NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
50 reportsClear category filter83,000 miles · Oct 27, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURING…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
NHTSA ODI #10362641
95,000 miles · Jul 30, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering
AFTER TURNING RIGHT AT STOP LIGHT AND PROCEEDING SLOWLY WITH ACCELERATION, A LOUD/SHAKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA (SIMILAR TO A CELL PHONE PLACED ON VIBRATE INSTEAD OF RINGING WHEN A CALL IS RECEIVED). WITHIN SECONDS, VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, EVEN AFTER PRESSING ON BR…
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AFTER TURNING RIGHT AT STOP LIGHT AND PROCEEDING SLOWLY WITH ACCELERATION, A LOUD/SHAKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA (SIMILAR TO A CELL PHONE PLACED ON VIBRATE INSTEAD OF RINGING WHEN A CALL IS RECEIVED). WITHIN SECONDS, VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, EVEN AFTER PRESSING ON BRAKES. I WAS A BLOCK AWAY FROM WHERE I HAD TO TURN TO ENTER OUR SUBDIVISION, TRAVELING DOWN A TWO-LANE ROAD. THANKFULLY, NO CARS WERE TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, OR COMING OUT OF OUR SUBDIVISION, SO I WAS ABLE TO TURN LEFT TO ENTER OUR SUBDIVISION. TO TRY TO SLOW CAR DOWN, I HAD TO PRESS DOWN ON BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE, ALMOST HITTING A LIGHT POLE. AFTER TURNING AND STOPPING THE SWERVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN FURTHER, REACHING THE '4' ON THE TACHOMETER (BEFORE THE TURN, IT HAD BEEN AT A '3'). AS I APPROACHED THE FOUR-WAY STOP IN OUR SUBDIVISION, I AGAIN STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. THE TACHOMETER READ '4', BUT THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED 30 MPH, REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD I PRESSED ON BRAKES. I COULD NOT BRAKE AT ALL, AND WAS LOSING THE ABILITY TO STEER AS I APPROACHED THE SIGN. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO PLACE IT IN 'PARK'(WHICH MADE THE TACHOMETER GO EVEN HIGHER) AND REMOVE THE KEYS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AS QUICKLY AS I COULD. THIS STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STOP SIGN. I WAITED ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR, BUT AFTER IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED, TACHOMETER REVVED UP AGAIN TO '4', THOUGH SPEEDOMETER READ '0'. HUSBAND MANEUVERED CAR THE ONE BLOCK HOME BY PLACING IT IN 'NEUTRAL'. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE. CHRYSLER TO BE NOTIFIED IN MORNING, AS I CALLED AFTER BUSINESS HOURS (7:41 PM CST). MYSELF, TWO KIDS, AND TWO DOGS WERE IN THE CAR DRIVING DOWN WHAT IS NORMALLY A BUSY TWO-LANE ROAD AND INTO SUBDIVISION FULL OF PLAYING CHILDREN, TRULY A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10346243
Mileage unknown · May 26, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE RELATED TO THE ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER AND ALTERNATOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. LATER THAT YEAR, THERE WAS A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE …
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2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE RELATED TO THE ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER AND ALTERNATOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. LATER THAT YEAR, THERE WAS A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE ENGINE, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE AND TO THIS DAY, THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM OR NEAR THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED, HOWEVER THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS, TIE RODS AND ROCKER ARMS WERE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10332766
55,000 miles · Dec 15, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringTires
I HAD A BAD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT . SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SINCE I HAD A FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUMPER TO BUMPER., THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED TIRES. SO I CHANGED THE TIRE IT STILL VIBRATED. GO BACK NOW IT IS THE RACK & PINION BUSHINGS ARE BAD . BUT I NEED TO REPLACE THE K FRAME BECAUSE A WELD IS BROKEN. THEY SAY I BROKE I…
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I HAD A BAD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT . SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SINCE I HAD A FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUMPER TO BUMPER., THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED TIRES. SO I CHANGED THE TIRE IT STILL VIBRATED. GO BACK NOW IT IS THE RACK & PINION BUSHINGS ARE BAD . BUT I NEED TO REPLACE THE K FRAME BECAUSE A WELD IS BROKEN. THEY SAY I BROKE IT CAUSE THERE ARE SCRATCHES ON IT. {NOT THAT VIBRATION DID IT} SO I PAID TO HAVE A NEW ONE PUT IN . 8 MONTHS LATER THE MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK AND THE ENGINE DROPS 2" FROM THE GROUND . THANK GOD MY FAMILY WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. SO I TAKE IT BACK AND THEY SAY BECAUSE THERE IS SCRATCHES ON IT AGAIN THAT BROKE THE BUSHINGS .ONCE AGAIN I ENDED UP PAYING TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10296023
62,000 miles · May 5, 2009
SteeringStructure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. IN ADDITION, A NAIL WAS FOUND IN THE TIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT INNER TIE RODS AND TIRE BALANCING WERE NEEDED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED. THE DEALER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. IN ADDITION, A NAIL WAS FOUND IN THE TIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT INNER TIE RODS AND TIRE BALANCING WERE NEEDED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES TO SEND TO THE MANUFACTURER SO THEY COULD BE ADVISED ON HOW TO PROCEED. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY WAITING ON A RETURN PHONE CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10267748
71,000 miles · Jan 5, 2009
SteeringStructureSuspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TAKING HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SERVICE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRAME OF HIS VEHICLE WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE D…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TAKING HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SERVICE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRAME OF HIS VEHICLE WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE DEALER NEVER WARNED HIM OF ANY FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 02/06/09 *BF THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND REPLACED THE TIE ROD ENDS. UPDATED 02/06/09. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10253823
52,000 miles · Aug 28, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringStructure
2004 CHRYLSER PACIFICA ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT, TIE ROD REPLACED ABOUT ONE YR AGO. DEALER WON'T COVER COST D/T WARRANTY EXPIRED. 53,000 MILES ON CAR. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE D/T ENGINE/TRANS COULD FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. INSTRUCTED ONLY TO DRIVE CAR IF NECESSARY. AVOID BUMPS! HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE C/O ON INTERNET ON SAME MATTER. I SH…
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2004 CHRYLSER PACIFICA ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT, TIE ROD REPLACED ABOUT ONE YR AGO. DEALER WON'T COVER COST D/T WARRANTY EXPIRED. 53,000 MILES ON CAR. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE D/T ENGINE/TRANS COULD FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. INSTRUCTED ONLY TO DRIVE CAR IF NECESSARY. AVOID BUMPS! HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE C/O ON INTERNET ON SAME MATTER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR POOR QUALITY OF METAL USED ON FRAME WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240029
6,000 miles · Apr 22, 2008
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsSeats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND MADE A THUMPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE ALSO TENDS TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN THE LE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND MADE A THUMPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE ALSO TENDS TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN THE LEFT REAR SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT, THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY HEAT, THE BATTERY WAS STALLING. THE HEATED SEAT WERE NOT WORKING. UPDATED 06/16/08*JB
NHTSA ODI #10225392
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2008
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS IN FATAL ACCIDENT . DRIVER COMPLAINED OF HEARING CLICKING NOISES DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT THE PLACE WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FINE. DRIVER FELT STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HE SAYS COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE AT ALL VEHICL…
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VEHICLE WAS IN FATAL ACCIDENT . DRIVER COMPLAINED OF HEARING CLICKING NOISES DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT THE PLACE WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FINE. DRIVER FELT STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HE SAYS COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE AT ALL VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY FLIPPED 6 TIMES . NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222044
37,450 miles · Nov 29, 2007
Steering
CAR FIGHTS STEERING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10210335
NHTSA investigations
3EA06010 · Fuel Tank Punctures
Opened Jun 15, 2006 · Closed Oct 11, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage; Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly; Fuel System, Other:storage; Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly
EA06-010 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED IN PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE06-009.PE06-009 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED IN A PEER INFORMATION REQUEST AS PART OF A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-050) OF FUEL TANK PUNCTURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.IN JANUARY 2006, NISSAN SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI THAT IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK SHIELDING IN APPROXIMATELY 209,000 MY 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, NISSAN INSTALLED SHIELDS ON THE EXPOSED FRONT SURFACES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES.PEER DATA COLLECTED FOR MY 2004 THROUGH 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES DURING PE05-050 INCLUDED 120 FIELD REPORTS DOCUMENTING TANK REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE BY ROAD DEBRIS AS PART OF A PARTS RESTRICTION PROGRAM CONDUCTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TANK SUPPLIER (INERGY). ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DURING PE05-050, PE06-009 AND EA06-010 SHOW THAT THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANKS IN THE SUBJECT PACIFICA VEHICLES IS NOT COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROMROAD DEBRIS BY THE FLOOR PAN OR OTHER BODY STRUCTURE.THE TANKS WERE COMPARED WITH PEER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEVERAL IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER AS SHARING SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS (UNSHIELDED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN A SADDLEBAG CONFIGURATION).SOME OF THE PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI PACKAGED THE TANKS IN RECESSED CAVITIES IN THE FLOOR PAN OR USED SHIELDS TO PROTECT EXPOSED SURFACES ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK.IN GENERAL, THESE TANKS HAD THE LOWEST COMPLAINT RATES FOR TANK PUNCTURE BY ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, OTHER PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI HAD PACKAGING SIMILAR TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND SOME OF THESE ALSO HAD SOME COMPLAINTS OF TANK PUNCTURE.NONE OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED BY ODI HAD TANKS PUNCTURE DATA COMPARABLE TO CHRYSLER'S FIELD REPORTS FROM ITS PART RESTRICTION PROGRAMS, SO THAT DATA COULD NOT BE USED IN PEER COMPARISONS. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS THAT THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ABOUT HALF THAT OBSERVED IN THE RECALLED MURANO VEHICLES AND NOT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED WITH SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS.TESTING BY THE NHTSA VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TESTING CENTER (VRTC) SHOWED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MURANO AND PACIFICA FUEL TANK PACKAGING AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEBRIS THROWN BY THE FRONT TIRES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
EA06-010 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED IN PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE06-009.PE06-009 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED IN A PEER INFORMATION REQUEST AS PART OF A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-050) OF FUEL TANK PUNCTURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.IN JANUARY 2006, NISSAN SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI THAT IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK SHIELDING IN APPROXIMATELY 209,000 MY 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, NISSAN INSTALLED SHIELDS ON THE EXPOSED FRONT SURFACES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES.PEER DATA COLLECTED FOR MY 2004 THROUGH 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES DURING PE05-050 INCLUDED 120 FIELD REPORTS DOCUMENTING TANK REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE BY ROAD DEBRIS AS PART OF A PARTS RESTRICTION PROGRAM CONDUCTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TANK SUPPLIER (INERGY). ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DURING PE05-050, PE06-009 AND EA06-010 SHOW THAT THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANKS IN THE SUBJECT PACIFICA VEHICLES IS NOT COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROMROAD DEBRIS BY THE FLOOR PAN OR OTHER BODY STRUCTURE.THE TANKS WERE COMPARED WITH PEER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEVERAL IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER AS SHARING SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS (UNSHIELDED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN A SADDLEBAG CONFIGURATION).SOME OF THE PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI PACKAGED THE TANKS IN RECESSED CAVITIES IN THE FLOOR PAN OR USED SHIELDS TO PROTECT EXPOSED SURFACES ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK.IN GENERAL, THESE TANKS HAD THE LOWEST COMPLAINT RATES FOR TANK PUNCTURE BY ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, OTHER PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI HAD PACKAGING SIMILAR TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND SOME OF THESE ALSO HAD SOME COMPLAINTS OF TANK PUNCTURE.NONE OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED BY ODI HAD TANKS PUNCTURE DATA COMPARABLE TO CHRYSLER'S FIELD REPORTS FROM ITS PART RESTRICTION PROGRAMS, SO THAT DATA COULD NOT BE USED IN PEER COMPARISONS. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS THAT THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ABOUT HALF THAT OBSERVED IN THE RECALLED MURANO VEHICLES AND NOT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED WITH SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS.TESTING BY THE NHTSA VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TESTING CENTER (VRTC) SHOWED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MURANO AND PACIFICA FUEL TANK PACKAGING AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEBRIS THROWN BY THE FRONT TIRES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
EA06-010 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED IN PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE06-009.PE06-009 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED IN A PEER INFORMATION REQUEST AS PART OF A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-050) OF FUEL TANK PUNCTURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.IN JANUARY 2006, NISSAN SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI THAT IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK SHIELDING IN APPROXIMATELY 209,000 MY 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, NISSAN INSTALLED SHIELDS ON THE EXPOSED FRONT SURFACES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES.PEER DATA COLLECTED FOR MY 2004 THROUGH 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES DURING PE05-050 INCLUDED 120 FIELD REPORTS DOCUMENTING TANK REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE BY ROAD DEBRIS AS PART OF A PARTS RESTRICTION PROGRAM CONDUCTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TANK SUPPLIER (INERGY). ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DURING PE05-050, PE06-009 AND EA06-010 SHOW THAT THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANKS IN THE SUBJECT PACIFICA VEHICLES IS NOT COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROMROAD DEBRIS BY THE FLOOR PAN OR OTHER BODY STRUCTURE.THE TANKS WERE COMPARED WITH PEER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEVERAL IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER AS SHARING SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS (UNSHIELDED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN A SADDLEBAG CONFIGURATION).SOME OF THE PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI PACKAGED THE TANKS IN RECESSED CAVITIES IN THE FLOOR PAN OR USED SHIELDS TO PROTECT EXPOSED SURFACES ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK.IN GENERAL, THESE TANKS HAD THE LOWEST COMPLAINT RATES FOR TANK PUNCTURE BY ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, OTHER PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI HAD PACKAGING SIMILAR TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND SOME OF THESE ALSO HAD SOME COMPLAINTS OF TANK PUNCTURE.NONE OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED BY ODI HAD TANKS PUNCTURE DATA COMPARABLE TO CHRYSLER'S FIELD REPORTS FROM ITS PART RESTRICTION PROGRAMS, SO THAT DATA COULD NOT BE USED IN PEER COMPARISONS. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS THAT THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ABOUT HALF THAT OBSERVED IN THE RECALLED MURANO VEHICLES AND NOT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED WITH SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS.TESTING BY THE NHTSA VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TESTING CENTER (VRTC) SHOWED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MURANO AND PACIFICA FUEL TANK PACKAGING AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEBRIS THROWN BY THE FRONT TIRES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Other:storage
EA06-010 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED IN PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE06-009.PE06-009 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED IN A PEER INFORMATION REQUEST AS PART OF A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-050) OF FUEL TANK PUNCTURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.IN JANUARY 2006, NISSAN SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI THAT IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK SHIELDING IN APPROXIMATELY 209,000 MY 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, NISSAN INSTALLED SHIELDS ON THE EXPOSED FRONT SURFACES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES.PEER DATA COLLECTED FOR MY 2004 THROUGH 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES DURING PE05-050 INCLUDED 120 FIELD REPORTS DOCUMENTING TANK REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE BY ROAD DEBRIS AS PART OF A PARTS RESTRICTION PROGRAM CONDUCTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TANK SUPPLIER (INERGY). ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DURING PE05-050, PE06-009 AND EA06-010 SHOW THAT THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANKS IN THE SUBJECT PACIFICA VEHICLES IS NOT COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROMROAD DEBRIS BY THE FLOOR PAN OR OTHER BODY STRUCTURE.THE TANKS WERE COMPARED WITH PEER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEVERAL IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER AS SHARING SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS (UNSHIELDED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN A SADDLEBAG CONFIGURATION).SOME OF THE PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI PACKAGED THE TANKS IN RECESSED CAVITIES IN THE FLOOR PAN OR USED SHIELDS TO PROTECT EXPOSED SURFACES ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK.IN GENERAL, THESE TANKS HAD THE LOWEST COMPLAINT RATES FOR TANK PUNCTURE BY ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, OTHER PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI HAD PACKAGING SIMILAR TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND SOME OF THESE ALSO HAD SOME COMPLAINTS OF TANK PUNCTURE.NONE OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED BY ODI HAD TANKS PUNCTURE DATA COMPARABLE TO CHRYSLER'S FIELD REPORTS FROM ITS PART RESTRICTION PROGRAMS, SO THAT DATA COULD NOT BE USED IN PEER COMPARISONS. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS THAT THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ABOUT HALF THAT OBSERVED IN THE RECALLED MURANO VEHICLES AND NOT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED WITH SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS.TESTING BY THE NHTSA VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TESTING CENTER (VRTC) SHOWED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MURANO AND PACIFICA FUEL TANK PACKAGING AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEBRIS THROWN BY THE FRONT TIRES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly
EA06-010 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED IN PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE06-009.PE06-009 WAS OPENED BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED IN A PEER INFORMATION REQUEST AS PART OF A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-050) OF FUEL TANK PUNCTURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.IN JANUARY 2006, NISSAN SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI THAT IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK SHIELDING IN APPROXIMATELY 209,000 MY 2003 THROUGH 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES.TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, NISSAN INSTALLED SHIELDS ON THE EXPOSED FRONT SURFACES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES.PEER DATA COLLECTED FOR MY 2004 THROUGH 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES DURING PE05-050 INCLUDED 120 FIELD REPORTS DOCUMENTING TANK REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE BY ROAD DEBRIS AS PART OF A PARTS RESTRICTION PROGRAM CONDUCTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TANK SUPPLIER (INERGY). ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DURING PE05-050, PE06-009 AND EA06-010 SHOW THAT THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANKS IN THE SUBJECT PACIFICA VEHICLES IS NOT COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROMROAD DEBRIS BY THE FLOOR PAN OR OTHER BODY STRUCTURE.THE TANKS WERE COMPARED WITH PEER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEVERAL IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER AS SHARING SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS (UNSHIELDED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN A SADDLEBAG CONFIGURATION).SOME OF THE PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI PACKAGED THE TANKS IN RECESSED CAVITIES IN THE FLOOR PAN OR USED SHIELDS TO PROTECT EXPOSED SURFACES ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK.IN GENERAL, THESE TANKS HAD THE LOWEST COMPLAINT RATES FOR TANK PUNCTURE BY ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, OTHER PEER DESIGNS REVIEWED BY ODI HAD PACKAGING SIMILAR TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND SOME OF THESE ALSO HAD SOME COMPLAINTS OF TANK PUNCTURE.NONE OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED BY ODI HAD TANKS PUNCTURE DATA COMPARABLE TO CHRYSLER'S FIELD REPORTS FROM ITS PART RESTRICTION PROGRAMS, SO THAT DATA COULD NOT BE USED IN PEER COMPARISONS. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS THAT THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ABOUT HALF THAT OBSERVED IN THE RECALLED MURANO VEHICLES AND NOT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE PEER VEHICLES ANALYZED WITH SIMILAR DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS.TESTING BY THE NHTSA VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TESTING CENTER (VRTC) SHOWED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MURANO AND PACIFICA FUEL TANK PACKAGING AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEBRIS THROWN BY THE FRONT TIRES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
RQ06002 · Engine Stalling
Opened Feb 27, 2006 · Closed Jun 22, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Fuel System, Gasoline; Vehicle Speed Control
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006 RQ06-002 WAS OPENED IN RESPONSE TO 60 COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE STALL, MOSTLY DURING LEFT-HAND TURNS, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TO 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF RECALL 04V-113.IN MARCH 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER INITIATED RECALL 04V-113 ON 34,561 MY 2004 PACIFICA VEHICLES TO CORRECT A CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AFTER A COLD-START.DURING RQ06-002 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RECALL 04V-113 DID CORRECT THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING CONDITION FOR THAT SPECIFIC POPULATION.HOWEVER, TWO OTHER CONDITIONS WERE IDENTIFIED THAT COULD ALSO CAUSE ENGINE STALLING DURING TURNING MANEUVERS:(1) AN ISSUE WITH MISBUILT FUEL PUMPS THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTED ABOUT 17,000 MY 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004; AND (2) A SOFTWARE CONDITION AFFECTING VAPOR PURGE IN ABOUT 131,000 MY 2005-06 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JULY 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2005. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA06-013, HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE CONDITIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006 RQ06-002 WAS OPENED IN RESPONSE TO 60 COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE STALL, MOSTLY DURING LEFT-HAND TURNS, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TO 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF RECALL 04V-113.IN MARCH 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER INITIATED RECALL 04V-113 ON 34,561 MY 2004 PACIFICA VEHICLES TO CORRECT A CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AFTER A COLD-START.DURING RQ06-002 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RECALL 04V-113 DID CORRECT THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING CONDITION FOR THAT SPECIFIC POPULATION.HOWEVER, TWO OTHER CONDITIONS WERE IDENTIFIED THAT COULD ALSO CAUSE ENGINE STALLING DURING TURNING MANEUVERS:(1) AN ISSUE WITH MISBUILT FUEL PUMPS THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTED ABOUT 17,000 MY 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004; AND (2) A SOFTWARE CONDITION AFFECTING VAPOR PURGE IN ABOUT 131,000 MY 2005-06 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JULY 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2005. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA06-013, HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE CONDITIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Fuel System, Gasoline
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006 RQ06-002 WAS OPENED IN RESPONSE TO 60 COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE STALL, MOSTLY DURING LEFT-HAND TURNS, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TO 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF RECALL 04V-113.IN MARCH 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER INITIATED RECALL 04V-113 ON 34,561 MY 2004 PACIFICA VEHICLES TO CORRECT A CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AFTER A COLD-START.DURING RQ06-002 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RECALL 04V-113 DID CORRECT THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING CONDITION FOR THAT SPECIFIC POPULATION.HOWEVER, TWO OTHER CONDITIONS WERE IDENTIFIED THAT COULD ALSO CAUSE ENGINE STALLING DURING TURNING MANEUVERS:(1) AN ISSUE WITH MISBUILT FUEL PUMPS THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTED ABOUT 17,000 MY 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004; AND (2) A SOFTWARE CONDITION AFFECTING VAPOR PURGE IN ABOUT 131,000 MY 2005-06 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JULY 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2005. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA06-013, HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE CONDITIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Vehicle Speed Control
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006 RQ06-002 WAS OPENED IN RESPONSE TO 60 COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE STALL, MOSTLY DURING LEFT-HAND TURNS, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TO 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF RECALL 04V-113.IN MARCH 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER INITIATED RECALL 04V-113 ON 34,561 MY 2004 PACIFICA VEHICLES TO CORRECT A CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AFTER A COLD-START.DURING RQ06-002 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RECALL 04V-113 DID CORRECT THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING CONDITION FOR THAT SPECIFIC POPULATION.HOWEVER, TWO OTHER CONDITIONS WERE IDENTIFIED THAT COULD ALSO CAUSE ENGINE STALLING DURING TURNING MANEUVERS:(1) AN ISSUE WITH MISBUILT FUEL PUMPS THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTED ABOUT 17,000 MY 2005 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004; AND (2) A SOFTWARE CONDITION AFFECTING VAPOR PURGE IN ABOUT 131,000 MY 2005-06 PACIFICA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JULY 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2005. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA06-013, HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE CONDITIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
PE06009 · Fuel Tank Punctures
Opened Feb 22, 2006 · Closed Jun 15, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
ON FEBRUARY 22, 2006, ODI OPENED PE06-009 TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS THAT THE FUEL TANKS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TO 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VEHICLES MAY BE PUNCTURED BY CONTACT WITH ROAD DEBRIS.THE NUMBER OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY CHRYSLER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THOSE SUBMITTED BY OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHO WERE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT DATA AS PART OF INVESTIGATION PE05-050 INTO MY 2003 TO 2006 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE HAD INSUFFICIENT SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK TO PREVENT PUNCTURES AFTER CONTACT WITH ROAD DEBRIS.NISSAN ISSUED RECALL 06V-003 INVOLVING INCREASING THE SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANKS TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TANK PUNCTURES. CHRYSLER HAS NOTED THAT THEY HAD IN PLACE FROM JANUARY 2003 TO JUNE 2005 A PARTS RESTRICTION PROGRAM ON PACIFICA FUEL TANK REPLACEMENTS WHICH MAY HAVE MADE THE NUMBER OF REPORTS ARTIFICIALLY HIGH IN COMPARISON TO MANUFACTURERS WHICH DID NOT HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN EFFECT.CHRYSLER ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER MANY OF THE FIELD REPORTS OF FUEL TANKS REPLACED DUE TO DAMAGE FROM UNKNOWN CAUSE WERE ACTUALLY PUNCTURED. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-010) TO GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
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