2004 Chrysler Pacifica Body & structure Problems

Subframe/Engine Cradle failed due to rust. Subframe is available for inspection upon request. My safety or the safety of others is put at risk due to the failed (rusted, corroded, rotted) subframe/engine cradle. Vehicle’s engine is at risk of falling through the vehicle’s frame at any moment whether the vehicle is parked or being driven. This problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and the subframe component has been inspected by a Master ASE Certified Mechanic. No symptoms of the problem prior to the failure that owner has ever been made aware of.

NHTSA ID

11434993

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

THE UNDER CARRIAGE THAT HOLDS ENGINE IN PLACE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES FROM BELLE TIRE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2020. BY NOVEMBER 1 2020 I WAS OBSERVING EXTREME WEAR ON THE BRAND NEW TIRES. WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CRADLE RUST ROT, AND THE ENGINE IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OUT AND WOULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCY I AND MY FAMILY COULD DIE. TRYING TO FIND REPLACEMENT AND AM BEING TOLD IT IS SUCH A PROBLEM THAT THERE IS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11373618

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

11,800 mi

UPON TAKING A THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THE SUBFRAME WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE IS RUSTING TO THE POINT IT WILL NOT HOLD THE ENGINE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I HAVE BECOME AWARE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE FUTURE FAILURE AND WILL NOT FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

11350021

Incident

Jun 4, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE. SHOP WOULD NOT WORK ON VEHICLE STATING THE DETERIORATION OF THE SUBFRAME WAS TO EXTENSIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED THE FRAME IN A GREAT STATE OF DECAY, WITH SOME PLACES ONLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH THIN STRIPS OF METAL. THESE VEHICLES WERE RECALLED IN THE PAST FOR DEFECTIVE FRAMES HOWEVER NOT ALL WERE RECALLED AND THIS IS ONE VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT. THE MOTOR IN THESE VEHICLES WILL FALL OUT AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. THESE FRAMES ARE DEFECTIVE IN WORKMANSHIP FROM THE FACTORY AND SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE FACTORY ACROSS ALL 2004-2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA'S AFFECTED BY DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT KNOWINGLY INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY THAT WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD TODAY WITH OCCUPANTS UNKNOWINGLY DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WHICH ARE "TICKING TIME BOMBS". *TR

NHTSA ID

11329184

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS ROTTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11282255

Incident

Nov 23, 2019

Mileage

141,000 mi

CAR RUNS AND DRIVES WELL. HOWEVER, OUR MECHANICE SAYS THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED SO IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

11278113

Incident

Nov 4, 2019

TOOK A SHORT DRIVE. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR FILTER HOUSING WAS MELTED.EMBERS WERE STILL SPREADING ALONG THE INSULATION ATTACHED TO THE HOOD. MANUALLY REMOVED THE SPREADING EMBERS WITH SOME TOOLS. NOT SURE THE CAUSE. ALSO WHY IS THE INSULATION MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NOT FIREPROOF?

NHTSA ID

11246596

Incident

Aug 24, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT-HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER FAILED TO PROPERLY COAT THE ENGINE CRADLES WHICH ALLOWED RUST TO DAMAGE THE CRADLES AND CREATE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11189986

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE SUB-FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH, MY MECHANIC IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ENGINE FALLING OUT IF NOT ADDRESSED. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PACIFICA MODEL BUT I DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR WOULD "BOUNCE" WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTING. HE WAS SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF RUST HE FOUND UNDERNEATH.

NHTSA ID

11189836

Incident

Mar 18, 2019

Mileage

199,000 mi

FRONT FRAME CRADLE RUSTED OUT. WAS GETTING OIL CHANGED THE GARAGE I TOOK IT TOO BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT IS WAS VERY UNSAFE

NHTSA ID

11165062

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

164,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL STATIONARY, RUSTED CROSSMEMBER

NHTSA ID

11163333

Incident

Dec 25, 2018

Mileage

177,987 mi

CRADLE ROT. APPLY BRAKES & ENGINE SHIFTS FORWARD.

