NHTSA Complaint #10241438 — 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I PURCHASED A 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA IN MAY 2007 W/ 20,134 MILES ON IT. IT STARTED A TAPPING NOISE AT THE BEGINNING OF AUG 2008 (APPRX 40,840 MILES) AND WENT INTO THE SHOP ON 08/04/08. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME ON 08/08/08 TO P/U MY VEHICLE AND REPORTED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO MY USING NON-MOPAR OIL AND FILTER (THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER THAT DAY). THE CAR WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE WHEN I STARTED IT BUT THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT "WELL IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN IT DID, YOU JUST NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS". I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND DROVE IT THE 35 MILES HOME. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE NOISE WAS WORSE THAN EVER. MY HUSBAND HAULED THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 08/11/08 (ALL TOW DRIVERS PICKED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WANTED AT LEAST $100 OVER THE $100 DAIMLER WARRANTY PAYS). THE CAR SAT THERE FOR A WEEK AND WHEN I TRIED TO P/U A RENTAL CAR 08/15/08, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT MY CAR WAS DRIVABLE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD JUST ORDERED NEW LIFTERS. HE ALSO TOLD THIS TO DAIMLER SO THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR 5 DAYS RENTAL WHICH OF COURSE DID NOT COVER THE FULL TIME THEY TOOK TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS ON 08/22/08. THE NOISE WAS GONE WHEN I GOT IT THAT DAY. ON 09/06/08 THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN AND IS NOW IN THE SHOP (A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP THIS TIME) FOR THE 3RD TIME IN A MONTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR