NHTSA Complaint #10245364 — 2007 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

SEPTEMBER 8, 2008, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 PACIFICA. POWER STEERING FAILED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE CAR IN A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A RETAIL STORE. SMOKE APPEARED FROM HOOD AREA, FLUID LEAKED OUT FROM UNDER FRONT END, FLAMES ERUPTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE IN SEVERAL MINUTES TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE, BUT NOT BEFORE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BUILDING AND ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO THE PACIFICA. FRONT END OF CAR COMPLETELY BURNED. CHRYSLER ORDERED AN INSPECTION CONDUCTED BY AN INDEPENDENT ADJUSTER. CLAIMS RESULTS ARE INCONCLUSIVE AND HAS ORDERED ANOTHER INSPECTION. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REPORT OF FIRE CAUSED BY POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. WE HAVE WAITED PATIENTLY FOR OVER FIVE WEEKS. CHRYSLER SUGGEST WE SETTLE WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I AM NOT WILLING TO DO THAT WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT AND THE CAR IS IN WARRANTY. THE CAR ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES. *TR