NHTSA Complaint #10500955 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

MY MECHANIC CALLED TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE SUB-FRAME ON MY 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND DEVELOPED CRACKS ADJACENT TO THE RUSTED AREA. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND THAT THE SUB-FRAME REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL, BUT CHECKING THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS CONDITION TO HAVE OCCURRED TO NUMEROUS OTHER PACIFICAS. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO INFORMED ME THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR 2004-2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA PRODUCED DURING A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD AND ORIGINALLY LICENSED IN "SNOW STATES". THE WARRANTY COVERS SUB-FRAME REPLACEMENT UP TO 10 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY MY VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD. IT IS QUITE UNLIKELY THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS PRODUCED SATISFACTORILY AND THEN IT BECAME SUBSTANDARD - ESPECIALLY SINCE THE EARLIER PRODUCTION ON MY VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH. IT IS SHAMEFUL AND IRRESPONSIBLE THAT A COMPANY WITH AS MUCH HISTORY AND ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES HAS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED A VEHICLE THAT BECOMES UNSAFE IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. IF THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTING LIABILITY TO REPLACE THIS INFERIOR PART THEY SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE THE DECENCY TO HAVE CONTACTED OWNERS TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THERE IS A 'POTENTIAL FOR THE SUB-FRAME TO HAVE RUSTED TO A CONDITION THAT PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.' *TR