NHTSA Complaint #10172779 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I LEASE A 2004 PACIFICA WITH APPROX 30,000 ON THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING UP AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I FELT A FRONT VIBRATION AND SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD THUMP. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED MY CAR TO SEE IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND NOTICED THAT WHAT HAD MADE THE NOISE WAS FROM LOSING THE BOTTOM HALF OF MY FRONT BUMPER. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO MY DEALER WHEREBY THE FRONT WAS INSPECTED AND REFERRED TO THE DISTRICT PARTS MANAGER FOR CHRYSLER. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM CHRYSLER THAT THEY, NOR THE DEALER, WILL COVER THIS 'LOST PART' BECAUSE I NEVER RETRIEVED IT FROM THE INTERSTATE WHERE IT WAS LYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD ALREADY BEEN RUN OVER BY AT LEAST ONE OR TWO 18 WHEELER TRUCKS. I FURTHERED WHETHER CHRYSLER EXPECTED ME TO PICK UP THIS LARGE PIECE IN MY BUSINESS ATTIRE OR MORE IMPORTANTLY RISK MY LIFE IN DOING SO BECAUSE IF I HAD RETRIEVED THE PIECE FROM THE HIGHWAY THEN THEY WOULD CONSIDER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I ACTUALLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE 3000 MILE INSPECTION 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTED BY THE MECHANIC. CHRYSLER SAY'S THAT THEY BACK THEIR DEALERS WHICH NATURALLY SOLICITED A RESPONSE FROM ME THAT THEY SHOULD RATHER BACK THEIR CUSTOMERS FIRST. CHRYSLER BROADCASTS AN EXCELLENT BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND OTHER THAN MY FAN BELT FAILING WITHIN TWO MONTHS SINCE TAKING POSSESSION OF THE CAR I HAVE NOT USED THE WARRANTY. *NM