Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2002)

511 consumer complaints on file.

#10224263April 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND HAVE NOTICED THE FOG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH IS LIT. WHEN I LOOKED IN THE FRONT INDEED THE LIGHTS WERE ON. THE SWITCH WAS OFF BUT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. I NOTICED A SMELL OF SMOKE IN THE CAR AND IT DRAINED MY BATTERY TO ZERO VOLTS. THE AUTO ALARM ALSO SEEMS TO ENGAGE FOR NO REASON. AFTER CHECKING THE WEB I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS QUITE A BIG PROBLEM AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD FIRES AND SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FOG LIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN USED SO THE SWITCH CANNOT BE WORN OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223665April 8, 2008
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD HAD TWO CRACKS RUNNING FROM EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER VENT TO THE WINDSHIELD. NOW THERE IS A LARGE CRACK RUNNING FROM THE CENTER OF THAT VENT TO THE FRONT OF THE DASH. THE DASH IN THIS CAR IS JUST A COVER, A PIECE OF PLASTIC. THE CRACK IS NOT LIKE THE CRACKS YOU USED TO GET IN A DASH THAT WAS FOAM COVERED METAL. THESE CRACKS ARE WHERE THE PLASTIC HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN THROUGH. IN A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING ON A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223003April 1, 2008
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
LEAKING STEERING RACK AND SOLENOID PACK. POSSIBLE LEAK IN STEERING PUMP ALSO. SAFETY OF TIE ROD ENDS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, CONTROL ARMS NOTED IN INSPECTION OF FRONT END BOTH BY A CHRYSLER DEALER AND BY AN AUTO-REPAIR CHAIN. BOTH RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF PARTS (IN SHOP RIGHT NOW) TO ELIMINATE A SAFETY RISK. IN SPEAKING TO ANOTHER OWNER OF THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE, I LEARNED THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223870March 31, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD ONE MORNING. BY THE EVENING, THE CRACK HAD GROWN LARGER. THERE ARE NOW THREE CRACKS IN SEVERAL PLACES. TWO YEARS AGO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED INCIDENTS. THE CONTACT FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER 17372167 WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222048March 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION FROM MY PT CRUISER EXPLODED ON I95 NEAR KINGSLAND GA WHILE COMING BACK FROM A TRIP ON 3/3/08. IT HAS A EXCELLENT MAINTAINANCE RECORD ON THIS CAR. ALL SERVICES WHERE DONE WHEN DUE BY A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN HINESVILLE GA, WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2002. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INDICATIONS THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. IT NEVER MADE ANY STRANGE NOISE, LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID, SKIPPED GEARS..AND JUST LIKE THAT IT EXPLODED. IT HAD A COMPLETE TUNE UP PERFORMED ON PT CRUISER SEPT 2007. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN KINGSLAND GA. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $3,484.66 A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE EXPLODED WITH 80267 MILES. I FEEL OVERALL THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS TRANSMISSIONS AND THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221763March 19, 2008
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD CRACKED STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE (NORTH TO SOUTH). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221041March 13, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
MY CRUISER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WHEN THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE WORN. IN READING THIS SITE, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM FLEET WIDE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, PLUS THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE ON THE EXTENDED WARRANT. BASED ON WHAT I READ, I THINK THAT THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220771March 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND NEVER SWITCHED FROM SECOND GEAR. THE ENGINE JUST KEPT REVVING. THE CONTACT DROVE TO A SAFE AREA AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE A SOUND AS IF IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220510March 9, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS HAD TWO SETS OF FRONT CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 90,000 MILES DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILING. THE FIRST TIME THE BUSHING CAME OUT COMPLETELY. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS STILL IN PLACE BUT TORN. BOTH REPAIR SHOPS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219915March 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, RENDERING THE VEHICLE USELESS AND ENDANGERING THE DRIVER. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. ESTIMATE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION $2,134.20. THE VEHICLE HAS 86,632 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED USED AT 77,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219819March 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
