NHTSA Complaint #11686548 — 2024 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

We purchased our 2024 Pacifica Pinnacle AWD new in July of 2024. The vehicle currently has 9,600 miles on it, and the issue has been present since it was new. We have experienced continuous issues while driving the vehicle at highway speeds, with the steering exhibiting a gap in responsiveness. The steering acts like there is a dead zone between 11 and 1 o'clock when turning the wheel, where nothing happens. Once the vehicle finally reacts to the driver's inputs, it causes the car to jerk from side to side. It is bad enough that it causes my entire family to become carsick during even short trips. Still, my primary concern is that the steering is not responsive, and if the issue worsens or changes, it could lead to a loss of control over the vehicle. In addition, the jerking caused by this may cause loss of control when traveling in inclement weather or icy conditions. We took the vehicle in for diagnosis, assuming an alignment issue, but the dealership verified the alignment was within the manufacturer's requirements. In addition, the dealership told us, "This is just how the Pacifica drives. All of them have this issue with the steering". Today, I came across an investigation into a similar issue with older model Pacificas, and I believe this is not only the same issue but also warrants investigation of all model year Pacificas. There were multiple comments within the forum post of owners experiencing this issue in newer vehicles than the current investigation. Please consider expanding your investigation to all model years. Thank you.