RoadVitals

2008 Chrysler Pacifica Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest May 9, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 102 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chrysler Pacifica submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed May 9, 2018

VEHICLE REPAIR REFUSED BY AAA MECHANIC BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE FRAME ROT, NOISES AS FRAME FLEXES WHILE BEING DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID
11092657
Incident
May 9, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2018

2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAILED SUB FRAME. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID
11090710
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed Jan 1, 2018

MOTOR MOUNTS & CRADLE ROT ARE KNOWN PERVASIVE ISSUES WITH 2008 PACIFICAS (& OTHER YEARS). THERE IS NO INSPECTION OR MAINTENANCE REQUIRED PER THE MAINT. BOOKLET NOR SHOWN ANYWHERE SO DEALERS NEVER INSPECT THEM THEREBY LEAVING UNSUSPECTING OWNERS/DRIVERS IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CRASH SITUATION. MY BAD MOTOR MOUNTS WEREN'T NOTICED UNTIL 101K MILES & COST $1,200 TO REPLACE. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT THAT POINT SO A MANDATORY REPAIR. IN JUST 12 SHORT MONTHS, THEY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. I NOW HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS AFTER HAVING HAD (3) SETS IN 116K MILES (ORIGINAL + 2 REPLCMTS).

NHTSA ID
11057832
Incident
Jun 25, 2017
Mileage
116,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 25, 2017

MOTOR MOUNTS RUSTED OUT & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (100K MILES) EVEN THOUGH THESE DO NOT REQUIRE ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE & BOOK. FURTHERMORE, I HAVE A LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER & CORPORATE BOTH STATE THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED. EVEN THOUGH I HAD A 100K MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND HAVE RELIGIOUSLY SERVICED MY CAR AT CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS, I WAS STUCK PAYING $1,000 TO REPLACE THEM. DEALER STATED THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SO I HAD NO CHOICE. NHTSA SHOULD INSIST CHRYSLER REPAIR OR REIMBURSE OWNERS AS THIS IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH THE PACIFICAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW (AC DRIPS ON MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH CAUSES THEM TO RUST OUT).

NHTSA ID
10947671
Incident
Jan 20, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Sep 15, 2016

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 2009 WITH 38K MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNT THREE TIMES! RECENTLY , THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AT FIRST, I HAD SOME HOSES REPLACED. THE MECHANIC HAS NOW ADVISED THAT IT NEEDS A RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. I HAVE CALLED AROUND AND DEALERSHIPS SAY THAT IT IS HARD TO GET TO THE RADIATOR ON THIS CAR DUE TO ITS DESIGN, SO THE COST IS $1600. AT THIS POINT, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE READ THROUGH THESE COMPLAINTS AND CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ENGINE MOUNT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE AT LEAST 2011, AND STILL NO RECALL! SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE OVERHEATING ISSUE. I AM BAFFLED BECAUSE CHRYSLER HAS JUST BROUGHT OUT A NEW VERSION OF THIS CAR FOR 2016, WITHOUT ADDRESSING ANY OF THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE CAR!

NHTSA ID
10906804
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 2, 2016

ACCELERATED ENGINE FRAME CORROSION: THE FRONT SUB-FRAME(ENGINE SUPPORT CRADLE) IS CORRODED SO BADLY, THE POWERTRAIN CREATES EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION, INCORRECT SHIFTING, VEHICLE FLEX, AND EXCESSIVE ENGINE TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR HIGHWAY USE. IN ADDITION TO STEERING AND SUSPENSION RELATED SAFETY LIABILITY, THE ENGINE/POWERTRAIN IS KNOWN TO 'DROP' OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THERE WOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURIES COULD ENSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AFFECTING ALL YEARS/PACKAGES OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURE FOR THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA, REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL DATE OF PRODUCTION. A SINGLE PRIOR RECALL ADDRESSING THE ISSUE WAS INITIATED IN 2010 FOR A VERY NARROW SELECTED PRODUCTION DATE RANGE(02/23/14 ' 03/31/04) WELL AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT PRODUCTION(2008). THIS AFFLICTED SUBFRAME PART WAS NOT ALTERED DURING MANUFACTURE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE/DEFECT DURING ITS PRODUCTION RUN. CHRYSLER EMPLOYEES ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORROSION PREVENTION PROCESS/COATINGS USED WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT ACCELERATED CORROSION OF THE ASSEMBLY. CHRYSLER WILL REFUSE TO ADDRESS THOSE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. ONCE THE ISSUE WAS FOUND (IN MY CASE ONE YEAR AGO), THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER REPRESENTATIVE. WHILE THE DEALER WANTS TO RESOLVE THE CONCERN FOR THE CONSUMER, THE CORPORATE DIRECTIVE DECLINES THE REPAIR AS NOT REQUIRED. OF NOTE: THIS IS UNRELATED TO STANDARD RUST CORROSION ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH TYPICAL AUTOMOBILE AGING. MY VEHICLE ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND HAS MINIMAL CORROSION ISSUES ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE VEHICLE. DOCUMENTED EXAMPLES OF ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.CHRYSLERPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/CRADLE-ROT/ HTTP://WWW.THEINDYCHANNEL.COM/NEWS/CALL-6-INVESTIGATORS/CHRYSLER-CORROSION-CAR-OWNERS-WANT-ANSWERS-ON-CORROSION-PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10903233
Incident
Jun 3, 2015
Mileage
149,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 15, 2015

TOOK CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED ESPECIALLY IN THE CENTER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 76,500 MILES AND IS REGULARLY SERVICED, WASHED AND MAINTAINED. NOW IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE A MAX CARE CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT'S NOT A COVERED COMPONENT. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL MODEL YEAR PACIFICA'S, YET THEY ONLY WARRANTY A VERY SMALL NUMBER BUILT IN 2004-2005.

NHTSA ID
10734344
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Mileage
76,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 22, 2015

I TOOK MY CAR TO A TIRE SHOP TO REPLACE A FLAT TIRE I HAD ON THE CAR. UPON FIXING THE FLAT TIRE, THE SHOP NOTICE THAT THE K-FRAME OF MY CAR WAS ROTTING AWAY. THEY RECOMMENDED I GET IT FIX AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY SAW IT AS BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO THE CHRSYLER DEALERSHIP IN NORWOOD, WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THEY TOO SAID THAT THE CAR WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT I DID NEED TO GET IT FIXED. AT FIRST, THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE RECALL THAT THEY HAD ON ROTTEN K-FRAMES DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. THE CHRSYLER DEALERSHIP AND ITS HEADQUARTERS WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR AT FIRST. AFTER CALLING AROUND AND BEING VERY PERSISTENT WITH TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY CAR I CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE CLOSEST I GOT TO SOMEONE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF MY CAR WAS THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $500 DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY CAR TO BE FIXED BUT WHILE THEY WERE FIXING THE CAR AND TAKING OUT THE ENGINE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY PARTS THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS AND ON TOP OF THAT, I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENT A CAR WHILE MY CAR WOULD BE BEING FIXED. RIGHT NOW I HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING AROUND. I HAVE AN 81 YEAR-OLD SISTER THAT I TAKE CARE OF AS WELL WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND. THE SAD PART ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING IS THAT IF I NEVER GOT THAT FLAT TIRE, MY FAMILY AND I WOULD STILL BE DRIVING AROUND IN AN UNSAFE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND JUST DON'T KNOW. PLEASE HELP US! *TR

NHTSA ID
10678371
Incident
Dec 8, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 2014

ENGINE CRADLE IS EXTREMELY RUSTED FOR THE YEAR AND MILEAGE OF THE CAR. WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION LAST WEEK. PASSENGER SIDE AND MID SECTION OF ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGERS THRU IT. READIN ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE ONLY RUST ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664411
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Sep 25, 2014

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY AS SOON AS I REALIZED THAT IT HAD TURNED OFF I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION AND PULL TO THE FAR RIGHT BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND THE NEXT DAY I HAD A PERSONAL MECHANIC COME TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND FOUND OUT THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS LATER THE CAR TURNS ON BUT IT HAS SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUTS, AXLE, MOTOR MOUNTS AND FRAME THAT THIS VEHICLE IS JUST DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ALTOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638974
Incident
Sep 11, 2013
Mileage
97,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PACIFIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS BECAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS NOT ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,978.

NHTSA ID
10533099
Incident
Jul 29, 2013
Mileage
60,978 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Oct 17, 2009

YOU COULD ACTUALLY FEEL THE BUMP IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT INITIAL ACCELERATION AS THE MOTOR MOUNTS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. GENERATED A VERY METALLIC NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT RESIDUAL EFFECTS THIS WILL HAVE ON THE VEHICLE SINCE THIS HAS AFFECTED THE OVERALL ALIGNMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, STEERING ETC. I'VE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. APPARENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CAR MODEL, 04-05. *TR

NHTSA ID
10288743
Incident
Oct 5, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 24, 2009

PURCHASED A 2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WITH APPROXIMATELY 32K MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS "CERTIFIED" BY CHRYSLER. AT APPROXIMATELY 44K MILES THE ENGINE WOULD BANG WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE TORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD ENGINE MOUNTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IT WOULD BE AROUND $700 TO FIX. I REVIEWED THE CHRYSLER OWNER'S MANUAL AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT MENTIONS MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDING INSPECTION FOR WEAR AND TEAR. THE STANDARD ITEMS ARE LISTED SUCH AS OIL, TIRES, FILTERS, BELTS, FLUID ETC. IF MOTOR MOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR SHOULDN'T THEY BE LISTED SO AN OWNER CAN HAVE THEM INSPECTED? THE CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST ALSO DIDN'T INCLUDE AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS. CHRYSLER DOESN'T OFFER ANY INFORMATION ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS IN THEIR WARRANTY, CERTIFICATION INSPECTION OR OWNER'S MANUAL. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS WEBSITES WITH OTHER PACIFICA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS. FAILING MOTOR MOUNTS APPEAR TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT CHRYSLER IS IGNORING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285131
Incident
Jun 29, 2009
Mileage
46,420 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 15, 2008

2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA- 20 DAYS OLD- NOT EVEN MADE FIRST PAYMENT THE CAR LEAKED WATER AFTER RAINING(UNDER THE CAR) THE WATER SOAKED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND BACK FLOOR, RUINING CARPETS. I HAD TO CALL CORPORATE CHRYSLER TO GET THE CARPETS REPLACED. THERE IS SOME KIND OF BROKEN SEAL UNDER THE CAR. THEY STILL HAVE THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS NOT BEEN DISCLOSED TO ME AS OF YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10224642
Incident
Apr 12, 2008

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .