Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10104570December 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION. SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PT CRUISER CLUB HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR AS LOW AS 5000 MILES. CURRENTLY MY PT HAS 75.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. I AM A 25 YEAR EMPLOYEE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY. AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM. A RECALL AND MANDITORY REPAIR IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104500December 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHILE CHANGING MY FRONT ROTORS & PADS (AT 27K MILES), AND WITH THE SUSPENSION HANGING, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUSHING ON EACH CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATION. I FIRST NOTICED THIS AT 23K000MILES (2-18-04) WHEN I WAS INSPECTING THE FRONT BRAKES, BUT THOUGHT IT MUST BE DESIGNED LIKE THAT SINCE THERE WERE SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR (I AM A RETIRED HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC). RESEARCHING NOW THE PT CRUISER SITES ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS, AND HAS BEEN, A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OWNERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104505December 26, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON 12-17-04 MY TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AT DISCOUNT TIRE CO. THIS RESULTED IN VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS IN MY STEERING WHEEL. DISCOUNT RECHECKED THE BALANCING, BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I MOVED THE L/F TIRE TO THE REAR TO SEE IF THE WHEEL MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM - THE VIBRATION STOPPED! ON 12-23-04 I STOPPED BY THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH THEM. IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT ALL I WANTED WAS A TIRE SAFETY INSPECTION AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO INSPECT THE TIRE AT NO COST AND THE NEXT MORNING I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT 7AM (12-24-04). A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER GOODYEAR CALLED AND SAID THE L/R TIRE WAS BAD (TREAD SEPARATION) , THAT THEY HAD REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TIRE, AND IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF ANY COST INVOLVED, AND I ASSUMED IT WAS A FREE REPLACEMENT (27K MILES). WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PRO-RATED CHARGE OF ALMOST $80 FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE (GOODYEAR EAGLE LS P205/55R16). I TOLD THEM THERE WAS TO BE NO EXPENSE TO ME FOR THE TIRE INSPECTION - THAT IF THEY FOUND THE TIRE BAD I WAS GOING TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET PUT ON AT PEPBOYS. THEY PUT MY OLD TIRE BACK ON AND AGREED THERE WAS NO CHARGE FOR ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104454December 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER THAT HAS 20,000 MILES, AND ALREADY NEEDS A TUNEUP..CAR RUNS ROUGH..I TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE BUT 1 SPARK PLUG, AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE OTHER 3...WHAT GOOD IS THE WARANTY..I BUY NEW CARS ALL THE TIME NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM..DID I GET RIP OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104365December 22, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND TRIED TO SWERVE TO MISS AN ANIMAL, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10105261December 21, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
THE CHROME ON 3 OF THE WHEEL RIMS PEELED, CHRYSLER REPLACED ALL 3 RIMS. THE 4TH RIM STARTED TO PEEL AT THE STEM OF THE TIRE WHICH MADE THE TIRE LEAK AIR. *TC *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103016December 15, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES
PT CRUISER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY FAILING. IMPENDING FAILURE IDENTIFIED DURING ROUTINE SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION . PROBLEM SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE THE DURANGO PROBLEM. SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER. OUR VEHICLE IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103046December 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
FACTORY INSTALLED SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE (POSSIBLY FAULTY SAFETY GLASS) AND CAUSED SCRATCHES TO 3 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING A 20 MONTH OLD BOY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10102618December 10, 2004
WHEELS
I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH CHROME PLATED WHEELS. I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE STORE FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE BUT THE WHEELS WERE CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE AIR LEAKED OUT AROUND THE VALVE STEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY ORDERED NEW WHEELS AND SAID THEY WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THE WHEELS CAME IN THEY CALLED ME AND I SETUP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED. I TOOK THE CAR THERE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN IT WAS DONE. THEY CALLED THREE HOURS LATER AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE CHRYSLER RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR POLICY. THEY SAID THE CORROSION WAS DUE TO ENVIORNMENTAL REASONS DUE TO THE AREA I LIVE. SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN THROUGH ONE WINTER AND PART OF ANOTHER. THESE WHEELS WERE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE MODEL I PURCHASED. I FEEL THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZZARD AS YOU CAN NOT TELL THE AIR HAS LEAKED OUT UNLESS YOU LOOK AT THE TIRE. IT HAS BEEN DOWN TO FIVE LBS. OF AIR AND YOU CAN'T TELL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WOULD THINK THE TIRE COULD COME OFF THE WHEEL AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND SERIOUS