Has anyone figured out a modification to allow using an MP3 player with the upgraded Intermezzo stereo? I do not have the changer and the inputs on the front.
Strange, I didn't want the changer because I can hold much more music on my MP3 player. But it seems that to use it, I needed the changer!
Yes, it could be our gas formulation. Maybe it's something else getting ready to break on our car...We have less than 2,000 miles on this car and have had the following repairs: Replaced engine control computer. Power liftgate worked on -parts replaced. Radio replaced. Air conditioning system stopped working yesterday - new unit ordered. Clunk while braking. My husband has said - half-jokingly - that this car will never have the chance to get old - everything in it is continually being replaced. At this point, I have the sinking suspicion that it is a lemon, but we have to wait it out and see. We are halfway to eligibility for Chrysler's repurchase of the car under CA's Lemon Law...
About 1000mi on new Silver AWD Pacifica with all popular options. $35,500 delivered plus $1,200 for 7yr/70,000 ext warranty. Absolutely everything on vehicle keeps working properly. the Seatback latch cable, third row driver's side, needed to be retightened and secured--just moments at dealership. Mileage still stinks/under 15mpg on new block. Clunking suspension noise reported by others is common when bushings are selected and installed for most comfortable ride--I like the sound on the George Washington Pkwy while looking at the Potomac Rvr alongside! Acceleration gives throaty engine noise, not unpleasant. Kickdown is positive and sufficient given vehicle mass. Trailing idle even, not lumpy. Transmission engages with clunk sometimes, but it's a Chrysler, not one of the ten best! Owners who expect more than Chrysler delivers, and they delivered a fine vehicle in the Pacifica, should shop Lexus and pay more. My rebate was $3,000 plus $750 military. No haggling necessary and dealer threw in sunroof and half of $440 in other options.
My Pacifica is still on order, and has been for way too long. My question for you is this : What $750 military credit? I saw "something" about a $750 credit/rebate and was told that was for Jeep brand only. Was there a secrect word or handshake that got you an additional $750? :-) Thanks.
sorry but I dont need to pay more to get better quality. I had a Toyota Highlander and paid the same amount and the quality was 1000% better. one or two minor adjustment visits and that was it other then normal maintenance. yah the pac is bigger but not worth it if I am in the shop alot of the time. Rattling suspensions is NOT normal with bushing type suspension. great looking car, great options, poor implementation... well now I know why everyone keeps saying dont buy the first year a car is out. I had before got first year models and never had this many problems (Acura TL, Toyota Highlander, Lexus GS)..
BTW mileage does improve after first oil change. I am at 18 MPG with 50/50 highway city. with Snowtires I drop to 16.9 mpg.
I have 4000 miles on my Pacifica, and have not had ONE problem, 0! It's been a great car. Because of the title of this forum, this is where all the problems surface, but I'll bet the vast majority of Pacificas are like mine, problem free. If you read the Highlander forums, you will also find many problems, and it would lead you to believe that the problems are common, when they're not.
Are you going by the computer or your own calculations? I noticed the computer to be about 1.7 mpg off (less) usually. (sometimes even over 2mpg) Mine usually always says about 17mpg in town or on the hwy ( i reset it every fill up) but upon my calculations it was a little higher.
We now have about 2700 miles on our "made in Feb.04" Pacifica. So far, it has been absolutely problem free! Even the sound system is great...no problems at all. Getting ready for the first oil change, and our MPG's are app. 21 hwy, and 18-19 just "running around". Love this vehicle!
I was ready to buy a early build Pacifica that has been sitting on the lot. However, after reading this fourm I am re-thinking the whole idea. Quality over the long term really concerns me. Especially when I think about the other car I was considering which is the Honda Pilot. I have not owned an American made (yes I know it is built in Canada) auto since college. Every auto I have ever had a say in purchasing has been foreign made (Honda, BMW, Hyundai) I thought I was ready to give the Chrysler a go but with all the problems I am reading here vs. the mostly minor problems I see in the Honda forum... I am also concerned that many of the "luxury" features on the Pacifica will not last or at best be problematic. Examples: power lift gate, tire pressure sensors.
I really like the design and the room in the second row seats better than the Pilot but for realibility and resale I may be piloting a Honda instead.
You must not be reading the Pilot discussions here. I've been following the Honda discussions to see how they work and determine why they have maintained their reliability reputation despite what I see in the discussions.
I note people are willing to pay extra compared to comparable, spend more for service and more often, be manipulated by the dealer and put up with unfixable problems. I also have decided that a lot of things are 'fixed' by the dealers that should be recalls and would have been negative recall headlines for other brands.
While I would wait for the second round of Pacificas at this point myself, I'd test drive each vehicle in which I was interested to see if they exhibit a particular rattle or bump that people here have found in their car.
I guess I should contribute to our 8 month experience with a fully loaded Pacifica.
Only has 6500 miles so far. We took it to two 700+ mile trips.
Maintenance @ dealership:
1. Two oil changes 2. Brought it in for one recall part 3. Brought it in to replace broken air vent handle which my kid broke. (I know who cares right, but my wife does) 4. One pixel on LCD screen is out. Ordered the part and is going to get replaced. (I know one pixel, but it's free to fix)
Major fixes:
1. Power steering line was leaking. Emptied all power steering fluid. I think this was the part that was recalled. They replaced it. Just happened last week
Alerts:
1. Gas prices are going up and the Pacifica has terrible gas mileage. DON"T skimp out on gas quality. The Pacifica knows this. We took a long road trip and I filled it up with 87 grade gas. After a hundred miles, the check engine light goes on. My wife checked out the manual and it says that the engine light might turn on due to low grade gas. BUSTED. I confessed. Later we refilled it with premium and the light was gone.
I don't mind bringing the Pacifica to get things fixed right away even if it is trivial. It is free (if it is under warranty of course) and they give you a free rental until your car get's fixed. We were given a PT cruiser, Pacificas, TC, and even a Suburban. No questions asked, they just give you a vehicle.
Overall, the PAcifica looks great, drives great, is comfortable, and my kid likes it, especially when I equiped it with a Gamecube.
I usually run 89 "plus-grade" just for the mileage increase and performance increase over 87. I get about .5 to 1 mile per gallon more. I didnt see any more improvement going to 93 Premium.
lately with gas prices, i dropped to 87 and no big change. but I noticed now that the BRAND of 87 does make a difference. Mobile the pac just ran smoother and accelerated quicker. with "no name" 87 it hesitates more and acceration is extremely slightly less...
Just received a recall notice in the mail today regarding the powertrain module needing to be re-programmed to address the stalling issue (BTW...I have not had that problem at all)
Anyone else have this taken care of already? How long did it take to for the service from start to finish?
Got my recall notice today, but no stalling problem in the first 25,000 miles. I have been using 87 octane since new with no problems. I'm getting 16-18 MPG around town, and 20-21.5 on road trips. I used 87 during 140,000 miles on 3 300Ms with the same engine.
The recall notice only says it is a stall problem during warmup. I've had problems with stalling when making quick left turns or u-turns within the first five minutes of starting the car. I am hoping this fix addresses the combination of quick left turns and stalls. It is not fun having it die during a u-turn on a four lane highway!
Just got mine. Car has never stalled while warming or any other time. Only complaint (?) after 4k miles is the seatbelt holder upper thingie fell off. Looks like a 50 cent item, and is no big deal for me. Not that worried/interested in getting it repalaced ASAP as there are 5 others in the car if I REALLY need it.
Absoloutly NO STALLING here. Car runs flawlessly. Changed oil myself at ~3000 miles. VERY easy. Filter right up front. Used synthetic mobil 1 10w-30.
The brand of 87 octane does make a difference. It also will make a difference as summer blends are shipped into different areas. I think some of those don't do as well. I have started using on two brands for the last year or so. I've had a lot less hiccups that I never would have thought were gas related.
