CarComplaints.com Notes: Engine cradle rot is a serious problem in the 2004-05 Chrysler Pacifica. Chrysler admits they didn't apply enough coating to the vehicle's sub-frame during assembly, but only offered to cover a very small portion of the vehicles they messed up.

So what happens when your engine cradle rots? Well, the engine could fall out for starters. It could also cause problems with the suspension and other components but did I mention THE ENGINE CAN FALL OUT? The worst part is you might not know because there's no way to see the problem without getting under the car.

If you have a 2004-05 Pacifica, make sure to have your mechanic inspect your sub-frame for rust and corrosion.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,767 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Chrysler Pacifica engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Chrysler Pacifica Owner Comments (Page 6 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #123

Mar 082012

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2 motor mounts on this car were replaced about 3 years ago and the other 2 within the last 18 months. Now the center motor mount needs to be replaced again. These parts are defective and are apparently being replaced with also defective parts. Chrysler should recall these, but I guess they are just waiting until there are no more on the road. My total expense for this has been over $2000.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #122

Mar 042015

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 93,750 miles
I sent my 2005 Chrysler Pacifica with my mother to have an inspection done. Two codes came up to be fixed so I sent her to my mechanic to have the codes repaired. The codes were never repaired because when my mechanic put my Chrysler Pacifica on the lift he said that there was so much rust on and around the engine cradle and there was a hole so big that he could literally put his hand in it. My mechanic told my mother to call me at work and tell me to park this car and do not put any more money into fixing this car because it is not safe to drive as the engine could fall out at any tome because the engine cradle is almost completely rusted. I am very upset with this situation because Chrysler refuses to acknowledge their wrong doing that is putting so many people's families lives in danger!!!

- Dorchester, MA, USA

problem #121

Feb 062015

Pacifica

  • 164,000 miles
Then veichle was parked for a few days and when I try to started up it made a noise like if the started broke and I look unthere the car and I found a hole on the block never gave me sines or made a noise.

- Los Angeles , CA, USA

problem #120

Feb 192015

Pacifica

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica touring and I took it to the dealer to find out the engine cradle is rotted. I did some investigating and this is a know safety issue with the 2004 and 2005 Chrysler Pacifica's. Chrysler refuses to help in this issue. They really aren't standing behind the product.

- Stamford, CT, USA

problem #119

Feb 042015

Pacifica

  • 114,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk and hesitate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the failure was due to damaged motor mounts and severe rusting of the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 114,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #118

Feb 062015

Pacifica

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that an unknown rattling noise emitted from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the engine cradle needed to be replaced. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.

- Washignton, WV, USA

problem #117

Feb 062015

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 200,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine cradle corrosion has subjected vehicle and passengers to potentially catastrophic structural failure. Sub-frame is sufficiently rusted to result in frame bending. Furthermore, the vehicle front wheels can no longer be properly aligned. This front-end alignment issue persists despite purchasing and installing the aftermarket camber kit necessary for the alignment rear wheels.

- New Hope, MN, USA

problem #116

Jan 302015

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 121,835 miles
Rear ended a chev. Truck at approx. 30 mph. Wife sustained neck, back, and shoulder. Upper torso was the most affected area airbags failed to deploy.

- Robstown, TX, USA

problem #115

Jan 232015

Pacifica

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the vehicle had severe rusting on the front motor harness. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the motor harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #114

Jan 292015

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 127,200 miles
Our vehicle has had a shake to it for a couple years. We have had it looked at numerous times and have been told they can't find anything wrong with it. Our vehicle went into a shop today as the inspection is due by end of Jan. 2015. The shop called and advised our engine cradle is rusted thru. Advised us it would cost a couple thousand dollars to repair. I did some looking on the internet, found out Chrysler had a recall on engine cradles that were not property coated which allowed rust to damage the cradle. I contacted Chrysler - and was told that the recall was for veh made between 2/23/04 - 3/31/04. My vehicle was made 7/04. My daughter, on our advice, owns the same year of the vehicle. Her vehicle was made 9/04. Chrysler told me they can't help me and ended the conversation. There are so many complaints on the internet all dealing with the engine cradle issue. We can't afford to have this repaired at this time as I am ill and not able to work and my husband (55 years old) had a heart attack on his 55th birthday and has just gone back to work. I am sick over this and afraid to tell my husband for fear he will have another heart attack. Chrysler should be ashamed of their selves. Thank you for listening.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

