Problems with 2004 Chrysler Pacifica STRUCTURE

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that while having regular maintenance performed on the vehicle, the technician advised the contact that the sub frame was completely rusted and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was approximately 145,000. the vin was unavailable.

October 31, 2012; the chrysler dealer service department noted the owner that the engine subframe (engine cradle) had rusted through and advised the owner that this could cause a serious damage to the vehicle and possible injury or death due to loss of vehicle control. the vehicle was purchased new at this dealership, registered, serviced, and driven in the chrysler designated "salt belt" state of ohio for its entire service life (still in service, still in ohio, still owned by the original owner). apparently there was a chrysler customer satisfaction campaign letter in nov. 2010 that went out to vehicle owners in this area for this year-model vehicle, regarding this potential condition. however, this owner was not notified. when this letter was issued, the vehicle would have been inside the 10 year/150,000 mile service window and qualified under the extended chrysler warranty. fortunately, no catastrophic failure occurred before this condition was corrected. the chrysler dealer made an offer to repair the vehicle for $798, which was accepted and the vehicle made roadworthy once again. chrysler should reimburse the owner for the repair charges since no notification was ever received by the owner regarding the warranty extension, the risk if not repaired, or the procedures necessary to mitigate the defect. *tr

I was having pacifica serviced at goodyear store in newport, ky prior to driving to florida. mechanic called me to service area to see serious rust through on front frame rails and engine cradle. he said "do not drive the car to florida. the engine could drop if frame breaks". i immediately went to wyler chrysler and had the rusted frame replaced. i later found that chrysler had extended their warranty to specifically cover this problem. i did file a claim with chrysler and they did reimburse me 80% of the repair cost. i am now seeing, on edmunds.com chat site that there are many more owners having this same rust out problems with their pacificas. a rusted frame breaking at highway speeds could be disastrous. *tr

i purchased this vehicle used with very low mileage. it is in great condition until i started hearing a noise in the front end. i took into the garage to have new tires and brakes put on it. when the mechanic put it on the rack, he said that the frame was rusted through. so, instead of new tires and brakes i now need a new frame. i am just thankful that i was not driving while this happen. i was wondering if this problem as affected other owners also. *tr

I took my vehicle in to the shop to get new tires and the mechanic informed me that the frame was rusted in half. he told me that i would have to replace the frame or the vehicle would not be safe to drive. *tr

Sub frame completely rusted apart, resulting in dangerous front end conditions and expensive repair. found similar issues for other pacifica owners through research and believe this is a defective part and should be covered and recalled before someone gets hurt or killed. *tr

Noticed a lot of rust on frame at front of vehicle. body shop confirmed that the engine cradle was badly rusted and has to be replaced. car is past the extended warranty of 7/75,000. this is way too much damage for a car with 67,000 miles. *tr

My mechanic has advised that my car has a rusted subframe, parts of which have rusted through. it is due for inspection by the end of the month, and i have been advised that it is rusted bad enough to fail inspection. i need this vehicle, and have taken great care of it. i changed the timing belt last year, and have kept it in a garage. i cannot afford to purchase another vehicle or replace the subframe. this is not normal rusting. my local chrysler dealers, naturally, have told me that the car has too many miles and is no longer under warranty. i have done my research on this. chrysler has been replacing subframes in some pacificas, particularly canada. there is a problem with this model; the metal was not properly coated or something. it is time for chrysler to issue a recall and replace these subframes. when vehicles rust, it should not start in the subframe. i am a single mother; i need this car to drive to work and for family use. my kids and i are not safe in it, and if it can't pass inspection i will be without a vehicle! *tr

My car repair shop noticed the subframe on my 2004 pacifica as rusted through enough that the shop's owner could get a finger through the rust hole. he said the pacifica would be adequate for the vacation i am about to take, but also said this issue should be handled "within the next year" or the suspension system would fail. he also added i should file this complaint as a potential recall action, as it was not on the current list. for the record, northern virginia (near washington dc) does get snow and ice, and does treat its roads when that happens. btw, i tried to file this complaint last night, but your system was doing maintenance when i tried to send it to you. i don't think this went through last night, but.... *tr

Took car to the shop for routine schedule maintenance. the mechanic said that the subframe was severely damaged by rust and recommended replacing it as soon as possible. he stated that is very dangerous driving a car in this condition. i googled " pacifica subfame rust" and find out that this issue is huge. the mechanic said that this deterioration is not normal. there should be a recall campaign to make chrysler aware of this problem. *tr

Does the nhs care about all the complaints on the chrysler pacifica to have the million dollar company pay to fix this family car right or recall the car in general. i called the company and because where my car was manufactured its not entitled to replacement because it shouldn't have rusted subframes which is totally inaccurate my car has had nothing but issues is a 2004 and i'm not the only one my neighbor has a 2006 chrysler pacifica and its subframe is rotted out are we going to sit back and let them not take responsibility do we know what it means when the some subframe is rotted that means if you are unaware of this you can be driving down the road with your kids in the back of the car in your engine drops out of your car which could cause serious serious serious accidents is this what we want.their only answer was to contact the national highway transportation safety administration. *tr

In going to mechanic to get oil change. i was notified that subframe was rusted out and car is very dangerous to be driven. i have yet to contact dealership but on doing a search on line i found this to be a major issue with this car. i live in the suburbs of chicago. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed on the vehicle by a personal mechanic, the vehicle was found to have a rusted engine cradle and sub frame. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to cover half of the cost of the repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,150 and the current mileage was 100,300. the vin was not available.

The front subframe on my car has rusted pretty bad, i only lived in nj for a little over a year. i got the car used when it had 40 thousand miles on it in georgia. it went through all the checks and somehow in another 40 thousand it gets holes in the front subframe! i read that this has happened a lot with this car and it seems that a lot of owners got it replaced even after 5 year warranty! *js

I took my care into the sear auto center in annapolis, md for a tune up and also asked them to check for the knocking noise under my hood as is was affecting my steering and making the car hard to steer when going around curves. i was told that the front end suspension needed to be replaced badly as the parts were severely rusted. i was also told that i would have to leave the car at the facility overnight as they were having problems removing the old parts due to heavy corrosion on the old parts and it would take more time to get the parts off and replace then with new parts. in december of 2011, i purchsed new tires and was also told that i needed to purchse new wheels because the current wheels on the vehicle were starting to rust. in september, i had my brake pads replaced and was also told that i needed new rotors because those were also rusting. i do not live in a flood zone, nor have i ever had my car in a flood. i was made aware of a recall by chrysler yesterday of its 2004-2005 jeep brand due to corrosion and wanted to submit this as there may also me chryslers such as mine that have had corrosion issues from normal usage. a few years ago, i also had to have the rear differential serviced due to a leak and this may have also been due to corrosion. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that while driving 15 mph, he heard a clicking sound. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer replaced the tie rod and the springs. the failure continued. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the cradle needed to be replaced because it was rusted. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacture was not contacted. the failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 105,000.

Being in the diesel /automotive field for more than 25 years i was shocked to see that the engine cradle was rotting from the inside out. i do all my own service work on all my vehicles and i have never seen the sub-frame on any vehicle corrode the way this vehicle had. large rusted out holes in the cross members and sub-frame. like everyone else with this issue, i did a bunch of research both on the internet and talking with the dealer and found out that chrysler did issue a tsb on this problem. the tsb only covers vehicles in the north region and only in salt laden states. but what really burns me is the build dates chrysler only will cover. chrysler will only cover vehicles built from approximately february to march 2004, and if your car is outside that window, too bad. in my opinion my car is unsafe to drive, so now i have a car that decorates my driveway. chrysler will not cover anything because of when my car was built as compared to the build window. this is an issue that chrysler has known about for a while and should stand behind their product. i feel chrysler is giving their customers the shaft with a very serious issue. why do people have to die or get seriously inured before oem's actually take care of a serious issue like this. *tr

After owning my 2004 chrysler pacifia for 7 years, i was told by the dealer, during a routine oilchange, that the subframe is rusted out and wouldnt last much longer. there are two rust holes in the frame structure on the left side and more forming on the right side on the height of the wheels. replacing the subframe (which holds the motor in place) would cost about +$4000!! i have always taking excellent care of this car. it is in great shape inside and out - except the frame. after doing some research online i have found that i am not alone. there is a mulitude of 2004 chrysler owners having the exact same problem as i do. this issue needs to be resolved by chrysler. a subframe is supose to last longer then 7 years! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact was driving 50 mph when the steering wheel started shaking. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic and the mechanic stated that the sub frame was corroded. the manufacturer was notified. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 154,000 and the current mileage was 156,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that the sub frame was rusted and cracked under the front passenger side of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that there was no warranty for the sub frame. the vin was not available. the current and the failure mileages were 115,017.

The front sub frame or engine cradle is rusted through and is no longer suitable for its intended purpose causing a safety inspection failure. *tr

Vehicle was taken in to dealer due to excessive noise when brakes are applied hard for sudden stops. were told that the subframe in the front of the car is rusted out and will cost about $3,000 to repair. car is garage-kept and washed regularly, and only has 75,000 miles. *tt

I took my car in for annual inspection today....omg.....it's uninspectable.....too dangerous to drive.....there are holes in the front sub frame, rear bushings are gone in rear sub frame and the rockers have holes in them.....the engine may well fall out.....! this car has only 113,000 miles on it.....has been regularly maintained and now, how am i supposed to get to work?? $ 2944 quoted for new parts and more than $1000 for labor to fix.....all of these other owner complaints about the exact same thing tell me chrysler is ripping off it's consumers....my understanding is the metal is so very thin - thin enough to barely support the engine even without any rust!! this is criminal on chrysler's part......they know this is a problem and do nothing???? come on people of the nhtsa - make them do something.....this is clearly a defect.....a very unhappy consumer in maine!! guaranteed no more chrysler product in my future unless they fix this........! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, she noticed a grinding noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was later taken for state inspection where the contact was informed that there was corrosion and holes throughout the sub frame. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that because the contact did not reside in one of the states listed in their extended warranty, they could provide no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

85,000 miles on a well maintained vehicle. noticed noise in chassis especially turning and over bumps. rear crossmember (part of engine cradle) rusted through on both sides and nearly broken free from left and right frame rails. contacted chrysler only to learn that "select 2002 and 2003 pacifica models in high corrosion areas" have extended warranty (up to 150,000 miles) for this exact issue. unfortunately chrysler will not cover 2004 models!!! very expensive to repair! sad that chrysler will not stand behind their vehicles.... especially since they obviously know it's an issue! *tr

Had vehicle in for replacement of starter. mechanic noticed the subframe was completely rotted and no longer performing its intended purpose. chrysler general information yielded no results as there is no recall on that part. local dealership indicated the replacement part was $3585 (new) but there was no warehouse where such part was stocked. no used alternatives are available. car has 160k in miles, 2004. still has life in it but now it's unsafe to drive. *kb

Car now has 140000 miles. i am on the 3rd full set of engine mounts and now 3 of them are broken again and need replacement. this could easily have turned into a safety issue. this is obviously a defect that chrysler knows about. why has there been no recall? *tr

2004 chrysler pacifica with 117,250 miles experiencing severe rust and deterioration in the rear suspension subframe. the mounting point of the rear shocks to the subframe is almost completely rusted through. two mechanics have told me that such rust should not be expected on such a young vehicle. many here have mentioned the front engine cradle rusting through. i'm experiencing the same type of rust issue but in the back. my mechanic says the car is getting to the unsafe to drive area! help!!! *kb

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance when they detected that the front passenger's side of the subframe exhibited a four inch hole. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Steering became difficult (tight) with catching during turns. diagnosed as a broken vehicle engine cradle failed on 7 year old vehicle with 60,000 miles. chrylser has acknowledged failures of this part and has provided a 10 year 150,000 mile warranty for 2004-2005 pacifica's that were operated in areas of high road salt usage (mine was in il for 20,000 miles. for some reason chrysler states my vin does not qualify. see copy of letter below: (this letter was provided by a pacifica owner, not sent to me.) this letter is to inform you that the warranty period on your chrysler group llc pacifica's front engine cradle has been extended to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. this engine cradle extended warranty coverage applies to chrysler pacifica model years 2004-2005. we are extending the warranty period on your front engine cradle because some vehicles operated in areas of high road salt usage, may experience engine cradle corrosion resulting in a drive ability vibration and or/shake. if your vehicle is operating properly, there is nothing you are required to do. if you are experiencing the conditions as described in this warranty extension within the 10 year or 150,000 mile period, simply contact your dealer to have repairs performed. your dealer will inspect the engine cradle for perforation corrosion on the rear cross car cradle support and replace if necessary. if you have already experienced this engine cradle concern and have paid to have it repaired, you may be eligible to receive a reimbursement. you may send your original receipts, invoices and/or repair order with adequate proof of payment (copy of the front and back of cancelled check, or copy of credit card receipt, etc.). please mail to the following address for reimbursement, your claim will be acted upon within 60 days of receipt:

While having a oil change performed mechanic noticed front subframe had rust holes in it. subframe needs to be replaced. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that the vehicle was being serviced for routine maintenance when an independent mechanic informed her that there was a hole in the engine cradle due to rusting. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 93,000.

