Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)

618 consumer complaints on file.

#10083089August 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
UPPER & LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082946July 29, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
I HAD MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN THE SHOP FOR THE MANDATORY PENNSYLVANIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE MECHANICS INFORMED THE THAT BOTH OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BAD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 47,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE CAR. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THESE CONTROL ARMS ON 9 VEHICLES SO FAR. THEY STATED THEY CALLED THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD THEM THAT THEY REPLACE ABOUT 30 OF THESE PER MONTH. I WAS TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS ITEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082766July 27, 2004
TIRES:VALVE
2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. ALLOY WHEELS CORROSION AROUND VALVE STEM HOLE, RESULTS IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. ON AN EXTENDED TRIP THIS MAY GO UNNOTICE AND LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE. 3 OF 4 WHEELS ON THE CAR EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM. DEALER AKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM. OTHER OWNERS HAVE NOTED THIS PROBLEM IN INTERNET FORUMS. CHRYSLER "FIELD REP" OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF RETAIL COST FOR NEW WHEELS, IE. I PAY FOR WHEELS AT NO COST OR POSSIBLE PROFIT BY CHRYSLER DEPENDING ON MARKUP. WHEELS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082265July 20, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THE DEALER SAYS I NEED THE ENTIRE MODULE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR BUMP OF ANY KIND. THE MODULE IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. WHY MUST THE ENTIRE MODULE BE REPLACED. ISN'T THERE A REPAIR? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083398July 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION IN 2001 PT CRUISER.*MR THE VEHICLE COOLING FAN MOTOR FAILED THEN A WEEK LATER THE PLANETARY GEAR EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079407July 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. SECONDS LATER, TRACTION AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER, WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND COASTED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS RUBBED AGAINST THE RIGHT AXLE BOOT, AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, IT RUBBED AWAY THE WIRING INSTALLATION AND SHORTED IT OUT. *AK CONSUMER QUESTIONED THE MECHANIC, AS A REPLY IT SAID THAT THE WIRING WAS NOT TAMPERED BUT THE LOCATION WHERE THE WIRE WAS INSTALLED WAS AT FACTORY SETTING. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081491July 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDE ROWLAND JONES HUSBAND OF BARBARA JONES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074298June 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
WHILE DRIVING, THE EMISSION WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PERTAINING TO THEIR GAS CAP. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *NM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT 2000 GAS CAPS HAVE FAILED BEFORE HIS VEHICLE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078509June 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE FAILING ON THE PT CRUISERS. THIS IS CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF THEY GET BAD ENOUGH. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS SEPARATING AND ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP DOWN AND HIT THE FRAME. THE OCCURRENCE IS HAPPENING TO MANY OF MY CAR CLUB MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PT FORUM I FREQUENT. AND A LOT OF THEM STILL HAVE LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLES. THIS IS A CONTROL PROBLEM AND POORLY DESIGNED (BAD RUBBER) DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE MANAGED TO CATCH THE FUEL LINE RUB THRU PROBLEM AND DC HAS TAKEN CARE OF THAT. BUT NOW THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ALSO.. THIS ISN'T JUST CONCENING THE USA MODELS BUT ALSO THE MODELS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076172June 14, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IGNITION LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FOUR TIMES SINCE 2001. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES ,AND COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076108June 11, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
THE TIRES WERE LOSING AIR PRESSURE ON A DAILY BASIS WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO FILL UP WITH WATER. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GOODYEAR FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIMS CORRODED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOSE PRESSURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074857June 5, 2004
