NHTSA Complaint #10515248 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

IN JUNE OF 2010 MY WIVES 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WITH ABOUT 63000 MILES BEGAN TO MAKE FUNNY NOISES FROM THE FRONT END IT WAS TAKEN TO HER UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD SEVERAL LARGE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE CRADLE, ONE WAS SO LARGE THAT IT WAS 6" X 3" HE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A PART TO RUST LIKE THIS AND SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT SO THE FOLLOWING DAY WE TOOK TO ROBERTS CHRYSLER AND TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CRADDLE FOR $3500 AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT OTHER PACIFICAS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IS WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART IS ONLY COVERED IN HIGH SALT AREAS OF THE US . I LIVE IN CONNECTICUT. SO I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND GAVE THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. I HAD THEN SEARCHED ONLINE AGAIN FOUND MANY MANY PACIFICAS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND SEVERAL PACIFICAS THAT HAD THERE REGISTRATIONS PULLED BECAUSE THE STATE INSPECTIONS WOULD NOT ALLOW THESE PACIFICAS ON THE ROADS BECAUSE THE ENGINES WILL FALL OUT IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN WHAT IS ? SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT END REPLACED INCLUDING BALL JOINT BOTH SIDES UPPER AND LOWER ALL TIE RODS. IN MAY 2013 MY WIFE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD BROKEN DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65MPH AND WAS STUCK IN THE TRAVEL LANE AND LOST THE STEERING AND SHE COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL THE CT STATE POLICE ARRIVED AND THE COULD SEE THE THAT SHE HAD TO REALLY FIGHT TO TURN THE WHEEL I ANY DIRECTION. WE CALLED AAA AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF TO THE SHOULDER