problem #113

Jan 222015

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 79,926 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is a structural issue noted by mechanic during routine oil change and tire rotation. Mechanic identified extensive rust and corrosion of engine cradle. Damage includes muliple cracks and a hole wide enough to insert 3 fingers. Mechanic recommends replacing engine cradle. Vehicle purchased 10 years ago on this date. Mileage less than 80,000. Vehicle taken to local dealership for evaluation. Dealer escalated to manufacturer. Awaiting determination from Chrysler as to whether it will cover the repair. Extended warranty for Pacificas manufactured between Feb 23, 2004 and March 31, 2004 not applicable. This vehicle was manufactured in April 2004.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

problem #112

Jan 162015

Pacifica

  • 215,000 miles
The front subframe is severely corroded. It could fail at any time letting the engine drop.

- Greenup, IL, USA

problem #111

May 182012

Pacifica

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stalled and the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart but the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Grandrapids, MI, USA

problem #110

Aug 012011

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
I originally replaced the motor mounts on this vehicle in August of 2011. I am having to replace them for the second time now, January 2015 (mileage 215,000). I should not have to replace motor mounts more than one time in the lifetime of the vehicle. I have had the vehicle properly maintained by the same mechanic for several years.

- Harrisonburg, VA, USA

problem #109

Nov 222013

Pacifica

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front engine cradle was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 91,000.

- Cicero, NY, USA

problem #108

Dec 272014

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
Car stall when making sharp left hands turns. It has done this two consecutive days in a row. I searched the VIN on Chrysler and there are no open recalls. The found that there was a recall for this on 2005 Pacifica's but I am unable to find out if mine was ever corrected.

- Rapid City, SD, USA

problem #107

Dec 112013

Pacifica 6-cyl

  • 110,142 miles
Add me to the list for, "went in for routine work" and came out paying $2000 because my engine cradle was rusting out. No help from Chrysler, something needs to be done about it, no salvage part was available, and who would want to put a used rusty engine cradle in anyway. An engine cradle is not a part that anyone should ever have to replace in their lifetime. My repair was only $2000 but that is because I only had to add 15% to the cost as I work at a mechanical shop. The part alone was still over $1200...sorry, but I think it's bs !!!!!!!!!!!!! I do alot of highway driving with my grandchildren in the vehicle, what would I of done if the engine fell out while I was driving "???????"

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #106

Dec 032014

Pacifica

  • 93,000 miles
Add this to the ever-growing stack of complaints about the engine cradle rusting out on Pacificas which fall outside the dates Chrysler specified in their service bulletin. Clearly those dates were dates of assembly, not of frame manufacture, because many Pacificas continued to have improperly rustproofed frames put in well after the dates Chrysler identified as problematic. This is an issue they knew about and tried to hide, and when they were discovered they tried to downplay the extent of the problem. That is criminal, as this issue is potentially extremely dangerous! please do something to force them to address this fault before someone dies! time is running out, as these vehicles are old enough now to where many of them are going to start breaking because their owners are completely in the dark. Protecting the public is your job, and this is a huge, and dangerous issue! help us, please!!

- Kent City, MI, USA

problem #105

Nov 022014

Pacifica

  • 187,000 miles
While driving from Canada (montreal) to largo (Florida) the Chrysler Pacifica 2005 started to loose power and speed (highway 75 near brooksfield, fl). I could not drive the car on the shoulder as a temporary cement wall was on the right hand side for construction. A few second later, as the construction site was over I pulled my car on the shoulder and 3 cars had already stopped (they saw the fire underneath my car)and the drivers waved at me to stop. I tried to stop on the shoulder but I didn't have any brakes on the car. Fortunately, the highway was going up so the car stopped by itself and started going backwards. I turned the steering wheel to be able to stop in the guard rail and then fire was coming out from the motor (out of the fenders). The 3 person mentioned to me that the fire was coming out from underneath the motor while driving so that was the reason they stopped to indicate the fire. My mother in law (80 years old with pace maker) and myself had only a few seconds to exit the car because black smoke was already in the car. I lost everything in the fire (medication, clothing, passport, wallet, etc...) as my mother in law lives in Florida, I am filing this complaint for her and for myself also. I am a health and safety coordinator and I wish that this situation never comes back in the future. Fortunately, I am still alive to explain this incident.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #104

Nov 222014

Pacifica

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that the vehicle over heated and the temperature gauge warning illuminated. The contact mentioned that while having the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, the vehicle caught on fire. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 73,000.

- Bronx, NY, USA

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