NHTSA Complaint #10432417 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

FRONT SUBFRAME ( ENGINE CRADLE ) HAS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCH RUST HOLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF MAIN MEMBER NEAR THE TOP BEHIND OIL PAN . RUST HOLE ORIGINATED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SUBFRAME. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS A CRITICAL SUPPORT COMPONENT FOR THE STEERING, SUSPENSION, AND ENGINE THAT IS NOW STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISED . I BELIEVE THIS TO BE CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE SUBFRAME. NO VEHICLE SHOULD RUST OUT THIS SOON. I HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, MILLER BROS. IN MARTINSBURG, WV, AND ALSO TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAD NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE HIMSELF AND THAT MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. CHRYSLER RESPONSE IS PENDING, HOWEVER WAS TOLD ALSO THAT WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND NOT TO EXPECT ANYTHING. THEY STATE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER THERE ARE RUMORS OF A "SILENT RECALL" FOR THIS ISSUE AND VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN CANADA FOR FREE ON THE WEB. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THAT I BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY A GOV.'T MANDATED SAFETY RECALL LIKE THE FORD WINDSTAR SUBFRAME RUST ISSUES. PLEASE HELP. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $4500.00. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS, NOR SHOULD I HAVE TOO, PLUS I CANNOT SELL THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. *TR