Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)

618 consumer complaints on file.

#10107514January 19, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2001 PT CRUISER HAS AIRBAG LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE ASSOCIATED "DING" SOUND COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER CHARGED $90 TO TELL ME THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAD "FAILED". (NOTE: THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS 34000 MILES ON IT.) DEALER WANTS $500 TO REPAIR THE "FAILED AIRBAG". COINCIDENCE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ON LATE 90'S GRAND CARAVANS. SOUNDS LIKE I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM THEY HAD - BUT NO RECALL TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. HELP! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106442January 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR WEEKS (OR MONTHS) PRIOR TO FAILURE, I EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL INSTANCES OF FOG LIGHTS ACTIVATING UPON ENGAGING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. FOG LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AFTER COMPLETING TURN AND SIGNAL AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGED. IT IS NOTED THAT I VIRTUALLY NEVER MAKE USE OF THE FOG LIGHTS. ON DAY OF FAILURE, THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED ODOR ABOUT 1 HOUR INTO A LONG TRIP (LIKE NYLON ROPE BURNING). FOG LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF REGARDLESS OF CONTROLLER SETTING FOR OTHER LIGHTS. FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER CAR WAS SHUT DOWN AND KEY REMOVED. AFTER BRIEF REST STOP (DURING WHICH MANUAL WAS RESEARCHED TO LEARN WHAT FUSE MUST BE PULLED TO AVOID DRAINING BATTERY), RETURNED TO CAR TO FIND THAT LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF ON THEIR OWN. NEITHER FOG LIGHTS NOR HIGH BEAMS WORKED ANY LONGER, ONCE CAR WAS STARTED. THE NEXT DAY, UPON DISASSEMBLY OF STEERING COLUMN HOUSING AND REMOVAL OF MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THAT AN INTERNAL, SPRING-LOADED CONTACT ON THE BACK OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, LOCATED NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN, HAD MELTED/FUSED. DEALER ADVISED THAT MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH MUST BE REPLACED (AT COST OF ~$103 FOR PART). SELF-REPAIRED, WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS (YET). OLD PART HAS BEEN SAVED. THANKFUL THAT PLASTIC SWITCH DID NOT ACTUALLY CATCH FIRE, AND THAT MAIN LIGHTS (LOW BEAMS ONLY) REMAINED OPERATIONAL DURING REMAINDER OF LONG, NIGHT-TIME TRIP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106362January 14, 2005
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CD PLAYER READ ERROR 1 MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP, DEALER SAID IT WAS DEAD AND IT WOULD COST $300 TO REPLACE COMBINATION STEREO/CD. EXCUSE ME BUT A CD PLAYER SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 3 YEARS. AN AMERICAN MOTOR DEALERS WONDER WHY WE DO NOT WANT TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107122January 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107050January 5, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE REAR BUSHING ON BOTH SIDES WERE SEPARATED WHERE THE RUBBER BUSHING WERE TORN APART COMPLETELY CAUSING THE STEERING TO DRIFT SIDE TO SIDE. *BF *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105795January 5, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
MIDDLE REAR SAFTEY BELT FAILED. THE RIGT REAR SEAT WAS FOLDED FORWARD. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO BE RAISED. THE SEAT HAD TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND A NEW SEAT BELT INSTALLED. THIS SAFETY DEVICE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104885January 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-84 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, LOSING ALL GEARS EXCEPT 1ST. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY AND THE CAR TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE OFF-RAMP WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR NOW NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104570December 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION. SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PT CRUISER CLUB HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR AS LOW AS 5000 MILES. CURRENTLY MY PT HAS 75.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. I AM A 25 YEAR EMPLOYEE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY. AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM. A RECALL AND MANDITORY REPAIR IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104500December 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHILE CHANGING MY FRONT ROTORS & PADS (AT 27K MILES), AND WITH THE SUSPENSION HANGING, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUSHING ON EACH CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATION. I FIRST NOTICED THIS AT 23K000MILES (2-18-04) WHEN I WAS INSPECTING THE FRONT BRAKES, BUT THOUGHT IT MUST BE DESIGNED LIKE THAT SINCE THERE WERE SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR (I AM A RETIRED HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC). RESEARCHING NOW THE PT CRUISER SITES ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS, AND HAS BEEN, A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OWNERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104505December 26, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON 12-17-04 MY TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AT DISCOUNT TIRE CO. THIS RESULTED IN VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS IN MY STEERING WHEEL. DISCOUNT RECHECKED THE BALANCING, BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I MOVED THE L/F TIRE TO THE REAR TO SEE IF THE WHEEL MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM - THE VIBRATION STOPPED! ON 12-23-04 I STOPPED BY THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH THEM. IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT ALL I WANTED WAS A TIRE SAFETY INSPECTION AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO INSPECT THE TIRE AT NO COST AND THE NEXT MORNING I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT 7AM (12-24-04). A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER GOODYEAR CALLED AND SAID THE L/R TIRE WAS BAD (TREAD SEPARATION) , THAT THEY HAD REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TIRE, AND IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF ANY COST INVOLVED, AND I ASSUMED IT WAS A FREE REPLACEMENT (27K MILES). WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PRO-RATED CHARGE OF ALMOST $80 FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE (GOODYEAR EAGLE LS P205/55R16). I TOLD THEM THERE WAS TO BE NO EXPENSE TO ME FOR THE TIRE INSPECTION - THAT IF THEY FOUND THE TIRE BAD I WAS GOING TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET PUT ON AT PEPBOYS. THEY PUT MY OLD TIRE BACK ON AND AGREED THERE WAS NO CHARGE FOR ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105261December 21, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
THE CHROME ON 3 OF THE WHEEL RIMS PEELED, CHRYSLER REPLACED ALL 3 RIMS. THE 4TH RIM STARTED TO PEEL AT THE STEM OF THE TIRE WHICH MADE THE TIRE LEAK AIR. *TC *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103046December 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
FACTORY INSTALLED SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE (POSSIBLY FAULTY SAFETY GLASS) AND CAUSED SCRATCHES TO 3 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING A 20 MONTH OLD BOY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10102355December 8, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PT CRUISER 2001 (CAR) WILL CONTINUE TO RUN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. SAFETY ISSUE: CAR CANNOT BE STOPPED OCCURRENCES: HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6+ TIMES SINCE PROBLEM INITIALLY BROUGHT TO DEALERS ATTENTION IN 2002 CHRYSLER SUPPORT: ESSENTIALLY NOT RESPONDING WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS TO LOCAL DEALER WHO CANNOT RESOLVE THIS DEFECT DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS ON 3 OCCASIONS WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS - HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR DEALER GAVE ME SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS THAT IF CAR DID THIS AGAIN, I COULD STOP IT BY REMOVING FUSE #11 - AFTER A SET OF RECENT SEQUENTIAL FAILURES ON 12/4/04 WHERE I USED THIS TECHNIQUE UNTIL I COULD CONTACT THE DEALER ON MONDAY MORNING; VEHICLE BATTERY DIED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-STARTED; RESPONDING MECHANIC ADVISE ME THE PROCEDURE FOR REMOVING FUSE #11 WAS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE ARCING IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY A FIRE AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. MOST RECENT EVENT OCCURRED ON 12/4/04 WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION, CAR STILL RUNNING.- UTILIZED DEALER TECHNIQUE OF REMOVING FUSE #11, BATTERY DIED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103239December 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKE PADS FAILED AT 10,000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES LATER AFTER HAVING THEM CHECKED THERE WAS A LOUD MOANING NOISE. FOUND THAT THE PADS HAD CUT INTO THE ROTORS, AND THE ROTOR DISHED WAS BENT VERY BADLY. NOW AT 15000 MILES THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099690December 7, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
THE RIMS ARE LOSING AIR. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES BY TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE INSIDE OF THE CRONE WHEELS, WHERE THE TREAD BEADS SIT ON THE RIM, HAVE PITS AND BLISTERS IN THE CRONE. DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO PUT A SEALER IN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS.*AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106627December 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE BUSHINGS WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE FASTENED TO THE CROSSMEMBER MINE, METAL ON METAL CONCERNING STEERING/SUSPENSION. *BF THE CONSUMERS LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102029December 2, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100896December 1, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
AT 24,226 MILES, I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS AGAIN HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE DEC 11, 2002. EACH TIME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, TWO RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLIES, AND ALL OF THE HOSES. THE LAST TWO TIMES, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE HAS HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS CHRYSLER TELLS ME THAT SINCE I HAVE THE WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN SINCE 24,000 MILES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. THESE 5 FAILURES HAVE ALL HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 31,000 MILES. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW AS I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS COMPLETELY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100344November 22, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
MY 2001 PT CRUISER HAS A PROBLEM WITH CHROME PEELING FROM THE RIMS. ON 5/24/04 CHRYSLER REPLACED 3 OF THE RIMS BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THE CHROME WAS PEELING BECAUSE THEIR CHROME WAS TO BLAME. WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 4TH RIM BUT NOW THE CHROME IS PEELING AROUND THE STEM WHICH INTURN IS MAKING THE AIR LEAK AND NOW CHRYSLER HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. ON 11/22/04 WHILE DRIVING I LOST AIR PRESSURE AND THE CAR PULLED FROM ME, I HAD CONTROL BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND CHRYSLER HAS REPLACED SOME RIMS AND NOT OTHERS, THERE IS A WHOLE WEB SITE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER DOESN'T WANT TO HELP OR HEAR ANYTHING MORE. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD BECOME A HUGE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100138November 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO SPEND OVER $900 IN CORROSION RELATED REPAIRS TO MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I SPENT $124 TO REPLACE WHEEL HUB COVERS, $150 TO REPLACE A CORRODED BELL HOUSING, AND $650 TO REPLACE BUSHINGS WHICH ARE COMING OUT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE RELATED TO DESIGN DEFECTS IN THE PT CRUISER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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