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Front bumper defect?

13K views 23 replies 10 participants last post by  Bond007 
#1 ·
The bumper just under the driver's side headlights has popped out. The tabs that hold the bumper in don't clip properly. I partially took off the bumper to see if any of the tabs were damaged, but I don't see anything wrong. Either the mount is too low or the bumper tab is too high. It sticks out more when it gets hot from the midday sun. Should this be a warranty repair? I got the van 6/23 and have just under 1500mi on it.
 

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#2 ·
Of course that is a defect which should be covered under warranty. Do not try to pry it off. Just go to your dealership and ask them to fix it. I’m assuming you haven’t hit (or been hit by) something/ other cars. Involve @ChryslerCares if you want to.
 
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#3 ·
Hi stanaka1,
We're sorry to hear about this! We recommend having your dealer look into this for you. If you would like any additional assistance, please feel free to send us a private message and we'll be happy to help!
Lydia
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
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#4 ·
Quick update. I took the van in on 7/15 and got it back a few days later. The dealer took the van to a third party body shop since they don't have one on site. I don't know what that shop did, but they took 3 days to do nothing. Gap is still there. And I've since noticed a bit of water intrusion on the drivers side headlight after putting it in through a carwash.

Going to take it back this Monday and the service writer said that he'll have his guys pull the bumper apart and if needed, order new parts. Fingers crossed!
 

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#5 ·
Hi stanaka1,

Please keep us updated on your dealer visit. If we can be of any assistance, feel free to send us a direct message. We'd be glad to help.

Mark
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
#6 · (Edited)
Dealer is ordering a new front facia. Looks like a clip in the middle got bent during assembly and won't clip in properly. They also replaced the headlight because of the water intrusion.

On a side note, I had a Grand Caravan GT as a rental for three days, and let's just say I'm really glad I have the Pac back.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the update, stanaka1. I’m glad to hear your dealer was able to identify the appropriate course of action for your situation. If you are in need of any additional assistance at this time, please do not hesitate to send us a PM. We’re always happy to help.

Mark
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
#9 ·
Hi 63dart,
We are sorry to hear about the concern you are experiencing! If you need any additional assistance after visiting your dealer, please private message us and we can connect you with a Case Specialist.
Laura
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
#10 ·
Update: My dealer has had the car since last Monday 9/16. Chrysler HQ wants more documentation of the warped retainer clip in the bumper before the approve the replacement bumper. The approval requirement has been known since I dropped it off, so, how long does it take?

Also, nothing has been done yet about the third row sunshade rattle. If they have to replace that sunshade, how much longer will that take? I've also had the music USB port stop working for a day only for it to fix itself. Also, the radio presets seems to have lost my profile link to my keyfob. Start/stop is pretty rough on re-start and the idle isn't very smooth.

My Kia Sedona sliding door motor died on me. It was replaced in 3 days. That's all that's wrong with it. Maybe I should've just bought another Sedona. Instead, I get to drive a Corolla POS rental.
 
#11 ·
Finally got my van back. Dealer was saying it took a long time because Chrysler needed to approve the warranty claim. Why wasn't this done before they ordered and painted the part? The rear sunshade still rattles. They have a new sunroof frame ordered but it's backordered for a couple of weeks. I got @ChryslerCares involved and they were able to help me get updates from the dealer.

Glad to have the van back after 10 days if driving a POS Corolla, but I'm not done yet.
 
#12 ·
Update:
Holy crap. The sunroof frame came in and I brought the van in to get it installed. I also nigh brought to their attention a new rattling sound coming from the passenger side forward of the firewall. They had the van for 4 days. The sunroof got repaired but they couldn't replicate the rattle. They said it could be from the license plate frame. I took it home and poked around the front end. I discovered the fog lights didn't sit flush with the shroud. The passenger side light was loose, I was able to move it left and right like a loose tooth. Then I knocked on the passenger side fender and was able to replicate the rattle. That was caused by the screws securing the wheel well cover to the fender being loose. In two minutes I found two defects they missed in 4 days. They tried blaming miscommunication between service advisors and technicians, but this isn't a communication issue, this is a QC issue and a job half assed. I'm now in the waiting room to see if they can fix this now, or if they're going to have to send it out to a body shop. I should have bought another Sedona.
42485
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#16 ·
Well I hate to say it, but I am here with the exact same issue and similar response from Chrysler.
Bought my new Chrysler 2020 Pacifica on Dec. 16th 2019. After my first wash Jan. 2020 I noticed the trim around the front headlight (only the drivers side) was being pushed out and it also exposed the edge of the bumper which didn't have the paint wrapped around it all the way. I brought this issue up during my first oil change service and the service department sent me their body shop. The shop said that it’s an issue with the clips, but they can't do anything with out an warrienty claim. They took pictures and said they would get with service to file.

I didn’t hear back, but Covid also went into full effect. So last month for my 10K oil change I brought it up again at the service department. I rented a car so they could have it in the shop to fix (warranty items would cover the car rental).

4 days later, they said there is noting wrong, and its not covered under warranty. So again, I got to pay for Chrysler's product that is defective.

As an Honda customer for the past 35 years before coming over to Chrysler, you can see I am not happy at all with this kind of product defect and non-support from Chrysler.

