NHTSA Complaint #10566904 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WHILE OPERATING MY 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA LIMITED EDITION I HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING, POPPING, SOUND COMING FROM MY FRONT END, WHICH WAS EXACERBATED WHEN I TURNED EITHER LEFT, OR RIGHT. ALSO, I HAVE A CONSTANT SHAKING WHICH I FEEL THROUGH MY STEERING WHEEL, WHICH BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHILE I AM BRAKING. ANYTIME I DRIVE OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMP, POTHOLE, OR EVEN JUST AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE IT CLUNKS. IT SOMETIMES MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND EVEN WHEN I AM OPERATING ON AN EVEN ROAD SURFACE. AS I START PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPPED POSITION, I OFTEN FEEL, AND HEAR A JERKING & LUGGING, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE SUB FRAME (ENGINE MOUNTS). I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SO ROTTED, THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAS PULLED OFF OF THE SUB FRAME. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PART OF THE SUB FRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN PLACE, IS SO ROTTED THAT THE ENGINE COULD ACTUALLY BREAK FREE FROM THE VEHICLE, AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS CRASH. HE SHOWED ME SEVERAL HOLES, WHERE THE SUB FRAME HAS ACTUALLY ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, AND I AM ABLE TO SEE OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE METAL. HE SAID THAT IT WOULD COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ROTTED PARTS. I AM A STAGE 4 TERMINAL CANCER PATIENT, AND NEED MY VEHICLE TO TRAVEL BACK & FORTH, 60+ MILES, FOR THE TREATMENTS NECESSARY TO KEEP ME ALIVE. I AM NOT ABLE TO WORK, AND THEREFORE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE COSTS REQUIRED TO REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE ROTTED PARTS ON MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE THAT THE ROTTED PARTS HAVE CAUSED TO OTHER PARTS OF MY AUTO. I HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC CHECK MY VEHICLE, FOR A SECOND OPINION. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR, RUSTING, OR ROT, FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT EVEN 9 YEARS OLD. HE SAID EXTERIOR BODY PANEL RUST, OR ROT COULD BE VERY POSSIBLE, BUT DEFINITELY NOT ROT IN THE SUB FRAME. *TR