Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10692964March 9, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT, THE GAS GAUGE WENT TO ZERO AND THE CAR JUST DIED. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING AND I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND I COULD NOT RESTART. I CALLED 911 FOR HELP AS CARS WERE NOW ZOOMING UP BEHIND ME STALLED IN THE LANE. I WAS SO SCARED THAT SOMEONE WOULD HIT ME. I SAT WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON AGAIN AND THE GAS GAUGE WENT BACK TO FULL. I TRIED TO START IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT 2 BLOCKS HOME. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE TO THE CLEANERS AND WHILE TRYING TO PARK IT DIED IN THE PARKING LOT. I AGAIN WAITED AND IT FINALLY STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SUGGESTED I JUNK IT FOR ABOUT $100. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. AND NOW THERE IS A CHRYSLER RECALL ON OTHER 2008 MODELS WITH WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692092March 4, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE DETAILS OF WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,561.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691834March 3, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG, CHEST, BACK AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10690764February 26, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE FAILED CHANGE GEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690069February 23, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I DRIVE A 2007 T CRUISER AND HAVE ON AND OFF AGAIN ISSUES WITH MY CENTER DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON AND GAUGES GOING UP AND DOWN. ENGINE ALMOST STALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MECHANICS CANNOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH WIRING, GROUNDING, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, SWITCHES, ETC. HAPPENS AT ANY TIME. WILL BE FINE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN IT WILL START TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS TAKES PLACE SITTING STILL AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CHRYSLER BETTER TAKE NOTE AND FIGURE THIS OUT OR THEY WILL HAVE A HUGE LAWSUIT LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH GM. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS; HOW IS IT NO ONE IS CONCERNED? SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689804February 22, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST BOUGHT THIS FROM 1ST OWNER AND SO DISAPPOINTED AT CHRYSLER, HAD IT ON WEEK AND NEEDS BATTERY. 1ST OWNER GOT NEW 5YR BATTERY 3 MONTHS AGO AND IT WAS A PRO RATED FOR ANOTHER BATTERY. I SEE 9 PAGES ON WEBSITE FOR PT OWNERS WITH SAME BATTERY DRAINAGE PROBS AND THAT JUST ONE SITE. I AM A 61YR OLD WITH HEART PROBS AND PACEMAKER AND FINALLY SAVED ENOUGH AFTER DOC BILLS TO GET OUT OF MY 1987 CAR TO A NICE 2006 ONE OWNER, LITTLE LADIES PT CRUISER AND GUESS I WASTED MY MONEY. I KNOW THIS PROB HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE! I AM HOPING AT LEAST U OR CHRYSLER CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 1987 FOR YRS AND YRS WITH HARDLY EVER A PROB AND I REALLY THOUGHT I COULD COUNT ON A CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689389February 19, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
I BROUGHT THE CAR ON 3/25/14 FROM A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP. COMPLAIN ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT THE TIME OF TEST DRIVE. TOYOTA PROMISE ME IT WOULD BE FIXED PICK THE CAR DROVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AND NOTICE THE CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE NOTHING WAS FOUND. I LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE THE CAR AND WHILE ON THE FWY AT 65MPH THE LIGHTS ON THE CONTROL PANEL STARTING GOING ON AND OFF THEY CAR SHUT OFF ON HER. LUCKY SHE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AVOIDING FROM GETTING HIT. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS SO CAR REALLY WASN'T DRIVEN THAT MUCH. BUT I HAVE THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR WITH A PROTECTION PLAN AND NEED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WORK THE INVOLVED GETTING SOLENOID PACK, BRACKET-TORQUE REACTION,T-STAT, OIL SWITCH, GASKET, AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AS OF 2/10/2015. NOW 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEED A COOLING FAN MODULE. WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY PROTECT PLAN AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 700.00 DOLLAR. I HAVE THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS AND HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN KILLED BEHIND IT CUTTING ON AND OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS CAR AND EVERYONE HAS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682863February 12, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON 2/9/2015 ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE IN MOTION MY CAR SHUTDOWN - FROZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IF IT WASN'T FOR SLOW BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD OF HIT ME. THE CAR WOULD NOT REV OR NOTHING BUT THE LIGHTS, RADIO ALL WORKED. I GOT TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT WAS NOT CHRYSLER AND THEY CHECKED AND THE ENGINE AND BATTERY & ALTERNATOR AND WAS FINE. BUT THEY CONTINUED TO CHECK AND FOUND IT WAS COMPUTER RELATED WHERE THE COMPUTER IS MALFUNCTIONING TO WHERE IT JUST SHUTS EVERYTHING DOWN. I WENT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER THAT DAY BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED AGAIN BUT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A TOW TRUCK FOLLOWING BEHIND JUST IN CASE. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP KEPT MY CAR OVERNIGHT AND TODAY ON 2/11/2015 TOLD ME JUST TO START THE POSSIBLE FIX OF THE CAR THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIX THE TIPM (TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) AND THEY ARE NOT SURE THIS WILL FIX IT BUT JUST TO START IT WILL COST ME $1,149.27. THEY SAID CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS OVER (WAS 3 YEARS). I ARGUED WITH THEM AND TOLD THEM CHRYSLER IS RESPONSIBLE AND WARRANTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT - IT IS A DANGER ISSUE THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT FOR. YOU SEE THEY, THE DEALER, EVEN KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH CHRYSLER'S WORK THAT'S WHY THEY THEMSELVES SAY THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THEY HAVE THE NERVES TO THINK THEY CAN CHEAT ME OUT OF $1,149.47 JUST TO START WORK ON A POSSIBLE FIX. I WANT CHRYSLER TO FIX MY CAR WITHOUT CHARGING ME BECAUSE IT IS THEIR FAULT - I CANNOT DRIVE THIS DANGEROUS CAR. I DID ALSO CONTACT CHRYSLER CORP TODAY AND THEY TELL THE SAME CRAP THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682973February 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND DISCOVERED A PLUG MELTED AND THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE NAME OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. UPDATED 04/07/15*LJ UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682632February 10, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AT 9 O'CLOCK A.M. I WAS DRIVING TO THE HOSPITAL TO PICK MY GIRLFRIEND UP EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE BUT WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE HOSPITAL WITH HER THE GAUGES WERE GOING CRAZY SO MY GIRLFRIEND TOLD ME TO GO TO AUTO ADVANCE TO HAVE MY CAR CHECKED OUT. ON MY WAY TO AUTO ADVANCE THE GAGE WERE GOING CRAZY AGAIN AND THE CAR SHUT THANK GOD THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. THE A GUY AT AUTO ADVANCE CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE POSTS. HE SAID THAT THE BATTERY AND THE POSTS ARE FINE. SO HE RAN A TEST ON MY CAR AND SAID NO CODES ARE SHOWING UP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682210February 9, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION
I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POP AND MY CAR STARTED SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND I ALMOST HIT A MEDIUM. MY CAR WAS STUCK ON THE EXIT RAMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681332February 4, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH TO BURN OUT AND RUNNING TAIL LIGHTS TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND BURNING SMELL CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. PULLED NEW MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND NOTICED MELTED CONNECTORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680103January 31, 2015
STRUCTURE
NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE (AS FAR AS I KNOW) BUT I WANT IT TO GO ON RECORD FROM WHAT ALL PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH. DASHBOARD CRACKED AND VENT GRIDS CRUMBLED WHEN DOING A REGULAR CLEANING (DUSTING WITH CLOTH). I JUST WANT TO BE NOTED THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PT CRUISERS HAVE THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR TO CUSTOMERS TO HAVE NO PROTECTION FROM SUCH POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE MADE LIABLE FOR SUCH THINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679793January 29, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH DID NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V076000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679858January 29, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE DIES AT SPEED, AND WILL RESTART IN A SECOND OR TWO (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). GAUGES GO HAYWIRE. CAN SOMETIMES RESET CONDITION FOR A WHILE (MINUTES TO AN HOUR) BY TURNING KEY OFF-ON, OR RESTARTING WHILE AT SPEED - SOMETIME NOT. HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE, CAR NOW HAS 185,000 MILES. REPLACED ENGINE PCM - NO EFFECT. REPLACED ENGINE TIPM - NO EFFECT. KIND OF SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOFTWARE DESIGN DEFECT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679543January 28, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V268000 (STEERING) AND 08E033000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN UPDATED 7/8/2015*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679576January 28, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED SHAKING AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,736.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679363January 28, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A USED 2001 PT CRUISER ON THE WAY HOME WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, IT SOUNDED LIKE WATER RAPIDLY BOILING WITH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE LOOK UP THIS PROBLEM AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM 2001 TO 2008 PT CRUISERS, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IT WENT FROM A RADIATOR CAP TO THE BLADES COMING OFF OF THE FAN. I DON'T KNOW HOW SO MANY VEHICLES CAN HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT THERE BEING A RECALL TO FIX THIS. TO LOWER THE ENGINE HEAT I HAVE TO PUT THE HEAT OR AC UP TO THE HIGHEST SETTING. I HAVE HAD THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP REPLACED. HOW CAN THIS SAME PROBLEM GO UNFIXED FROM YEAR TO YEAR? I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS TILL I EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES TO LOOK, EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING, FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WATER BOILING SOUND, CAR OVERHEATING ALMOST EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD REPLACED AND STILL THIS SAME PROBLEM EXIST. I AM SHOCKED THAT I DID NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM LISTED ON YOUR SITE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE IT. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM YEAR AFTER YEAR, YET IT GOES UNFIXED. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I AM AFRAID THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO JUST STOP ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE SOMEONE SLAM INTO THE BACK OF ME WHERE MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN SIT. THE LIGHT TO SHOW IT IS OVERHEATING NEVER LIGHTS UP. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS! NO BELLS OR WHISTLES GOING OFF. JUST SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CAR WITH LIQUID SHOOTING OUT ALL OVER. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL CAUSE MY ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE!! IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! SINCERELY, PT CRUISER OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676314January 18, 2015
SUSPENSION, STEERING
I PURCHASED THE CAR AND RIGHT FROM THE START I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS , I HAVE HAD TO DO SO 3 TIMES ALREADY WITHIN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE HAD THE CAR , THERE HAS BEEN NO UNUSUAL STRESS ON THE BEARINGS TO MAKE THEM WEAR OUT , NOW IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING ON A CAR WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN 100K MI ON IT , LET ALONE 3 TIMES , I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT, ALSO IM HAVING STALLING/ROUGH IDLE PROBLEMS THAT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT IT HAS STALLED 5 TIMES ALREADY AND REGULARLY IDLES ROUGH, THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT NORMAL AND CANNOT BE FIGURED OUR ,I'VE REPLACES SEVERAL PARTS INCLUDING THE ERG VALVE PVC VALVE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES THE IAC CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE CARB AND IM STILL HAVING THESE ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672972January 16, 2015
ENGINE
I NOTICED A SUDDEN OIL LEAK. I IMMEDIATELY HAD IT CHECKED TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT AND FRONT SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY RESEARCH SHOWED IT TO BE SO COMMON A PROBLEM IN THE PT CRUISER. REPAIR COST UP TO $1300.00. AND PROBLEM WOULD LIKELY RE-OCCUR. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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