Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2004)

217 consumer complaints on file.

#10126616June 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASE MY 2004 PT CRUISER IN MARCH 2004. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER DELIVERY, I NOTICED THE ENGINE WOULD START TO SHUDDER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY STARTED SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND ALSO CHUGS AND LOSES POWER GOING UP HILLS. I AM AFRAID TO ATTEMPT PASSING OTHER CARS BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OR LOSE POWER UNDER ACCELLERATION. TOOK THE CAR IN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY DID SEE THE PROBLEM. DEALER TRIED REPLACING THE CAM SENSOR AND "TWEAKING" THE COMPUTER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND GETTING WORSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I AM APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126156June 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE - ELECTRICAL WITH FLAMES INSIDE THE CAR. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THE ENGINE AND BODY OF THE CAR WERE NOT DAMAGED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE DEALER LOT. IT WAS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER AND THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THEY ARE DENYING MY CLAIM. I WASN'T HURT - JUST INHALED A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE GETTING THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED FROM THE HEAT AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE DASH TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS GONE - AND THE PLASTIC IS MELTED AND JUST HANGING. CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY PT CRUISER EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE 911 OPERATOR TRANSFERRED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - WHO HAVE A REPORT ON THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10124435June 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: WHILE DRIVING WENT TOO A FAST FOOD LINE AND WHILE WAITING TO PLACE AN ORDER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NO OTHER CARS WERE BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, SO IMMEDIATELY PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND QUICKLY PARKED IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES. DRIVER CALLED 911. IN A SHORT TIME THE FRONT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY VAGUE IN THEIR EVALUATION OF THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT DID SAY THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. DRIVER HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND THOUGHT THE SMELL WAS FAMILIAR AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. AAA TOWED VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER IN THE AREA, AND THAT IS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A VISIT FROM THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124384June 6, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TELLING HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING INTO FOURTH GEAR. 11/2004, 5/5/2005, 5/6/2005, 2/25/2005 SHE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON SO SHE TOOK VEHICLE IN, GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN LAST WEDNESDAY AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121590May 18, 2005
STRUCTURE
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS VIEWING THE DASHBOARD GAUGES ON 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER DUE TO LACK OF BRIGHT LIGHTING.*MR THE DESIGN OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLOCK OUT DAYLIGHT WHICH RESULTS IN THE DRIVER STRAINING TO SEE THE READING OF THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120508May 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS OR DIES WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. ALSO, DID THIS WHEN TURNING A SHARP CORNER. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THIS PROBLEM. MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, BUT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. OTHER CARS OF THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO, SOME NEWER MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERS THAT CALLER SPOKE TOO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118606April 28, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
I HAVE HAD MY CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME STEERING COLUMN NOISE 4 TIMES. IN 2 TIMES THEY HAVE SCRATCHED MY STEERING WHEEL TWICE . THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL ALREADY ONCE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN ON FRIDAY APRIL 22 AND I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK TONIGHT. I SAW 2 SCRATCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SERVICE REP LOOK AT THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M NOT HAPPY THAT I HAVE TO KEEP BRINGING THE CAR BACK IN FOR THE SAME THING, I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THE PT UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119123April 25, 2005
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. IT FLIPPED INTO A PHONE POLE, UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, KILLING THE DRIVER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10117107March 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER HAT THE CLUTCH AND BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PARTS WORE OUT WITH LESS THEN 17,500 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114778March 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
LOSE ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL FUNCTION, DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON....EVEN THO NO DOOR IS OPEN...DEALER HAS NO CLUE AND COMPUTER DOES NOT REPORT AN ISSUE....PULL FUSE AND REINSERT RESOLVES THE ISSUE....*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113898March 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE/ ALMOST WENT THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAVE COMPLAINED MUTLIPLE TIMES ABOUT MY BRAKE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES, AND EVERY TIME AM TOLD BRAKES ARE FINE. THEY DID ADJUST THE BRAKES ONCE BUT THE BRAKES SQUEAL & GRIND ALL THE TIME. WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE NEW STYLE BRAKES/ BRAKE ROTOR IS RUSTING BADLY AND CHIPPING AWAY AROUND THE TOP BUT WAS TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL EVENT DUE TO THE ELEMENTS. ALSO MY DASHBOARD IS COMING AWAY FROM MY WINDOW AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED OR LOOKED AT. MY TIRES NEVER SEEM TO STAY INFLATED AND WAS TOLD THIS IS DUE TO THE WEATHER EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. MY CAR HAS POWER SURGES AND THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT THIS IS NORMAL. BELT NOISE/ SQUEALING THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL WEAR. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NOV 2004. I ALSO HAVE NICKS IN MY WINDSHIELD AND THEY SAID THEY FILLED THEM, AFTER HAVING ANOTHER GLASS COMPANY LOOK AT MY WINDSHIELD THEY SAID THEY WINDSHIELD HAD NOT BEING FILLED WITH ANY TYPE OF FILLER, SO NO IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113907March 10, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
