[cp2k]

Chrysler changed the driver's side door hinges because it didn't do well in crash test.
HENCE, is it possible for a new customer to actually look at the driver side door hinges and see a physical change e.g. more bolts, larger or thicker plates?

Or does a new customer have to totally rely on a salesman's word (an a sheet of paper) on when the Pacifica was manufactured?





2017 Chrysler Pacifica Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating, But Only on Updated Version
(2017 Chrysler Pacifica IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating - Consumer Reports)
2017 Chrysler Pacifica IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating - Consumer Reports

 

[tsax6010]

Look at the sticker on the driver side door for a build date of 9/16 or later

 

[Mo Pho]

So is FCA doing anything about it if you end up with one built before this date?

 

[tsax6010]

So is FCA doing anything about it if you end up with one built before this date?

Maybe old stock comes with one of these stuck on the steering wheel...

 

[generaltso]

So is FCA doing anything about it if you end up with one built before this date?

No. Pacifica's built before 9/1/16 just have a lower IIHS offset crash rating.

 

[Mo Pho]

Maybe old stock comes with one of these stuck on the steering wheel...

I can confirm they don't :|

No. Pacifica's built before 9/1/16 just have a lower IIHS offset crash rating.

Grr. Somehow I missed this bit of info before purchase :frown2:

On the bright side, it's probably still much safer than the car I had been driving...



.

 

[Tsuter]

I can confirm they don't :|






Grr. Somehow I missed this bit of info before purchase :frown2:

On the bright side, it's probably still much safer than the car I had been driving...



.

Yeah, I figure just aim for a more head on hit instead. That should work

 

[Detroit2012]

IHS Safety

Wish we had seen this forum prior to purchasing our Minivan earlier this month (March 2017). My wife's number one criteria was safety which was why we choose a new Pacifica based on the IHS + rating. We talked about it with the sales person and even upgraded to the Touring L with the safety-tec option. In order to get the vehicle with our options the dealer traded cars. We picked up the car and thought we were all set. Upon reading this forum we checked the manufacture date of the vehicle only to find out that it was built in August and therefore doesn't have the upgraded hinges. The dealer says they weren't familiar with the issue and Chrysler says the issue is between us and the dealer. Either way we aren't getting what we thought we had bought. Chrysler has no intention of fixing the issue since "it meets or exceeds all federal standards" - the vehicle is very nice, but we feel misled and would love to just void the contract and get a different vehicle

 

[Gohawks1224]

unless you drive without your seatbelt, you will be ok. Look at the videos... I still get confused which one has the stronger hinges and which one does not. Hard to tell. Plus, this is for the 40mph small overlap test pitting van against a stationary 5 foot wall barrier. Keep in mind, no safety systems were used in this test. Your EBS will most likely slow you down a lot before hitting this object. Now, what if the object is moving towards you? I think the ACC would kick in IF it was being used or the EBS would kick in.. or both. So, while true, this type of crash is on the rise (people ignoring their lane and crossing the middle line), it is still not the number one reason for a crash. With EBS and ACC working together, I think the car will apply the brakes and stop before you do, which to me, is better than the crash test rating of good vs marginal due to doors opening up (never saw them swing open so that is not the case).

One last thing to consider, the small overlap is the test conducted with the far left side of the car, almost directly to the right of the driver side wheel. The moderate overlap is exactly half of the car, with same 5 foot barrier and same 40 mph speed. IIHS did not find the doors coming off with this test.

Again, it is just my opinion that, if you are in a small overlap crash, you are not flying out of the drivers side door, in the event that the door DOES unlatch from the hinge so just wear your seatbelt! So, while this is all qualitative data, you would need to correlate that into the equation when explaining it to your wife. Good luck. My wife only cared about the color

You can read more about it at this thread already created here

and the IIHS videos here

and how they test for this here