Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)

618 consumer complaints on file.

#10132927August 15, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. WAS IN A SMALL ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT THE BUSHING HAS BEEN FORCED OUT OF THE CONTROL ARM. PREVIOUSLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED AND RATTLED BACK AND FORTH. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ACCIDENT REPAIR WORK DONE. BUT NOT THE BUSHING AND THE CONTROL ARM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131743August 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: CONSUMER OWNED THREE 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS. EACH OF THE VEHICLES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH , WHICH WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WHEN ONE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE FOG LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE SECOND AND THIRD CRUISERS FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, CONSUME R REMOVED THE FUSE. THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE PT CRUISERS HEADLIGHT SWITCH, WHICH WOULD RUN DOWN THE BATTERY. THE SWITCH SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. ALSO, THERE SHOULD A BE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, AND A FULL RECALL/REPLACEMENT AFTER THE SWITCH WAS REDESIGNED. IN ORDER TO HAVE TWO PT CRUISERS PASS VA STATE INSPECTION CONSUMER REMOVED FOG LIGHTS BULBS, SOCKET AND WIRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131097August 2, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
ALL 4 CHROME RIMS LEAK AIR. HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR BUT STILL NO LUCK. TOLD BY TIRE DEALER THE RIMS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE JUNK. DEALER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND PRODUCT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130890August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH LEVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, ONE COULD JIGGLE THE LEVER AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. THE LAST TIME THE LIGHTS WENT OFF ON A ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS, AND CONSUMER PULLED UP ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS SO SHE WOULD NOT GET HIT. THIS WAS ON A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS OCCURRED DUE TO A SHORT IN A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND BROKEN THREE TIMES.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130928August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1) OUR FOG LIGHTS HAD BEEN GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. 2) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL STREET COMING HOME WHEN SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE. SHE HAPPENED TO BE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (IT'S ON THE WAY HOME FROM HER WORK) AND PULLED IN THEIR PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING A SHORTED FOG LIGHT SWITCH. INSTEAD OF A FUSE BLOWING THE WIRE HARNESS ACTED AS A FUSIBLE LINK AND BEGAN MELTING DOWN. WE ARE NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A $2500.00 WIRE HARNESS. I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER WHY A FUSE HAD NOT BLOWN AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CIRCUIT IS PROTECTED BY A FORTY (40) AMP FUSE. BEING AN ELECTRICIAN I KNOW THAT A FORTY AMP FUSE OR BREAKER PROTECTS AN ELECTRIC RANGE OVEN AND IS ON 8 AWG WIRE. TO REPAIR THE FAULT, WE HAVE TO BUY THE HARNESS WHICH CHRYSLER WILL CUT OFF THE CONNECTOR THAT MELTED DOWN AND WILL SPLICE ON THE NEW ONE. ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING COLUMN PASS THROUGH THIS HARNESS WHICH MELTED DOWN AND THE WIRES ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT PROTECTED BY FUSES. IF THEY WERE A FUSE SHOULD BLOW WITH A SHORT. OUR VEHICLE HAS HAD 4 WARRANTIES AND 3 RECALLS SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED AFTER A WEEK AND A HALF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121353August 1, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER STATES: 1ST TIME HEARD A CRUSHING NOISE WHEN HE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN, THEN IN JULY 2003 HEARD A NOISE SOUND LIKE RUBBER ON RUBBER. THE STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. IN JULY 2004 THE NOISE WAS BACK AND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AGAIN. NOW, THE NOISE IS BACK AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION AGAIN. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130690July 31, 2005
WHEELS:RIM
WHEELS ON CAR ARE SPLITTING. PHYSICALLY SEPARATING. TIRES CONSISTENTLY LOSE AIR. PEOPLE AT DEALERSHIP HAVE TOLD US THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED ON OTHER CARS. SERVICE MGR STATED THAT " HE WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON WHEELS. THE CONDITION HAS CAUSED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR AND FLATS. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING WHEELS ACTUALLY SEPARATING TOTALLY WHILE ON ROAD AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER AND DEALER BOTH SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129937July 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
I WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR BROKE DOWN I COULDN'T KEEP ON THE SHIFT COULDN'T MOVE TO PARK, DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK THE PART AN AXEL. I PAID A MECANIC. BUT THE BUSHINGS ARE ALSO MESSED UP THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE HERE IN PUERTO RICO IT COSTS ME MORE THATN 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THAT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD THAT THE IT DIDN'T HAVE GARANTEEN. KNOW ANOTHER PROBLEM THERE IS IN FEBREUARY I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECANIC BECAUSE THE CARGOT HOT THEY CHANGE THE WATER BOMB, AND IT CONTINUE TO RISE THE TEMPERATURE, THEN THE TEMOSTAT AND THEY EVEN FLUSHED THE RADIATOR,AND THEY PUT A COMPUTER IF IT CAN DITECT WHERE IS THE PROBLEM.THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST RADIATOR MECANICS IN BAYAMON PUERTO RICO. WHE N I DRIVE AROUND THERES NO PROBLEM AS LONG I I AM NOT IN A TRAFFIC JAM FOR MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR AND WHEN I GO VISIT MY PARENTS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE GOING UP THE HILLS THAT AFTER TEN MINUTES ON THE HILL THE TEMPERARURE STARTS TO RISE BOTH TIMES THAT I HAVE VISITED MY PARENTS FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS AGO I CAN'T GO. THE MECANICS CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY SUGGETIONS E-MAIL ME BACK AND I CAN GIVE IT TO THE MECANICS . ABOUT THE BUSHINGS I'VE ASKED A PERSON ON THE STREETS THAT HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER AND SHE SAID THAT THESE CARS HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130238July 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
2001 PT CRUISER DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE IT STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*MR THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF RECALL RELATED ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER WANTED MORE MONEY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129713July 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUSIER THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN I USE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129410July 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLASPED AND HAS NOT ALLOWED THE BRAKE FLUID TO GO THROUGH. HAS TO GRIP STEERING WHEEL AND PULL OVER IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. STANDING NEXT TO THE BRAKES CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE HEAT COMING OFF THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED IN MAR 2005. TUFFY FIXED IT, THEY SAID HAD OTHER PT CRUISER'S IN FOR THE SAME DEFECT. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES IT SHOOK BADLY. IT WAS UNCONTROLABLE AT THAT POINT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129052July 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLAPSED AND WERE NOT ALLOWING THE FLUID TO GO THROUGH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE TREMDOUSLY WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES, HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO QUIT SHAKING. HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED AT BRAKE SHOP. THEY SAW S THIS MANY TIMES WITH THE PT CRUISER. HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON. IF CONSUMER WOULD STAND BESIDE THE BRAKES SHE COULD FEEL THE HEAT COMING OUT OF THEM. THIS WAS ONGOING A COUPLE YEARS, AND MOSTLY RECENTLY HAPPENED ON MAY 30,2005.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128851July 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT: THE CLUTCH CABLE ASSEMBLIES, THE BUSHINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO BE AROUND THE CABLE WERE NEVER PUT ON VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT INTO GEAR . TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD BOTH CABLES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ALL BUSHINGS WERE MISSING. THE PART THE MECHANIC RECEIVED FROM CHRYSLER HAD THE BUSHINGS ON IT. THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR, BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW THE BUSHINGS WERE MISSING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. AT THAT TIME, THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE CHECK CAME ON. THAT WAS BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128616July 13, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO A QUICK TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE THE TO DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN AND WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. IN ADDITION THE CONTROL ARM HAD LOST A BUSHING WHICH CREATED A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS AS WELL AS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING. DEALER NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER AND THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DENIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISER AND THAT ALL CARS HAVE GREASE FITTINGS CALLED "ZIRKS" SINCE REPAIRS NO PROBLEMS AS OF YET. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 32,191 MILES. CHRYSLER DID SAY THEY WOULD REIMBURSE $150 FOR THE TIE RODS ENDS BUT THAT WAS ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128373July 11, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 42000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127816July 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: CONSUMER STATES 2001 PT CRUISER ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND THEN THE YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY FIXED THE POWER STEERING, WHICH WAS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 04V268000. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LIGHT WOULD STILL BE ON AND THE PROBLEM WOULD STILL OCCUR. TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENED CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK DONE. THIS STARTED DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, ON JULY 5, 2005. IT DID NOT MATTER WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS GOING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127101June 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ON MARCH 14, 2005 MY VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND ACTUALLY HOPPING. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY THAT I HAVE USED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WAS DEFECTIVE AT 56000 MILES. HE NOTIFIED ME THAT THE WIRES INSIDE THE HARNESS WERE FRAYED AND SEVERAL BARE WIRES WERE ACTUALLY TOUCHING, CREATING A SEVERE SAFECTY HAZARD, I INSTRUCTED HIM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS A WARRANTY COVERED PART BECAUSE THE MANUAL SUPPLIED ME FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER DOES NOT CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIRING HARNESS. I SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT IT WAS A WARRANTY COVERED ITEM UNDER THE CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS WARRANTY. CHRYLSER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE I HAD IT REPLACED AT AN A.S.E. CERTIFIED FACILITY BY A MASTER TECHNICIAN. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH ME. THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO HAS KEPT THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WIRING HARNESSES IN PT CRUISERS. THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT A MOVING PART AND WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES SUCH AS MOISTURE OR EXCESSIVE ENGINE MOVEMENT, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE, THE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NEVER HAVE FRAYED AND BARE ELECTRICAL WIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT I CAN USE TO CONVINCE THE MANUFACTURER OF MY CAR THAT A DEFECTIVE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PART WAS SOLD TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126611June 26, 2005
WHEELS:RIM, TIRES:BEAD
I OWN A 2001 PT CRUISER. STARTING IN 2003 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF AIR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. I JUST RETURNED FROM THE GARAGE WHERE I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED. THE MECHANICS SHOWED ME THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WHICH HAS OXIDIZED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO SEAL THE BEAD WITH "GOOP," BUT ADVISE THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WHEEL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THEY STATE FURTHER THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ON JEEPS AND OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126518June 24, 2005
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MY 2001 PT CRUISER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAK IN THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN ONLY BE OBSERVED BY CHECKING THE BOOT WHICH HOLDS THE STEERING FLUID. THIS VEHICLE HAS 41,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. IT IS GARAGE HOUSED AND I DO NOT FEEL THIS PROBELM SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE MILES AND THE USE IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE PT CRUISER HAS HAD THIS COMPLAINT LODGED A NUMBER OF TIMES SO I FEEL IT MAY BE A DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER CORP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126378June 23, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
I WAS TRAVELLING EAST ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES AT ABOUT 5:10PM ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2005. I WAS IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL NOISE PRECEDING THE DISENGAGEMENT EXCEPT THAT THE ENGINE REVVED, OF COURSE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE APPROACHING THE BELLFLOWER OFFRAMP. THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP NEAR THE END OF THE OFFRAMP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DONAVEE CHRYSLER IN PLACENTIA, CA. WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR ON MAY 27, 2001 AND IT ONLY HAS 37,230 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $850 JUST TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN BEGIN TO DETERMINE WHAT WENT WRONG - PARTS AND REPAIRS WILL BE EXTRA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chrysler PT Cruiser