One place I heard that the 89 octane is more consistent in quality from station to station and company to company. That's a good reason to use the 89 octane.
For oil, you'll never get your money's worth out of synthetic unless you're an over-the-road salesman. You shouldn't leave the synthetic in longer than the regular oil, in my opinion. I like my engines and last ones have gone 150K and still running strong. Change oil at 3000 or 3500 regularly. My friend who has a Pacifica was talked into synthetic by his oil change place for his second change. I tried to explain he's money ahead and the engine's better off with regular oil and frequent changes.
I had the stalling problem for 5 months and my dealer finally replaced a EGR valve. He said it sticks at times and will cause the Pacifica to run too lean and stall. I've gone 2weeks with no problems. I missed the recall by 5 days. The cut-off is July 1, 2003 and mine was made July 6, 2003 (2004 Pacifica). They ran the software test anyway, but my Pacifica has the correct version.
I had it in again a couple of days ago for a squeeky belt. Right now, it's running great. Knock on wood.
Purchased new loaded Fwd. Pac on Saturday. Took the vehicle back today. Drivers door lock doesn't work, radio volume increased loudly when getting out of vehicle, all doors unlock command doesn't work when opening driver door. Verified this command was programed in computer properly.
Love vehicle looks and ride. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
At 400 miles engine lite comes on. Code reads "evap leak" Dealer says gas cap not tight. 10 days later lite back on. Dealer does Leak Detector pump monitor test= all normal. Does Smog Test to see if Gas cap leak = cap is OK. Talking about solinoid seals, taking fuel tank down and checking fuel pump seals, cannistors........Help!!!!!!!!
I finally purchased a car but not the Pacifica. I came closer that ever to purchasing an American brand car than at any time in my life. But I just could not do it. The Honda Pilot won. Despite the styling advantage that the Pacifica has over the Pilot. Style and luxury features just cannot compensate for quality. All cars have issues but it seems that the Pacifica still has some fairly serious issues to work out while after reading all the Pilot issues posted I saw nothing that compared to "clunking" transmissions, stalling out, noise in the suspension when turning, etc.
I decided if I was going to bet which car would last 7-10 years the Honda was the odds on favorite for that bet. I really hope that the Pacifica succeeds though. I think it is a great concept that was mis-marketed and way over loaded with expensive and mostly useless options that drove the sticker price into the realm of Volvo, Lexus, Accura, etc. Chrysler quality has not proven it can compete in that arena with the true luxo-makers yet. Maybe the '05 will be priced better for the family looking to buy something other than a mini-van or big sport ute.
Alisac! Have you tried the drivers door from the outside? It opens from the inside even when locked. Safety? rsharp! No clunking transmissions,no stalling out,no noise in the suspension etc, and 17000 miles with just oil changes. I'll take my Pac anyday.
As far as the Mobil-1 and better gas mileage, I can't say one way or the other. FOr a 4600 lb vehcile, I've never complained. I've never owned an econobox so the gas mileage seems "normal".
Regarding the recall, here's the info I have. It didn't indicate AFAIK what build dates were affected:
Make : CHRYSLER Model : PACIFICA Year : 2004 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V113000 Recall Date : MAR 02, 2004 Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) Potential Number Of Units Affected : 34561
Got my new Pac in Feb. Love everything about it. Manuf. date of Nov 03. Everything works great except the engine lite came on at 400 miles. "evap leak" was the problem code so they told me my gas cap had not been tightened enough. 10 days later the lite came back on. Same problem code. Ran a "leak detector pump" test on the computer which checked out OK. Did a Smog test & determined the gas cap was not the problem after all. Haven't read anyone else having this problem. Any ideas before they start tearing my gas tank/fuel pump, solenoid seals and who knows what else apart? Thanks
I brought my car in today for an oil change and to take a look at the stalling recall. My car never stalled but in cold weather sometimes it did just for a second and came back.
After I got my car back today I thought I had a new car. Wow the car drives totally diffrent with more power and much smoother. I think the reprogramming of the powertrain had something to do with it.
Pumarolo...As far as power increase is concerned, I felt no difference after the PCM/TCM was reprogrammed. Lack of power isn't a problem with my Pacifica and hasn't been since day 1. Interesting though you think you've picked up some performance.
I just read a message from www.ezboard.com pacifica forum. They were successful at turning on the DRL's by changing the country designation of the car to canada. It apparently will not change anything else,ie. nav system. I'll be attemting this conversion at my first oil change. larrwh.
I purchased a FWD "R" Pacifica , white with taupe leather for $25,700 plus T,T&L . I owned a Honda Civic for 10 years, and it was a very reliable car, but it was small . In Texas, every other vehicle is a 6000 lb. plus SUV behemoth, and frankly, I just didn't feel safe anymore.
Compared to my rather noisy Civic , the Pacifica mesmerized me with it's quiet demeanor and I find myself calmer, my pulse lowered, when negotiating Houston , Tx. streets.
I have had NO problems in 4000 miles , and I admire Daimler/Chrylser for building a crossover vehicle like this, something that took a little guts to do. More guts than Honda has these days, judging by the look of the Honda Pilot, which I didn't even bother driving.
Oh, and my 14 year old son thinks the Pacifica is cool. And my 3 year old son even gets quiet inside the Pacifica. Enough said......
I remember back in 1994, hypnotized by the looks of new Intrepid, I couldn't resist. Chrysler designers are the best, they'll bait you with the most compelling looker, wiggle it with low interest rates and it becomes extremely hard not to bite (gotta give them that much).
Reading this board reminded me of all the troubles and inconveniences, and why I went back to Japanese. I almost went back to American when I saw the Pacifica, the spartan looks of the Pilot can't compete with the Pacifica.
Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of driving to the dealer that often for these kinds of troubles. They advertise 5 star service, but then again, that kind of service wouldn't be required if they had 5 star quality cars.
When I retire, I'll get a Pacifica. It'll get me out of the house, I'll get to know the technicians on a first name basis and talk about my kids and their kids, etc. But for the time being, I need to concentrate on making money )
You may be right, at least partly. I really think DC has a quality issue with 1st year models .... BUT, after that it is a different story. I have a 2nd gen Intrepid R/T that is waaaay better than naysayers would have you (me) believe. Basically flawless at 3.5 years. My new Pacifica was built on 3/18 and should be here any day now.
I remember, they improved the build in the second generation. But by then they had burned the first generation to a crisp LOL. It was incredible:
- sensors - evaporator - compressor - thermometer - transmission - sagging door seals - wiper motors ... I could go on
I really hope the second generation of Pacifica's rocks, it does have some potential. If the nature of the problems change on this board and it starts getting excellent reviews from professionals, I might be tempted.
But then again how can Honda score so high for a first year product ? What is Honda doing that Chrysler not doing ? I think it's all about strategy, Chrysler could be investing more in the visual aspect of cars because American buyers consider aesthetics more than quality for the same price point?
But then again how can Honda score so high for a first year product
You might want to read the Honda Accord Honda Accord Quality Control Issues Honda Accord Owners: Problems & Solutions Honda Pilot Owners: Problems & Solutions Honda Pilot Starting with the 2003 comments for the 2003 Accord -- new model. Lots of problems. I didn't buy one after test driving. Lots of owners and cheerleaders accepting problems they would complain about to high heaven if it were an American brand. Lots of positive reviews from the magazines and even still Consumer Misreports.
You're right, but then again you can use your personal experience, add the comments from other owners while you are waiting to have your car repaired to filter those out. They are easy to spot.
IMHO, buyers of Japanese cars are more concerned about quality, that's why so much attention is given to it. They're trading visual extras and gadgets for a stronger more resilient build. Chrysler is offering a phenomenal and almost irresistible look for the same price.
That's just my opinion after living it. I'm just waiting for a Pacifica built by a Japanese firm Problem is, I might be paying a lot more !
I have read the Pilot problems board. end to end as I did with the Pacifica boards. There just were not that many issues with the Pilot. I saw no one taking their Pilot back to the dealer 6-10 times with major issues unresolved. I do see that happening with the Pacifica. The Honda folks did have a bad run with some transmissions in the TL's and some other models but those were no in the Pilot production. I just see little almost nit picky isssues being discussed on the Pilot. Here I have seen what I considered major problems like clunking transmissions and rolling backwards.
However, as I said before, in the style department the Pacifica is hands down the better looking car. And the new designs coming out of DC are very attractive -- all of them. But one has to wonder if they are built with the same kind of quality that Honda and Toyota have.
As a side note M Benz quality rankings continue to slide drastically, makes one wonder which pre-merger company is influencing the quality of the other. I think we all assumed that Chrysler would get better not that Benz would get worse.
It didn't take merging with Chrysler to bring the Benz reliability down. I know; I have a Benz from 3 years before the merger and it is a far cry from the reliability of a Japanese product and a whisper behind most American autos also.
On the positive side, the Benz reliability seems to have stabilized and on some models is moving up some. And on the news a few days ago, it was mentioned that some major survey indicated that overall, the American cars are now more reliable than the European cars and gaining some on the Japanese. In fact, two of the Chrysler products have above average ratings according to Consumer Reports; The PT Cruiser and the Jeep Liberty. Chrysler also has some other models right on average with their peers.
So maybe it's time for us to dump our Euro cars and buy American ??
My Pacifica was built in 8/03, and has been completely problem free. No recalls, no service issues (knock on wood). Honda usually sells cars in Japan for a year or two before they hit the US market. The Japanese customers suffer through the first year's bugs on new introductions, and they are usually problem free by the time they hit the US market. Honda still needs help with styling though.
Comments
Strange, I didn't want the changer because I can hold much more music on my MP3 player. But it seems that to use it, I needed the changer!
When will these designers ever learn...
Replaced engine control computer.
Power liftgate worked on -parts replaced.
Radio replaced.
Air conditioning system stopped working yesterday - new unit ordered.
Clunk while braking.
My husband has said - half-jokingly - that this car will never have the chance to get old - everything in it is continually being replaced. At this point, I have the sinking suspicion that it is a lemon, but we have to wait it out and see. We are halfway to eligibility for Chrysler's repurchase of the car under CA's Lemon Law...
BTW mileage does improve after first oil change. I am at 18 MPG with 50/50 highway city. with Snowtires I drop to 16.9 mpg.
Because of the title of this forum, this is where all the problems surface, but I'll bet the vast majority of Pacificas are like mine, problem free.
If you read the Highlander forums, you will also find many problems, and it would lead you to believe that the problems are common, when they're not.
So far, it has been absolutely problem free!
Even the sound system is great...no problems at all.
Getting ready for the first oil change, and our MPG's are app. 21 hwy, and 18-19 just "running around".
Love this vehicle!
I really like the design and the room in the second row seats better than the Pilot but for realibility and resale I may be piloting a Honda instead.
weezy1 "Honda Pilot Owners: Problems & Solutions" Mar 17, 2004 11:04pm
You must not be reading the Pilot discussions here. I've been following the Honda discussions to see how they work and determine why they have maintained their reliability reputation despite what I see in the discussions.
I note people are willing to pay extra compared to comparable, spend more for service and more often, be manipulated by the dealer and put up with unfixable problems. I also have decided that a lot of things are 'fixed' by the dealers that should be recalls and would have been negative recall headlines for other brands.
While I would wait for the second round of Pacificas at this point myself, I'd test drive each vehicle in which I was interested to see if they exhibit a particular rattle or bump that people here have found in their car.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Only has 6500 miles so far. We took it to two 700+ mile trips.
Maintenance @ dealership:
1. Two oil changes
2. Brought it in for one recall part
3. Brought it in to replace broken air vent handle which my kid broke. (I know who cares right, but my wife does)
4. One pixel on LCD screen is out. Ordered the part and is going to get replaced. (I know one pixel, but it's free to fix)
Major fixes:
1. Power steering line was leaking. Emptied all power steering fluid. I think this was the part that was recalled. They replaced it. Just happened last week
Alerts:
1. Gas prices are going up and the Pacifica has terrible gas mileage. DON"T skimp out on gas quality. The Pacifica knows this. We took a long road trip and I filled it up with 87 grade gas. After a hundred miles, the check engine light goes on. My wife checked out the manual and it says that the engine light might turn on due to low grade gas. BUSTED. I confessed. Later we refilled it with premium and the light was gone.
I don't mind bringing the Pacifica to get things fixed right away even if it is trivial. It is free (if it is under warranty of course) and they give you a free rental until your car get's fixed. We were given a PT cruiser, Pacificas, TC, and even a Suburban. No questions asked, they just give you a vehicle.
Overall, the PAcifica looks great, drives great, is comfortable, and my kid likes it, especially when I equiped it with a Gamecube.
So far, love the car!
lately with gas prices, i dropped to 87 and no big change. but I noticed now that the BRAND of 87 does make a difference. Mobile the pac just ran smoother and accelerated quicker. with "no name" 87 it hesitates more and acceration is extremely slightly less...
Anyone else have this taken care of already? How long did it take to for the service from start to finish?
I have been using 87 octane since new with no problems. I'm getting 16-18 MPG around town, and 20-21.5 on road trips.
I used 87 during 140,000 miles on 3 300Ms with the same engine.
As far as I am concerned, this vehicle has been great during the 16Kmiles I have on it so far.
One display failing for 9 months seems pretty good to me. As for the PCM being replaced, it's a recall item. These things happen. No big deal!
Would I do it again.... You betcha!
Absoloutly NO STALLING here. Car runs flawlessly. Changed oil myself at ~3000 miles. VERY easy. Filter right up front. Used synthetic mobil 1 10w-30.
And does the synthetic mobil give you better gas mileage and any difference in pick up?
as summer blends are shipped into different areas. I think some of those
don't do as well. I have started using on two brands for the last year or so.
I've had a lot less hiccups that I never would have thought were gas related.
One place I heard that the 89 octane is more consistent in quality
from station to station and company to company. That's a good reason
to use the 89 octane.
For oil, you'll never get your money's worth out of synthetic unless you're
an over-the-road salesman. You shouldn't leave the synthetic in longer
than the regular oil, in my opinion. I like my engines and last ones have
gone 150K and still running strong. Change oil at 3000 or 3500 regularly.
My friend who has a Pacifica was talked into synthetic by his oil change
place for his second change. I tried to explain he's money ahead and the
engine's better off with regular oil and frequent changes.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I had it in again a couple of days ago for a squeeky belt. Right now, it's running great. Knock on wood.
Love vehicle looks and ride. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
Just got my recall notice and am bringing the car in tomorrow - but I never had the stalling problem.
A.
I decided if I was going to bet which car would last 7-10 years the Honda was the odds on favorite for that bet. I really hope that the Pacifica succeeds though. I think it is a great concept that was mis-marketed and way over loaded with expensive and mostly useless options that drove the sticker price into the realm of Volvo, Lexus, Accura, etc. Chrysler quality has not proven it can compete in that arena with the true luxo-makers yet. Maybe the '05 will be priced better for the family looking to buy something other than a mini-van or big sport ute.
rsharp! No clunking transmissions,no stalling out,no noise in the suspension etc, and 17000 miles with just oil changes. I'll take my Pac anyday.
Regarding the recall, here's the info I have. It didn't indicate AFAIK what build dates were affected:
Make : CHRYSLER Model : PACIFICA Year : 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V113000 Recall Date : MAR 02, 2004
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 34561
After I got my car back today I thought I had a new car. Wow the car drives totally diffrent with more power and much smoother. I think the reprogramming of the powertrain had something to do with it.
I never had the stalling problem (or any problem, for that matter, in 9K miles).
BTW, my 5-star completed the upgrade in a little less than 35 minutes. Quick and easy.
if so what is the part number/name and what did it cost?
thanks
larrwh.
if its as easy as a computer change in the coding that would be excellent
Compared to my rather noisy Civic , the Pacifica mesmerized me with it's quiet demeanor and I find myself calmer, my pulse lowered, when negotiating Houston , Tx. streets.
I have had NO problems in 4000 miles , and I admire Daimler/Chrylser for building a crossover vehicle like this, something that took a little guts to do. More guts than Honda has these days, judging by the look of the Honda Pilot, which I didn't even bother driving.
Oh, and my 14 year old son thinks the Pacifica is cool. And my 3 year old son even gets quiet inside the Pacifica. Enough said......
I remember back in 1994, hypnotized by the looks of new Intrepid, I couldn't resist. Chrysler designers are the best, they'll bait you with the most compelling looker, wiggle it with low interest rates and it becomes extremely hard not to bite (gotta give them that much).
Reading this board reminded me of all the troubles and inconveniences, and why I went back to Japanese. I almost went back to American when I saw the Pacifica, the spartan looks of the Pilot can't compete with the Pacifica.
Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of driving to the dealer that often for these kinds of troubles. They advertise 5 star service, but then again, that kind of service wouldn't be required if they had 5 star quality cars.
When I retire, I'll get a Pacifica. It'll get me out of the house, I'll get to know the technicians on a first name basis and talk about my kids and their kids, etc. But for the time being, I need to concentrate on making money
- sensors
- evaporator
- compressor
- thermometer
- transmission
- sagging door seals
- wiper motors
... I could go on
I really hope the second generation of Pacifica's rocks, it does have some potential. If the nature of the problems change on this board and it starts getting excellent reviews from professionals, I might be tempted.
But then again how can Honda score so high for a first year product ? What is Honda doing that Chrysler not doing ? I think it's all about strategy, Chrysler could be investing more in the visual aspect of cars because American buyers consider aesthetics more than quality for the same price point?
You might want to read the
Honda Accord
Honda Accord Quality Control Issues
Honda Accord Owners: Problems & Solutions
Honda Pilot Owners: Problems & Solutions
Honda Pilot
Starting with the 2003 comments for the 2003 Accord -- new model.
Lots of problems. I didn't buy one after test driving.
Lots of owners and cheerleaders accepting problems they would complain about to high heaven if it were an American brand.
Lots of positive reviews from the magazines and even still Consumer Misreports.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
IMHO, buyers of Japanese cars are more concerned about quality, that's why so much attention is given to it. They're trading visual extras and gadgets for a stronger more resilient build. Chrysler is offering a phenomenal and almost irresistible look for the same price.
That's just my opinion after living it. I'm just waiting for a Pacifica built by a Japanese firm
Problem is, I might be paying a lot more !
However, as I said before, in the style department the Pacifica is hands down the better looking car. And the new designs coming out of DC are very attractive -- all of them. But one has to wonder if they are built with the same kind of quality that Honda and Toyota have.
As a side note M Benz quality rankings continue to slide drastically, makes one wonder which pre-merger company is influencing the quality of the other. I think we all assumed that Chrysler would get better not that Benz would get worse.
On the positive side, the Benz reliability seems to have stabilized and on some models is moving up some. And on the news a few days ago, it was mentioned that some major survey indicated that overall, the American cars are now more reliable than the European cars and gaining some on the Japanese. In fact, two of the Chrysler products have above average ratings according to Consumer Reports; The PT Cruiser and the Jeep Liberty. Chrysler also has some other models right on average with their peers.
So maybe it's time for us to dump our Euro cars and buy American ??
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Honda usually sells cars in Japan for a year or two before they hit the US market. The Japanese
customers suffer through the first year's bugs on new introductions, and they are usually problem free by the time they hit the US market.
Honda still needs help with styling though.