Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints
2,623 consumer complaints on file.
- #10043502October 24, 2003POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED EDITION -- LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, AFTER HAVING EVERY REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP -- NEEDED A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL ON THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM SURFACED JUST PAST 36,000 MILES WHILE I WAS ON VACATION IN LATE AUGUST, AND I INITIALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 3. I WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. BUT THE PROBLEM DID GET WORSE AND I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT, YET I COULD NOT GET AN EARLIER APPOINTMENT. A NEW CAR, WELL CARED FOR, SHOULD NOT NEED ITS TRANSMISSION REBUILT JUST AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY RUNS OUT. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10040058October 22, 2003SEATS: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, 2003AIR 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
- #10043310October 21, 2003ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER. POOR PERFORMANCE IN GAS ECONOMY, FAILED CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOW EGR VALVE HAS FAILED, I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. SINCE CHRYSLER HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE CRUISERS WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN REPAIRING THEM TO THE CUSTOMERS SATISFACTION?*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10043931October 15, 2003VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN COMING TO A STOP DRIVER WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10042718October 10, 2003STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO TRAFFIC.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10041490October 8, 2003POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2001 PT CRUISER, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 60,000 MILES ENGINE SURGES WHEN CAR IS MOVING, MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN GEAR. WHEN COASTING THE ENGINE RPM WILL VARY BETWEEN 1,200 AND 2,000 RPM EVERY 3-4 SECONDS UNTIL THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND THEN THE ENGINE RPM FALLS TO 800. WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, BUT THAT ONLY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ONE DAY. THE CAR ENGINE CAN SURGE WHEN COASTING AND ABOUT TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPOT OR GARAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10041085October 2, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED SEATS WENT ON BY THEMSELVES AND POOR/DANGEROUS LOCATION OF ON/OFF SWITCH (ON SEAT BASE BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR) IS UNSAFE. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10037698October 1, 2003POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION DECELERATED EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID. THE DEALER CONTINUED TO FIX THE HOSES. *SCC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10040832September 27, 2003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT AN EARLY 2001 PT CRUISER. ABOUT ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, BATTERY FAILS, CAR WOULD NOT START, JUMP STARTING DID NOT WORK. TOWED IT IT DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FAULTY. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THIS OCCURED, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DEALER STILL SAYS IT IS THE BATTERY'S FAULT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON AUGUST 22, 2001 AND I PUT A SPARE BATTERY IN CAR AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10039341September 23, 2003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
FRONT BRAKE PADS CRYSTALIZE REQUIRING ROTOR REPLACEMENT EVERY 30000 MILES. BRAKE SHOP SAYS EVERY PT COMES IN THIS WAY. REAR BRAKES DO NOT ADJUST OUT AND THE FRONT BRAKES STAY PARTIALLY ENGAGED. THIS OVER HEATS THE BRAKES CAUSING MANY COMPONENTS TO FAIL. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE OF REPLACEING THEESE PARTS, I AM WORRIED THAT I COULD HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE LEADING TO A CRASH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10037674September 23, 2003VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE GAS PEDAL FELL OFF IT ATTACHMENT *AK THE PEDAL HAD COME OFF IT'S ATTACHMENT ON THE FLOORBOARD AND FELL BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH MADE BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS USELESS. *SCC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10040293September 22, 2003AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, HIT A DITCH, AND ROLLED OVER. FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRAIN DAMAGE/A BROKEN CLAVICLE, AND FRACTURED BACK. COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10039149September 18, 2003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON 1/22/ 03 WE TOOK OUR 2001 PT CRUISER (ODOMETER 12,000 MILES) INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FRONT DISC BRAKES WERE SQUEALING. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DISC BRAKE HAD LOCKED WHEN WE TRIED TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER HITTING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, THE BRAKE FINALLY UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES WERE GROOVED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE THE METAL WAS SO THIN TO BEGIN WITH THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MACHINE EVEN ON A BRAND NEW ROTOR. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD US WE DIDN'T NEED TO REPLACE THE PADS YET, JUST THE ROTORS. WE OPTED TO REPLACE BOTH THE PADS AND THE ROTORS AT THE TIME DUE TO THE LABOR COSTS. IT IS NOW 8 MONTHS AND 5,671 MILES LATER AND THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN SQUEALING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEIR HANDS WERE TIED AND THEY COULD NOT HELP US OTHER THAN TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME PARTS. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHRYSLER IS VERY MUCH AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND PREMATURE WEAR, BUT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY REMEDIAL STEPS. WE HAVE THE SAME TIRES THAT ORIGINALLY CAME ON THE CAR AND THEY ARE BARELY WORN INDICATING WE ARE NOT THE KIND OF DRIVERS WHO ARE HARD ON A CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER APPEARS TO BE JUST A FRUSTRATED WITH CHRYSLER'S LACK OF ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS WE ARE. OUR ONLY REASONABLE AND INTELLIGIBLE RECOURSE IS TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS. WE WILL NOT USE OEM ROTORS & PADS AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS FAULTY MANUFACTURING OR FAULTY DESIGN OR BOTH. IN CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE FOR 2001/2002 PT CRUISERS, WE SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DISC BRAKES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MONETARY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10040141September 17, 2003SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STILL VIBRATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10038806September 12, 2003WHEELS:RIM, WHEELS
CHROME CORRODING AND FLAKING OFF ON ORIGINAL 16" TIRES. FIRST NOTICED IN 6/2003. DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPLACE ONE RIM FOR A CO-PAY OF $100 DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE. BUT WILL NOT HELP WITH ONE SHOWING SLIGHTER DAMAGE. *PH
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10032380September 12, 2003SERVICE 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
- #10032422September 12, 2003ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. *PH *SCC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10038683September 11, 2003AIR BAGS
2001 PT CRUSIER WAS HEAD HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. $7,000.00 TO PT CRUISER AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT MADE TO GO OFF ON STOPPED VEHICLES. MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFICE LIGHT WHEN HIT HEAD ON. INJURIES RESULTED
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10039792September 11, 2003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT UNDERHOOD BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK PE04028_CAT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0