Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2003)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10178635January 13, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL
PROBLEM_COMPLAINT: TIRE SHREDDING PROBLEM_DESCRIPTION: GOODYEAR EAGLE RS A TIRE PROBLEM AND GOODYEAR DOESN'T CARE, THIS IS THE SECOND SET THAT HAVE DONE THIS. SUBMIT_BUTTON: SEND TO HEY HOWARD PERSONAL INFORMATION REMOVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174960December 2, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER WITH 82000 MILES ON IT. IN MARCH OF 2005 WITH 47765 MILES ON IT, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER TO REPAIR A VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THE CHRYSLER DEALER NOTED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND STATED THE COMPRESSOR WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRONT FRAME DUE TO SOME KIND OF COLLISION AND STATED THERE WAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THIS DIAGNOSIS SINCE THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY FOUND NO BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, NO SIGNS OF ACCIDENT AND DID NOT EVEN ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION NOISE. ON 11/17/2006 I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AT NIGHT, AND WITHOUT WARNING,NOISE, HESITATION, OR LACK OF POWER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE IN ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS $2715.00 AND THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174511November 28, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A DEFLATED TIRE WAS NOTICED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER INFLATING THE TIRE, IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED OXIDATION ON THE RIMS CAUSED SLOW LEAKS IN ALL FOUR TIRES AND SUGGESTED REPLACING THE RIMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172488November 2, 2006
SUSPENSION
I WENT TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED AND WAS TOLD MY RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE BROKEN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOWED IN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT) AND THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS VERY SELDOM SEEN BUSHINGS IN THE SUSPENSION BREAK WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MY CAR IS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED UNTIL THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. I AM QUITE HAPPY THAT THE MECHANIC WHO DOES MY BRAKES NOTICED THE CONTROL ARMS. I ASKED CHRYSLER TO CHECK THEM WHILE MY TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REPAIRED, IF NOT, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE CHECKED. THE SUSPENSION IS OF COURSE, NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY ANY LONGER. REPAIR COSTS WERE NEARLY $600. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172011October 27, 2006
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
9/1/06 AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED . AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS TO CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION, THERE WAS NO REPLY. ON 9/29/06, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING 50 MILES AN HOUR. THAT DAY I CALLED CHRYSLER AGAIN AND AN INVESTIGATION WAS CREATED. AFTER THE INVESTIGATION CHRYSLER FOUND NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR PART. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM INTO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THEY FOUND THE DEFECT TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND WILL NOT COVER THE DEPLOYED AIR BAGS OR LOCKED SEAT BELT. AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO REPARATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170718October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
PT CRUISER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS SHOT WITH ONLY 32000 MILES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. A DEFECT IN THE BUSHING MATERIAL IS SUSPECT AND FAILURE CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170711October 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2003 PT CRUISER GT TURBO. WE REALLY LOVE IT. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. THE LIGHTING FLICKERS WHEN YOU START THE CAR. IT IS INTERMITTENT. AFTER RUNNING AWHILE IT DECREASES. USUALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR IT IS REALLY BAD. WE DIDN'T NOTICE A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE USED MORE OR LESS POWER IN THE CAR, LIKE TURNING ON THE RADIO AND A/C. THE POWER FLUCTUATION MAKES ALL THE LIGHTS FLICKER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS THE PANEL LIGHTS AND RADIO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169166September 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 56,414 MILES ON IT BEGAN LURCHING WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN ON INTERSTATE. PROBLEM STARTED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE LATER DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIDE STREET. COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO MOVE IN ANY GEAR, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. FINALLY GOT VEHICLE TO LIMP AROUND THE CORNER IN DRIVE, THEN VEHICLE DIED. NO TRANSMISSION FLUID FOUND IN RESERVOIR. FLUID NOTED ON GROUND UNDER VEHICLE. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE 30 MILES TO DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT REPAIR IT AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING, DUE TO LACK OF TRANSMISSION SERVICE TECHNICIAN. VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY REPAIRED AT AAMCO TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING ANOTHER 20 MILE TOW. VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $2222.73 BETWEEN CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND AAMCO TRANSMISSION - NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHICH RAN OUT AT 36000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168987September 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED AT ANY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 03V076000, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168831September 21, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WAS BRAKING PRIOR TO THE IMPACT HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10168736September 20, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES SQUEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP HILL THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168049September 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP STALLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CONSTANTLY FAILED TO REMAIN SECURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR SERVICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE TECH FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS HAD SLOWLY BEEN GRINDING AWAY, THROWING METAL SHAVINGS INTO THE CONVERTER AND THE PUMP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167529September 7, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE MULTI-FUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH ON BOTH THE PT CRUISER AND SRT-4 HAS BEEN KNOWN TO MELT AND/OR CATCH FIRE. DCX HAS KNOWN THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE PT CAME OUT AND NOW THE SRT-4 IS SUFFERING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOW AFRAID TO USE MY FOG LIGHTS ON MY SRT-4. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161568September 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2003 PT CRUISER CLUTCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE. *TS THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JUMP BACKWARDS ABOUT 6 FEET IN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. THE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WERE RECALLED, RECALL 03V076000. THE CONSUMER CONTINUE TO HAVE CLUTCH PROBLEM AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKE TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165515August 15, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON 8-14-06 I EXITED US HWY 59 WEST OF BELTWAY 8 SW OF HOUSTON TX. NOTICED "WOBBLE" IN FRONT END OF CAR. ON TURNING SOUTH ON MURPHY RD I NOTICE WOBBLE GETTING WORSE AND APPEARED TO BE ON DRIVERS FRONT. I PULLED INTO CHEVRON STATION TO PUT AIR IN WHAT I SUSPECTED WAS A LOW AIR TIRE. NO LOW AIR PROBLEM EXISTED. I RAN MY HAND OVER TREAD OF DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND DISCOVERED A LARGE BULGE ON INSIDE EDGE. THERE WAS A FIRE STONE STORE ABOUT A 1/2 BLOCK SOUTH ON MURPHY STREET WHERE I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE. NOT BEING A TIRE EXPERT I CAN ONLY TELL YOU IT APPEARS THAT ONCE AGAIN A GOODYEAR EAGLE LS FAILED ON MY 2003 PT CRUISER DUE TO A "SLIPPED BELT". MY PT CRUISER CAME WITH WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES. IT ALSO CAME WITH A "TIRES FOR LIFE OFFER" FROM THE DEALER, "GOODSON DODGE" IN SPRING, TX. ( THEY HAVE SINCE SOLD DEALERSHIP). THE FOLLOWING TIRES FAILED DUE TO "SLIPPED BELTS" ON ORIGINAL TIRES. TWO (2) EACH 195/65/R15 DOT#M6C6 BMAR 0403. THEY OCCURED AT SEPERATE TIMES AND REPLACED WITH OTHER TIRES AT "DISCOUNT TIRE STORE". SECOND TIME WHEN I VISITED STORE AND EXPLAINED PROBLEM AS I WALKED ACROSS PARKING LOT THE DISCOUNT TIRE STORE EMPLOYEE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "OH, A PT CRUISER, LET ME GUESS THESE ARE GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES. I SAID YES WHY ? HE SAID "I DON'T KNOW IF ITS A TIRE DEFECT OR A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BUT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCASION. I SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS THEN. I DID REPORT IT THEN TO YALL BUT I DID TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND THEIR TIRES FOR LIFE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER DEFECTS. ONLY TREAD WEAROUT. 2 OF ORIGINAL 4 TIRES ON MY PT CRUISER WERE REPLACED AT TIRE TREAD WEAR OUT. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE TIRES THAT FAILED YESTERDAY. DOT#M6C6BMAR1205. I STILL HAVE ALL 3 FAILED TIRES. RECAP: VEHICLE-2003 PT CRUISER PURCHASED AUGUST 15, 2003 ABOUT 90,000 MILES DRIVEN. DEFECTIVE TIES: GOODYEAR EAGLE LS M+S 195/65/R15 TIRES ROTAED EVERY 6000 MILES, 6 EACH TIRES OWNED 3 FAILED. 50% FAILURE RATE. THANKS, BOB SMITH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164934August 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 PT CRUSIER BOUGHT BRAND NEW. HEAD LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS ALL FLICKER HARD TO PAY ATTENTION WHEN DRIVING. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SAYS NO FIX. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER AGAIN, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. JUST WAITING FOR ALL LIGHTS TO FINALLY GO OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162940July 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER THAT JUST WENT OUT OF POWER TRAIN WARRANTY 7K MILES AGO-WITH NO WARNING, NO HESITATION, LACK OF POWER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TAKING THE CONVERTER, PUMP AND TORQUE CONVERTER-LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION! I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE IN 1,2,3,D OR R-NOW I AM STUCK WITH A $2643.50 BILL. MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE CONSTANTLY VIBRATES, BEEN TO SHOP NUMEROUS TIME TO RESOLVE BUT NO BODY CAN FIND ANYTHING-TIRES ARE FINE, CV JOINT, NOTHING CAN BE FOUND. I AM ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE-MY SEAT BELT UNBUCKLES BY ITSELF, POSSIBLY LEAVING ME WITH NO RESTRAINT IN THE POSSIBILITY OF A WRECK. I AM FILING COMPLAINTS WITH CHRYSLER, BBB, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, NHTS, LEMON LAW AND ANYTHING ELSE I CAN FIND- *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162392July 14, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THERE IS NO ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENT DATE. (SEE RELATED CORRESPONDENCE 10161568.) DATE UNKNOWN: REMEDY FOR RECALL 03V-076 PROVIDED BY GOEKE DODGE. NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NOTICED PRIOR TO THIS DATE. 07/20/05: CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE DURING UNRELATED WARRANTY WORK AT GOEKE DODGE. RECALL REMEDY PROVIDED FOR THE SECOND TIME, AT NO COST TO OWNER. 05/01/06: CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILING TO DISENGAGE. CLUTCH FLUID FOUND LEAKING AT IMPROPERLY CONNECTED QUICK DISCONNECT BY KAHLO CHRYSLER, FLUID AND LABOR $91.98. 06/07/06: CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILING TO DISENGAGE. CLUTCH KIT AND INPUT SHAFT REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED PT WARRANTY BY CHAMPION CHRYSLER. DATE UNKNOWN: CLUTCH FAILING TO DISENGAGE. CLUTCH LINE SLAVE CYLINDER REPLACED BY CHAMPION CHRYSLER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162097July 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
PT CRUISER 2003 FOG LIGHTS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING, BATTERY RUNS DEAD, DEFECTIVE PARTS ETC. $75.75 NEW BATTERY, LABOR $110.05 $76.14 NEW SWITCH, AND $129.98 A SECOND TIME LABOR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CHRYSLER MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND CLEARLY ARE ENJOYING THE PROFITS. IN A ONE (1) WEEK PERIOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162001July 10, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE BULBS INTERMITTENTLY BURNED OUT . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE BULBS WERE CHANGED 4 TIMES. THE FIFTH TIME THE BULBS FAILED, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT FIXTURE WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 7/25/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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