Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10296345December 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THIRTY SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM), FOUR FUEL INJECTERS , SPARK PLUGS, AND BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS. WERE REPLACED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295864December 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LOST ALL THE OIL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MY ENGINE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. AFTER PUTTING 2 PINTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE, I DROVE HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT AGAIN MY ENGINE HAD NO OIL IN IT AFTER ROUGHLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING. I PUT 3 PINTS OF OIL IN A DAY LATER AND TURNED OVER THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT MY OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE GASKET SEAL. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THE INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE GASKET REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED FOR VEHICLES OVER 120,000 MILES. LEAKING OIL IN THIS MANNER IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, AND I'M LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING HOME. I NOTICED ONLINE, THAT MANY OTHER PT OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE TYPES OF ENGINE FAILURES CONSISTENTLY. I CANNOT PAY THE 2800 DOLLARS FOR THIS REPAIR, THE CAR WILL SIT UNTIL CHRYSLER LOSES THIS LAWSUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293383November 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1. I GENERALLY DRIVE OUR 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY, AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS MEANS I WAS TURNING THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL UNIT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. 2. BEGINNING EARLY IN 2009 I EXPERIENCED TIMES WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITH THE SWITCH WITHOUT A LOT OF CYCLING, OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN THEMSELVES ON WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE MADE THAT HAPPEN. THEN, WHEN TRYING TO GET THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, THE SWITCH BEGAN TO SMOKE. TURNING OFF THE CAR CLEARED THAT, SO I STOPPED USING THE FOG LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHT PORTION OF THE SWITCH WORKED FINE. 3. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE OUT OF THE SWITCH. I THEN CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTO MAINTENANCE COMPANY I HAVE USED IN THE PAST AND TRUST. THEY QUOTED ME A BETTER SERVICE PRICE, AND THAT THE SWITCH WAS BACKORDERED. THERE WERE OVER 5000 SWITCHES ON BACKORDER AND IT WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ORDER WAS PLACED BEFORE WE RECEIVED THE SWITCH AND HAD IT INSTALLED. MY CONCERN IS TWO FOLD: 1. THE 5000 MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN TERMS OF FAILURES, AND 2. IF I HAD NOT BEEN SITTING THERE, WOULD THE LIGHTS, AFTER COMING ON BY THEMSELVES HAVE CAUSE THE SWITCH TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE VEHICLE ON FIRE? I THOUGHT THAT THE BRIEF TIME I WAS SMOKE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO BLOW THE FUSE, BUT IT DIDN'T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292652November 18, 2009
VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WITHOUT NOTICE. MANAGED TO GET THEM TO OPERATE IN HIGH SPEED ONLY..........REAR WIPER OPERATES FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292370November 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 02 PT CRUISER NOT STARTING FOR 7 YEARS AND WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED CHYRSLER AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE GOING TO FIX AND PAY FOR PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WAS AND NOTICE CHRYSLER WAS PUTTING CHEAP PARTS ON THEIR VEHICLES. HE UPGRADED THE CABLES CONNECTING TO AND FROM THE BATTERY AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE. THE CABLES WERE UNDER VOLTED AND WEREN'T ABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AND I GOT STRANDED SOMETIMES. CHRYSLER CALLED DEALER AND HAD THIS WORK DONE AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR OR THE OTHER CONNECTION I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. PLEASE LET YOUR SERVICE MANAGER KNOW THAT IT IS THE LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY CABLES TO THESE AREAS. HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING, HESITATION STARTING OR WOULDN'T START AT ALL HAPPEN AFTER NOT DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES FOR 2 DAYS JUST AFTER BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292399November 16, 2009
VISIBILITY
2007 PT CRUISER DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING SUN VISOR FELL OFF AND WON'T GO BACK ON. VERY FLIMSY CONSTRUCTION AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT IT ON VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292430November 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (THAT CONTROLS THE FOG LAMP) SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BE ON NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SWITCH WAS TURNED TO. I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE FOG LAMP FUSE; CHRYSLER HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED OR MORE ON BACKORDER, I'VE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE I CAN GET A REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292134November 14, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEATS
I HAVE A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THAT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION OR ANY TYPE OF DAMAGING INCIDENT HOWEVER THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING TO THE POINT WHERE IF ANYONE OR ANYTHING IS IN THE SEAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TURNS ON AND THE NOTIFICATION CHIME SOUNDS. THE DEALER HAS ESTIMATED THAT $500 WOULD BE A GOOD START TO REPAIRING THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292042November 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE NOTICED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OR REASON FOR THE NOISE. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (04V268000) FOR THE POWER STEERING AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THAT RECALL; HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, SHE SMELLED SMOKE, DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO "BELLOW" FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE HOSE, CALIPER, BRAKE PAD, ROTOR AND THE WHEEL COVER. SHE WAS CHARGED $406.60 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH THE DEALER. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SAME DEALER TOLD THAT THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING. THEY CALIPER WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. SHE ASKED THE DEALER WHY THEY HAD NOT REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME ACCORDING TO WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A NEW ISSUE. SHE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND WAS BILLED $239 TO REPLACE THE CALIPER SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. RECENTLY, SHE SMELLED SMOKE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE CALIPER WAS WARPED BECAUSE OF INTENSE HEAT AND THE BRAKE LINE HAD SOOT IN IT AND THAT THE WARPED CALIPER WAS HOLDING THE WHEEL IN PLACE. SHE PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH A REFERENCE NUMBER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,181. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292047November 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO INTENSE HEAT IN THE WHEELS. THE BRAKE CALIPER ALSO LOCKED WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK AND MELT THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CORRECTED THE FAILURE IN APRIL OF 2006. A DIFFERENT DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR REPAIRED WHICH IS WHY THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291682November 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR HOUSING DEGRADES DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE OVER TIME WHICH CAN CAUSE SHORTING, LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE OR A SMOKE/FIRE HAZARD. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FOG LAMPS WOULD TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE MAIN LIGHTS TURNING ON AND A FEW INSTANCES OF THE STEERING COLUMN BILLOWING SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER HAS 2000+ MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES ON BACK ORDER AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AFTER MANY OWNERS HAVE CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290499November 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS
HORN FAILURE, AIRBAG LIGHT ON ALL OF THE TIME DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290391October 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 PT CRUISER MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILED . FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER I REMOVED THE KEY. SMOKE CAME OUT OF SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290409October 30, 2009
AIR BAGS
DAUGHTER WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE. BOX TRUCK BEHIND HER DID NOT STOP AND REAR ENDED THE PT CRUISER, PUSHING IT INTO THE BACK OF A DUMP TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY SHE MAY NOT HAVE SUFFERED WHIPLASH INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10290648October 28, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THEIR 2005 PT CRUISER. *NJ WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY, THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289983October 27, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE DASHBOARD OF MY CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STARTED TO CRACK SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, CHRYSLER DENIED RESPONSIBILITY, WHAT TO DO, I STILL OWN THE CAR AND ONLY HAVE 30,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289800October 26, 2009
VISIBILITY, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1- VEHICLE = 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TOURING. 2- WEATHER CONDITIONS = RAINING 3- VEHICLE FAILURE = WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE WITH OUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT WORK IN ANY SELECTED POSITION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN HOME IN THE RAIN WITHOUT THE USE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. 4- CUSTOMER INITIALLY REPLACED THE WIPER SWITCH INITIALLY WITH NO RESULTS, WIPER MOTOR WAS NOT RECEIVING OPERATIONAL CURRENT 5- VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS (SPECIAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO TEST), FAILURE WAS FOUND IN THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM), THE CONTROLLER FOR ALL VEHICLE NETWORKED ELECTRONICS, INCLUDING SAFETY DEVICES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER REPLACED THE TIPM AND THE WIPERS REGAINED OPERATION. COST OF THE REPAIR $833.00 US. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289913October 26, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON AND GOES OFF. SOMETIMES WILL BEEP EVERY FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TRIED 3 TIMES IN A ROW UNSUCCESSFULLY TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IT WOULD NOT HINDER FROM PASSING INSPECTION, WHICH IT DIDN'T. HOWEVER I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY MAKING IT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. THERE ARE QUITE A NUMBER OF REPORTS ONLINE OF PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289723October 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIGHT SWITCH ON PT CRUISERS IS DEFECTIVE. OVER 500 PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT SUDDENLY THE FRONT & BACK FOG LIGHTS COME ON & DO NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE MOTOR & ALL OTHER SWITCHES ARE TURNED OFF. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN HEAD LIGHTS SUDDENLY BEING TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN CONSTANT FORCING ME & OTHERS TO REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY DOES NOT DRAIN DOWN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. I AND OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289240October 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW WITH 236 MI. AT 36000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD UPON STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO AT A STOP IT LUNGES AND ACTS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO QUIT . IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OF A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED? THIS IS CONSISTENTLY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE RUNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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