NHTSA Complaint #10702195 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WE HAD OUR CAR INSPECTED THIS WEEK AND WERE TOLD WE HAD A ROTTED BODY FRAME. WE WERE SENT TO A DODGE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US WE HAD A ROTTED SUBFRAME. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE $1885.40 FOR THE PART AND $600 FOR LABOR. IT WILL NOT BE READY TO DRIVE TILL APRIL 6 AS THE DEALER REQUIRES THE PARTS MONEY UP FRONT BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN ORDER THE PART SO WE HAVE TO SAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS. SO WE HAVE NO CAR FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS AT LEAST. WE HAVE RESEARCHED AND UNDERSTAND THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID A LIMITED AMOUNT OF REPAIRS AS IT WAS THEIR FAULT BUT APPARENTLY THEY ARE NOT HELPING THE MAJORITY OF CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT SEEM FAIR TO THE OTHER OWNERS. WE CAN BARELY AFFORD TO COME UP WITH THIS MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS THIS COMPANY'S FAULT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT BEING FORCED TO FIX ALL THESE CARS WHEN IT IS A DANGER ISSUE. HOW CAN WE DRIVE A CAR WITH A ROTTED FRAME? WE HAD TO HAVE THE ROCKER PANELS REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THEY ROTTED OUT TOO. NOW THIS IS ADDED TO OUR COST. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR AND BARELY ABLE TO FIX THIS CAR AT OUR RETIREMENT AGE. WHY AREN'T COMPANIES HELD TO A STANDARD TO PROTECT CONSUMERS? WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CLASS ACTION SUITS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FILED FOR THIS PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN THESES CASES IF IT IS EVEN POSSIBLE TO DO THAT. WE WISH THERE WAS A SOLUTION FOR US AND FOR OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *TR