Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2003)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10244191October 2, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE HOUSE, THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS THEMSELVES WERE OFF. PRESSURE ON THE END OF THE STALK TURNED THE INDICATOR OFF BUT IT CAME BACK ON WHEN PRESSURE WAS RELEASED. AFTER PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THE INDICATOR (AND THE FOG LIGHTS THEMSELVES) REMAINED ON. REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION HAD NO EFFECT. THE ONLY THING THAT TURNED THE FOG LIGHTS OFF WAS SETTING THE TURN INDICATOR IN THE 'LEFT TURN' (DOWN) POSITION. FURTHER TESTING FOUND THAT THE ONLY OTHER WAY TO TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS WAS TO REMOVE THE APPROPRIATE FUSE FROM THE INTERIOR FUSE PANEL. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE TURNED UP SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF DRIVERS REPORTING THIS EXACT PROBLEM GOING BACK AT LEAST THREE YEARS, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE CAUSED BY A FAILING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. (ONE SUCH FORUM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2/ ). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242301September 15, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
APPROACHED VEHICLE AFTER VISIT AND NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM 20 FT. AWAY. OPENED CAR DOOR, FUMES EVEN STRONGER. FELT DIZZY & DISORIENTED. CALLED SERVICE TO HAVE IT TOWED (DID NOT WANT TO START CAR WITH STRONG FUMES). WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE (RECALL) AND THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. NEARLY 1 YEAR LATER, SAME PROBLEM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. 1/2 TANK OF GAS LEAKED IN ONE DAY. NO OBVIOUS SOURCE OF LEAK FROM EXTERIOR. LINGERING GAS SMELL IN INTERIOR. WAS TOLD NVLD PUMP WAS REPLACED. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, POSSIBLE ADVERSE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE. CAR HAS HAD MANY OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, INCLUDING SMELL FROM AC SYSTEM (ORIGINALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL) WHICH SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE/BURNING PLASTIC. DEALERSHIP IS DISMISSIVE. POSSIBLE LEMON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10240960September 4, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT ROUGHNESS AND VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT END CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,330.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236299July 29, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOG LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN LIGHT SWITCH IS NOT ON AND WHEN CAR IS NOT RUNNING CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN AND MANY HEADACHES! THIS HAPPENS 3 OR 4 TIMES A DAY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235939July 27, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER BOUGHT IT USED AND SINCE THEN HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE . WHILE COMING HOME FROM AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO AT 9:30 PM THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT OUT THAT INCLUDED THE FOG LIGHTS. I HAD NO BLINKERS NO LIGHTS AND HAD MY WIFE AND CHILD WITH ME. PROCEEDED TO EXIT AND HAD A RELATIVE MEET ME UP IN SAN MARCOS TEXAS I FOLLOWED HIM ALL THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE I MADE IT HOME USING MY RELATIVES CAR LIGHTS AS HELP. THE NEXT MORNING WENT OUT TO BUY THE PART THAT I NEED IT 70.25 AT THE LOCAL DEALER SHIP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE THIS HAPPEN I HAVE NO HAZARD LIGHTS AND NO TURN SIGNALS. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND HAD TROUBLE SHOOT THE CAR WITH NO AVAIL I HAVE REPLACE THE PART AND TOOK THE ONE FROM MY DODGE INTREPID AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK TO GET BLINKER BACK ON CHRYSLER SURE ONE HELL OF A CAR ONE THAT CAN GET YOU KILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232513June 27, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS UNDER 60000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229483June 2, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING FAILED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SWITCHED BACK TO MANUAL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE HOSE WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE MOST RECENT TIME BEING ON MAY 28,2008. ON JUNE 2, 2008, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229461June 1, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES:TREAD/BELT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2003 PT CRUISER GT 2.4L 96K MILES STARTED TO NOTICE TIRE TREAD PROBLEMS AT 40K. THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD ALIGNMENT FROM NTB AND THEY DID ANOTHER ALIGNMENT FOR NOW CHARGE. 10K LATER AND I AM HAVING TIRES REPLACED AGAIN! ALSO HEAR ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND KNOCKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END. TOOK IT IN AND SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED ALIGNMENT AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE BEARING BE REPLACED. HE ADD THE BUSHINGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS GOING BAD BUT NOT NECESSARY FOR IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. I HAD THE FRONT BEARING REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT DONE. FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BEARING WENT BAD AGAIN BUT ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT AT 88K. NOW I AM BEING TOLD FROM THE CHRYLSER DEALER THAT HUB AND BEARING IN THE FRONT ON BOTH SIDES NEED TO BE REPLACED. 600 BUCKS. JUST SPENT 500 ON NEW TIRES AND I STILL HEAR KNOCKING ON CONTROL ARM. LONG STORY SHORT....THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACE ON BOTH SIDES (FRONT), FOLLOWED BY HUB AND BEARING ON BOTH SIDES (FRONT), FOLLOWED BY AN ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS DEALING WITH THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND/OR BEARINGS GOING BAD AT 15,000 MILES AND UP ON THE 03 GT PT CRUISER 2.4L. CHRYSLER DOES NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMER IN EVERY CASE HENCE THE COMPLAINTS TO FORUMS AND NHTSA.GOV. TO SAY THE LEAST, THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND FIXED BY THEIR EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227143May 9, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
PT CRUISER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACING AT 60K MILES. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ADDED WEAR TO BRAKES AND TIRES, SCRAPING OF FRONT END OF CAR ON PAVEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219160February 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
03 PT CRUISER. SUDDEN LOSS HYDRAULIC PRESSURE AT SHIFTDOWN. WITHIN 7/70,000 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218508February 19, 2008
WHEELS:RIM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE ORIGINAL RIMS ARE RUSTING AND FLAKING ON THE INSIDE. THE RIMS DESTROY ANY TIRE THAT IS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218524February 19, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT HUB BEARINGS ON MY 2003 PT CRUISER. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME $600 TO DO THE JOB. I HAVE 69K MILES ON THE CAR AND CHRYSLER SAYS IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 7/70K WARRANTY....SO I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY PT CRUISER OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM....I SEARCHED FOR FRONT HUB BEARINGS FOR A PT CRUISER AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE BEARINGS....THE BEARINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A SEALED BEARING AND NEVER REQUIRE MAINTENANCE....THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER BY ISSUING A RECALL AND PAY TO FIXED THE PROBLEM...AND REPAY THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAD TO HAVE THE BEARINGS REPLACED.... THE DEALERSHIP EVEN STATED TO ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT....WITH ONLY 69K MILES ON THE CAR AND OTHERS WITH FEWER MILES THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR...MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WAS NOT INJURED BY AN ACCIDENT , BUT I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED FROM THIS DEFECT???....ANY HELP WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED....THANK YOU MICHAEL G KELLY *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217461February 8, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
BOTH FRONT BEARINGS FAILING IN 2003 PT CRUISER...HAVE BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216914February 4, 2008
SUSPENSION
I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT A GREAT DEAL OF OWNERS OF CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE. MY 2003 HAS ONLY 50,000 KM. (NOT MILES) AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS SEEMS MUCH TOO SOON TO REPLACE SUCH AN ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215431January 19, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN THE SPRING OF 2006. ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE JUST SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT OR AT HOME. NO WARNING, SO I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SINCE THIS WAS INTERMITTENT, NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH ADVISING ME THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON AND DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, I NEVER NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING. THIS CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. WHILE REPLACING THE BATTERY I NOTICED THAT THE ORIGINAL CABLES HAD INFERIOR BATTERY CONNECTOR LEADS. THE CABLES CONNECTORS WERE MOSTLY EATEN THROUGH CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. (I NOTICED THAT WHEN I GOT THE NEW LEADS THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE OF A BETTER MATERIAL). DUE TO THIS NOT HAVING ANY RIME OR REASON AS TO WHY THE BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD AND NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING I SIMPLY HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I DISCOVERED THE CAUSE. IN DEC 2007 I WENT TO START THE CAR AND SURE ENOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. HOWEVER THIS TIME WHEN I JUMPED THE BATTERY THE FOG LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYED ON AND THAT IS WHEN I FOUND THE PROBLEM. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THEM OFF SINCE THE SWITCH WAS ALREADY IN THE OFF POSITION. MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO REMOVE THE FOG LIGHT FUSE. SINCE REMOVING THE FOG LIGHT FUSE I HAVE HAD NO FURTHER ISSUES TO DATE. I STILL DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OR THE CURE SO, I LOGGED ON TO THIS SITE TO LOOK FOR A SERVICE BULLETIN OR INFORMATION TO TELL ME THAT AND HERE I AM. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS WHOLE STUFF STARTED WAS APPROX 36,000 AND IT NOW HAS 42000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215439January 19, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT 71,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214859January 15, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE HAND CONTROL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FROZEN IN PLACE AND WILL NOT MOVE WITH ANY AMOUNT OF FORCE. AFTER DISENGAGING AND RE-ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE BRAKES BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214180January 8, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK ON HIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. HIS WIFE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,234. UPDATED 03/13/08. *LJ THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212754December 13, 2007
SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, STEERING:COLUMN, POWER TRAIN
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH DEFECTED CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, STEERING COLUMN, FRONT BEARING AND WATER PUMP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203408September 19, 2007
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIXED REAR QUARTER GLASS FLEW OFF THE WINDOW WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO SEE ABOUT ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY RECALLED 2005 / 2006 PT CRUISERS FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME SORRY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WELL OF COURSE IT IS, BUT GOSH ARE WINDOW'S SUPPOSED TO FLY OFF THE CAR??? NO!!!!! JUST FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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