Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2002)

511 consumer complaints on file.

#10159495June 9, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
HAD TIRES CHANGED AT DEALER. AFTER TIRE CHANGE, TWO OF THE TIRES BEGAN LEAKING. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECKED, DEALER FINALLY DECIDED THAT THE CHROME-PLATED RIMS WERE CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, AFTER HAVING TWO MORE TIRES REPLACE, THE NEW TIRES ARE LEAKING AND I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TWO MORE RIMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157249May 11, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED FOR THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2004 AND THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED BY THE DEALER. IN JANUARY 2005, THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CONTINUALLY LOW DUE TO A LEAK INDICATING THAT ONE OF THE HOSES WAS ERODED. THE DEALER DETERMINED A PUMP AND HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE RECALL BUT THE PUMP WAS NOT. THE DEALER WILL NOT PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITHOUT A CHARGE. *NM THE SERPENTINE BELT, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND MOTOR MOUNT WERE REPLACED. THE RIGHT SIDE INTERIOR LIGHT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/06/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156302April 27, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED 7/5/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154864April 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION OF 2002 PT CRUISER FAILED @ 56,000 MILES NEEDING COMPLETE REBUILD. FLUID PUMP DISINTEGRATED SPREADING METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT TRANSAXLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154798April 7, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LEAK WAS DETECTED IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE. A NHTSA RECALL, 04V268000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE POWER STEERING HOSE, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154434April 3, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAD A VERY ALARMING INCIDENT ON JANUARY 23, 2006. AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED TO BE SURE THE FUEL CAP WAS IN PLACE. IT WAS SO I ATTEMPTED TO RE-START THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE STARTED BUT RAN QUITE ROUGHLY. I AGAIN STOPPED THE ENGINE TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE GASOLINE WAS RUNNING OVER THE EDGE OF THE FUEL TANK SHIELD. I DECIDED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF FIRE OR EXPLOSION. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERS SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL LINE WAS BROKEN. I ASKED THAT THE FUEL LINE BE SAVED FOR ME. I HAVE IT AND IT IS BROKEN ON THE END.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153344March 21, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE ADVISOR JAMES QUINN AT BRUNSWICK AUTO MALL IN BRUNSWICK, OHIO (330-273-3300) THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM(RUBBER BUSHINGS ON MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WERE WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 44,971 MILES. I DID A WEB SEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS PT CRUISER USER FORUMS AND FOUND REFERENCES TO CHRYSLER CHANGING THE SUPPLIER OF THE BUSHINGS SOMETIME AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT. CHRYSLER CHANGED THE BUSHINGS SUPPLIER DUE TO VERY EARLY FAILURE AND ALSO UPGRADED THE QUALITY OF THE BUSHINGS. MY BUSHINGS FAILED DUE TO HAVING THE OLDER STYLE BUSHINGS. 45K MILES IS VERY EARLY FOR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TO WEAR OUT. I CONTACTED CHRYLSER WARRANTY AT 800-992-1997 TO COMPLAIN AND WAS ASSIGNED REFERENCE NUMBER 14736996. AFTER EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, THE CHRYLSER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER WOULD OFFER NO CUSTOMER GOOD-WILL ASSISTANCE WITH PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE I WAS 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CHRYSLER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY IN ANTICIPATION OF UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE REPAIR PROBLEMS LIKE MY BUSHINGS. THE "UNANTICIPATED" EARLY FAILURE OF REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON OLDER MODEL PT CRUISER BUSHINGS IS A SEVERE SAFETY THREAT TO CONSUMERS WHO EXPECT QUALITY PARTS IN THEIR VEHICLES THAT SHOULD NORMALLY LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. THE UNANTICIPATED FAILURE OF THE PT CRUISER BUSHING CAN EASILY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ACCIDENTS, OR MUCH WORSE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT. BEST REGARDS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152898March 16, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND BRAKE DUST WAS OBSERVED ON THE HUBCAPS. THE BRAKES PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED FREQUENTLY AT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. THREE DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE ADMITTED THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BUT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKES THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ISSUE A RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE CONTACT THIS FAILURE DOES AFFECT THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151790March 4, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2002 PT CRUISER AND TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY SAID: BUSHINGS (BOTH LOWER-FRONT) REMOVE & REPLACE CONTROL ARM SHAFT AND BUSHINGS, LOWER BOTH CONTROL ARM. BEARING & SEALS. FROM WHAT I AM READING IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150404February 16, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DT*: AT 45,000 MILES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND LINK FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147457January 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
