Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10131097August 2, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
ALL 4 CHROME RIMS LEAK AIR. HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR BUT STILL NO LUCK. TOLD BY TIRE DEALER THE RIMS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE JUNK. DEALER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND PRODUCT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130890August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH LEVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, ONE COULD JIGGLE THE LEVER AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. THE LAST TIME THE LIGHTS WENT OFF ON A ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS, AND CONSUMER PULLED UP ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS SO SHE WOULD NOT GET HIT. THIS WAS ON A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS OCCURRED DUE TO A SHORT IN A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND BROKEN THREE TIMES.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130928August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1) OUR FOG LIGHTS HAD BEEN GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. 2) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL STREET COMING HOME WHEN SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE. SHE HAPPENED TO BE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (IT'S ON THE WAY HOME FROM HER WORK) AND PULLED IN THEIR PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING A SHORTED FOG LIGHT SWITCH. INSTEAD OF A FUSE BLOWING THE WIRE HARNESS ACTED AS A FUSIBLE LINK AND BEGAN MELTING DOWN. WE ARE NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A $2500.00 WIRE HARNESS. I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER WHY A FUSE HAD NOT BLOWN AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CIRCUIT IS PROTECTED BY A FORTY (40) AMP FUSE. BEING AN ELECTRICIAN I KNOW THAT A FORTY AMP FUSE OR BREAKER PROTECTS AN ELECTRIC RANGE OVEN AND IS ON 8 AWG WIRE. TO REPAIR THE FAULT, WE HAVE TO BUY THE HARNESS WHICH CHRYSLER WILL CUT OFF THE CONNECTOR THAT MELTED DOWN AND WILL SPLICE ON THE NEW ONE. ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING COLUMN PASS THROUGH THIS HARNESS WHICH MELTED DOWN AND THE WIRES ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT PROTECTED BY FUSES. IF THEY WERE A FUSE SHOULD BLOW WITH A SHORT. OUR VEHICLE HAS HAD 4 WARRANTIES AND 3 RECALLS SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED AFTER A WEEK AND A HALF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130762August 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
ON JULY 30, 2005, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A HORRIBLE SCREECHING/GRINDING NOISE. I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO REAR BRAKE PADS LEFT AND THAT THERE WERE GROOVES IN THE ROTOR (METAL ON METAL). I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT BRAKES REPLACED IN MAY 2005 AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH 1/2 BRAKE PADS LEFT ON BOTH SIDES. I PRIMARILY DO HIGHWAY DRIVING SO MY BRAKES TEND TO LAST LONG. I WAS INFORMED THAT CHRYSLER USES METALLIC BRAKE PADS ON THE PT CRUISERS WHICH MOST MANUFACTURERS DO NOT USE AS IT CAUSES MUCH HEAT AND FRICTION WHEN STOPPING AND PREMATURELY WEARS OUT THE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE LOW, THERE WERE NO NOISES, SQUEAKING, ETC. THE ONLY NOISES I HEARD WERE WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND THE CALIPER WAS DIGGING INTO THE ROTORS EVERY TIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I LATER LEARNED THAT CHRYSLER USES WEAR INDICATORS ONLY ON THE TWO FRONT BRAKES, NOT THE REAR. THERE ARE NO WEAR INDICATORS ON THE REAR BRAKES SO CUSTOMERS WILL NEVER KNOW THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE GETTING LOW UNTIL THEY HAVE NO MORE BRAKE PADS LEFT AND THE CALIPER STARTS EATING UP THE ROTOR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I ROUTINELY HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED (EVERY MONTH). THE REAR BRAKE PADS SHOULD HAVE NEVER WORN SO PREMATURELY IN THE SPAN OF 3 MONTHS, CONSIDERING 95% OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING WEAR INDICATORS ON ALL 4 BRAKES. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO BE DRIVING AROUND WITH ONLY 2 FRONT BRAKES AND NO REAR ONES AND TO NOT EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121353August 1, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER STATES: 1ST TIME HEARD A CRUSHING NOISE WHEN HE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN, THEN IN JULY 2003 HEARD A NOISE SOUND LIKE RUBBER ON RUBBER. THE STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. IN JULY 2004 THE NOISE WAS BACK AND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AGAIN. NOW, THE NOISE IS BACK AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION AGAIN. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130690July 31, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
