Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10174960December 2, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER WITH 82000 MILES ON IT. IN MARCH OF 2005 WITH 47765 MILES ON IT, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER TO REPAIR A VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THE CHRYSLER DEALER NOTED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND STATED THE COMPRESSOR WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRONT FRAME DUE TO SOME KIND OF COLLISION AND STATED THERE WAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THIS DIAGNOSIS SINCE THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY FOUND NO BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, NO SIGNS OF ACCIDENT AND DID NOT EVEN ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION NOISE. ON 11/17/2006 I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AT NIGHT, AND WITHOUT WARNING,NOISE, HESITATION, OR LACK OF POWER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE IN ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS $2715.00 AND THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174812November 30, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON OCTOBER 4, 2006, I HAD NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE ON THE PT CRUISER WAS STILL READING FULL AND I KNEW AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WEEK IT SHOULD BE READING EMPTY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE GAUGE READ "FULL" BUT WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES IT WOULD READ "EMPTY"; IT EVEN READ 1/2 FULL A COUPLE OF TIMES. ON OCTOBER 5,2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DAVE DENNIS CHRYSLER JEEP AND DODGE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ACCORDING TO THE WORKORDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE "FUEL SENDING UNIT". AT THAT TIME, I HAD ALSO ASKED FOR THEIR FREE 16 POINT CHECK WHICH INVOLVES CHECKING FLUID LEVELS AND TIRE AIR PRESSURE, ETC. THIS SERVICE WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE NEXT MORNING WE HAD TO STOP FROM OUR ROAD TRIP TO PUT AIR IN ALL 4 TIRES. THE FRONT PASSENGER ONLY HAD 10PSI IN IT. ON OCTOBER 27, 2006 I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN AFTER I HAD FILLED THE GAS TANK TO CAPACITY. THE FUEL GUAGE WAS ONLY READING 3/4 FULL. ONCE AGAIN THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE "FUEL SENDING UNIT". I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HATCH DOOR ON THE PT. YOU HAVE TO USE MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLOSED SECURELY. IF YOU USE REGULAR FORCE TO CLOSE THE HATCH, THE DOOR IS FLUSHED WITH THE REST OF THE CAR BUT THE SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALONG THE STRESS POINTS ON THE HATCH DOOR THE PAINT HAD CRACKED. THE BODY SHOP SANDED AND REPAINTED THE DOOR BUT SAID THE FORCE USED TO SHUT THE DOOR IS A "FACTORY" ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174822November 30, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WIFE, DRIVING INTO REGULAR PARKING SPOT @ WORK. SPEED 10 -15 MPH. APPLIED BRAKE AND THE VECHILE "LUNGED"FORWARD. STRIKING THE CURB. DAMAGE APPEARED MINIMAL. BUT WAS QUITE EXTENSIVE UNDERNEATH. BUT THERE WAS QUITE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE SUBFRAME AND UNDERSIDE OF FRONT, NOT VISABLE EXTERNALLY. CAUSE....WE THINK. A BABY BOTTLE ROLLED FROM THE BACK SEAT AND LODGED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN THE PT CRUISER, THERE IS A CLEAR PASSAGE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WE ARE SURE THAT THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR INCIDENT. I HAVE INSTALLED A HARDBOARD "STOP" UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT TO PREVENT A REOCCURANCE. PASSENGER SIDE HAS A STORAGE DRAWER AND THUS IS NOT A PROBLEM. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAUSE COULD BE AN OBJECT ROLLING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER AREA AND GETTING JAMED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174511November 28, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A DEFLATED TIRE WAS NOTICED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER INFLATING THE TIRE, IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED OXIDATION ON THE RIMS CAUSED SLOW LEAKS IN ALL FOUR TIRES AND SUGGESTED REPLACING THE RIMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174184November 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR HORN HARD TO LOCATE AND BLOW. VERY LOW FUEL MILEAGE - ONLY GET 16 MPG ON A 2.4L NON-TURBO ENGINE-EATS GAS BADLY. SOMETIMES SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE WANTS TO STALL. HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER CORPORATION - BUT MAINLY BECAUSE CHRYSLER MANUFACTURERS PUT A NON-TURBO ENGINE IN MY 2006 PT CRUISER CONV. TOURING WHEN ONLY A TURBO ENGINE IS TO BE IN THIS CAR. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE CORRECT CAR AND TAKE THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR CAR BACK. THEY ARE LYING AND SAYING THAT THE 150 HP(NON-TURBO) ENGINE IS AN OPTION ENGINE. THERE IS NO OTHER ENGINE AS AN OPTION FOR THIS CAR - I HAVE THEIR BOOK AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. I AM CURRENTLY SEEKING HELP TO GET THE CORRECT CAR WITH THE TURBO ENGINE I AM PAYING FOR. CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARE AND GIVES THEIR CUSTOMER A HARD TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174193November 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HORN IS HARD TO LOCATE AND BLOW. TERRIBLE FUEL MILEAGE - 4 CYL CAR ONLY GETS 16 MPG AND EATS GAS BADLY. ANYWAY I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING CHRYSLER CORPORATION BECAUSE OF THEIR MANUFACTURING ERROR THEY PUT THE WRONG ENGINE IN MY NEW 2006 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE - TOURING EDITION. CHRYSLER'S BOOK, BROCHURES ETC. CLEARLY STATE THAT NOTHING BUT A STANDARD 2.4L 180HP TURBO ENGINE IS TO GO IN THIS CAR AND CHRYSLER PUT A REGULAR (NON-TURBO) ENGINE IN THIS CAR. CHRYSLER LIES AND SAYS THAT THE DOWNGRADED NON-TURBO ENGINE IS AN OPTION. BUT THERE IS NO OPTIONAL ENGINE AVAILABLE FOR THIS CAR AND ANOTHER ENGINE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO IN THE CAR. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE CORRECT CAR THAT I AM CURRENTLY PAYING FOR ETC. CHRYSLER CORP. CONTINUE TO LIE AND GIVE CUSTOMERS A VERY HARD TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173599November 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I OWN A 2002 PT CRUISER AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT, BY HAVING IT ALWAYS SERVICED AT THE DEALERS AND NOWHERE ELSE. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT JUST RECENTLY I HAVE STARTED HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT. FIRST MY A/C STARTED TO SOMETIMES BLOW HOT AIR INSTEAD OF COLD AND THAT STOPPED AND THEN IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN I COME TO A STOP WITH THE A/C ON IT ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. NOW THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A NOISE WHEN I GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $3200.00. MY CAR HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD THINK THAT IF IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY A CHRYSLER DEALER THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTABLE? CAN ANYONE HELP? THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172959November 8, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
CHROME WHEELS PEELING, ESPECIALLY AROUND VALVE STEMS, PRODUCING MINUTE LEAKS IN AIR PRESSURE OF TIRES, DESPITE REPLACEMENT OF VALVE STEMS. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH NO RESPONSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172763November 6, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND A BUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIR PRESSURE WAS LOW IN TIRES AND ALL FOUR RIMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172563November 3, 2006
TIRES
GOODYEAR TIRE MODEL P205/50R17 EAGLE RSA. TIRE KEPT GOING FLAT AND WHEN EXAMINED THERE WAS A CIRCULAR CRACK AROUND THE TREAD, ALMOST LIKE A RETREAD WOULD SEPARATE, CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION UNTIL TIRES REPLACED. TIRES CAME WITH CAR AS AN OPTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172488November 2, 2006
SUSPENSION
I WENT TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED AND WAS TOLD MY RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE BROKEN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOWED IN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT) AND THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS VERY SELDOM SEEN BUSHINGS IN THE SUSPENSION BREAK WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MY CAR IS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED UNTIL THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. I AM QUITE HAPPY THAT THE MECHANIC WHO DOES MY BRAKES NOTICED THE CONTROL ARMS. I ASKED CHRYSLER TO CHECK THEM WHILE MY TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REPAIRED, IF NOT, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE CHECKED. THE SUSPENSION IS OF COURSE, NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY ANY LONGER. REPAIR COSTS WERE NEARLY $600. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172390November 1, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT BRAKE SHOP WHO DETERMINED A HOSE RUPTURED AND THE HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V481000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC; ANTILOCK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172290October 31, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS INFLATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED ALL THE RIMS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172156October 30, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
2001 PT CRUISER WITH 16 INCH CHROME WHEELS. CHROME IS FLAKING ON THE BEAD EDGE OF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOOSE PRESSURE. MINE HAVE BEEN SLOW LEAKS, BUT LEAKS COULD BE FAST. TIRES GO DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. TIRE REPAIR SHOP SAID COMMON FAILURE. SEES IT REGULARLY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172107October 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY 2004 PT CRUISER NOT STEERING CORRECTLY AND FRONT END NOISES NOT NORMAL. DEALER ON SECOND TEST REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS BECAUSE OF WORN OUT BEARING SEATS MILEAGE 15,468. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172011October 27, 2006
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
9/1/06 AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED . AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS TO CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION, THERE WAS NO REPLY. ON 9/29/06, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING 50 MILES AN HOUR. THAT DAY I CALLED CHRYSLER AGAIN AND AN INVESTIGATION WAS CREATED. AFTER THE INVESTIGATION CHRYSLER FOUND NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR PART. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM INTO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THEY FOUND THE DEFECT TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND WILL NOT COVER THE DEPLOYED AIR BAGS OR LOCKED SEAT BELT. AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO REPARATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171872October 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AROUND THE SPEEDOMETER ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. EACH TIME THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED. THE FOURTH TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE ILLUMINATION WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 01V288000, PERTAINING TO THE UNDER DASH WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 11/30/2006 -*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171555October 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER, BOUGHT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, SUDDENLY LOSES ITS POWER WHILE I AM DRIVING (TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY). THIS LOSS OF POWER RESULTED IN MY NEARLY BEING IN A REAR END COLLISION FROM A TRUCK COMING UP BEHIND ME! IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO 2 CHRYSLER DEALERS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY OR FIX THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAD TWO ADDITIONAL FAILURES DOCUMENTED BY THEM. THIS LAST TIME THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. IT HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY ISSUE. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS INCLUDING THE ENTIRE ONBOARD COMPUTER PRIOR TO THIS MOST RECENT BREAKDOWN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOK THE INFORMATION OVER A WEEK AGO HAS NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171315October 19, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO WAS TRAVELING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10170718October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
PT CRUISER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS SHOT WITH ONLY 32000 MILES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. A DEFECT IN THE BUSHING MATERIAL IS SUSPECT AND FAILURE CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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