So now I decided to do my own research to the bottom of this issue.

I walked the Nyle Maxwell Supercenter lot and found 2 of the 12 New Pacific's doing the exact same thing. Same side and same location. My service manager also walked the lot and I showed him the issues. He was surprised, but was convinced that I was not crazy. Then if you google this issue, you will see the same kind of complaints, from the same side, and on vans from 2017-2020. Yet Chrysler is not helping the dealers with calming this as a defect or warranty item.

So if there are no broken clips, as the my Service Center told me when they took off the bumper, then why is the bumper not fitting correctly? Why is there not a Chrysler internal memo on how to fix this, Why is Chrysler not address this even when it is happen on bran new vans on the lot?

My van assembly point/port of entry is Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Now when you put pressure on the bumper outside of the light, you can get it to bow out even more. Which points to the clips being installed too tight and forcing the bumper to bow out. OR its a defective bumper in the sense that when the painted wrap is applied to the plastic base bumper, by heated shrink wrap or similar process, the wrap is causing it to bow. If you see my image, you can see how this colored wrap that does not cover the bumper completely in this one location.

This might explain why service is saying there is nothing wrong or broken with the clips. But again it does not fit like the other side at all.

Again, I've spend more time than I wish on this simple issues that apparently has been an issue for years with Chrysler’s Pacifica. And all I am getting from Chrysler (as a new customer to the family) is blow off attention.

And we've all been blown-off before in life and it sure doesn't feel good or build any deeper trust in a relationship.

Ryan Coover
Frustrated New 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Owner


The white bumper images are of 2020 Chrysler Pacifica and the two black images are from the New 2020 Chrysler Pacifica's on the dealers lot taken on Nov. 24, 2020.

Automotive tire Rim Synthetic rubber Circle Tread


Bicycle tire Automotive tire Bicycle wheel rim Rim Spoke


Brown Automotive design Automotive lighting Headlamp Rim


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Liquid Synthetic rubber Transparent material Silver Circle
 
#17 ·
If this dealer doesn't help you, take it to another one. My first dealer tried blaming me for the bumper saying that I must've hit something. I took it to another and got help that (eventually) fixed it.
 
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#18 ·
Yeah, they said the same thing. I then simply pressed on the bumper, as if it was being hit and showed them that it has no effect on the paint wrap not being complete. I also get your point about different dealers and I would rather get Chrysler to address this issue so all the dealers get the needed support so they can help their own customers. I've also written to Chrysler Cares diretly and wanted to post what I am experiencing for other customer that need more support.
 
#19 ·
I know this thread is old now, but wanted to put in my experience. I took the car in few months ago to have the W46 recall (battery post isolator) done. And it was hot at that time. I had them check the front bumper and they told me it was "normal" that all their pacifica on the lot experience some kind of expanding from the front bumper. Some on the driver side and some on the passenger. I eventually was pretty much told that to take it back in later and this is during covid time so I have yet to do so. I'm waiting for summer when it's hot and it expands again to take it in.
 
#20 · (Edited)
We have the same issue with our 2020 Chrysler Pacifica. We bought ours in February 2020 and loved it but recently noticed that the bumper was coming away under the drivers side headlight and took it back to the dealer where we bought the vehicle. They told us that we must have hit something or caught the sidewalk and redirected us to their other location in Winter Haven, FL. We then had their body shop guy check it out and he told us that it was not any accident (we knew that) and that it is an issue with these bumpers. After a month of communications, we finally got told to bring it back in for them to look at it again. This time we were told they removed the bumper and noted that it was warped. They then said they would contact Chrysler to see if it would be covered by warranty and explained that they may not cover it. We left completely shocked and now have to wait again and guessing it will be another month before we hear anything. So I decided to do a little research online and found this site which has several of exactly the same issue.

Will keep posting here with updates but after my first experience with the dealership, guessing it may take some time. Oh, and by the way, I only got a response from the dealer when I copied the owner on an email. I honestly was calling the service manager just once a week (leaving voicemail) with follow up emails and getting no response. I have to be honest it was poor customer service. My wife's uncle runs the service department at another Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram dealership and couldn't believe what he heard. Would take it to him if it wasn't 800 miles away!!
 
#21 ·
Bought my 2020 Pacifica new in November, 2020 (so 15 months ago), and just noticed the infamous bumper issue. Took it to my nearest Chrysler dealer, and they said the typical "you must have hit something/something must have hit you, not covered under warranty". I do plan on trying another dealer, but was just wondering if there are any updates from this thread in general on the issue?
 
#23 ·
Has anyone had any actual success with this? Ours has been warped since probably the beginning when we purchased it in early 2020. Now after putting 42,000 miles on it, we are having to tow it for a 3rd time because the auxiliary battery isn't working so we can't even start our car. It seems to happen if there is a huge rain. I'm so SICK of this.
 
#24 ·
Auxiliary batteries are known to fizzle out sooner than four years. Mine went out at about 2 and half years and had it replaced under warranty. BTW they are not used for regular starting of van, but only during stop start during traffic lights. A message should pop up stating “stop-start unavailable”. If you can’t start your car normally I’d check the main battery since that might need replacement too in this case. I wish they’d give an option for a Li-on battery which should be a lifelong fix. :D.
 
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