Problems · by component
2004 Chrysler Pacifica suspension problems
125 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica cite suspension, 14% of all 896 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
125
14% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“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”
“THE FRONT CHASSIS CROSS MEMBER HAS ROTTED OUT. MY 2004 PACIFICA HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER 5 YEARS BECAUSE THE CORROSION IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT. THE ROTTED FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS POINTED OUT TO ME DURING A STATE INSPECTION IN JUNE OF 2012”
“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.”
“WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WITH AROUND 117K MILES ON IT. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES IT. WHILE CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL ON IT LAST WEEKEND, I NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION (PERFORATION ACTUALLY) OF THE VEHICLE ENGINE CRADLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH ON THE BOTTOM AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS ABOUT 70% RUSTED THROUGH. AS THIS CROSS MEMBER IS WHAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE AND ACTS AS THE BASE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. SHOULD THIS STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FAIL DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME UNSTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH WOULD BE A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. YES, WE LIVE IN WISCONSIN (PART OF THE SALT BELT), BUT THIS AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON SUCH A CRUCIAL STRUCTURAL COMPONENT IS CRAZY! THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 14 YRS AND FOR ONLY 117K MI. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THE BODY STARTED TO DETERIORATE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT NOT A SUPPORTING FRAME MEMBER. I DON'T BELIEVE THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS PROPERLY TREATED AGAINST CORROSION, OR THE DESIGN OF THE CRADLE MADE IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXCESSIVE LOCALIZED CORROSION AND THE…”
“SUB FRAME ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED TO THE POINT THE MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANY LONGER. JAPANESE METAL COATING ISSUE OR CHRYSLER RECALL NEEDED? I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THINKING I HAVE A CV SHAFT GOING OUT AS IT MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE FRAME IS TWISTING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST MORE THAN THE WORTH OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE BRAND NEW AND TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. EVEN THE BODY IS RUSTING BADLY. CHECK OUT THE ATTACHED NEWS INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.WFSB.COM/STORY/26363027/PROBLEM-PACIFICAS-A-DANGER-DESPITE-LACK-OF-RECALL”
Showing 6 of 125 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.