I BOUGHT A 2004 PT/GT CRUISER NEW(12 MILES) FROM THE DEALER IN 02-05. THE DAY I LEFT THE PROPERTY I NOTICED A SERIOUS VIBRATION AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 45 MPH. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER , TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR CORRECTION PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. TWICE THE CAR HAS RETURNED , STILL NO SOLUTION. TODAY(03-10-05), DEALER NOTIFIES ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS AN EGINEERING PROBLEM --WHEEL/RIM SIZE-- CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER IN THE 2005 MODEL. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT TOLD TO ME PRIOR TO PURCHASE. THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME "TAKE IT TO ARBRITRATION!" THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH WITH THE CURRENT PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110479February 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE NEW 2004 PT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH. BEFORE, I COULD SIT AT A RED LIGHT IN DRIVE AND NEVER FEEL THE CAR VIBRATE. NOW ANYTIME I START THE ENGINE OR AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT VIBRATES AND RUNS VERY ROUGH. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO COME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE COMPUTER CODE P0303 FROM THE ODOMETER (USING THE KEY ON/RUN, OFF TRICK). P0303 IS A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER NUMBER 3. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES NOW AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!!! IT STILL RUNS VERY ROUGH BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON ANYMORE. THEY KEEP TELLING NOW THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING IF THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. BUT IT STILL RUNS VERY ROUGH! SOMETIMES THE LIGHT FLASHES WHEN I START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BLAMED/REPLACED EVERYTHING FROM BAD GAS, SPARK PLUGS, CABLES AND NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS! I RESEARCHED NHTSA AND FOUND THERE IS ALREADY A TSB ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS BASED ON MULTIPLE INTERNET FORUMS ON THE PT CRUISER. PEOPLE AS DO I LOVE THE CAR I BUT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111333February 10, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH FRONT AXLE LITERALLY BROKE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109980February 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
ONE DAY AFTER WASHING MY PT CRUISER, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, IT WAS IDLING SO HARD THE CAR WAS JERKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I THOUGHT MAYBE AFTER IT RAN AWHILE IT WOULD STOP, SO I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND STARTING BEEPING, SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN THE GARAGE. I PERFORMED THE TEST FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE EMISSIONS, AND THE HARD IDLE STOPPED. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE CAR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING. AT ONE POINT, THEY WENT BERSERK, LOCKING CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. ONE DAY LATER, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. I'VE HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN CHRYLERS AFTER THE CAR IS WASHED. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109933February 6, 2005
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR DROPS TO FULL DOWNWARD POSITION, OBSCURING WIEW OF ROAD. DEALER REPLACED PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111054January 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER PT CRUISER TRIP METER CONSTANTLY RESET ITSELF, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, GAS GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY AND THE BELLS START BEEPING. *BF THE MECHANIC SPRAYED STATIC GUARD IN IT THAT TIME TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CLOTH SEATS AND TO GET OUT AND GRAB THE METAL BAR. THE GEAR SHIFTER KNOB WOULD COME OFF, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO THE BRAKES, IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT TIME BECAUSE THE LOCK AND TUMBLERS WERE STICKING, THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION AND WOULD ONLY GET 12.9 MILES TO THE GALLON AND WOULD RUN ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE GAUGES WOULD QUIT WORKING AT TIMES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105703January 4, 2005
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS
HEAD ON COLLISION, AIRBAGS CAME OUT, BACK SEAT BEHIND DRIVER CAME UN-DONE, UNLATCHED AND HIT DRIVER IN HEAD, DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONCIOUS. RIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS DID COME OUT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104454December 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER THAT HAS 20,000 MILES, AND ALREADY NEEDS A TUNEUP..CAR RUNS ROUGH..I TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE BUT 1 SPARK PLUG, AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE OTHER 3...WHAT GOOD IS THE WARANTY..I BUY NEW CARS ALL THE TIME NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM..DID I GET RIP OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102249December 6, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AUTOMATIC 2004 PT CRUISER SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS AT A TIME DUE TO THE CAR STALLING WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE THE POWER STEERING LOCKS, AND THIS ACTION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP DUE TO IT STALLING AND DRIVING ROUGH. EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY FIND AN ISSUE BUT IT IS THE WRONG ISSUE. LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE RENTED PT CRUISER RENTAL CARS TO VERIFY THAT ALL PT CRUISER DO NOT RUN ROUGH AND STALL AND THE RENTAL CARS RUN LIKE A DREAM COMPARED TO MY CAR. IF THE TROUBLES WITH THE CAR DO NOT CHANGE AND THE CAR CANNOT BE FIXED I WOULD LIKE OUT OF THE DEAL. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR DUE TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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