Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10038267September 5, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE PRODUCES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037062September 2, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 PT CRUISER SINCE MAY OF 2002. SINCE THE BEGINNING, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FUELING UP THE TANK. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 GALLONS OF GASOLINE HAS FILLED THE TANK, THE HOSE SHUTS OFF. BEGIN AGAIN AND IT SHUTS OFF. THIS HAPPENS AN AVERAGE OF 8-10 TIMES DURING THE FUELING. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT IT'S BECAUSE THE OPENING TO THE TANK HAS BEEN MADE SMALLER TO AVOID SPLASHBACKS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS A ROYAL PAIN EVERYTIME I GAS UP. IS THERE NO SOLUTION? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036852August 29, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON JULY 10, 2003, MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DONATING BLOOD. SHE PASSED OUT AND THE 2002 PT CRUISER THAT SHE WAS DRIVING HIT A SMALL PINE TREE WITH A GLANCING BLOW TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER, AND THEN HIT A POWER POLE HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE POWER POLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE POLE AND BRING THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES DOWN ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 30 TO 35 MPH WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED.THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT , HER HEAD SNAPPED FORWARD AND HIT SOMETHING (I ASSUME THE RIM OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WHICH CAUSED A BONE-DEEP GASH IN BER FOREHEAD REQUIRING 10 (TEN) STITCHES TO CLOSE.I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR BEFORE REPAIRS WERE BEGUN. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT "....THE IMPACT, (WHICH DID NOT INVOLVE THE FRAME) DID NOT CREATE THE LONGITUDINAL (FRONT TO BACK) DECELERATION NECESSARY TO DEPLOY AIR BAGS.".IN FACT, THE FRAME WAS BENT. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP MANAGER, THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL WAS MOVED BETWEEN 7 AND 10 MM.*AK MY CONTENTION IS THAT AN IMPACT SUFFICIENTLY HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK A POWER POLE SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPOLY. I SAID THAT IN A LETTER BACK TO CHRYSLER AND HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THEM. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE PT CRUISER WAS $9,147.92
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10036706August 27, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 11,000 MILES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,480 MILES, NOT ONLY THE PADS NEEDED REPLACING ROTORS WERE WORN AS WELL. THE DEALER DID THIS UNDER WARRANTY STATING IT WAS EARLY WEAR AND TEAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS AT APPROX. 22,080 MILES, THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY THE PADS BUT IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING FLUID BECAUSE OF A BREAK IN THE HOSE THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGN OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES OR THE POWER STEERING. AND THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS NOT EARLY WEAR AND TEAR THIS TIME SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER WITH THIS ISSUE THEY STATED THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I MAY BE A WOMAN BUT I KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT CARS AND 11,000 MILES FOR BRAKES IS NOT "NORMAL' WEAR AND TEAR!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034425August 22, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 20000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033336August 22, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2001 PT CRUISER -- KNOWN ISSUE INVOLVING FUEL LINE CHAFFING AGAINST METAL AC LINES. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO DEALER FOR RECALL, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE FUEL LINE LEAKS ANYWAY AND CAUSES MODERATE DAMAGE VIA ENGINE FIRE. FUEL EXPLOSION OCCURRED UPON SWITCHING OFF THE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033286August 21, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
UNCONTROLLABLE WOBBLE OF FRONT WHEELS AS BRAKES ARE APPLIED . THE HIGHER THE SPEED ,THE GREATER THE WOBBLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033217August 20, 2003
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE IS A NEW 2003 PT-TURBO GT W/AUTO STICK, AIR, ETC. VEHICLE IS THE VERY FIRST NEW VEHICLE THAT MY WIFE HAS EVER OWNED. I BOUGHT IT FOR HER AS A XMAS GIFT IN DEC., 2002. SINCE FEBRUARY 2003, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED FROM THEROMSTAT/COOLING FAN AND ITS THEROMSTAT SWITCH, TRANS-COOLER (TURBO), WATER PUMP, ETC. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 11 WEEKS. BOTH THE ZONE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY RESPONDED ON PREVIOUS TRIPS INTO THE SERVICE BAY. MY WIFE ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR ALMOST 5 1/2 WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM DEALERSHIP. THEN, ON SUNDAY, 20 JULY 2003, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN!! MY WIFE DROVE IT TO VICTORVILLE MOTORS (LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER, VICTORVILLE, CA) ON MONDAY, 21 JULY AND THERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AGAIN AND THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE ZONE AND/OR MFG TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE WHAT ELSE COULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THIS ANOMALOUS CONDITION. EITHER IN DESIGN AND JUST A BAD ENGINE. BLOCK IS IRON, WATER PUMP AND HEADS ARE ALUMINUM. ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED INTO THE RED LINE SO MANY TIMES, THE BLOCK AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SEVERLY HEAT STRESSED. MY WIFE RECENTLY (JAN 2003) DISCOVERED SHE HAD RENAL ESRD (TOTAL KIDNEY FAILURE) AND IS CURRENTLY DOING DIALYSIS. WE LIVE IN VICTORVILLE, CA AND SHE MUST DRIVE TO FONTANNA, CA KAISER HOSPITAL FOR HER TREATMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES EACH WAY CLIMBING THROUGH A DESERT MOUNTAIN PASS, ELEVATION 4340 FT. SHE REQUIRES A RELIABLE VEHICLE AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SHE DOES NOT HAVE ONE. MY WIFE COULD BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT MOUNTAIN PASS WITH THIS PROBLEM VEHICLE. ALL WE HAVE ASKED FOR IS CHRYSLER REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE....MY WIFE HAS WANTED THIS DREAM CAR. FOR OVER 2-YEARS. IT..."..THANK YOU........RON & GWEN REPASS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029349August 15, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION WIRING. *AK CONSUMER CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND EVACUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10033923August 14, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHEN DRIVING AND SUDDENLY STOPPING IS NEEDED, AND THE HORN IS NECESSARY TO BE USED, HORN ONLY BLEATS OUT A SPUTTERING NOISE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034001August 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED ON THEIR OWN. *MR THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOCK ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SIX TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF THIRTEEN MONTHS BY THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER WOULD BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL OF THE VEHICLE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. THE DOORS WERE SUPPOSE TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED OVER 5 MPH AND RANDOMLY FAILED TO DO SO, AFTER ACTIVATING THE LOCK/SECURITY DEVICE AND LISTENING FOR THE BEEP IT DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY. THE PROBLEM HAD PROGRESSED RAPIDLY AND THE CORRECTION ATTEMPTS ONLY RESULTED IN PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033865August 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN EVER THERE IS A CRITICAL OR EMERGENCY SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES AND HORN ARE PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME HORN DOES NOT HONK BUT SPATTERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10030898August 6, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
5 BATTERIES, RADIO, SPEAKERS, DOOR LOCKS, PAINT, SPEED SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION, FAN MOTOR ON ENGINE, OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR, T14 CIRCUIT ALL WITHIN 27 MONTHS. CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF ALL THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS NO HELP! CUSTOMER CARE HUNG UP ON ME. LEMON LAW RAN OUT 1 MONTH AGO. UPSIDE DOWN CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN. HELP!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030838August 5, 2003
WHEELS:RIM
WHEEL RIMS OUT-OF-ROUND . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032027August 4, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
THE SPRING IN THE BRAKE BROKE AND DESTROYED THE FLACK ADJUSTER AND THE DRUMS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK BECAUSE THIS PART SHOULDN' T BREAK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030686August 3, 2003
TIRES
YOU CAN DIAL GOODYEAR AT 1-800.321.2136 PRESS 1 THEN, PRESS 3. ASK ABOUT GOODYEAR CASE # 559-496. IT INVOLVES MY PT CRUISERS, ITS ORIGINAL SETS OF TIRES AND CONTINUED PROBLEMS. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HAVING FUTURE BLOW-OUTS. ITS A MATTER OF SAFETY. GOODYEAR REASONABLY, ADJUSTED THREE TIRES FOR ME AFTER I EXPLAINED MY BLOW OUTS SITUATION. I FOLLOWED UP AGAIN WITH GOODYEAR, AND TOYO (FILE # 035253), EXPLAINED THE 16 INCH WHEEL SAGA. HOW I SPENT A YEAR GOING FROM DEALERSHIP TO DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 16 INCH WHEELS AND THE TIRE BLOW-OUTS. THEY NEVER RECORDED MY RIM COMPLAINTS NO MATTER WHICH DC 5 STAR DEALERSHIP I WENT TOO. THEY WOULD RECORD THE CRUISERS MILEAGE, AND ANY WARRANTED ITEMS THEY COULD BILL DC FOR, BUT NEVER A WHEEL OR TIRE COMPLAINT. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE MANAGERS AND THE MECHANICS AND THEY ALL REPEATED. NO ONE (WE KNOW OF) IS COMPLAINING ABOUT LOW MILEAGE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, DIFFICULTY BALANCING OR PULLING TIRES, RIMS OUT OF ROUND, BENT, CORRODED, PEELING OR RUSTED RIMS. AND NO ONE IS REPORTING TIRE BLOW-OUTS ON THE PT CRUISER. DC HAS NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I REPORTED TO GOODYEAR AND TOYO COSTUMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS A FOLLOW-UP. I REVIEWED THE FINDINGS FROM PRITZ DC S 5 STAR DEALERSHIP. AS IT GOES, ITS NOT THE TIRES--ITS THE RIMS. THESE ALLOY WHEELS ARE OUT OF ROUND, BENT, CORRODED, SOFT, RUSTED ON THE STREET FACE OF THE WHEELS WITH RUST AND PEELING CHROME AROUND LIPS RIM WHICH SEALS TO THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE WHICH YOU CANNOT SEE. OTHER PT OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE 16 IN WHEELS WHICH THEYVE ALSO REPORTED TO GOODYEAR. THEY DESERVE TO BE NOTIFIED. THE PAINT AND BODY DAMAGE ON OUR PT CRUISER IS FROM RIDING BLOWN-OUT TIRES OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANK GOD WE ARE STILL ALIVE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031564July 30, 2003
WHEELS:RIM, TIRES
CONSUMER STATES WHEN HITTING ANY TYPE OF BUMP IN THE ROAD TIRES BLOWOUT. ALL FOUR RIMS HAVE PITTED CRACKS IN THEM WHICH CAUSES THE BLOWOUTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031374July 29, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES THEY WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029056July 24, 2003
TIRES:BEAD
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH CHROME PLATED 5-SPOKE WHEELS; CHROME PLATING HAS BUBBLED/CORRODED ON THE SEALING SURFACE OF THE TIRE BEAD. THIS HAS CAUSED SLOW LEAKAGE OF AIR IN TIRES. UNLESS THE PRESSURE IS ADJUSTED WEEKLY OR MORE OFTEN, THE TIRE PRESSURE GETS LOW CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND OVERHEATING WHICH COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPIC FAILURE. THIS CONDITION PROGRESSES OVER TIME AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD CAUSTICS & SALT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029903July 22, 2003
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT LOCKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, AND IF THE CONSUMER LEAVES THE VEHICLE OR STANDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICLY LOCK. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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