2004 Chrysler Pacifica Steering Problems

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED WHEN I SELECTED THE SEAT SETTING IT SAID IT WAS SET. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN I SELECTED SEAT ONE AND IT HAD THE ERROR MESSAGES AS IN THE PICTURES.

ENGINE CRADLE SEVERELY RUSTED AND PERFORATED, CAUSING FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. A REPLACEMENT CRADLE IS NEEDED AS ENGINE MAY DROP..

I HAVE A 2004 PACIFICA TOURING EDITION...PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL, HUB, SWAY BAR ROTTED OUT. WENT TO PICK UP PARTS AND EVERY CAR I CAME ACROSS HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME PLACE. HOW CAN FIVE DIFFERENT CARS DRIVEN BY FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.....TWO WORDS...CRAPPY MATERIALS. CHRYSLER SHOULD PROCEED WITH A RECALL ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FOR THESE VEHICLES, THEY ARE ROLLING DEATH TRAPS.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARD A LOAD BANG WHEN DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR DROPPED DOWN ONTO FRONT TIRE. CAR ABRUPTLY SWERVED INTO LANE WITH APPROACHING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE STOPPED AGAINST THE CURB AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC STOPPED IN TIME. WE TOWED VEHICLE TO A FRIENDS BUSINESS FOR INSPECTING AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD ROTTED OUT FROM RUST. WE CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND WAS ASKED FOR OUR V.I.N # AND WAS TOLD OUR CAR WAS NOT PART OF RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT BUILT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS WINDOW. IN SEARCHING MORE INFORMATION ONLINE WE FOUND THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE ON THESE CARS. PLEASE ADVISE

TECHNICIAN FOUND PERFORATION ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME/CRADLE AREA ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE $ 2,566.62.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE TIRES SQUEALED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL LEANED INWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT, STRUT MOUNT, TIE ROD, AND ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT WHEN ACCELERATING AND IT WAS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SUB STRUCTURE CRADLE WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD FAILED. THIS ALSO TOOK OUT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND IDLER ARM. HAD I BEEN GOING ANY FASTER WHEN THIS FAILED IT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

MY WIFE WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE CRASHING. WHAT I FOUND WAS VERY DISTURBING. THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTS HAD SEPARATED. CAUSING THE ENGINE CRADLE TO CONTACT THE GROUND ON ACCELERATION ALSO THE STEERING TRACK WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THIS CRADLE BECAME NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE CENTER RIPPED OUT OF BOTH REAR MOUNTS AND THERE IS NO MECHANICAL STOP TO PREVENT THE CRADLE FROM SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR WITH AMOUNT FAILURE. THIS CRADLE HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER AA WARRANTY 14 MONTHS AND 11,000 MI.EARLIER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS WERE ALSO SEPARATED AND THEY COULD NOT PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT TO PICK IT UP DUE SAFETY REASONS AND THE ENGINE CRADLE WOULD COME OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD WARRANTY THE MOUNTS AND NO LABOR AND ONLY IF THE REPAIRS ARE DONE AT THE DEALER. THE COST OF THE PARTS IS MINIMAL IN COMPARISON TO THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR AND WHAT COULD VERY EASILY HAVE HAPPENED IF THE MOUNTS HAD FAILED IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION AT A MUCH HIGHER SPEED AND NOT ON A CITY STREET. *TR

DEALING WITH A ROTTED K-FRAME CROSSMEMBER FOR THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE; HAS CAUSED THE WHOLE SUSPENSION TO FAIL, EFFECTING STEERING COMPONENTS, AS WELL AS, WEARING OUT OTHER PARTS SUCH AS, ENGINE MOUNTS AND FRONT END BUSHINGS ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TODAY AND IT SEEMED THAT MY STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN IF I WAS MASHING THE GAS, HARDER TO TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. IF THE CAR IS COASTING OR I AM BREAKING THE STEERING IS EASIER TO CONTROL. I HAVE STOPPED AT MY PARENTS HOUSE ON THE WAY HOME TO RESEARCH WHAT COULD BE HAPPENING WITH MY CAR AND FOUND THIS DISTURBING NEWS. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES TO JUST GET ANOTHER CAR...I'M SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO... THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER, BUT WHEN BRAKING OR ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO COAST IT WAS A LITTLE EASIER TO CONTROL. SHE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. SHE DISCOVERED A PORTION OF THE SUPPORT FRAME DROPPED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND IT APPEARED THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED WITH RUST. UPDATED 12/04/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND ENGINE CRADLE WERE CORRODED, FRACTURED, AND CONTAINED HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE OCCURRENCE BUT THE START OF THE PROBLEM WAS 1 WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. 5/6/14 I REPLACED THE TIRES LEFT FRONT AXLE ALONG WITH THE FRONT STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CAME OUT FOR EMISSIONS SYSTEM SMALL LEAK CHANGED THE GAS CAP. FINE TILL JUNE THEN I HAD TO REPLACE EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN SAME CODE P0455 CHANGED PURGE SOLENOID, ALONG WITH THE RIGHT AXLE. FINE AGAIN TILL AUGUST BY THIS TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON NOW CHANGED THE NVLD PUMP PLUS REPLACED EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, ALONG WITH THE RACK N PINION, FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS BOTH SIDES, OUTTER TIE RODS. ONCE AGAIN FINE THEN OCTOBER ROLLS AROUND I TAKE IT BACK IN BECAUSE IT ACTING WEIRD STEERING WISE PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN SAME CODE P0455 NOW I CHANGE OUT THE CANISTER, ALONG WITH EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN BUT THE AXLES THEY ARE STILL GOOD. NOW NOVEMBER ROLLS AROUND AND EVERYTHING IS AT IT AGAIN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON P0455 THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE FUEL LINES NOW. ALSO THE 4 MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKE AGAIN MY ENGINE IS ALMOST READY TO FALL OUT. NOW THEY ARE FINALLY TELLING ME AFTER $3400.00 THAT THIS IS ALL CAUSED BY THE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. MY SUBFRAME AND FRAME HAVE HOLES IN IT, THE RUST IS ACTUALLY MAKING IT'S WAS INSIDE MY CAR NOW. I WENT TO FIX A FLAT TIRE AND WHEN I USED THE EMERGENCY JACK I PUMPED IT 1/4 OF THE WAY UP AND BOOM IT WENT RIGHT THRU THE FRAME. MY ALIGNMENT KEEPS THROWING IT SELF OFF BECAUSE IT CAN'T HOLD THE FRONT SUSPENSION IN PLACE. THE STRUT MOUNT HOUSING LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER FEW BUMPS AND IT WILL GO THREW. ACCIDENT: 1ST WK NOV '14 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREE-WAY LUCKILY DOING 45MPH AND I WENT TO STEER MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND IT KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SCRAPED THE K-RAIL. MECHANIC SAID THE THE BOLTS HE PUT BACK INTO THE SUB-FRAME KEEP FALLING OUT BECAUSE OF THE RUST. *JS

OUT OF NO WHERE LAST NIGHT I WENT OVER 45MPH AND MY CAR GAVE OUT ALL CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WORKS FINE UNLESS I GO OVER 45MPH IT STALLS OUT. *TR

WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 55MPH, WITH MY NIECE IN THE CAR WITH ME WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO PULL TO DRIVERS SIDE THE PULLED TO PASSENGER SIDE. I SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN TO UNDER 40 IT WAS STILL TRYING SWERVE AND PULL. SCARED ME AND MY NIECE. HAS BEEN CLUNKING SINCE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2008.. SPENT OVER A GRAND ON NEW TIE RODS, SUSPENSIONS, WHEN I TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT DEALER FOR CHRYSLER VEHICLES WHERE A TECHNICIAN TOLD ME TO STOP WASTING MY MONEY, THEY KNOW THERE IS CLUNK AND DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I EMAILED AND LEFT MESSAGE FOR CHRYSLER WITH NO RESPINSE. LOOKS LIKE THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT BUT CHRYSLER WONT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THE PROBLEM TILL SOMEONE DIES AND THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED HAVE TO SUE THE COMPANY, SERIOUSLY! STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT, I DONT THINK I WILL EVER PURCHASE A CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN AND WILL INFORM ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY TODO THE SAME. *TR

MY CHRYSLER PACIFICA"S ENGINE CRADLE HAS EXTENSIVELY CORRODED WITH RUST AND HAS BECOME A DANGER TO DRIVE .THIS WAS A NATIONAL PROBLEM REPORTED ON CHICAGO TELEVISION NBC CHANNEL 5. CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING..I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN LOOK AT THIS CRADLE AND THE DANGER MY FAMILY HAS BEEN PUT IN. CHRYSLER ALSO CLAIMS THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM METAL ON 2004/2005 . NEED FOR SOMEONE TO INSPECT THANK YOU *TR

THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER OF MY VEHICLE HAS ROTTED TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS A SERVICE NOTE FOR A SMALL WINDOW OF PACIFICAS INCLUDED ON A WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FOR THE CARS BUILT WITHIN A CERTAIN DATE. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. THE CRADLE INCORPORATES THE ENGINE MOUNTS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND STEERING. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED, AND BREAKS WHILE DRIVING, THERE WILL BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

IN JANUARY, THE SUSPENSION ON OUR 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA (PURCHASED 08/2003), SEEMED TO HAVE ISSUES. A WEB SEARCH TO INVESTIGATE, LED ME TO A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ISSUE THAT EFFECTS '04 AND '05 PACIFICAS. I HAD OUR MECHANIC INSPECT THE FRAME AND SURE ENOUGH, WE WERE ONE OF THE MANY AFFECTED. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THAT THE COMPROMISED FRAME CAUSED THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO SHIFT INWARDS. WE WERE QUOTED BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 DOLLARS FOR OUR REPAIRS. THE CAR NOW SITS IN THE GARAGE AS WE HOPE FOR A RESOLUTION. AFTER IN DEPTH RESEARCH, I UNCOVERED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE ISSUE, TWO NBC NEWS SEGMENTS, AND A PETITION. I ALSO DISCOVER THAT A FEW YEARS BACK, CHRYSLER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF 2004. HOWEVER, SINCE OUR VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS PROVISION, WE WERE NEVER INFORMED THAT WE MAY HAVE BEEN EFFECTED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND OPENED A CASE. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO WRITE AN EMAIL TO THE CASE MANAGER THAT CONTAINED ALL OF THE INFORMATION WHICH I UNCOVERED ONLINE (AS IF THEY DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW THE ISSUE EXISTED). THIS PROVED TO BE A WASTE OF TIME, AS WE WERE DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE EXTEND WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS OF OUR VEHICLE, WHICH HAS 68,000 MILES, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY BY MY 85 YEAR OLD GRANDPARENTS. APPARENTLY, CHRYSLER HAS MADE A BUSINESS DECISION NOT TO ADDRESS THIS WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS DRIVING UNSAFE VEHICLES, MANY OF WHICH ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT THIS ISSUE EXISTS. US, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER PARTIES EFFECTED ARE DUE APPROPRIATE RECOURSE, BUT I FEAR THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CUT TIES WITH OUR VEHICLE BEFORE THERE IS A RESOLUTION. *TR

THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER OF MY VEHICLE IS ROTTING TO THE POINT THAT I CAN NO LONGER HAVE THE CAR SAFETY INSPECTED IN PA. THERE IS A SERVICE NOTE FOR A SMALL WINDOW OF PACIFICAS INCLUDED ON A WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FOR THE CARS BUILT WITHIN A CERTAIN DATE. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. THE CRADLE INCORPORATES THE ENGINE MOUNTS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND STEERING. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED, AND BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, THERE WILL BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

I NOTICED SOME DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING. I PURCHASED AND USED SOME POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I WAS DRIVING ON MY OWN STREET WHEN THE STEERING COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO MY YARD. WHEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRADLE THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE ENGINE IS FALLING AND THAT IS WHAT DAMAGED THE STEERING. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS WILL COST MORE THAN 3000 TO REPAIR. *TR

WHILE HAVING MY VEHICLE CHECKED FOR A POWER STEERING LEAK AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, I RECEIVED CALL FROM MECHANIC THAT IF THERE WAS ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT I CAN COME DOWN TO THE SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS BIGGER THAN THE LEAK. ONCE THERE HE SHOWED ME THE SERIOUS RUST THROUGH ON SUB FRAME RAILS AND ENGINE CRADLE WITH NOTICEABLE CRACKS GOING UPWARD ON SUB FRAME. HE STATED THAT THE CAUSE TO MY POWER STEERING LEAK IS DUE TO THIS SUB FRAME BEING IN THE CONDITION IT IS AND IT'S VIBRATION. HE SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT CHRYSLER FOR A RECALL BECAUSE HE KNOWS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON HONDA'S & TOYOTA'S THAT WERE ALREADY RECALLED. AFTER READING THE FORUMS AND SEARCHING FOR A RECALL THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT UNFORTUNATELY I FALL UNDER THE STATE OF NJ WERE THIS STATE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED RIGHT AWAY. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS I WILL MOVE FORWARD AND START A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR NOT ISSUING A FULL SCALE RECALL TO ALL 2004 PACIFICA OWNERS IN EVERY STATE. THEY CLEARLY RECOGNIZE THE DANGER IN THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING YET STILL REFUSE TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL BY ONLY PROVIDING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO SOME PACIFICA OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND A FATALITY WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR