Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2003)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10671345January 9, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE HAD A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649088October 21, 2014
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR GOING OVER 30 MILES PER HOUR. IT PUSHED US INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND AND SON GOT WHIP LASH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10618585August 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS. HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND NOW THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER TERRIBLY AND EVEN MORE WHEN ON HIGH BEAMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608667July 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG AND THE CHECK LIGHT ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574532March 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO GOING OUT, WHENEVER SHE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT TURNED OUT, AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, THAT THE IGNITION KEY HAS BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF PLACE AND THE ELECTRICITY WAS OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10569445March 14, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WEREALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568355March 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE WAS MAKING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MALFUNCTION AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,390 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,490. UPDATED 04/29/14 MA UPDATED 05/2/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567459March 5, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565602February 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WE WERE IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC FOR AN HOUR, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SEIZED UP AND STUCK ON. SMELLED BURNING BRAKE SMELL. GOT HOME AND LET SIT AND COOL FOR 5 HOURS, ALL WAS OK. WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS ? GARAGED KEPT, LOW MILEAGE, CAR BABIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564717February 17, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON, LOST ALL POWER ON THE HIGHWAY.I HAD TO HIT THE SHOULDER QUICKLY. I THEN TESTED CODE WITH KEY (3 CLICKS OFF/ON) GOT CODE P0622 AND P2403..TOWED TO A SHOP, TO FIND OUT THE WIRES FROM ALTERNATOR TO THE COMPUTER SHORTED OUT, IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, WIRING HARNESS RUNS ALONG CV SHAFT AND RUBS AGAINST A BOLT NEAR THE FRAME, THUS SHORTING OUT THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND BURNING OUT THE COMPUTER. SO NOW THE BILL FOR REPAIRS ARE ALMOST $650.00 AND LUCKY WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY IN TIME, ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI CAUSE WE LOST POWER SO QUICK. I AM GLAD WE DIDN'T GET KILLED. IF CHRYSLER AND THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL.....OR A SAFETY WARNING . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562702February 3, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000( STEERING). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556560December 18, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE APPROX. 2 YEARS. AT AN EARLIER TIME I HAD USED THE FOG LIGHTS TWICE WITH NO INCIDENT. LATER AND PRIOR TO 12/17/13 THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH WASN'T EVEN TURNED ON BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I JIGGLED THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR WENT OUT, AFTER THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL. ON 12/17/13 I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE TO FIND THE FOG LAMPS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF, THE CAR NOT RUNNING, THE KEYS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. THE LIGHTS JUST CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I MANAGED TO TURN THEM OFF (FOR THE NIGHT) ONLY TO FIND WHEN I GOT TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING I COULDN'T SHUT THEM OFF. I DROVE THE CAR HOME, FINALLY PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS AND RETURNED TO WORK. I'VE ALSO HAD INCIDENCES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM SLIGHTLY AND THEN ILLUMINATE FULLY. ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE FORUMS I'VE READ, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE ALSO REPORT BURNING WIRES AND DEAD BATTERIES. I WISH THEY WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553098November 20, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
SET CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SET AT SPEED. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF BRAKES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ONLY GOT IT DOWN TO 40 MPH. CAR HAD TO BE POPPED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING AND STOP THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532450July 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ABOUT 3 THREE YEARS AGO THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND THE RADIO LIGHT WOULD TOTALLY GO OUT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC - HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511346May 9, 2013
STEERING
FORTUNATELY AT A PARKING LOT INTERSECTION, THE RF TIE ROD END SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSING NO INJURY, DEATH OR ACCIDENT. THE BOLTED END WHICH FITS INTO THE SOCKET PULLED OUT FROM THE SOCKET. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AHEAD OF TIME THE TIE ROD END WAS NEAR FAILURE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE LF TIRE ROD END. IN DOING SO, I WAS APPALLED AT THE POOR DESIGN OF THE PART. CHRYSLER'S OBJECTIVE TO PRODUCE A LOW PRICE JUST BARELY ADEQUATE PART WAS OBVIOUS. TYPICALLY, THIS PART IS MADE FROM A FORGING, CHRYSLER CHOSE TO PRODUCE THE PART FROM STAMPED SHEET METAL. I REPLACED THE PART WITH A FORGED, AFTER MARKET PART FROM MOOG. IT IS MY OPINION THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHERE IT DID OTHERWISE, MY WIFE COULD HAVE KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461626June 13, 2012
STEERING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING FUMES EMITTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE AND MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460981June 8, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003PT CRUIZER AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY WATER GAUGE WENT INTO RED ,HAD TO PULL OVER LATER ON CHANGED THERMOSTAT AND FLUSHED RADIATOR,RAN FINE FOR A DAY THEN OVERHEATING AGAIN FOLLOWING DAY SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRONG NO LEAKING,JUST HAD TRANI.FIXED 2 MONTHS,HUSBAND DROVE CAR AGAIN AFTER ABOUT SEVEN MILES CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN,WENT TO RED HAD TO PULL OVER FOR CAR TO COOL DOWN,WHAT IS GOING ON,DOES CHRYSLER HAVE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM? *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454493April 9, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN IN THE OFF POSITION. PLACING THE TURN SIGNAL IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE WOULD REMEDY SITUATION, FURTHER FIXED BY PULLING THE FOG LIGHT FUSE. LATTER ON AT 80,000 MILES THE LOW BEAMS FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD WORK (AFTER PUTTING THE FUSE BACK IN). THE DANGER WAS FURTHER ENHANCED BY WHEN YOU WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE FOG LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF. THIS WAS FIXED BY REMOVING THE MULTI-STICK FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW COMPONENT. ALL ISSUE WERE RESOLVED BY THIS FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447045February 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
CAR IS MANUAL TRANS, MY WIFE DRIVES IT AND HAS COMPLAINED FOR QUITE A WHILE OF CAR JUMPING I TOLD HER IT WAS HER, THE CAR NEVER DID IT FOR ME DURING TEST DRIVES. IN JANUARY SWITCHED CARS WITH HER IT TOOK 2 WEEKS FOR IT TO HAPPEN. COMING TO A STOP CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAS ALSO TRIED TO ENGAGE ON ITS OWN AT LIGHTS. WENT TO DEALER THEY SAID NO RECALLS ARE OPEN ON CAR AND RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM WAS ALREADY DONE SO YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. SEEMS LIKE NEWER OF THE SAME PART WAS INSTALLED. CAR IS OFF THE ROAD AND I HAVE SAID MY SORRIES TO MY WIFE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423047September 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V076000 (POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY) AND WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE CONTACT HAVING OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND THE SHIFTER CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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