Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10150325February 15, 2006
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:SHIELD ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A TOURIVA #22-130 WAL CONVERTIBLE CHILD SEAT MANUFACTURED BY COSCO JUVENILE ON JUNE 29, 2005. THE SHIELD ASSEMBLY DISLODGED FROM THE CHILD SEAT SHELL. THE SHIELD ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE DISLODGEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149629February 7, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
MY 2001 PT CRUISER WHICH I PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2005 SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE ON DEEMBER 27, 2005 AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR SUDDEN ENGINE FIRES CAUSED BY LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, RESEDA DODGE IN RESEDA, CA, HAD RECORDS SHOWING THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE, BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM, FOUND THE THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. CHRYSLER DENIED MY CLAIM WITH NO REASON GIVEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149428February 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
FOG LIGHTS CAME ON, EVEN WITH KEY TURNED OFF. FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. PUFF OF SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN AND FOG LIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149345February 3, 2006
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
2001- PT CRUISER -EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED WHILE RUNNING. WAS IN NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND ON AN INCLINE. THE CAR DRIFTED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVE AND INTO A UTILITY POLE ACROSS THE ROAD. ON OTHER INSTANCES THE BRAKE HANDLE WAS PULLED UPWARD AND IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGED (LIKE A BROKEN SPRING). WHEN PARKING BRAKE WAS REAPPLIED, IT WORKED PROPERLY? ALSO, THE CAR HAS DRIFTED BACKWARDS ON STEEPER INCLINES WHILE IN GEAR. AT THIS POINT THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS REPORTED, BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN THUS FAR. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149235February 1, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LOSS OF PRESSURE TO THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE CAUSED BY CORROSION ON THE WHEEL RIM. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN AN AREA THAT TYPICALLY USES ROAD SALT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148752January 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 2/28/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148530January 25, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
REAR BUSHING ON FRONT-RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM OF SUSPENSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES, CAUSING SLOP IN CONTROL ARM, WHEEL CAMBER TO VARY DURING OPERATION AND AUTO TO TEND TO WANDER ON ROAD (ALONG WITH THE SOUND OF METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT IN THE SUSPENSION). DC DEALER REFUSED TO COVER REPLACEMENTS AS A DEFECTIVE BUSHING (OUT OF WARRANTY) AND ADVISED ME ON 1/20/06 THAT THE PART IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE - ON BACK ORDER - 7,500 UNITS ON ORDER FROM SUPPLIER. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY WIDE-SPREAD FAILURE OF THIS BUSHING WITH THE RESULTANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO CAMBER CHANGES DURING OPERATION. - I HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE WATTS LINKAGE IN THE DRIVE TRAIN, AND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF TIRES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149736January 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 TURBO CHARGED CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CLUTCH WHEN DEPRESSED TO START THE VEHICLE IT FEELS LIKE IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PRESSURE AND DROPS TO THE FLOORBOARD. *TS THE MECHANIC REPLACED PORTIONS OF THE CLUTCH. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148694January 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
2006 PT CRUISER HORN SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK. *TS THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE HORN MUST BE APPLIED A CERTAIN WAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148191January 20, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR FRONT BUSHING ON THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HUMMING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE BUSHING FRACTURE WAS DISCOVERED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DURING NORMAL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148013January 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ENGINE OVER-HEATED AND THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE; THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO OWNERS NEGLIGENCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148017January 18, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
REAR BUSHING ON FRONT-RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM OF SUSPENSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES, CAUSING SLOP IN CONTROL ARM, WHEEL CAMBER TO VARY DURING OPERATION AND AUTO TO TEND TO WANDER ON ROAD (ALONG WITH THE SOUND OF METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT IN THE SUSPENSION). THE BUSHING WAS REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. AT 64,000 MILES 1/10/06) THE REAR BUSHING ON FRONT-LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM OF SUSPENSION FAILED CAUSING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I THEN INSPECTED THE REAR BUSHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE THAT WAS REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS SHOWING INDICATIONS OF BEGINNINGS OF ANOTHER FAILURE. DC DEALER REFUSED TO COVER LEFT SIDE AS A DEFECTIVE BUSHING (OUT OF WARRANTY) AND ADVISED ME ON 1/16/06 THAT THE PART IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE - ON BACK ORDER - 7,500 UNITS ON ORDER FROM SUPPLIER. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY WIDE-SPREAD FAILURE OF THIS BUSHING WITH THE RESULTANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO CAMBER CHANGES DURING OPERATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148028January 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2001 PT CRUISER HAD BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BECAUSE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF, THUS KILLING THE BATTERY. SERVICE DEPT. REPORTED THAT CAR "OVERHEATED" DURING REPAIR AND THEY REPLACED FAN. THREE WEEKS LATER, CAR ENGINE OIL LIGHT SOUNDED SUDDENLY ON FREEWAY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILED. DEALERSHIP REFUSING REPAIRS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO ALLEGED "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE THEY SAY WAS CAUSED BY POOR MAINTENANCE WHEN I KNOW THIS TO BE UNTRUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147830January 16, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE DEFECTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILING RESULTING IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. ALL OF THE POWER GOES OUT; THE ENGINE DIES AND COMES BACK ON AFTER EITHER A FEW MOMENTS OR A FEW MINUTES. DURING THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. TO DATE (1/16/2006) THIS HAS OCCURRED 18 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME ON MANY OCCASIONS THAT THEY ARE NOT CONFIDENT ON WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN WITNESSED BY OTHERS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN APRIL 2005. I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AT AROUND 12000 MILES IN SEPTEMBER 2005. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT AND DC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THEY OFFERED A SIMILAR 2005 PT BUT REFUSED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 9 SIMILAR OCCURRENCES OF THIS AND NONE HAVE BEEN SOLVED. THEREBY, I REFUSED TO TAKE ANOTHER 2005 PT CRUISER. I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR SO IT SITS PARKED WHILE I MUST CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS WHILE THIS MATTER GOES THROUGH THE COURTS. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY ATTEMPTING WHAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER DIRECTED THEM TO DO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS ON FOUR OCCASIONS (10/06-10/07, 10/20-10/24, 10/24-10/28, 11/07-11/17). THE DEALERSHIP PROMISED TO MAKE NECESSARY PART REPLACEMENTS AND THEN DRIVE IT ONE TO TWO HUNDRED MILES AFTER. THEY DID NOT DO EITHER. THEY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE MANPOWER TO HAVE SOMEONE DRIVE IT SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MOST TIMES THE CAR IS ON THE HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE IT DIES. I HAVE GIVEN THE DEALERSHIP PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE FOR BOTH ME AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147767January 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING IN CITY I NOTICED A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AND SAW OIL POURING OUT OF FRONT OF ENGINE. I SHUT ENGINE OFF. AT NO TIME DID OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT COME ON. CALLED AAA AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BLOWN CAMSHAFT SEAL. REPLACED SEAL BUT WHEN RUNNING ENGINE STILL MADE KNOCKING SOUNDS. WAITED FOR ENGINE SPECIALIST TO COME BACK FROM VACATION. HE SAID ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HE WOULD CONTACT CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER INSISTED ENGINE BE TORN DOWN TO IDENTIFY SOURCE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM WAS CRANKSHAFT THRUST BEARING BROKEN IN HALF ALLOWING CRANKSHAFT TO MOVE LATERALLY FORCING OUT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, HENCE ALL THE OIL, AND MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. I REQUESTED A "CRATED" ENGINE BE INSTALLED. DEALER SAID NONE AVAILABLE. AT PRESENT WAITING FOR DELIVERY OF CYLINDER HEAD. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 20 DAYS. MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT: 3,541 MILES. FORTUNATELY THIS FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147417January 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
ON MY 2001 PT CRUISER BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS PULLED LOOSE FROM THE ARM WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE REPAIR SHOP THEY BROUGHT ME OUT TO THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THE DAMAGE TO THE CONTROL ARMS. ODDLY ENOUGH THERE WAS ANOTHER PT CRUISER IN THE NEXT BAY THAT HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME HE HAD PUT CONTROL ARMS ON AT LEAST 40 PT CRUISERS IN THE PAST YEAR. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD NOTIFIED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID HE HAD CONTACTED THEM ON BEHALF OF HIS CUSTOMERS AND CHRYSLER INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. MY PT CRUISER HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CAR THAT WAS NEXT TO MINE HAD 34,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION THE FRONT TIRES ON MY CAR WERE DESTROYED DUE TO VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT END. MY WIFE THOUGHT THE TIRES WERE FALLING OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147457January 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
AT 24,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUR COMPLETELY. NOW AT 65,000 MILES TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AND NEEDS A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK REPLACED. ENGINE COMPARTMENT SMOKES AND SMELLS HOT. FOUND TSB#0801505 AND NHTSA #10013731 ON FILE BUT DEALER CAN NOT TELL ME ANYTHING. FOUND SEVERAL WEB SITE LISTING THIS SAME COMPLAINT SOME WITH CATASTROPHIC FAILURES ON THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148617January 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SEVERAL REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146202December 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. IN SPITE OF THIS, IT HAS DEVELOPED ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE FORMING OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THE CAR HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY A QUART PER 1000 MILES EVER SINCE THE 36000 MILE SERVICE. I FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM THAT HAS LED TO THE PREMATURE WEARING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE LOSS OF POWER IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. I THINK THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE, IN THE SPACE OF 4 YEARS TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145789December 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHT MECHANISM FELL OUT FROM POSITION UNDER DASHBOARD WHICH MADE THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY, RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY AND A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING CONSTANTLY ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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