WHEELS ON CAR ARE SPLITTING. PHYSICALLY SEPARATING. TIRES CONSISTENTLY LOSE AIR. PEOPLE AT DEALERSHIP HAVE TOLD US THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED ON OTHER CARS. SERVICE MGR STATED THAT " HE WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON WHEELS. THE CONDITION HAS CAUSED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR AND FLATS. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING WHEELS ACTUALLY SEPARATING TOTALLY WHILE ON ROAD AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER AND DEALER BOTH SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130698July 31, 2005
TIRES
GOODYEAR 205 50R/17 EAGLE RS/A TIRES FROM FACTORY ARE POOR QUALITY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 22,000 MILES. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT, BALANCING PROBLEMS WERE PRESENT. REPLACED TIRES WITH OTHER THAN GOODYEAR; DISCOVERED THAT FACTORY RIMS WERE NOT BALANCED! DISAPPOINTED IN CHRYSLER'S QC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129937July 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
I WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR BROKE DOWN I COULDN'T KEEP ON THE SHIFT COULDN'T MOVE TO PARK, DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK THE PART AN AXEL. I PAID A MECANIC. BUT THE BUSHINGS ARE ALSO MESSED UP THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE HERE IN PUERTO RICO IT COSTS ME MORE THATN 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THAT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD THAT THE IT DIDN'T HAVE GARANTEEN. KNOW ANOTHER PROBLEM THERE IS IN FEBREUARY I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECANIC BECAUSE THE CARGOT HOT THEY CHANGE THE WATER BOMB, AND IT CONTINUE TO RISE THE TEMPERATURE, THEN THE TEMOSTAT AND THEY EVEN FLUSHED THE RADIATOR,AND THEY PUT A COMPUTER IF IT CAN DITECT WHERE IS THE PROBLEM.THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST RADIATOR MECANICS IN BAYAMON PUERTO RICO. WHE N I DRIVE AROUND THERES NO PROBLEM AS LONG I I AM NOT IN A TRAFFIC JAM FOR MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR AND WHEN I GO VISIT MY PARENTS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE GOING UP THE HILLS THAT AFTER TEN MINUTES ON THE HILL THE TEMPERARURE STARTS TO RISE BOTH TIMES THAT I HAVE VISITED MY PARENTS FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS AGO I CAN'T GO. THE MECANICS CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY SUGGETIONS E-MAIL ME BACK AND I CAN GIVE IT TO THE MECANICS . ABOUT THE BUSHINGS I'VE ASKED A PERSON ON THE STREETS THAT HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER AND SHE SAID THAT THESE CARS HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130238July 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
2001 PT CRUISER DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE IT STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*MR THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF RECALL RELATED ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER WANTED MORE MONEY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129713July 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUSIER THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN I USE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126069July 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. THE BRAKES WERE MUSHY. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD KIND OF GLIDE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID BRAKES HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BEFORE 15,000 MILES. THIS WAS NORMAL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129410July 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLASPED AND HAS NOT ALLOWED THE BRAKE FLUID TO GO THROUGH. HAS TO GRIP STEERING WHEEL AND PULL OVER IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. STANDING NEXT TO THE BRAKES CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE HEAT COMING OFF THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED IN MAR 2005. TUFFY FIXED IT, THEY SAID HAD OTHER PT CRUISER'S IN FOR THE SAME DEFECT. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES IT SHOOK BADLY. IT WAS UNCONTROLABLE AT THAT POINT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129312July 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 10 MONTHS OLD, PT CRUISER GT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED PLUGS AND WIRES. 