INJURY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102355December 8, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PT CRUISER 2001 (CAR) WILL CONTINUE TO RUN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. SAFETY ISSUE: CAR CANNOT BE STOPPED OCCURRENCES: HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6+ TIMES SINCE PROBLEM INITIALLY BROUGHT TO DEALERS ATTENTION IN 2002 CHRYSLER SUPPORT: ESSENTIALLY NOT RESPONDING WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS TO LOCAL DEALER WHO CANNOT RESOLVE THIS DEFECT DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS ON 3 OCCASIONS WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS - HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR DEALER GAVE ME SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS THAT IF CAR DID THIS AGAIN, I COULD STOP IT BY REMOVING FUSE #11 - AFTER A SET OF RECENT SEQUENTIAL FAILURES ON 12/4/04 WHERE I USED THIS TECHNIQUE UNTIL I COULD CONTACT THE DEALER ON MONDAY MORNING; VEHICLE BATTERY DIED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-STARTED; RESPONDING MECHANIC ADVISE ME THE PROCEDURE FOR REMOVING FUSE #11 WAS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE ARCING IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY A FIRE AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. MOST RECENT EVENT OCCURRED ON 12/4/04 WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION, CAR STILL RUNNING.- UTILIZED DEALER TECHNIQUE OF REMOVING FUSE #11, BATTERY DIED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103239December 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKE PADS FAILED AT 10,000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES LATER AFTER HAVING THEM CHECKED THERE WAS A LOUD MOANING NOISE. FOUND THAT THE PADS HAD CUT INTO THE ROTORS, AND THE ROTOR DISHED WAS BENT VERY BADLY. NOW AT 15000 MILES THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099690December 7, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
THE RIMS ARE LOSING AIR. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES BY TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE INSIDE OF THE CRONE WHEELS, WHERE THE TREAD BEADS SIT ON THE RIM, HAVE PITS AND BLISTERS IN THE CRONE. DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO PUT A SEALER IN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS.*AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106627December 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE BUSHINGS WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE FASTENED TO THE CROSSMEMBER MINE, METAL ON METAL CONCERNING STEERING/SUSPENSION. *BF THE CONSUMERS LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103149December 6, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V268000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING HOSE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC TOOK THE KEY, WENT TO THE VEHICLE, CAME BACK AND GAVE THE CONSUMER THE KEYS. THE HOOD WAS NEVER LIFTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102249December 6, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AUTOMATIC 2004 PT CRUISER SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS AT A TIME DUE TO THE CAR STALLING WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE THE POWER STEERING LOCKS, AND THIS ACTION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP DUE TO IT STALLING AND DRIVING ROUGH. EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY FIND AN ISSUE BUT IT IS THE WRONG ISSUE. LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE RENTED PT CRUISER RENTAL CARS TO VERIFY THAT ALL PT CRUISER DO NOT RUN ROUGH AND STALL AND THE RENTAL CARS RUN LIKE A DREAM COMPARED TO MY CAR. IF THE TROUBLES WITH THE CAR DO NOT CHANGE AND THE CAR CANNOT BE FIXED I WOULD LIKE OUT OF THE DEAL. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR DUE TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102005December 2, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT AT 30 MPH. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAIL TO HOLD THE DRIVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES. CONSUMER'S FATHER TRANSPORTED HIM TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10102029December 2, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100896December 1, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
AT 24,226 MILES, I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS AGAIN HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE DEC 11, 2002. EACH TIME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, TWO RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLIES, AND ALL OF THE HOSES. THE LAST TWO TIMES, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE HAS HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS CHRYSLER TELLS ME THAT SINCE I HAVE THE WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN SINCE 24,000 MILES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. THESE 5 FAILURES HAVE ALL HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 31,000 MILES. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW AS I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS COMPLETELY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097126December 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUGS CONTINUED TO BURN OUT. IT WAS ALWAYS SPARK PLUG #1. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THIS DEFECT. THE OWNER ALSO STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN RE-WIRED AND THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED IN MARCH 2004, THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER. *JB THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WASN'T GETTING ANY GAS. THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK AT RED LIGHTS AND OR STOP SIGNS WITH A DIFFICULT TIME CONTINUING TO DRIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105287November 30, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE HOSE BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. *BF RECALL# 04V268000. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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