NHTSA Complaint #10561388 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

EXTENSIVE RUST FORMATION ON ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND IN PARTICULAR THE ENGINE CRADLE. ON THE ENGINE CRADLE, RUST IS MOST PROMINENT ON THE WELD SEAMS AND THE LOWER PORTIONS WHERE MOISTURE PROBABLY IS POOLING ON THE INSIDE AND PENETRATING WHAT MUST BE UNUSUALLY POROUS AND/OR UNTREATED METAL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I NOTICED A RUST COLOR ON THE VARIOUS SUSPENSION PARTS EARLY IN THE OWNERSHIP. I MENTIONED THIS COLORATION TO THE DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED IT AS A CLAY COMPOUND SPRAY THAT IS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY TO PROTECT UNDERCARRIAGE FROM CORROSION DURING SHIPPING. AT THE TIME, I ACCEPTED THIS EXPLANATION AT FACE VALUE BUT IN HINDSIGHT IT PROBABLY WAS PREMATURE RUST. I CAN'T FIND ANY INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET THAT SUGGESTS SPRAYING CLAY IS ACTUALLY A REAL PRACTICE. FURTHERMORE, THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. NOT MUCH RUST CONCERNS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE US. SOMEWHAT PLAUSIBLE IF SHIPPING OVERSEAS. UNLESS SOMEONE INFORMS ME OTHERWISE ON THIS CLAY SPRAYING , I THINK I WAS DUPED. AT FIRST THIS RUST WAS JUST AN ANNOYING COSMETIC BLEMISH BUT IT HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *TR