AT 24,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUR COMPLETELY. NOW AT 65,000 MILES TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AND NEEDS A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK REPLACED. ENGINE COMPARTMENT SMOKES AND SMELLS HOT. FOUND TSB#0801505 AND NHTSA #10013731 ON FILE BUT DEALER CAN NOT TELL ME ANYTHING. FOUND SEVERAL WEB SITE LISTING THIS SAME COMPLAINT SOME WITH CATASTROPHIC FAILURES ON THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146202December 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. IN SPITE OF THIS, IT HAS DEVELOPED ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE FORMING OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THE CAR HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY A QUART PER 1000 MILES EVER SINCE THE 36000 MILE SERVICE. I FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM THAT HAS LED TO THE PREMATURE WEARING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE LOSS OF POWER IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. I THINK THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE, IN THE SPACE OF 4 YEARS TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145355December 21, 2005
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. ALSO , THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD A LOUD POPPING AND SQUEALING NOISE, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE OVERHEATED, IT TURNED THE RIM RED HOT. HE COULD SMELL THE BRAKE DUST FROM THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, DISC CALIPER, AND ROTORS. HE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 14972 MILES. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10144284November 29, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER REQUESTING RECALL INFORMATION FOR 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. *TS *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142712November 15, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 CONCERNING THE STEERING POWER ASSIST HOSE PIPING AND CONNECTIONS. THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142394November 10, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. ALSO , THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD A LOUD POPPING AND SQUEALING NOISE, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE OVERHEATED, IT TURNED THE RIM RED HOT. HE COULD SMELL THE BRAKE DUST FROM THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, DISC CALIPER, AND ROTORS. HE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10141496November 2, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
THE CAR BEGAN REPEATEDLY OVERHEATING REQUIRING AC TO BE TURNED OFF. THE COOLING FAN HAS CEASED WORKING AND AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLE NEEDED TO BE PURCHASED. IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH TWO SEPARATE GARAGES, THEY INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE FREQUENTLY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SUBJECT OF RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141507November 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SUBJECT: 2002 PT CRUISER BRAKES / TRANSMISSION I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE THE PROPER PERSON TO BRING UP SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE CHRYSLER PT CRUISER BUT IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU COULD DIRECT THIS TO SOMEONE WHO CAN. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, I HAD MY BRAKES SERVICES AT A LOCAL SHOP THAT I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR 10 YEARS. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I USED TO DO MUCH OF THE WORK TO CARS MYSELF, AND ONCE IN A WHILE I DO AN AUDIT OF THE WORK HE DOES. AS ALWAYS, HE DOES A GREAT JOB. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LAKE TAHOE ON I80. THIS IS MOSTLY FULL OF MOUNTAINS WITH VERY STEEP GRADES AND A LOT OF SHEER CLIFFS. I HAD A FULL CAR LOAD OF HUMAN AND PERSONAL PROPERTY SO I WOULD CONCEDER IT TO BE CLOSE TO THE MAX WEIGHT OF THE CAR. I PLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM OVER-DRIVE TO THE NEXT LOWEST GEAR DURING THE STEEP GRADES. WE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL! I DISCOVERED TO MY HORROR THAT THE NEXT LOWEST TRANSMISSION SPEED WAS THIRD. SO I DROPPED IT DOWN AGAIN TO THE NEXT LOWER GEAR AND IT WAS FIRST GEAR. SINCE OUR SPEED WAS 55 MILES PER HOUR, IT DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. THANK GOODNESS IT DID NOT. SO I APPLIED THE ABS FRONT DISCS AND REAR DRUMS. BY THE TIME WE GOT DOWN FROM THIS AREA, I TOTALLY BURNED OUT THE BRAKES. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS TO FLORIDA WITH SIMILAR LOADS, BUT NEVER WITH A TRANSMISSION WITH NO SECOND GEAR. I HAVE NEVER BURNED NEW BRAKES UP IN A SIMILAR FISSION AND REQUIRED ONE NEW DISC. I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY ??CHRYSLER?? DID ENOUGH ENGINEERING IN STOPPING THIS CAR WITH STEEP HIGHWAY GRADES WITH A FULL LOAD, AND THE POPULATION IS AT RISK FOR RUN-AWAY CARS IN THOSE AREAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VALUABLE TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141569November 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID UNDER CAR IN THE MORNING. AFTER INVESTIGATION, DETERMINED IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE FLUID LEVEL IN CAR WAS VERY LOW. SINCE IT WAS A"SPECIAL" FLUID, I COULD NOT BUY IT AT THE LOCAL PARTS STORE. TOOK A CHANCE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE "SOLENOID PACK" AND "COOLER LINES". PARTS REPLACED, OK SINCE. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND POSSIBLY FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141570November 2, 2005
WHEELS
WAS LOSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF AIR FROM LEFT REAR TIRE. TOOK IT TO SEARS, FOR TIRE REPAIR, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE, BUT THAT THE CHROME PLATED WHEEL WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AT THE BEAD. THEN TOOK CAR TO DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE WHEEL WAS BEYOND REPAIR, AND ORDERED A NEW ONE. REPLACED A WEEK LATER. OK SINCE, HOWEVER I NOW HAVE TWO MORE WHEELS DOING THE SAME THING. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I AM AFRAID THAT THE WHEELS MAY FAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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