NHTSA ID

11143541

Incident

Apr 6, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT TIRE DISCOUNTERS (7771 FIVE MILE ROAD, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45230, (513) 618-1613) FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME WAS FOUND TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME WAS NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11123279

Incident

Aug 28, 2018

Mileage

35,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAS A RUST HOLE IN IT WHICH MAY MAKE IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NO INTENTION OF ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER OBVIOUSLY MADE THIS PART SUB-STANDARD AND SHOULD PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SUBSTANDARD PART. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11123133

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE MAIN SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS BEING REPAIRED. I SEE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT ADDRESS. I NEED HELP

NHTSA ID

11097930

Incident

Apr 27, 2018

Mileage

210,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE CHECKING FOR THE SWAY BAR LINK UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDE PANEL FRAME WAS CORRODED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH CHICAGO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (7400 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60636), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 33832631 BEFORE REFERRING THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11084637

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

THERE WAS A KLUNK IN FRONT END-TOOK TO MECHANIC-THE SUBFRAME ON THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11074108

Incident

Feb 21, 2018

Mileage

106,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE RUSTING THROUGH: I TOOK MY WIFE'S 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WITH 185,000 MILES ON IT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A SMALL TRANSMISSION LEAK. ONCE HE GOT THE CAR UP ON THE LIFT HE NOTICED THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTING THROUGH. HE TOLD ME HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CASE NUMBER: 3571359 AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE A AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER SERVICE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO. I TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER SERVICE DEALER AND HAD IT INSPECTED. THEY SAID THAT THE CRADLE WAS PERFORATED AND RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT IT WAS PAST IT'S WARRANTY BY YEARS AND MILEAGE. I SENT THAT INFORMATION TO CHRYSLER AND THEY EMAILED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THEY REVIEWED THE INFORMATION THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED BUT IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR IS PAST THE YEARS AND MILEAGE OF IT'S WARRANTY. I SENT THEM AN E-MAIL SAYING HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM ABOUT THERE DECISION TO DO NOTHING ABOUT AN ISSUE THEY KNEW THEY HAD. MY WIFE LOVES HER PACIFICA, WE HAVE OWNED IT OVER 12 YEARS. SHE BOUGHT IT AS A DEMO. IT STILL RUNS GREAT, IT STILL LOOKS GREAT AND EVEN WITH THE 185,000 MILES ON IT THE ONLY THING THAT IS WRONG WITH IT IS THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTING THROUGH. I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED YEARS AGO IF CHRYSLER HAD SENT US A RECALL OR SOMETHING TO TELL US THAT THE CRADLE METAL WAS INFERIOR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED / REPAIRED SOONER BEFORE OUR WARRANTY RAN OUT. NOT TO MENTION THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN IF THE CRADLE WOULD HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE ENGINE FELL OUT. I THINK THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO. I THINK CHRYSLER SHOULD HELP US WITH THE RESOLUTION OF GETTING OUR CAR REPAIRED SINCE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND DIDN'T TELL US.

NHTSA ID

11064948

Incident

Dec 22, 2017

Mileage

185,000 mi

DURING A STATE INSPECTION IN NOV, 2017, I FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, IS RUSTED. I CALLED CHRYSLER TODAY, ON 800-992-1997, TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL. SADLY I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NONE. THE STRANGE THING IS THAT NO OTHER PART OF THE CIRCLE SHOWS ANY RUSTED PART.