2 WEEKS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO ORDER HEAD GASKET. DEALER LAPPED THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES AND REPLACED HEAD GASKET. NEXT DAY, ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. DEALER REPLACED THE WASTE GATE SOLENOID. DEALER CALLED AND SAID CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. BEFORE I GOT THERE, DEALER CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. DEALER THEN DETERMINED THAT A VACUUM HOSE HAD SLIPPED OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. PRIOR TO 12 MONTHS, CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE 15 DAYS, OFFICIALLY AT THE DEALER 5 TIMES. ALL FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. DEALER IS SUPPOSEDLY WORKING WITH CHRYSLER TO GET THE CAR BOUGHT BACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129052July 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLAPSED AND WERE NOT ALLOWING THE FLUID TO GO THROUGH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE TREMDOUSLY WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES, HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO QUIT SHAKING. HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED AT BRAKE SHOP. THEY SAW S THIS MANY TIMES WITH THE PT CRUISER. HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON. IF CONSUMER WOULD STAND BESIDE THE BRAKES SHE COULD FEEL THE HEAT COMING OUT OF THEM. THIS WAS ONGOING A COUPLE YEARS, AND MOSTLY RECENTLY HAPPENED ON MAY 30,2005.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128851July 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT: THE CLUTCH CABLE ASSEMBLIES, THE BUSHINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO BE AROUND THE CABLE WERE NEVER PUT ON VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT INTO GEAR . TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD BOTH CABLES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ALL BUSHINGS WERE MISSING. THE PART THE MECHANIC RECEIVED FROM CHRYSLER HAD THE BUSHINGS ON IT. THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR, BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW THE BUSHINGS WERE MISSING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. AT THAT TIME, THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE CHECK CAME ON. THAT WAS BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128616July 13, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO A QUICK TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE THE TO DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN AND WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. IN ADDITION THE CONTROL ARM HAD LOST A BUSHING WHICH CREATED A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS AS WELL AS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING. DEALER NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER AND THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DENIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISER AND THAT ALL CARS HAVE GREASE FITTINGS CALLED "ZIRKS" SINCE REPAIRS NO PROBLEMS AS OF YET. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 32,191 MILES. CHRYSLER DID SAY THEY WOULD REIMBURSE $150 FOR THE TIE RODS ENDS BUT THAT WAS ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128494July 12, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
DT: THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT FIT ON THE RIM OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ALSO AND THEY WERE NOT ANY HELP EITHER. THE OWNER HAS TRIED TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE FRONT WHEN SHE HAD A FLAT, BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. THE SPARE ALSO DOESN'T FIT THE FRONT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2004, WHEN THE OWNER NOTICED IT. THE OWNER WENT AND BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES, BUT DID NOT BUY A 5TH TIRE TO MAKE A NEW SPARE. IT IS THE RIM THAT IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE TIRE ITSELF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128532July 12, 2005
STEERING, TIRES
TIRES ARE FIRESTONE EAGLE P205/55/16. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH A FRONT SHIMMY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND HAD RE-BALANCING AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT TO NO AVAIL. THE REASON I SUSPECT THE TIRES IS THAT I HAD SOME FIRESTONE TIRES IN THE PAST DO EXACTLY WHAT I AM EXPEREINCING.I PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH 15000 MILES ON IT.THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS EXPEREINCINGTHE SAME SHIMMY. THE CAR AT SLOWER SPEEDS BEGINS TO ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE.I WAS TOLD THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD IT LOOKED AT, THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128373July 11, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 42000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127816July 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: CONSUMER STATES 2001 PT CRUISER ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND THEN THE YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY FIXED THE POWER STEERING, WHICH WAS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 04V268000. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LIGHT WOULD STILL BE ON AND THE PROBLEM WOULD STILL OCCUR. TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENED CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK DONE. THIS STARTED DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, ON JULY 5, 2005. IT DID NOT MATTER WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS GOING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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