NHTSA Complaint #10549976 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WHILE IN FOR REPAIRS, OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE OF OUR 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA TOURING AWD SPORTS TOURER 4-DR HAS RUSTED ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. ACCORDING THE MECHANIC, THE ENGINE CRADLE SUPPORTS BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE FRONT STEERING/SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS, THAT COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL UPON FAILURE, AND CAUSE A CRASH. AFTER CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, I FOUND THAT NUMEROUS CONSUMERS/OWNERS OF PACIFICA MODELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2004 AND 2006 ARE REPORTING THIS ISSUE AND CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND LISTED IT AS A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE PART. IN RESPONSE, CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, LIMITED TO CERTAIN STATES (WHICH THEY REFER TO AS 'SALT BELT STATES") COVERING REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, EXAMINED AND SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO CHRYSLER FOR COVERAGE, WHICH WAS DENIED. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE DID NOT LIVE IN ONE OF THESE DEFINED "SALT STATE ZONES". DESPITE OFFERING TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE FROM KYDOT AND LOCAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION OFFICES VERIFYING THAT OUR AREA DOES IN FACT EXPERIENCE A HIGH VOLUME OF ROADWAY SALT USE, CHRYSLER CONTINUES TO DENY EXTENDING ANY COVERAGE FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED, I WOULD ASK THAT NHTSA & ODI CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND NEGOTIATE WITH CHRYSLER TO BROADEN THE COVERAGE TO INCLUDE ANY PACIFICA EXHIBITING SIGNS OF THIS DEFECT. *TR