NHTSA ID

11060759

Incident

Nov 25, 2017

Mileage

132,000 mi

I GAVE MY DAUGHTER MY 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA SO SHE WOULD HAVE A VEHICLE THAT WOULD TRANSPORT HER, HER TWO CHILDREN AGES 7 AND 2, HER HUSBAND AND FRIENDS, PETS AND/OR OTHERS. HER HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND AS SOON AS SHE GOT IT HOME HE LOOKED IT OVER AND REFUSED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. HE SAID THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED-OUT AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH INTO THE MATTER I DISCOVERED THAT WHAT HE REFERRED TO AS A SUB-FRAME WAS CALLED THE "ENGINE CRADLE" AND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE PACIFICA(S). THERE WERE SERVICE BULLETINS SENT TO SERVICE CENTERS AND THAT CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM FOR THE PACIFICA BUILT FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OTHER MONTHS AND YEARS. THE POTENTIAL FOR DEATHS AND INJURIES IS A REALITY! IF THIS ENGINE CRADLE WERE TO GIVE WAY AT SLOW SPEEDS THERE WOULD PROBABLY ONLY BE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS, UNLESS ANOTHER VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN WHICH CASE MORE INJURIES AND DEATH COULD OCCUR. IF THE ENGINE CRADLE WERE TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE HIT THE HIGHWAY I CAN ENVISION AN END-OVER-END CRASH THAT WOULD LIKELY KILL THE OCCUPANTS. IF THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MANY INJURIES AND DEATHS THERE MAY BE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED YET AND IF SO HOW MANY TIMES AND TO WHAT SEVERITIES, BUT MY DAUGHTER, MY GRANDCHILDREN AND SON-IN-LAW ARE NOT GOING TO BE VICTIMS. I SERIOUSLY HOPE THAT IT DOES NOT TAKE THE LOSS OF LIFE OR LIVES TO HAVE THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS HIGHER THAN THE WORTH OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER MUST ABSORB THE COST THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11057483

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

SUBFRAME SEVERELY RUSTED TO INCLUDE AREAS AROUND BOLTS TO FRAME. APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED OVER TIME.

NHTSA ID

11057371

Incident

Dec 29, 2017

Mileage

222,222 mi

ROTTED SUBFRAME. ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC AT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11051460

Incident

Nov 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME TO THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (NELSON AUTO GROUP CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, RAM, 481 S. MAIN STREET, MT VICTORY, OH 43340) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. A LOANER VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000.

NHTSA ID

11051335

Incident

Nov 27, 2017

Mileage

300,000 mi

I HAVE CHRYSLER PACIFICA 2004. HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF VEHICLE, NO ACCIDENTS. VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD. I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES . HAD THEM REBALANCED COUPLE OF TIMES . STILL VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT THAT ENGINE CRADLE FOR ENGINE IS BADLY ROTTED OUT WITH RUST. I LOOKED ON LINE FOR PROBLEM AND SEE THAT CHRYSLER HAD NOT PROPERLY COATED THE ENGINE CRADLE AND HAS LED TO FREQUENT PROBLEMS AND DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, DUE THAT THE ENGINE COULD FALL OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS IS OF NO FAULT TO OWNER. I DIDNT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT THE MOTOR COULD FALL OUT OF. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. A CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY THAT THERE SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG MIGHT FAIL AND THEY DEFINITELY SHOUDNT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THERE ENGINE FALLING OUT OF THERE CAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A WRECK OR FIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

11021366

Incident

Jul 22, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

HAS TAKEN TO STATE INSPECTION AND THEY SAID THERE'S RUST. DIDN'T THINK OF IT AS A BIG ISSUE UNTIL I READ THE HAZARDS OF RUSTING FRAME ON THE ENGINE COULD DROP THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. NOW NOT DRIVING IT. IT HAD A TIRE ROD REPAIRED LAST YEAR AND STILL WENT OUT THIS YEAR. IT MIGHT BE DUE TO CORROSION. A LOT OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS TOO. FELT LIKE WASTED MY MONEY EVERY YEAR KEEPING THIS VEHICLE IN SHAPE. THIS STATE ALSO LIKES SELLING THESE TYPES OF VEHICLE SO THEY CAN JUICE FOLKS MONEY EVERY YEAR FOR INSPECTIONS AND REPAIR. THEY PUT SALT ON THE GROUND EVERY WINTER THAT EATS UP THE FRAMES OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11001873

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi