NHTSA Complaint #10162282 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS MY CAR HAS NOT WANTED TO START ON THE FIRST TRY. ALWAYS HAVE TO TURN THE KEY A SECOND TIME. THIS HAPPENS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING SINCE THE CAR HAS SAT ALL NIGHT. ALSO, MY FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING APPROPRIATELY TO THE LEVEL OF GAS IN THE TANK. AT APPROXIMATELY A 1/4 OF A TANK THE GAUGE INSTANTLY GOES TO EMPTY. I PUT IN 2 GALLONS OF GAS AND MIRACULOUSLY THE GAS GAUGE READS 1/2 TANK. NOW THOSE WHO OWN A PACIFIES KNOW THAT TWO GALLONS DOES NOT FILL YOUR TANK HALF WAY. THIS MORNING MY FUEL GAUGE READ 3/4 TANK AND MY OD READ APPROX. 111 MILES FOR THE TRIP THUS FAR. I WANTED TO FILL IT UP BUT THE CAR WOULD ONLY TAKE IN 2 GALLONS. TURNED ON THE CAR THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT MOVE FROM 3/4 TANK. DROVE 25 MILES AND SOMEHOW MY GAUGE READ ALMOST FULL. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT AT TIME WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL MY CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO SPEED UP. IT IS ALMOST AS IF I WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM THE CAR STARTS FINE FOR THEM, EVEN IF LEFT OVERNIGHT. ALSO, THEY CLAIM TO HAVE SYPHONED GAS OUT OF MY TANK AND THE GAUGE READS APPROPRIATELY TO THE AMOUNT OF GAS THAT WAS IN THE TANK. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO MY CAR DID STALL AS I WAS TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT A LOW SPEED. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY IT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO OCCASIONALLY DO THAT. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT AS I HAVE MY TODDLER WITH ME IN THE CAR MOST OF THE TIME. *JB