NHTSA Complaint #10102610 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

ON WEDNESDAY I HAD HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER MY HOOD, I FIGURED I WOULD BRING IT UP WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN NEXT WEEK FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ON FRIDAY I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE (WHICH I HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF OTHER TIMES) WHEN MY CAR HIT A COLUMN AT THE TOP OF THE TURN. IT WAS A HARD LEFT TURN, AT 5-7 MPH. THE RESULTS OVER $12,000 OF DAMAGE! THE AXLE WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH MANY OTHER BROKEN PARTS. BASICALLY MY FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS HANGING LIKE A LOOSE TOOTH. ALL THE BROKEN PARTS WERE PUSHED TO JUST UNDER MY PEDALS.THE APPRAISER SAID THAT IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN MY LEGS. ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED (THROUGH MY INSURANCE) BUT NOW I HAVE A NEW CAR THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD 4,800 MILES ON IT. AFTER READING CASES LIKE 10096021 AND 10087837, DID I HAVE A DEFECT? IS IT A GOOD THING THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY?*AK