2004 chrysler pacifica. consumer states defect with frame rotting. *tgw

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact was driving 35 mph when a noise emitted from under the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed there was corrosion under the vehicle near the engine. the manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 88,000 and the current mileage was 89,000. updated 02/0812 *bf updated 03/12/12

2004 chrysler pacifica 76000 miles and subframe is completely broke off and my steering is riding on the subframe. basically, my car is "collapsing". i could tell when driving it, it felt unsafe. so now i can't even sell my car to put towards a new one. chrysler dealership in rochester, mi looked at my car and i told them it was "clunking", they couldn't find anything wrong with it??? less than 8000 miles ago they replaced the front end suspension ( at that time it was under warranty). it also has had the entire transmission rebuilt by chrysler. if this doesn't qualify for "lemon" i don't know what does. what is our recourse? i feel like getting a lawyer....just thankful that i and my son ( 13 yrs now), have not been killed in it. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance when the technician stated that the front cross member was severally corroded and would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that they could not offer any assistance because the warranty was expired.. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

2004 pacifica. the uni-body frame is cracked and rusted to the point where it wouldn't pass inspection.the struts and strut mounts, the inner and outer u-joints all need replacing. the paint all over the vehicle is rusting through. vehicle is kept in garage. i have a 1998 caravan that is in better shape.there is definetly a problem with the manufacturing of this vehicle. there are too many complaints for it not to be taken seriously.i own multiple chrsyler vehicles and would appreciate some consideration towards this problem. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact heard a loud clicking noise from the front end of the vehicle. he vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who informed the contact that the sub frame had rusted and that the engine could possibly fall out and that vehicle was unsafe to drive. no repairs were performed. the dealer was contacted and advised that there were no related recalls to the failure and provided no additional assistance. the contact did not inform the manufacturer of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 157,000.

Took my 2004 pacifica in for a routine oil change/service and was notified that the entire frame under the engine is rusting out. actual rust holes in the frame. i have also noticed rust on the body. this is a garage kept vehicle and i baby it. from what i understand, it is going to take many more complaints about this issue or someone actually dying when the frame cracks and causes a severe accident before any action will be taken. i just hope it's not me or my kids, because i will not relent. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. while driving at any speed, the contact could hear rattling from the front end of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told that the frame under the engine was severely corroded and that the engine could possibly fracture from under the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 110,000.

2004 chrysler pacifica sub frame rotted thru with rust. this is unacceptable. chrysler knows of the problem and will not do a recall. *tr

After a recent snow storm i noticed a mid-sized yellow leak under my vehicle. i brought it to my mechanic who could not find any issue with the fluids, besides a small leak in the transmission fluid. during routine maintenance my mechanic noticed a large rust hold on the subframe about 10-12 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. the moisture from the snow was running through the rust and creating the yellow stain. the mechanic was surprised at the amount of rust and said we need to keep an eye on it. at this point it's still drivable, but it may very well rust to the point where it is unsafe to drive. my mechanic suggested we check for recalls as he felt the failure of the subframe to keep in tact was bad design by the maker. i checked on recalls and found many complaints regarding this exact same issue on the 2004 model. nothing can be done, except replacement of the frame, though we still have another 5 years left on our loan. this is a major safety concern for this year and model of this vehicle. *tr

2004 chrysler pacifica sub-frame rotted out. the rest of the underneath is fine. the rest of the car is fine. car in uninspectable and cannot be driven. called chrysler, they said they would do nothing, even though is a common problem. will cost thousands to replace. *tr

Clunking sound coming from engine. motor mounts were worn out. also noticed engine cradle on passenger side was rusted and separating at weld. the rust was significant too the point that holes had formed in multiple spots. contacted chrysler dealership and they reported that chrysler has posted a service bulletin on the issue in the last two weeks. no information is available online except for other owners discussing issue. *tr

Motor mounts on my 2004 chrysler pacifica are broken! this is a height risk and parts seem to be on back order costs are high and this must be recalled. this is a ongoing issue on the pacifica! i found this out after reading several forums which many many people have the same issue and all cant believe that this is not recalled yet. broken motor mounts can cause the engine to fall down onto the street and could cause deadly incidents! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. while having the vehicle repaired the contact was informed that the sub frame was covered with rust. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the entire sub frame needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 74000.

Tl*the contact owns 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that his vehicle was making a rattling noise in the front of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing which indicated that the engine cradle and subs were covered with rust. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 149,000 and the current mileage was 160,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair; and the technician detected that the front passenger side subframe assembly exhibited excessive rust corrosion. the dealer was notified and they advised that the vehicle be inspected. the contact had concern of the safety issue involved and scheduled an appointment. the failure mileage was 103,771.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. while having the vehicle inspected at an independent repair shop he was informed that the engine sub frame was completely damaged by rust. the vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer who confirmed that the sub frame was damaged by rust. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 90,500.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pacifica. while having the vehicle serviced, the mechanic informed the contact that the subframe was completely rusted and cracked. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the problem was confirmed but it was not repaired. the current and failure mileages were approximately 80,000. the vin was unavailable.