NHTSA Complaint #10607499 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME MY FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND UNSAFE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A TSB 13-001-12 THAT MAY APPLY SINCE THIS A COMMON PROBLEM. HOWEVER DUE TO THE MILEAGE IT WAS NOT COVERED. THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS PRESENT IN THESE VEHICLES WHICH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THE NEWS AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO CRASHES AND POSSIBLE DEATH.I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO. WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE ISSUE AT AROUND 145K MILES, THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL PIN HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE CRADLE. AT 168K MILES THERE IS A HOLE YOU CAN PUT YOUR FIST IN. THIS IS A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT, NOT SOMETHING SUBJECTED TO NORMAL WEAR LIKE A TIE ROD. I WOULD FULLY EXPECT TO PAY FOR A TIE ROD, RACK AND PINION OR BALL JOINTS. THIS IS DIFFERENT, A MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. MY VEHICLE IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND I PLAN TO KEEP IT FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS. BUT WITH THE COST OF THE SUBFRAME AND THE MILES IT IS WORTHLESS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T LEAD TO TOO MANY DEATHS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *TR