NHTSA Complaint #11029987 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

I PURCHASED A 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA USED FROM A FAMILY MEMBER IN 2015. I HAD IT SERVICED AT THE SAME GARAGE THAT THEY DID PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A FLAT TIRE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO CRADLE RUST. THE FRAME THAT SUSPENDS THE ENGINE IS RUSTED AND IT WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM MUST HAVE TAKEN A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DEVELOP. IT HAD NEVER BEEN MENTIONED IN THE MANY YEARS OF ROUTINE SERVICE IN WHICH THE CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $3000 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN ADMISSION FROM CHRYSLER THAT PACIFICAS MANUFACTURED IN 2004 AND 2005 HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY PROTECTED FROM RUST IN THE CRADLE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. THIS HAS CREATED A SITUATION IN WHICH THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE OTHERWISE AND HAS BEEN RELIABLE. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IF I HAD NOT TAKEN IT IN TO REPAIR THE TIRE. I PURCHASED IT TO DRIVE TO AND FROM COLLEGE AND NOW I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT INJURED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL DRIVING THESE CARS AND ARE UNAWARE THAT THERE IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY CHRYSLER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.