NHTSA Complaint #10163874 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

MY PACIFICA 2004 MODEL ENGINE JUST STALLED WHEN I TURNED INTO MY COMPANY'S PARKING LOT. THEN, I COULD NO LONGER STEER AND LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING WHEEL. MY FRIENDS AT WORK DROVE RIGHT BEHIND ME AND JUST PASSED BY ALMOST HITTING ME LIKE A "SANDWICH." THEN, I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL IN THE TANK; I SAW ABOUT 3/4 LEFT ON THE FUEL GAUGE. SO, I RE-STARTED THE ENGINE AND PARKED MY CAR SAFELY IN THE ASSIGNED LOT. I NOTICED FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM 3/4 LEVEL TO THE "FULL TANK" LEVEL AND STAYED THERE THE ENTIRE TIME. WHEN I DID RE-START THE ENGINE, AFTER 8 HOURS JUST TO GO HOME, I NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STILL FULL. IT WAS VERY FUNNY AND STARTED TO DROP DOWN TO 3/4 AGAIN!! RIGHT AFTER THAT, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO LET THE ENGINE WARM UP, AS I ALWAYS DO, MY ENGINE COULD NOT HOLD ITS RPM TO KEEP RUNNING AND KEPT STALLING AGAIN REPEATEDLY. HOW DID I GO HOME THAT NIGHT? I RE-STARTED THE ENGINE AND TRIED TO HOLD ON THE GAS PEDAL FOR ABOUT 50-65 SECONDS BY WATCHING THE CLOCK IN MY CAR, THEN I HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FROM INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, E.G. AIR-CONDITION WORKING, OR IDLE TIMING, OR SOMETHING. BUT, I STILL KEPT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL 100-110 SECONDS AND TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL ANYMORE, SO, I LUCKILY COULD DRIVE HOME IN THE NIGHT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT HOME, I STOPPED THE ENGINE AND RE-STARTED AGAIN, MANY TIMES. THE ENGINE WAS PERFECTLY NORMAL AS I HAD BEEN DRIVING THEM FOR 2.5 YEARS, LIKE NOTHING EVER HAD HAPPENED. SO, I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND VISITED SEVERAL CAR WEBSITES. SOME OF THEM SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT TO NHTSA FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OTHER PACIFICA OWNERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AND, I JUST DID BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DETRIMENTAL SERIOUS AND CAN EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGES TO LIFE AND PROPERTY OF ANYONE INSIDE THE VEHICLES. *JB