NHTSA Complaint #11078247 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WITH AROUND 117K MILES ON IT. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES IT. WHILE CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL ON IT LAST WEEKEND, I NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION (PERFORATION ACTUALLY) OF THE VEHICLE ENGINE CRADLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH ON THE BOTTOM AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS ABOUT 70% RUSTED THROUGH. AS THIS CROSS MEMBER IS WHAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE AND ACTS AS THE BASE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. SHOULD THIS STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FAIL DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME UNSTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH WOULD BE A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. YES, WE LIVE IN WISCONSIN (PART OF THE SALT BELT), BUT THIS AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON SUCH A CRUCIAL STRUCTURAL COMPONENT IS CRAZY! THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 14 YRS AND FOR ONLY 117K MI. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THE BODY STARTED TO DETERIORATE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT NOT A SUPPORTING FRAME MEMBER. I DON'T BELIEVE THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS PROPERLY TREATED AGAINST CORROSION, OR THE DESIGN OF THE CRADLE MADE IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXCESSIVE LOCALIZED CORROSION AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR REPAIRS.