NHTSA Complaint #11390639 — 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WHILE DRIVING, MY SON, WHO WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE THIRD ROW, NOTICED THAT HIS CUPHOLDER AREA WAS EXTREMELY HOT. I PULLED OVER AND CONFIRMED. WE DROVE ON AND I TOLD HIM TO CHECK. IT STAYED VERY HOT FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. AT THE FIRST VISIT THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY ADDED INSULATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR PANELS AND THE COOLANT LINES IN THE AREA, THOUGH AS AN ENGINEER I UNDERSTOOD THAT SAID INSULATION WOULD DO NOTHING IF IT WERE SQUEEZED TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE PANEL AND THE PIPE. WE NOTICED NO CHANGE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO CHRYSLER, WHO REFUNDED THE VISIT BUT TOOK NO FURTHER ACTION. A REPEAT VISIT TO THE DEALER HAD THEM SAYING THERE WAS LESS THAN FIVE DEGREES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOT SPOT AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. I USED MY INFRARED THERMOMETER TO PROVE THAT THE SECTION OF THE INTERIOR PANEL IS OVER 130 DEGREES WHEREAS THE SURROUNDING PANEL IS ABOUT 65. YOU CAN SEE THIS IN THE VIDEO I LINK TO BELOW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS SECOND DEGREE BURNS CAN RESULT FROM TEMPERATURES THAT HIGH, AND IT COULD START A FIRE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT CHRYSLER WERE IGNORED. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/GTBECZ5CHTG