NHTSA Complaint #10712002 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I TOOK MY 2005 PACIFICA FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE LAST WEEK, AND OUR MECHANIC DISCOVERED A LARGE AREA OF THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. HE SAID IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX IT, BECAUSE THE ENGINE COULD FALL OUT OF THE CAR AT ANY TIME. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, WE DISCOVERED THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE CRADLE AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $2300. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE, AND THEY TOOK A STANCE OF PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY, TELLING ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO MY PACIFICA. I EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS IRREFUTABLE PROOF THAT IT ISN'T UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. ALL PACIFICAS ARE PRONE TO THIS FAILURE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE EXTENSION CHRYSLER ISSUED FOR THE WARRANTY ON PACIFICAS BECAUSE OF THIS VERY ISSUE AND WHY OWNERS WERE NEVER NOTIFIED, THE REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT DENY THERE WAS AN EXTENSION; HOWEVER, HE INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR IS TOO OLD AND WELL PAST ANY WARRANTY MILEAGE (WHICH IT ISN'T AT 138,600 MILES). AT THAT POINT THE REPRESENTATIVE BECAME RUDE. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERIOR, HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE I COULD SPEAK TO ON THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING CHRYSLER WILL DO TO ASSIST ME IN THE MATTER. ALL IN ALL, I'M (1) ALARMED THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD IN THIS MODEL, AND (2) FRUSTRATED THAT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I'D EVEN BE HAPPY WITH A COMPROMISE, FOR INSTANCE, IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY THE PART AND WE WOULD PAY FOR THE LABOR, BUT THEY SHUT THE DOOR IN MY FACE. HOPING THE NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE AND CALL THEM TO ACCOUNT FOR SUCH SHODDY CONSTRUCTION. *TR