial diagnostic found code P00FD stored in the engine control module. There were also additional codes present in other modules, including the transmission and ABS systems.

Those additional codes were documented separately because diagnosing one check engine light concern does not automatically mean every code stored throughout the vehicle has been completely diagnosed.

If further diagnosis is needed, the customer knows exactly what was found and can decide how they would like to proceed.

The vehicle's auxiliary battery was also replaced during this visit.

Not Every Recommendation Has the Same Priority

This is probably the most important part of this particular repair story.

At 151,000 miles, this Pacifica had a number of things worth addressing. In addition to the repairs above, the inspection documented other maintenance and wear items, including the front brakes, fluid condition, an air filter, a damaged stabilizer-link boot and other concerns.

But those findings do not all belong in the same category.

There is a big difference between:

Rear brakes that are already metal-to-metal
An engine with almost no oil showing on the dipstick
A broken component supporting the radiator
Front brakes that are getting low but still have usable material remaining
Maintenance items that should be planned
A leak that needs to be cleaned before the exact source can be confirmed

A good vehicle inspection should help a customer understand those differences.

Parts staged for the Pacifica included the new OEM lower radiator support and brake components while repairs were underway.

A Repair Plan Makes High-Mileage Vehicles Easier to Manage

A vehicle with more than 150,000 miles does not automatically need everything repaired at once.

What it does need is good information.

Our job is to show the customer what we find, explain which issues are urgent, identify what needs additional diagnosis, and document the things that can be monitored or planned for later.

That allows the vehicle owner to make informed decisions rather than being surprised by problems — or feeling pressured into treating every recommendation like an emergency.