NHTSA Complaint #10944071 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

OUR 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA (156,595 MILES) PASSED OUR ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, BUT WE NEEDED TO TRAVEL 1000 MILES, SO WE ASKED OUR MECHANIC TO GIVE IT A MORE THOROUGH LOOK JUST TO MAKE SURE IT COULD HANDLE A LONG DISTANCE TRIP. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE CRADLE LOOKED FINE, BUT HE HAPPENED TO FEEL IT MOVE, SO HE USED A CAMERA TO INSPECT THE HIDDEN UPPER SIDE. GOOD THING HE DID! THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS PRACTICALLY RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE ENGINE COULD HAVE DROPPED OUT IF WE HIT A SIGNIFICANT BUMP. I WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT, BUT ONLY RECALLED A HAND-FULL OF CARS. THIS IS A DISGRACE. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE DIED, AND MANY OTHERS ARE AT RISK FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT IS NOT EASILY SPOTTED ON A ROUTINE INSPECTION. NOT TO MENTION, WE HAD TO PAY NEARLY $3000 FOR REPAIRS. WE COULD NOT TRADE IN THE RUST HEAP FOR A BETTER CAR SINCE THE PACIFICA HAS NO RESALE VALUE, ALSO THANKS TO THIS "CRADLE ROT" PROBLEM. FOR SHAME CHRYSLER!