NHTSA Complaint #10598733 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I TOOK MY NEWLY PURCHASED 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA TO MY MECHANIC TO GET THE BRAKES SERVICED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE ENGINE WAS IN DANGER OF FALLING OUT! MY MECHANIC WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED (HE IS A FRIEND AND AN HONEST MECHANIC WHO RUNS A VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR AND BODY SHOP IN OTTAWA, KS). I CALLED CHRYSLER BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO SEE IF THEIR WERE ANY RECALLS ON IT, AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NOT. THE CAR IS OTHERWISE IN PERFECT CONDITION, NO DAMAGE AND VERY LITTLE WEAR INSIDE AND OUT. IT WAS CLEAR TO MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS DUE TO SOME DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE, AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 10 YEAR OLD CAR THAT IS IN AS GOOD OF CONDITION AS MIND IS WITH ONLY 110000 MILES ON IT. TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE CRADLE PUT IT, IT WOULD COST OVER $4000. I CANNOT AFFORD THAT, SO WE ARE PUTTING IN A RECONDITIONED ONE, INSPECTED TO MAKE SURE IT HAS NO WEAR OR RUST ON IT, AND WE ARE PAINTING AND PUTTING ADDITIONAL UNDERCOATING ON IT AS TO PREVENT ANY SUCH RECURRENCES. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND IS EFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS, AND IS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN CHRYSLER IS WILLING TO ADMIT. I CALLED THEM, AND MY CAR IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT ONE EFFECTED IN THEIR 3-4 WEEK WINDOW OF PRODUCTION, YET IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLY CAUSING A SERIOUS AND EVEN FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. *TR