NHTSA Complaint #10648920 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE EXTREMELY WELL. NO VISIBLE RUST ON BODY, VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME IS NEARLY RUSTED IN HALF. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MY PRIMARY WINTER VEHICLE, AND SALT EXPOSURE IS MINIMAL. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF DRIVE TRAIN FALLING OUT WHEN THE ENGINE CRADLE FAILS TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. ALSO, THE CAR COULD BREAK IN HALF IF THE SUB FRAME FAILS. HOW CAN A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, LOOKS AND DRIVES LIKE NEW, BE UNSAFE BECAUSE IT ISN'T STRUCTURALLY SOUND. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY ABOUT 10000 MILES PER YEAR. AN ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT RECALLED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, THINKING IT WOULD KEEP MY FAMILY AND I SAFE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY DRIVING CHRYSLER PACIFICAS THAT ARE NOT STRUCTURALLY SAFE. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR