Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)

618 consumer complaints on file.

#10143345November 21, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V268000 CONCERNING THE STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSES, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT THIS AFFECTED THE BRAKE FLUID LINES AS WELL. SHE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HER OWN EXPENSE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142510November 12, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN FEB OF 2005 3 MONTHS THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN AND NOW NOVEMBER THE NOISE THAT CAUSED THEM TO BE REPLACED IS PRESENT AGAIN. 2001 PT CRUISER TOURING 60,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142212November 8, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
2001 PT CRUISER, 69000 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER AND RIMS. RIMS, ACCORDING TO DEALER ARE RUSTED INSIDE AND WILL NO LONGER HOLD AIR. CHRYSLER DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THIS IS ABNORMAL FOR A 4 YEAR OLD CAR AND WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I THINK THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS I HAVE HEARD/READ ON THE WEB ABOUT OTHER PT CRUISERS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141613November 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
(1) NORMAL DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. (2) TIMING BELT FAILURE AT 89,400 MILES WHERE SCHEDULE "B" MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTS THE PART TO BE REPLACED AT 120,000 MILES AND EARLY FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. LEAVING MY WIFE AND STEPSON STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO SHOULDER TO SAFELY REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. (3) DEFECTIVE PART IS TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141519November 2, 2005
WHEELS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHROME PLATED WHEELS CORRODED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. THE SEAL BROKE AND CAUSED THE AIR TO LEAK OUT INSTANTLY. THE WHEELS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND THE RIMS HAVE BEEN RESEALED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THESE CHROME PLATED WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141383November 1, 2005
WHEELS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE LOSING AIR PRESSURE. THE FLUCTUATION IN THE CHANGE OF WEATHER DETERMINED WHICH TIRE WAS AFFECTED. A LOCAL TIRE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE DESIGN OF THE WHEELS. THE WHEELS WERE CHROME OVER ALUMINUM. THE WHEEL BUILD UP WITH CORROSION AND PREVENTED THE SEALING OF THE TIRE. THE SERVICE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140460October 21, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DT: THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT. SHE THEN DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE FOR AN INSPECTION. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. *AK (11/23/05) *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139428October 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; (2) CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS; TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139340October 11, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
(1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. (2) ELECTRIC LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES. NEXT MORNING CAME OUT AND CAR HAD UNLOCKED ITSELF. CANNOT TRUST THE CAR TO REMAIN LOCKED. (3) HAD AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. WAS ABLE TO TRACE THE PROBLEM TO A $100.00 PART THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT GIVE TO INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANICS. WENT TO CHRYSLER DEALER, SAID IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139383October 11, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
AUGUST 2005 MY SELF AND MY FAMILY WERE TAKING A SHORT TRIP OUT OF TOWN ABOUT 200 MILES. AT THE HALF WAY POINT WE PULLED IN TO A GAS STATION FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS I WAITED IN THE CAR WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN UP THROUGH THE FLASHER BUTTON. WE REALIZED IT WAS THE WIRING FROM MY FOG LAMPS ONLY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT NO LONGER WORK. THE LAMPS WERE NOT IN USE AT THE TIME. NOT REALLY SURE WHY THE WIRING CAUGHT FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138438October 4, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
I HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER WITH CHROME RIMS AND LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. THESE CAME ON THE CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE RIMS ARE PEELING WHICH IS LEADING TO AIR BEING LOST IN THE TIRES. MY TIRE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE RIMS AND MANY CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE RIMS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS IS HAPPENING AND IT IS A HAZARD. IT IS UNREASONABLE OF CHRYSLER TO EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO REPLACE RIMS ON A CAR THAT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138227September 30, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
MY FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND COULD TURN ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. MY CAR BATTERY DRAINED A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I HAD TO OBTAIN A JUMP TO START MY CAR. CALLED CAR DEALER, AND THEY PULLED THE FUSE TO THE FOG LIGHTS AND SAID THERE IS A SHORT IN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED CHRYSLER, AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I SEE THERE IS A PRIOR COMPLAINT DATED AUGUST 2, 2005 FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THREE OTHER PT CRUISERS AND MY CAR DEALER STATES THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ON SEVERAL PT CRUISERS. I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON SOME ONLINE FORUMS. I WILL KEEP MY SERVICE RECORDS IN CASE OF RECALL PER CHRYSLER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135394September 29, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. HE NOTICED THIS ON 9-5-05 AS HE WAS BACKING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON .HE HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER YET. THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM FILED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE CONTACT INDICATED VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. THERE WAS RECALL 04V480000 ON CERTAIN 1998 DODGE VEHICLES PERTAINING TO THE CLOCKSPRING THAT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT MAY RELATE TO HIS PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE PART OR LABOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133022September 29, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS 2001 PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IT WAS IMPACTED ON THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS BROAD SIDED. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL/SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE NOT BE INTERESTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT THERE WERE CUTS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE, BUT NO INSURANCE REPORT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10137252September 21, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, ORIGINAL OWNER, 36,633 MILES. DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HWY 280 EAST IN BIRMINGHAM, AL APRIL 28, 2005 WHEN TRANSMISSION FROZE UP. WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SHOULDER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT - VEHICLE WAS ONE YEAR AND 633 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR COSTS - $575. CHRYSLER CORPORATION REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY ASSISTANCE. DRIVING ON HWY 280 EAST IN BIRMINGHAM, AL ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 WHEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN. MILEAGE AT THIS OCCURRANCE 40,827. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT - AGAIN. PART WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BUT HAD TO PAY LABOR CHARGES PLUS COST OF RENTAL VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK. TOTAL COST THIS ROUND - $500 INCLUDING RENTAL CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136595September 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF UNLESS BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. CAR INDICATED OVERHEATING. SMOKE COMING FROM HAZARD BUTTON. AFTER REMOVING MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FOUND THAT WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR ON LEFT SIDE WAS MELTED. BATTERY WAS DEAD, BOUGHT NEW BATTERY. AFTER STARTING CAR WITH MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH DISCONNECTED, NO OVERHEATING, NO SMOKE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED $3000 TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS AND BOUGHT NEW MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FOR $80. FOUND OVER 100 SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. WEBSITES: PTDOITYOURSELF.NET/TL/TL-INDEX2.HTML POSTINGS: 191,288,725,862,465,589,824,878,1042,1068,1302,1278,1238,1212. EDMUNDS.COM/INSIDELINE/DO/FORUMSLANDING POSTINGS: 249,250,241,229,232,233,234,235,237,219,220,222,225,227,228,210,211,213,218,202,206,191,198 NHTSA.DOT.GOV COMPLAINT: 10130928,10130890,10131743,8018628,10106442,10127101. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135150September 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT ALREADY AT 29000 MILES, ON 2001 PT CRUISER. THIS PREMATURE FAILURE IS A SAFETY RISK AND APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE (ADMITTED BY DEALER), YET IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL NOTICE AND FREE REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134934August 31, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DEALERSHIP FOUND CAUSE OF NOISE IN STEERING. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS BEING BROKEN (NOT WORN). FURTHER FAILURE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133219August 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT: 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER STATES HER 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WENT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED INTO THE STREET. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER LIVED ON A HILL, AND WHILE IT WAS ROLLING , THE CHILD PUT IT BACK IN PARK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. THERE WERE NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE I A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, CASE #05-029614, DEPUTY BOELTZ WITH YAZAPI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133058August 16, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
ON SATURDAY AUG 13, 2005 MY WIFE AND I HAD A FLAT ON OUR 2001 PT CRUISER ON THE RIGHT FRONT. ON MONDAY AUG 15, 2005 I TOOK THE TIRE AND HAD IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CHROME ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WAS PEELING AND THE TIRE WAS NOT ADHERING TO THE RIM. ON TUESDAY AUG 16TH I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY CONFIRMED WHAT THE TIRE DEALER SAID. I TALKED WITH THE GARAGE ADVISOR AND HE STATED THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO BUY NEW RIMS. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER HOT LINE NUMBER 1-800-992-1997 AND SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS CRYSTAL AND CAROL AND FINALLY CAROL SAID THAT THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT THE RIMS ARE STARTING TO PEEL ON THE EARLY ADDITIONS OF THE MAKE OF CAR AND THAT IT HAS TAKEN 5 YEARS OR SO FOR THIS TO BE NOTICED. MY FLAT TIRE CAME ON I-465 IN INDIANAPOLIS AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE CAR IN INDIANAPOLIS, WHAT ABOUT THE NATION. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A RIM THAT DOESN'T LAST FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS AND ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT UNTIL IT HAPPENS. I ASKED CAROL, AT CHRYSLER, ON WHAT IT TOOK TO START A RECALL OR HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO IT AND ALL SHE SAID WAS THAT SHE WOULD PUT IT ON FILE. MIKE, AT MY DEALERS, SAID THAT ALL MY RIMS WERE STARTING TO DO THIS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE RIMS. MY CAR HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. MOST OF THESE TYPE OF CARS ARE OWNED BY OLDER PEOPLE AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLED A BLOW OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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