NHTSA Complaint #10667008 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA FROM A CAR DEALER. I GOT IT FOR A GOOD PRICE AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A LITTLE WORK. MY WIFE WANTED A CHRYSLER PACIFICA FROM THE FIRST TIME SHE SAW ONE. SO, FINALLY FINDING ONE WITHIN OUR MEANS WAS AWESOME; SO WE THOUGHT. IT WAS MAKING A WINDING NOISE AT TIME OF PURCHASE, WHICH WAS THOUGHT TO BE A POWER STEERING PUMP. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AFTER PURCHASING IT AND HAD THE PUMP AND SOME OTHER BRAKE WORK; AS-WELL-AS, TIE-ROD ENDS FIXED/REPLACED. THIS DID NOT STOP THE WINDING NOISE WE THOUGHT WAS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP, SO WE HAD THE SHOP TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. THE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK-AND-PINION WAS LEAKING AND LIKELY THE CAUSE FOR THE NOISE. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE RACK AND PINION FROM THE VEHICLE; THEY REALIZED IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE CRADLE/SUB-FRAME WAS SO RUSTED THAT REMOVAL WAS NOT POSSIBLE. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY; THE SHOP OWNER RECOMMENDED THAT WE DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A RE-CALL. THE SHOP OWNER SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE SUB-FRAME OF ANY VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON A 2005 MODEL. I HOPED THAT THE SHOP OWNER WAS OVER EXAGGERATING SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LOCAL SHOP AND HE TO, WAS STUNNED BY THE AMOUNT OF RUST. THIS SHOP OWNER TOLD ME TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND TO CONTACT THE CHRYSLER CORP. AND DEMAND THAT SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS. HE (THE SHOP OWNER) WAS ABSOLUTELY BESIDE HIMSELF AFTER SEEING THE VEHICLE. I LOVE CHRYSLER PRODUCTS AND EVEN OWN A CARAVAN, WHICH MY WIFE DRIVES DAILY. HOWEVER, I NOW HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF CHRYSLER. THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING UNSAFE MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA AND I WONDER IF ANYONE HAS DIED FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS ISSUE. IF CHRYSLER DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS; I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT, EVER AGAIN... *TR