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO ENGAGE. IT ALSO HAS DISENGAGED BY ITSELF. ONCE IT ROLLED AWAY AND KNOCKED OVER A SIGN. DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074791June 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION MADE UP OF MANY LINKS WITH GROMMETS INSIDE THEM THAT WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND MAKE A LOUD CLANGING BANGING NOISE. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY SPARE TIRE W/O AIR AND DID NOT GET TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED (PLUS THIS DEALER DOES NOT REALLY REPAIR THINGS). LOCAL MECHANIC GOT AHOLD OF LOCAL DEALER WHO IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM. EITHER IT IS A POOR DESIGN OR THE SUPPLIER BLEW IT BUT IT IS GODDAWFUL AND I AM FEARFUL OF FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074728June 3, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRIC FAILURES: 1) 4/29/03 PLACED KEY IN IGNITION; ALARM SOUNDS AND WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, CAR WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. 2) 11/15/03 DROVE CAR TO WORK; PLACED CAR IN PARK, TURN KEY IN OFF POSITION AND REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION, CAR ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. PLACED KEY BACK INTO IGNITION TURN TO ON POSITION, THEN BACK TO OFF POSITION, ENGINE TURNED OFF. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS UNLESS I COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. 3) 6/3/04 UNLOCKED CAR, GOT IN DRIVER'S SEAT AND WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH WERE ON (ENGINE, OIL, AIR BAG, SEAT BELT AND ALARM), TURNED KEY TO ON POSITION, CAR STARTED THEN CUT OUT. TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION, THEN BACK TO ON POSITION. ENGINE WOULDN'T START. ALL WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073306May 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
I HAD NO ADVANCE WARNING THAT MY WATER PUMP WAS FAILING. LUCKILY, I WAS JUST PULLING IN AT HOME WHEN THE TEMPERATURE BELL SOUNDED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS ADVANCING NEAR THE RED AREA. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF, I HEARD A NOISE AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. THE WATER IN THE RESERVOIR WAS DOWN TO THE ADD LIN AND WAS BOILING FURIOUSLY. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE, I FEAR THAT MY CAR COULD HAVE BLOWN WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR IS A PT CRUISER AND I HAVE HEARD ABOUT A SIMILAR INCIDENT FROM A FRIEND WHO HAS AN INTREPID. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET ABOUT THIS INCIDENT! I HAVE HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE SOUND AND THAT IT WAS JUST "THE CAR". I AM BECOMING APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR - ESPECIALLY ON BIG ROADS OR A FEW MILES FROM HOME. I AM THANKFUL THAT, SO FAR, ONLY MY FINANCES AND TEMPERAMENT ARE DAMAGED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072575May 13, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 11:00 PM AND JUST ABOUT TO GET ON I 75, AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I HAD TAIL LIGHTS AND I COULD USE MY FLASHERS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS NEXT DAY AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOLD THEM TO PUT A NEW BATTERY IN IT NO MATTER WHAT. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT AT NIGHT SINCE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072520May 12, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AFTER STARTING MY ENGINE, MY AIRBAG LITE CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OFF. EVERYTIME I HAVE STARTED MY CAR SINCE, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066192April 14, 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 TIRE VIBRATION OR FRONT END VIBRATION. SOME OF MY MEMBERS HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR AS LOW AS 5000 MILES. CURRENTLY MINE HAS 36.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MINE. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065847April 9, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST OPTIMA BATTERIES. I WORKED FOR OPTIMA BATTERIES AS A MAINTENANCE TECH FROM 11/00 TO 1/04 OPTIMA HAS A CONTRACT WITH CHRYSLER TO BUILD BATTERIES FOR THE PT CRUISERS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOME OF THE BATTERIES THAT WENT IN THE CARS LEAKED. THE BATTERIES FIT SOME WERE IN THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE CAR IT WOULD LET OUT ACID FUMES INSIDE THE CAR.I HAVE SEEN THE BATTERIES SENT DOWN PRODUCTION LINE IF THEY FAILED THE LEAK TEST MACHINE.DURING APRIL OF 2002 I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP AND SPOKE TO [XXX] AND TOLD HER ABOUT THE BAD BATTERIES AND THAT THEY WERE NOT AT QS5000. AFTER THAT I STILL SEEN THE LEAKERS GO TO CHRYSLER CORP. IF YOU NEED MORE INFO PLEASE CALL ME AT [XXX] I CAN HELP OUT MORE BECAUSE I NO LONGER WORK FOR OPTIMA THANK YOU [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065498April 5, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER PARKING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN WITH THE KEY REMOVED, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RUN FOR 3 MINUTES TO AN HOUR BEFORE IT SHUT OFF. THE DEALER HAD EXAMINED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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