Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2002)

511 consumer complaints on file.

#10056174January 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN FIRST CRANKING CA RIT WILL REV ITSELF UP, THE SPEEDOMETER GOES TO 120MPH RPMS TACHS OUT, AND THEN DROPS BELOW 1/2 RPM, SPUTTERS AND BACKFIRE SOFF. HAD IN CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS AND UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. TOLD ME THAT A SENSOR COULD BE GOING BAD. NOW WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING OUT OF NEIGHBORHOOD THE CAR WENT DEAD AS DOES WITH ME AT TIMES AT STOP SIGN AND REFUSED TO CRANK AGAIN. CALLED ROADSIDE HAD IT FOR A CHARGE OF 75.00 AND WAS TOLD I HAD BAD GAS AND WANTED ANOTHER 510.00 TO FIX. WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER REG. WARRANTY OR THE 1300.00 EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WE PURCHASED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055953January 28, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL WAS IN THE OIL. DEALER INDICATED FUEL PUMP MODULE SECONDARY SEAL FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054954January 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHEN DOING THE 30,000 MILE OIL CHANGE/INSPECTION I NOTICED SPLITS IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. THIS IS ONLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE SUSPENSION IS UNSUPPORTED. THE CAR WAS DEALER SERVICED FOR THE RECALLS AND WAS ASKED FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE BUSHINGS WITH A WRITTEN RESPONSE A THIS TIME. DEALER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR BUT RESPONSE WAS SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE AND NOT FORTHCOMING. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC AND STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS APPEARED TO BE COMING APART. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WITH THIS CONCERN AND THEY THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE THE BUSHINGS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NO PARTS RETAINED DUE TO DEALER POLICY THAT NO PARTS UNDER WARRANTY WORK WILL BE GIVEN TO THE OWNER. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FOR INFERIOR RUBBER AND DESIGN. IT APPEARS THAT IF THE BUSHINGS FAIL THE CONTROL ARM WILL FALL OFF AND MAY RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056015January 16, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
CHROME PLATING 5 SPOKE WHEELS CHROME PLATING HAS BUBBLED/CORRODED ON THE SEALING SURFACE OF THE TIRE BEAD. *PH THIS HAS CAUSED THE TIRE TO LEAK AIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070439January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WWW.PTCRUISERPROBLEMS.COM MY PT CRUISER CONSUMES OIL AT THE RATE OF A QUART OR MORE EVERY THOUSAND MILES. AFTER SEVERAL FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS FERMAN REACQUIRED IT FROM HIM, REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ONE FROM THE LOT. I PURCHASED MY 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING LIMITED ON 5/20/2002 WITH ONLY 4,780 MILES FROM: FERMAN AUTOMOTIVE HTTP://WWW.FERMANAUTO.COM. MY PT CRUISER EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT THE TIME OF THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. IT CONSUMED ABOUT ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. THE FIRST ACTUAL ATTEMPT AT REPAIR FERMAN MADE WAS TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER GASKET, THIS FAILED. SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS REPLACING THE ENGINE THEY TOLD ME. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK, AND THIS ALSO FAILED. I SENT A VEHICLE DEFECT NOTIFICATION TO THE MANUFACTURE AND ONE TO THE STATE TO START THE LEMON LAW PROCESS. CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFICE SENT THE REGIONAL LEAD TECHNICIAN TO OVERSEE THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT. FERMAN TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY FOUND NINE BAD VALVE SEALS. FERMAN REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEAD. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE VALVE COVER, THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE. SOME 2001 PT CRUISERS HAVE A DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER THAT CAUSES THE PCV VALVE TO SUCK IN OIL. I DROVE ABOUT 370 MILES AND CHECKED THE OIL TO FIND IT CONSUMED A QUART OF OIL! THERE IS ALSO A SECONDARY ISSUE WITH THE A/C. THE A/C HAS A PERSISTENT MILDEW ODOR THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT RESOLVED. THEY HAVE TREATED THE A/C WITH AN ANTI-MILDEW AGENT SEVERAL TIMES YET IT STILL RETURNS. I AND MANY OTHERS SUFFER WITH TRYING TO RESOLVE THE MILDEW ODOR PROBLEM ALSO. I AM CURRENTLY STILL PERFORMING ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE OIL CONSUMPTION HAS VARIED ONLY SLIGHTLY AND STILL CONTINUES. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND I AM WORKING WITH HIM TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THIS SOON. CHRYSLER STATED THEY WILL REPLACE OR PURCHASE MY VEHICLE BACK FROM ME, IF THE OIL CONSUMPTION CONTINUES. PLEASE CONTACT ME. WWW.PTCRUISERPROBLEMS.COM [email protected]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069073January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MAY 17, 2003 WAS THE MOST RECENT EPISODE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES FOR OVERHEATING. THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO SATISFACTORILY FIX THE PROBLEM OR ADMIT IT'S A DEFECT. I'VE LODGED COMPLAINTS WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY RESOLUTION THEY'RE WILLING TO OFFER IS EXTENDED COVERAGE, WHICH WON'T KEEP MY CAR FROM OVERHEATING EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT A TRIP LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053259January 15, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING FAILED. DEALERSHIP STATES THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PUMP ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. THE PART IS BACK ORDERED UP TO 3 WEEKS WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THERE MUST BE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RACK FAILURES. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053278January 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 2002. ON 11 JANUARY 2004, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AGAIN. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE CONTROLLER (AGAIN), LEAVING ME TO WONDER IF THIS IS PERMANENT 'FIX' OR IS IT ONE THAT I WILL NEED TO CONSTANTLY BE WORRYING ABOUT? CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER PROVIDES NO ASSURANCE. DEALER SAYS, 'IF IT FAILS, BRING IT IN AGAIN.' - NOT MUCH ASSURANCE. * CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052394January 5, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A SCRATCH/GRINDING SOUND EVERY TIME I WOULD COME TO A STOP. THERE WAS NO DIFFICULTY WITH BRAKING, JUST THE NOISE. SO, I VISUALLY INSPECTED THEM AND NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT ROTOR WAS WORN ON THE OUTER EDGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL, REPUTABLE, TIRE STORE AND THEY FOUND THE DAMAGE TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A CLIP THAT CAME LOOSE, THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE BRAKE PAD. I HAVE KEPT THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE CAR HAD 26,000 MILES, MUCH OF THOSE MILES WERE HIGHWAY DRIVING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051730December 18, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049127December 3, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING AS I COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 14,500 MILES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047319November 21, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS DRIVING CA. 20-25 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT, AND HIT A YELLOW CEMENT STOP SIGN POST WHILE TURNING LEFT. I DID NOT SEE THE OBSTACLE BEFORE TURNING (BLIND SPOT?) AND I CRASHED INTO IT HEAD-ON. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DAMAGE DIDN'T LOOK TOO BAD, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE OVER $3,200 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, INCLUDING NEW RADIATOR AND NEW AC UNIT. MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD VERY HARD BUT THE WINDSHIELD DIDN'T CRACK. I DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL BUT SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE I HIT MY HEAD HARD -- I SELF-TREATED WITH ICE BAGS FOR 4-5 HOURS AT A TIME FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I THOUGHT MAYBE I WASN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, BUT HAVING SEEN ALL THE OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10047179November 19, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON SEP30, 2002 AND JAN 31,2003, THE BOTTOM MOTOR MOUNT BROKE ON OUR 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. ON OCT 9, 2003, THE BOTTOM AND UPPER MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045808November 9, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AT 27,000 MILES, OF WHICH 20,000 OF THOSE MILES ARE FREEWAY MILES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE BOTH WORN OUT. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PARTS AND SAW THAT THE INSIDE PADS WERE NEARLY GONE. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY 1.) THERE WAS NEVER A WARNING FROM THE BRAKE PAD CHIRPERS AND 2.) THE BRAKES WERE WORN OUT SO SOON, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CHRYSLER IS USING LESSER QUALITY MATERIALS IN THE ROTORS AND PADS. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THAT ONLY THE OUTSIDE PAD HAS A CHIRPER (A WORN PAD WARNING DEVICE) AND THAT THE INSIDE PAD WILL GRIND THE ROTOR BEFORE THE OUTSIDE PAD IS WORN ENOUGH TO WARN THE DRIVER. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL RUIN YOUR BRAKE ROTORS BEFORE YOU ARE WARNED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045469November 4, 2003
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED MY HOOD. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VENT RIGHT BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED 911 AND THE CAR BURNT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT COULD GET THERE. THEY WERE A BLOCK AWAY. CHRYSLER CHOSE TO DO NOTHING. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043847October 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 PT CRUISER LIMITED EDITION - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER ONLY 44,000 MILES. REPAIR IS $2,500.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044885October 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHILE BRAKING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040058October 22, 2003
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATED WHILE CHILD WAS GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S REAR SIDE A METAL STICK EXPOSED OUT OF THE REAR SEAT MATERIAL AND THE INJURED CHILD'S ARM. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10040088October 22, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10032380September 12, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED AT 24000 MILES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *PH THE DEALER DID NOT COVER THE TOTAL COST. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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