COMPLETE FAILURE OF EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD, I.E. SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, COOLING, ODOMETER. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, NO INTERIOR LIGHTS. FOG LIGHTS STAY ON UNLESS YOU TURN ON YOUR TURN SIGNAL AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AS A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES ON THE SITES THAT I HAVE VISITED. THE CAR IS A 2002 PT CRUISER, AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MICROPROCESSOR TO BE MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE, HOWEVER MY PT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217480February 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE MULTIFUCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ALLOWS STOPS WORKING AND FOG LIGHTS STAY ON MAKING THE BATTERY RUN DOWN AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE REMEDY IS TO DISCONNECT THE FOG LIGHTS. THIS PART HAS FAILED THREE TIMES ON MY PT CRUISER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213196December 30, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TBC SIGMA REGENT TOURING TIRE, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CAUSING THE WHOLE REAR DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL AND REAR FASCIA TO BLOW OFF OF VEHICLE ,TIRES WERE PURCHASED A FEW YEARS AGO LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON TIRES . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210695December 3, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AFTER RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER ENTERS THE VEHICLE AND CAUSES SEVERE LEAKAGE ON THE FLOOR AND FLOODING OF THE FUSE BOX. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY, ALLOWING FLUIDS TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE, IN WHICH THEY ATTEMPTED TO USE THE ADHESIVE/RTV/BLACK TO REPAIR THE SEAM. THIS WAS DONE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE PROPERLY REPAIRED. A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,163.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209122November 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PT CRUISER OVERHEATING AT IDLE. NO REPAIRS HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208410November 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND SHE HEARD A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY. SHE FELT THAT A FAILED MOTOR MOUNT CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF NOVEMBER 8, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT COMPLETED AN INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 03/13/08. *LJ THE SOLENOID PACK WAS LEAKING. THE FOG LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207795November 2, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
2002 PT CRUISER. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE TIRE VIBRATION OR FRONT END VIBRATION. CURRENTLY MINE HAS 46.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MINE. I HAD THEM REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO AT 38,000 MILES. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206795October 24, 2007
TIRES
FILLING TIRES WITH AIR EVERY OTHER DAY . TIRE SERVICE DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL OTHER PT CRUISER WITH SAME PROBLEM. WHAT CAN BE DONE . I HAVE BOUGHT 2 1/2 SETS OF NEW TIRES SINCE 5/2/06. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204741October 3, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MULTI-SWITCH FAILS CAUSING THE FOG LIGHTS TO COME ON WHEN CAR IS OFF OR RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING. PLASTIC PART INSIDE SWITCH MECHANISM HOLDING METAL CONTACT FROM CONNECTING TWO TERMINALS OVERHEATS AND MELTS THUS BECOMES SHORTER AND CANNOT KEEP THE CONTACT AWAY FROM THE TERMINALS. DEALER TOLD ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT I SHOULD NOT USE THE FOG LIGHTS UNLESS NEEDED AND I DID AS TOLD. AFTER TWO BATTERIES AND MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET CHRYSLER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY ADMITTED WAS HAPPENING ON ALL PT CRUISERS SOLD BY MY DEALER, I HAD TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL A NEW MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL AN CAN SEND IF WISHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204718October 2, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, WHEN MY BATTERY WAS SUDDENLY DRAINED AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY, AND FOUND IT DRAINING AS WELL. I FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT MY FOG LIGHTS WERE COMING ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SHORT OR SOME WIRING PROBLEM IN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH LEVER, WHICH HAS THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON THE END, AND THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOT WORSE. FOR NOW, THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO FLIP THE LEVER DOWN TO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, WHICH SOMEHOW KEEPS THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH FROM ENGAGING. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT HEAT, RELATED TO THE TIME OF THE DAY, SEEMS TO ALSO PLAY A PART IN IT. WHEN IT IS COOL, LIKE IN THE MORNING, THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON. AS SOON AS IT WARMS UP FOR THE DAY, THEY COME ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I DECIDED TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH TODAY, AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN A POST REGARDING THE PROBLEM, AND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NEVER ADDRESSED IT. THE COMPLAINTS ALL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE LEFT-TURN-SIGNAL SOLUTION I FOUND ON MY OWN IS THE ONLY WAY TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTED OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED THE TEMPERATURE RELATIONSHIP, WHERE HEAT FROM THE TIME OF DAY MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. THE THREAD CAN BE READ HERE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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