NHTSA Complaint #10439608 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

A LETTER WAS SENT TO SOME 2004-2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA OWNERS THAT THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE AND SUSPENSION MOUNT FRAME WARRANTY WAS BEING EXTENDED TO 15 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES TO OWNERS IN STATES THAT USE ROAD SALT BECAUSE OFF CORROSION PROBLEMS. THEY GO ON TO CARELESSLY EXPLAIN THAT IF YOUR ARE NOT EXPERIENCING VIBRATION AND SHAKING YOU NEED TO DO NOTHING-- BY THE TIME ITS THAT BAD ITS ALMOST TO LATE! MINE WAS NOT SHAKING BUT I HAD MY PACIFICA INSPECTED ANY WAY AND FOUND RUST HOLES IN FRONT FRAME, ONE WAS THE SIZE OF MY FIST AND ON THE OTHER SIDE MAY BE THREE OR FOUR FINGERS WIDE. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED THE PHONE # LISTED ON THE NOTIFICATION LETTER TWICE, BOTH TIMES THEY DENIED A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL ON THEIR WEB SITE AND BESIDES MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL INTO THE VIN BLOCK ?? THERE ARE CASES LISTED ON THE INTERNET WHERE STATE DMV INSPECTION STATIONS HAVE FAILED THESE VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF FRAME CORROSION. I AM HAVING THE ENGINE CRADLE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER HAVE SUCH A FLIPPANT ATTITUDE ABOUT A KNOWN SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE? DOES THIS FALL UNDER A HIDDEN WARRANTY OR RECALL.