NHTSA Complaint #10618750 — 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I TOOK MY 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA FOR NEW TIRES AND A NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC HAD THE CAR ON THE LIFT AND TOLD ME THE ENGINE CRADLE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED/ROTTED OUT AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. THE RIGHT AND LEFT SECTIONS OF THE ENGINE CRADLE SUB FRAME WHERE THERE IS WELDING ARE THE ONLY SECTIONS OF THE FRAME THAT ARE RUSTED/ROTTED OUT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU COULD STICK A FINGER THROUGH THE ROTTED OUT SECTION (CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED). I CONTACTED CHRYSLER'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCATE DEALERSHIP FOR DIGITAL IMAGING THAT WOULD HELP CHRYSLER DETERMINE IF IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT OR ALTERNATIVELY OWNER CAUSED. I DID AS INSTRUCTED AND WAS TOLD A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THE FRAME ROT WAS NOT A FACTORY DEFECT BUT RATHER OWNER CAUSED. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIR OF APPROXIMATELY $5,000. AFTER A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH, I REALIZED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE PACIFICA OWNERS LIKE MYSELF AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF. PER MY MECHANIC AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH, IF THE ENGINE CRADLE SUB FRAME WERE TO GIVE OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE CAR WILL NOT BE DRIVEN BY MY FAMILY UNTIL REPAIRED AS I WON'T RISK THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE. I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE HOPE THAT AT MINIMUM PACIFICA OWNERS ARE NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FRAME ROT TO PROACTIVELY REDUCE THE CHANCE OF THE INEVITABLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, I AM DISAPPOINTED IN CHRYSLER FOR NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AS OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS TOYOTA, HYUNDAI AND FORD HAVE WHEN PRESENTED WITH SIMILAR SAFETY ISSUES. *TR