Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10133022September 29, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS 2001 PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IT WAS IMPACTED ON THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS BROAD SIDED. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL/SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE NOT BE INTERESTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT THERE WERE CUTS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE, BUT NO INSURANCE REPORT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10137344September 22, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
I HAVE DISCOLORATION ON BOTH BUMPERS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN ODI COMPLAINTS 10058425 AND 10105776. THE DICOLORATION HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS MASKING TAPE ON THE BUMPER WHEN A PROTECTIVE COATING WAS PUT ON THE REST OF THE BUMPER LEAVING THE PLASTIC UNDER THE MASKING TAPE UNPROTECTED WHEN IT WAS REMOVED. THE DISCOLORATION CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THERE HAD ONCE BEEN TAPE ON THE BUMPER LEAVING A FADED SPOT IN THE SHAPE OF A SQUARE OF TAPE WHICH HAS BECOME PRONOUNCED OVER TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137225September 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT FIRST THE ENGINE SURGES AFTER CAR STOPS AT INTERSECTION. SLIGHTLY AT FIRST AND THEN OCCURRENCE INCREASES AT SUBSEQUENT STOPS WITH GREATER SURGE. THEN ENGINE SURGES AND DIES AT STOPS UNTIL ENGINE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE LAST TIME THE ENGINE DIED AT 45 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TOOK CAR TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, AS YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHERE OR WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO QUIT RUNNING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137252September 21, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, ORIGINAL OWNER, 36,633 MILES. DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HWY 280 EAST IN BIRMINGHAM, AL APRIL 28, 2005 WHEN TRANSMISSION FROZE UP. WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SHOULDER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT - VEHICLE WAS ONE YEAR AND 633 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR COSTS - $575. CHRYSLER CORPORATION REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY ASSISTANCE. DRIVING ON HWY 280 EAST IN BIRMINGHAM, AL ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 WHEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN. MILEAGE AT THIS OCCURRANCE 40,827. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT - AGAIN. PART WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BUT HAD TO PAY LABOR CHARGES PLUS COST OF RENTAL VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK. TOTAL COST THIS ROUND - $500 INCLUDING RENTAL CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136595September 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF UNLESS BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. CAR INDICATED OVERHEATING. SMOKE COMING FROM HAZARD BUTTON. AFTER REMOVING MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FOUND THAT WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR ON LEFT SIDE WAS MELTED. BATTERY WAS DEAD, BOUGHT NEW BATTERY. AFTER STARTING CAR WITH MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH DISCONNECTED, NO OVERHEATING, NO SMOKE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED $3000 TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS AND BOUGHT NEW MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FOR $80. FOUND OVER 100 SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. WEBSITES: PTDOITYOURSELF.NET/TL/TL-INDEX2.HTML POSTINGS: 191,288,725,862,465,589,824,878,1042,1068,1302,1278,1238,1212. EDMUNDS.COM/INSIDELINE/DO/FORUMSLANDING POSTINGS: 249,250,241,229,232,233,234,235,237,219,220,222,225,227,228,210,211,213,218,202,206,191,198 NHTSA.DOT.GOV COMPLAINT: 10130928,10130890,10131743,8018628,10106442,10127101. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136006September 9, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE BREAK AWAY DESIGN OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED A FATAL INJURY. THE POLICE RULED THAT THE FATALITY OCCURRED AS OVERCORRECTING. THE CONTACT STATED HE KNEW OF ANOTHER CASE WITHIN A TEN MILE RADIUS WHERE THE SAME TYPE OF FATALITY HAPPENED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10135763September 7, 2005
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. THE CAR, A 2003 PT CRUISER WITH APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES, WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE HOT SUMMER, AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THE CAR ACROSS TOWN TO A DEALER, I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LOW SPEED ON THE FAN RELAY HAD GONE BAD. HE TOLD ME THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER, AND THEY WERE REPLACING ABOUT 300 PER WEEK. THIS IS A HIGH NUMBER, PLUS THIS PART SHOULDN'T FAIL WITH THIS MANY MILES IN MY OPINION. I SPEND $500 TOTAL TO REPLACE IT (LABOR, DIAGNOSTICS, AND PART). I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WHO WAS SYMPATHETIC, BUT AFTER SENDING THEM THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE INVOICE, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT SINCE IT WASN'T DONE AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER CONSUMERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135150September 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT ALREADY AT 29000 MILES, ON 2001 PT CRUISER. THIS PREMATURE FAILURE IS A SAFETY RISK AND APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE (ADMITTED BY DEALER), YET IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL NOTICE AND FREE REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134934August 31, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DEALERSHIP FOUND CAUSE OF NOISE IN STEERING. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS BEING BROKEN (NOT WORN). FURTHER FAILURE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135600August 30, 2005
SUSPENSION
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER DEVELOPED A NOISE IN WHICH THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REPAIRED. PARTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED BUT THE NOISE REMAINS.*MR *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133769August 22, 2005
STEERING
BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE WORN AND PUSHED OUT OF CONTROL ARM. REPLACEMENT REQUIRED TO PASS NY STATE INSPECTION, THEREFORE THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 16383 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131732August 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, INTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:REAR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HELLO. I TRIED COPYING AND PASTING MY LETTER INTO THIS BOX HOWEVER, MY LETTER IS TOO LONG. THEREFORE, I AM COMPLETING THIS ONLINE FORM AND THEN WILL MAIL IN MY ENTIRE LETTER, DOCUMENTATION AND THE LIKE TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS ALONG WITH A COPY OF THIS ONLINE FORM. THE COMPLAINT IS REGARDING MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, VIN# [XXX] AND IT IS RELATING TO THE FACT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE UNDER THE CURRENT AND ACTIVE NHTSA RECALL # 01V288000 (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM). TODAY, 8/5/05 I WILL MAIL MY LETTER DETAILING THE ENTIRE PROBLEM BUT I AM SUBMITTING THIS PORTION ONLINE TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. SINCERELY, [XXX] . *NM THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN A POP NOISE WAS HEARD CAUSED BY A SPARK WITHIN THE DASH ABOVE THE SPEEDOMETER. WHITE SMOKE HAD COME BILLOWING OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS IN THE HEADLINER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BURNED. OTHER PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED AND SQUEAKS WERE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE SWAY BUSHINGS HAD WORN OUT AND WERE REPLACED. *SC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127692August 19, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V268000 REPAIR WORK FOR THE POWER STEERING HOSE ON 6/7/05. SHE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LETTER YESTERDAY WITH THE SAME INFORMATION, AND WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALER SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE DEALER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AT THE OWNER'S BUSINESS FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS LOCATED MORE THE 47 MILES FROM THE VEHICLE OWNER. THE OWNER'S CONCERN WAS THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE ONLY THING THE OWNER NOTICED WAS THAT THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. WHEN THE OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY HER MECHANIC, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE BEARINGS WERE OUT. THIS IS WHAT LED THE OWNER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR THE RECALL WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS LED TO THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LISTED ABOVE WITH THE INCOMPLETE RECALL WORK. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133219August 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT: 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER STATES HER 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WENT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED INTO THE STREET. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER LIVED ON A HILL, AND WHILE IT WAS ROLLING , THE CHILD PUT IT BACK IN PARK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. THERE WERE NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE I A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, CASE #05-029614, DEPUTY BOELTZ WITH YAZAPI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134528August 16, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 PT CRUISER JUMPS AT STOP LIGHTS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WITH JERKS FROM 1ST TO THIRD GEARS. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE FIXED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133058August 16, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
ON SATURDAY AUG 13, 2005 MY WIFE AND I HAD A FLAT ON OUR 2001 PT CRUISER ON THE RIGHT FRONT. ON MONDAY AUG 15, 2005 I TOOK THE TIRE AND HAD IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CHROME ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WAS PEELING AND THE TIRE WAS NOT ADHERING TO THE RIM. ON TUESDAY AUG 16TH I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY CONFIRMED WHAT THE TIRE DEALER SAID. I TALKED WITH THE GARAGE ADVISOR AND HE STATED THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO BUY NEW RIMS. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER HOT LINE NUMBER 1-800-992-1997 AND SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS CRYSTAL AND CAROL AND FINALLY CAROL SAID THAT THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT THE RIMS ARE STARTING TO PEEL ON THE EARLY ADDITIONS OF THE MAKE OF CAR AND THAT IT HAS TAKEN 5 YEARS OR SO FOR THIS TO BE NOTICED. MY FLAT TIRE CAME ON I-465 IN INDIANAPOLIS AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE CAR IN INDIANAPOLIS, WHAT ABOUT THE NATION. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A RIM THAT DOESN'T LAST FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS AND ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT UNTIL IT HAPPENS. I ASKED CAROL, AT CHRYSLER, ON WHAT IT TOOK TO START A RECALL OR HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO IT AND ALL SHE SAID WAS THAT SHE WOULD PUT IT ON FILE. MIKE, AT MY DEALERS, SAID THAT ALL MY RIMS WERE STARTING TO DO THIS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE RIMS. MY CAR HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. MOST OF THESE TYPE OF CARS ARE OWNED BY OLDER PEOPLE AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLED A BLOW OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132927August 15, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. WAS IN A SMALL ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT THE BUSHING HAS BEEN FORCED OUT OF THE CONTROL ARM. PREVIOUSLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED AND RATTLED BACK AND FORTH. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ACCIDENT REPAIR WORK DONE. BUT NOT THE BUSHING AND THE CONTROL ARM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131934August 8, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA P215/50/R17 TIRES SPLITTING AT INNER SIDEWALL WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES ON THEM. DEALER NOR GOODYEAR WILL REPLACE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131724August 5, 2005
STRUCTURE
THE 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS METALLIC-SILVER DASH INSERTS AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND COVERING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE SUN IS HIGH IN THE SKY THE GLARE FROM THE METALLIC-SILVER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BLINDING. THE GLARE IS SO BRIGHT IT LEAVES SPOTS IN YOUR EYES. THE MOLDED CURVES ABOVE THE INSTRUMENTS SEEM TO CONCENTRATE THE SUN??S ENERGY. MY WIFE IS SHORTER AND IS ABLE TO ADJUST THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO BLOCK THE REFLECTION. I AM UNABLE TO DO THIS AND STILL HANDLE THE STEERING WHEEL COMFORTABLY. I PLACED ELECTRICAL TAPE ON THE PANEL JUST ABOVE THE CENTER INSTRUMENT TO BLOCK THE GLARE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131743August 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: CONSUMER OWNED THREE 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS. EACH OF THE VEHICLES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH , WHICH WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WHEN ONE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE FOG LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE SECOND AND THIRD CRUISERS FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, CONSUME R REMOVED THE FUSE. THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE PT CRUISERS HEADLIGHT SWITCH, WHICH WOULD RUN DOWN THE BATTERY. THE SWITCH SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. ALSO, THERE SHOULD A BE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, AND A FULL RECALL/REPLACEMENT AFTER THE SWITCH WAS REDESIGNED. IN ORDER TO HAVE TWO PT CRUISERS PASS VA STATE INSPECTION CONSUMER REMOVED FOG LIGHTS BULBS, SOCKET AND WIRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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