2004 Chrysler Pacifica air bags problems

“DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE WHEN THE CRUISE CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE SKIPPED. PULLED OVER TO CHECK ENGINE FLUIDS AND ALL WERE OK. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OF SOMETHING BEING WRONG. CONTINUED AT APPROX 70 MPH WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE AN INTERNAL EXPLOSION WITHIN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP AND ALL FRONT AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.”

“ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT (13 JULY 16), SE MICHIGAN HAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND STREET FLOODING. I DROVE THROUGH THIS FOR AT LEAST 6 MILES. THE NEXT MORNING AS I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK, I GOT INTO THE CAR, BUCKLED MY SEAT BELT AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS A LOUD "CRUNCHING" NOISE BUT NO MOVEMENT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, GOT OUT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING BEHIND THE CAR TO MAKE THAT NOISE BUT THERE WASN'T. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, BUCKLED UP, PUT THE CAR'S GEAR INTO REVERSE AGAIN. NO MOVEMENT, BUT AN INCREDIBLY LOUD SCREECHY, WHINY NOISE COULD BE HEARD 4 TOWNHOUSES AWAY. I BARELY TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE SPACE, ACROSS THE LOT, UP OVER A CURB, THROUGH A FLOWER BED, TAKING OUT A LARGE, WOODEN SIGN AND STOPPING ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. POLICE AND EMTS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. I WAS TRANSFERRED BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE'S SYSTEMS, BUT I WOULD THINK THIS WAS A THROTTLE ISSUE. FOR THE FEW SECONDS THE CAR WAS MOVING IN REVERSE, I WAS STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES WERE "STIFF" AND THE PEDAL WOULD ONLY GO HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARDS.…”

“THE COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE CAR DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. AFTER A STEADY IDLE OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO GET HOT AND THE FANS WILL KICK ON. TWO MINUTES LATER IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. THE SYSTEM IT SELF SEEMS OK, BUT THE FAN IS CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF. THE MOTOR GET S SO HOT THAT THE HOOD ON MY CAR IS STARTING TO TURN. NEXT IS THE AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ALWAYS ON INDICATING A FAILURE. THE BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED? NOW THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS KEEPS COMING ON. KEEPS SAYING MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 4. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED AND I STILL GET THIS CODE? MY VEHICLE GETS IT REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND MY MECHANIC SAID MY CAR SHOULD NOT HAVING THESE PROBLEMS.”

“LETTER FROM SENATOR GARRETT ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA AIRBAG. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG PANEL OPENED AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE SEEN. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG ITSELF. *JB”

“WHEN I BOUGHT IT I DROVE IT 20 FEET TO GAS STATION. THE GAS TANK SAID I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS. ONCE I WAS DONE I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT SAID I HAD NO GAS! I CALLED THE GUY WHO SOLD IT TO ME AND HE SAID IT JUST TAKES TIME FOR IT TO REREGISTER THAT I FILLED IT UP SO I DROVE IT BACK TO HIM TO SHOW HIM WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE GOT THERE IT SAID I HAD HALF A TANK AND HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT HOME I WOULD BE FINE! WELL ON THE WAY HOME IT SAID I HAD 20 MILE TILL EMPTY BUT THE LAST THING IT SHOWED ON GAS TANK WAS THAT I STILL WAS AT HALF TAKE SO I FILLED IT UP AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY BROTHERS WHICH IS 35 MILES FROM FARGO TO HAVE HIM SEE IF HE COULD FIX THE PUMPS BUT HE COULDN'T SO I GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE GOIN 75 MPH TO GO HOME AND THE GAS LIGHT FLICKERED AND THE CAR WENT FROM 75 TO 0 IN LIKE 2 SECONDS. RESULTING IN MYSELF BASHING MY HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF EITHER! MY HUSBAND CAME TO GET ME AND BROUGHT GAS CANS TO GET ME ENOUGH GAS TO MAKE IT TO A GAS STATION! IT TOOK US 58 MIN EXACTLY TO FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY FULL SO I COULD MAKE IT BACK HOME. SO THE NEXT DAY I CALLED BACK AND THEY EVENTUALLY HAD ME TAKE IT TO LUNDES IN…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000....UPDATED 10-21-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED.”