Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)
618 consumer complaints on file.
- #10172763November 6, 2006WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND A BUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIR PRESSURE WAS LOW IN TIRES AND ALL FOUR RIMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10172290October 31, 2006WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS INFLATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED ALL THE RIMS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10172156October 30, 2006WHEELS:RIM
2001 PT CRUISER WITH 16 INCH CHROME WHEELS. CHROME IS FLAKING ON THE BEAD EDGE OF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOOSE PRESSURE. MINE HAVE BEEN SLOW LEAKS, BUT LEAKS COULD BE FAST. TIRES GO DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. TIRE REPAIR SHOP SAID COMMON FAILURE. SEES IT REGULARLY.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170516October 11, 2006WHEELS:RIM
2001 PT CRUISER - CHROME IS PEELING FROM RIMS WHICH CAUSES AIR TO LEAK FROM TIRES. SECOND SET OF TIRES IS NOW INSTALLED BUT RIMS HAD TO BE RE-SEALED AFTER ABOUT 10K MILES. RIMS WERE RESEALED ONCE BEFORE. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED WITH NO RESOLUTION. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM ON THEIR PART. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170368October 10, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE OF THE POWER TRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENTS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, ALL FOUR TIRES SLOWLY DEFLATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE WHEEL RIMS NEEDED THE CHROME PLATE GROUND AND OIL APPLIED. THIS WAS DONE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE RIMS ARE ALUMINUM CHROME PLATED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168635September 19, 2006WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES LOST AIR WITHOUT INCIDENT. AIR NEEDED TO BE ADDED EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE WHEEL WAS FLAKING OFF AND WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. THE RIMS WERE FLAKING AROUND THE VALVE OUTLET. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10167930September 12, 2006WHEELS:RIM
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 PT CRUISER WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. TO DATE, I HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THE WHEELS/RIMS ARE DETERIORATING/PEELING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AS A RESULT, I AM ALSO CONSTANTLY PUTTING AIR IN SOME OF THE TIRES. MY GREATEST WORRY, IS HAVING A "TIRE BLOW OUT" WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MANY OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT WILLING TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR WHEELS, I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND/OR MEDIA. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ACCORDINGLY. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10166871August 29, 2006STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PUDDLE OF FLUID WAS NOTICED UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR HAD A PIN-SIZED HOLE. THE RESERVOIR WAS REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10166720August 28, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND THE FOG LIGHTS WORKED FINE. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN EARLY MORNING WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED SOME WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS WERE MELTING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE COST OF THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10165161August 10, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A SEAM FAILURE IN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL MODULE. THE FAILED PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 09/05/06. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10164495August 4, 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SHIFTER FELT SLUGGISH AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD WHERE A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS MADE BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10164200August 2, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
) ON 9/2/03 I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED. PROBLEM FOUND WAS THE FRONT RIGHT CALIPER PISTON STUCK > CLOSED CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR > OF BRAKES PADS ( METAL TO METAL ON FRONT RIGHT AND 50% PADS ON OTHER THREE). DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPER PISTON, REPLACED PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS. HAD TO GET A RENTAL FOR ONE DAY. 2) ON 2/21/05 HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND BRAKES CHECKED. DEALER SAID ALTHOUGH THE PADS WHERE WEARING EVENLY NOW, THEY STATED "BUT WORN OUT FRONT AND REAR", NEED TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES FRONT AND REAR, REPLACED FRONT ROTORS, RESURFACED REAR ROTORS" THIS TIME I HAD TO HAVE A RENTAL FOR THREE DAYS. 3) ON 3/12/05 NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO WORK THE, ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BECAME ENGULFED WITH STEAM, I COULD NOT SEE A THING AND THE WIPERS COULD NOT TAKE THE STEAM AWAY, SO AGAIN I HAD TO HEAD BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT. DEALER STATED "FOUND ENGINE COOLING FAN NOT WORKING & RADIATOR CAP NOT HOLDING PRESSURE" " REPLACED FAN AND RADIATOR CAP". ANOTHER RENTAL FOR TWO DAYS. 4) ON 6/14/06, 161 MILES AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RUNS OUT, I HAVE A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, I GET THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK SHORTED OUT AND DAMAGED THE CONTROLLER AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS ITEM REPLACED. NO RENTAL REQUIRED THIS TIME BUT THE BILL WAS $1055.66 ON MY DIME. NOW ....THE GRAND DADDY OF THEM ALL! 5) THE CAR WAS BACK AT THE DEALER ON 8/1/06 FOR THE SAME FRONT RIGHT CALIPER PISTON ISSUE AS ON 9/2/03, BUT ON MY DIME THIS TIME. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10163617July 27, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD 50 PLUS TIMES WHERE I HAVE FOUND MY BATTERY DEAD AND THE FOG LAMPS ON. OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD FEWER , BUT , REGULAR TIMES WHEN THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED. I CHECK TO SEE THAT THEY ARE OFF AS I EXIT THE VEHICLE , AND RETURN TO FIND THEM ON AND THE BATTERY DEAD. THE SWITCH ON THE END OF THE LIGHT CONTROL STICK IS NOT A GOOD ARRANGEMENT. IT WEARS OUT THE STOP AND THEN ( AS MINE IS NOW ) YOU CAN NOT TURN THE FOG LAMPS OFF. ANY LITTLE BUMP WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THEY COME ON. I HAVE HAD TO UNPLUG THESE LAMPS ( RATHER THAN PAY THE RIDICULOUS DEALER REPLACEMENT FEE ) TO KEEP MY CURRENT ( 3RD THIS LAST 2 YEARS ) BATTERY FROM DYING. I GOT THE FIRST RETAIL PT DELIVERY IN WI ON APRIL 12 2000 AND AM SURE IN TIME ALL OWNERS WILL FIND THIS PROBLEM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10163381July 25, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE CONNECTOR PLUG FOR THE FOG LIGHTS SHORTED OUT CAUSING IT TO SMOLDER AND THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THERE WAS FIRE BUT NO FLAME. THE PLUG MELTED AND CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10162546July 17, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH UPHILL ON A HOT DAY AND ON DRY ROADS. SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SO THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE FRONT HOOD WAS RAISED AND THE TRANSMISSION'S LEFT DRIVER SIDE, EXHAUST, AND REAR TIRES WERE OBSERVED TO BE COVERED IN TRANSMISSION OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE CLAMPS WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE HOSE CLAMPS WITH STAINLESS STEEL WORMGEAR CLAMPS, AND FILLED THE VEHICLE UP WITH TRANSMISSION OIL. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE WAS HOT. THE VEHICLE IS A CHRYSLER PT CRUISER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10162675July 17, 2006WHEELS:RIM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
OVER APPROXIMATELY THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THELEN AUTO GROUP IN BAY CITY, MICHIGAN REGARDING DEFECTIVE RIMS ON MY 2001 PT CRUISER. I AM CONSTANTLY REPLACING AIR IN FAIRLY NEW TIRES DUE TO THIS. AFTER SPEAKING TO THELEN SEVERAL TIMES CHRYLSER WAS CALLED IN DECEMBER OF 2005 (DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE). AFTER THE DEALER SCRAPED AND SPRAYED THE RIMS TO STOP THE PEELING A COUPLE OF TIMES THELEN'S MECHANIC (PAT) STATED THAT THIS JUST WOULDN'T WORK. PAT ALSO WENT ON TO ADD (IN THE PRESENCE OF MY FATHER) THAT HE NEVER SAW SUCH A THING. THIS WAS ON A JUNE 2006 VISIT TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS CHRYSLER NOW STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM IT WAS JUST SALT EROSION AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE RIMS. CHRYSLER ALSO STATES THAT THIS INFO WAS GIVEN TO THEM FROM MIKE THELEN AND HIS MECHANIC. MR. THELEN STATES HE DID NOT SAYS THIS. WHEN ASKED IF HE WOULD REPLACE THE RIMS FROM HIS DEALER NO MATTER WHAT CHRYSLER SAID; HE REFUSED. OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE IS LYING AND I AM AT A STALEMATE. CHRYSLER WON'T CHANGE IT'S MIND-BECAUSE OF THEIR PHONE CALLS WITH MIKE THELEN-THE OWNER- AND HIS MECHANIC. ON 07-17-06 I WAS TOLD BY DAPHNEY (PHONE FOR CHRYSLER HEADQUARTERS 248-576-5741) THAT ONCE A DECISION WAS MADE IT WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. SHE ALSO REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR OR GIVE ADDITIONAL INFO FOR THE PRESIDENTS HEADQUARTERS-SHE STATED HER OFFICE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO CONTACT THEM. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10162177July 11, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
FOG LIGHTS DIFFICULT TO SHUT OFF EVEN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION, CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH TO AVOID FIRE/WIRING MELTDOWN. UPON REMOVAL OF SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY OF COMPONENT PLASTIC ARM WORN OUT ALLOWED SPRING LOADED CONTACT TO MAKE LIGHT AND CONSTANT CONTACT PRODUCING A SHORT CIRCUIT. ONCE PLASTIC FAILS NO WAY TO TURN FOGS OFF. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10161390July 4, 2006VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
HELLO, I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THE FRONT WINDOWS OF THE 2001 PT CRUISER. I BELIEVE I MAY HAVE SAW A TRICKLE OF SMOKE ONCE COME OUT OF THE WINDOW CONTROLS. PLUS, THE WINDOW MAKES A "SCREECHING" SOUND WHEN IT GOES DOWN. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10161139June 30, 2006SUSPENSION:REAR
2001 PT CRUISER WITH UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEALER CHECKED RATTLING NOISE IN REAR AND REPORTS REAR AXLE IS SHOT. REPAIR COSTS ABOUT $2,000.00. CHRYSLER OFFERED TO PROVIDE PARTS. DEALER LABOR IS ABOUT $600.00. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10160751June 26, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0